Even though she had to keep resisting the urge to look over, just the company was a nice change. A nice change that was already making tings far more difficult than she’d have expected. She’d been trying to do the right thing, and now he was spending the night (albeit just sleeping, but still), and shirtless… She’d have been fine, no issue at all, had he not started removing layers…<br/><br/>At some point, he nodded off, as did she, but she woke up and removed herself from the room. Quickly grabbing another blanket, she threw it over him, as well, and carefully put a pillow under his head. Then, she took his clothing out of the laundry, and left it folded on the table in front of him. After that it was a matter of going to her room and getting ready for bed, slipping into it and waiting for sleep to take her. A slow process as her mind kept wandering over things, and it left her far less inclined to sleep as she kept thinking about the…abs.<br/><br/>But, like it usually did, sleep took her, too. It was a peaceful sleep, surprisingly not filled with guilt. Just happy recounts of the previous day, omitting the burn he received and even replaying the tables being turned on her; a welcomed change, even if one she’d lament later.<br/><br/>Waking up the next day, she felt refreshed, not tired, but happily refreshed. In her usual tired state, she padded out of the room, instantly heading for the coffee maker to start up a pot out of habit before getting in the shower. Solely out of habit did she do this, as she usually did before work, completely forgetting the prior arrangement with him the night before.<br/><br/>A fact she wouldn’t remember until…she woke up more.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Morning came and for a moment, Elijah was not sure where he was and panic set in. As it waned and memories of the previous night returned to the forefront of his mind he merely smiled and stood. Phone fished out of his pocket to call out of work for the day.  <br/> <br/>Once this was done, he went into the kitchen a poured himself a cup of the coffee that was made and then waited for Chrystal to exit the shower. Though he would regret the coffee if she did not finish up in the near foreseeable future.</span><br/><br/>Her shower took a bit, though none of the steam that would normally be acquainted with a shower billowed from the bathroom when she opened it. If anything, the room was chilled, cold, even with the lack of window to explain it. But, she was out, padding her way tiredly to kitchen, wrapped in a towel…<br/><br/>Only to freeze, jumping as she rounded the corner and found Elijah, shirtless, drinking the coffee she’d made. A hand clutched her chest while another hand held the towel tighter, a hurried, stammered apology slipping free of her lips before hastily retreating to her bedroom to lock herself in in embarrassment. How she’d managed to forget he was there was beyond her, but she had, cheeks burning so she was sure he’d seen it prior to her exit.<br/><br/>“Uh…Sorry!” she called again through the door while she caught her breath. “I uh…went with my usual routine…and uh…forgot you were there…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The look on her face was enough to make it worth a snicker or two, “No worries. Um...is there a towel that I could use?” he called out.</span><br/><br/>“Oh!” The sound of rummaging and a closet door closing was heard, before her hand poked out of the door with a towel. “If you come over here, I have one; Didn’t have enough room for a separate linen closet, so it’s in…uh…here…”<span style="font-style: italic">Wonderful. You ramble now. What is this? “Reverse Roles with Elijah” time?</span>“Need anything else or are you good?” Her face was pressed against the door while her other hand held it almost fully closed, praying he didn’t need anything else so she could continue to salvage her dignity.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> This was just too amusing. It was as if their roles had truly reversed and she was the socially awkward one, with no sense of how to carry herself now in this situation. He was not sure how long this would last, but he would enjoy it while it did.  <br/> <br/>Slow and measured steps carried him to just shy of her door and the thought to sit there and draw it out was a strong one. To what must have felt like forever for her, he took the towel.  <br/> <br/>“Thank you,” then he was gone to gather his clothing and commandeer the bathroom for his shower. It was hot and felt rather good, especially after the fact that the room itself had been strangely cold when he entered. He took his time, to lather his body and cleanse it from the previous day's activities. The burn on his lap actually looked better than it had last night, but he was sure he would have to wrap it again as a precaution. The water was finally shut off, towel grabbed to do a bit of drying before he wrapped it about his waist.  <br/> <br/>Before the mirror now he looked over his sparse beard that, for the moment, could be left as it was. A check on his hair and then he slipped his underwear back on, before he gave a call for Chrystal. <br/> <br/>“Chrystal? Would you mind helping me with my burn?”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO GRAB A FUCKING TOWEL?!</span>came a frustrated thought, hand holding it out for an ungodly amount of time before it was finally pulled from her finger tips and his presence was gone.<br/><br/>Only when she heard the sound of the bathroom door close did she let out a sigh of relief and could actually breathe. For a while, she just stood there, relishing in the break from his sudden turn of personality and was able to clear her head.<span style="font-style: italic">Yes, he’s quite…muscular…</span>came a thought.<span style="font-style: italic">But that doesn’t mean you have to lose your cool around him. You’re more collected than that.</span>Nodding, as though that would somehow reaffirm the thought, she started to get dressed.<br/><br/>…Which became a debate in and of itself. It’d taken her the length of his shower to figure out what to wear, feeling too under-dressed or over-dressed, every time she put something on. After the worst debate of the century, she decided on a simple grey sweater and jeans, thinking that it’d cover majority of the bases. Her hair was towel-dried and brushed out, left to hang about her shoulders to finish drying.<br/><br/>And, just as he called out to her, she’d been debating on putting makeup on.<span style="font-style: italic">Just so I don’t look tired,</span>she’d reasoned, but that debate was cut short when the need for bandage help was requested. Grabbing the kit again, she knocked on the door, waiting for him to say he was decent and went in, careful to keep her focus on the burns. Once inside, she opened the kit and handed over the cream. “How is it today?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Note was taken on how she avoided a look right at him, that amused him further.  <br/> <br/>“I think it looks better. What do you think?” he asked as he took the offered tube of medical ointment.</span><br/><br/>A glance in his direction proved what he said, though her mind took a bit to process that fact. The muscles were noticed first, the way the light hit the water droplets hugging him skin catching her full attention. But, then she forced herself to look at his burn and then pulled her eyes away. “Looks almost good as new,” she replied, fiddling in the kit to get the bandages ready. “Almost wonder if you even need anything except the ointment.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I don't want to get my pants messed up again, but I could just keep them off while I let the ointment set I suppose. What do you think?”  <br/> <br/>Sure the question was a low hit, but he was more interested in her reaction than anything else.</span><br/><br/>“You could leave them off, or put on the sweatpants…” she answered as casually as she could muster, still not looking back. “It’s your choice, really…Whatever you want to do, whether it’s walk around basically naked, or…in clothes.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You really don't have a preference?” he asked and began to apply the ointment.</span><br/><br/>The movement caught her eye and she naturally looked over, cheeks flushing before she averted her eyes again. “Whatever you want to walk around in, I guess…Just know I’ll be less likely to make eye contact while talking to you if you’re virtually naked.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "Does it bother you? Me being like this?"</span><br/><br/>That had her glancing over in his direction, if only out of sheer stubbornness. “Bother me?” she repeated. “Why would it bother me?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "You had been flustered all day and have had trouble making eye contact or even looking in my direction since last night," he said while he cleaned his hands on a the towel. "It would seem that you are repulsed by me..."</span><br/><br/>“Bullshit.”<br/><br/>The word was quietly spoken initially, her brow raising before taking just that smallest step closer, eyes narrowing in their signature thoughtful way. “Bullshit. You know as well as I do that I’m not repulsed, otherwise you wouldn’t have had the sudden confidence to start stripping after I told you I found you attractive…”A pause as she went back to fiddling with the kit. “This…coy thing you’re doing doesn’t work nearly as well as when I do it.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He smirked and closed what bit of distance there had been between them, “Then, why don't you look me in the eyes more?”  <br/> <br/>So close was he now that with each inhale of breath his chest would brush up against her. “I'm glad you noticed this sudden round of confidence and you are right, it was definitely your influence that made it happen. So, maybe I should thank you?”</span><br/><br/>His closeness was nearly too much, her breath becoming dangerously scant. His chest brushed against her with each inhale, and she tried to keep the distance there, too stubborn to back off to move away from it herself. “I’m looking you fine in the eyes right now, aren’t I?” she asked, brow perking up more. “And perhaps you should…though this is a turn of the tables I’m not used to.” She paused then, as curiosity got the better of her. “…What exactly did I do to make that switch flip?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "You said that you liked what you saw...."he whispered. "No one else has said that to me before and not been mocking me in some fashion. Not to mention I value you your opinion and what you think of me..."</span><br/><br/>“But you barely know me…” she replied back, her voice exceedingly lower than it’d been, softer. “Why do you value my opinion so highly?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> "You are my friend and I like you..."his own voice softer. "I want you to be happy while you are around me..." he explained.</span><br/><br/>A small smile pulled at her lips, a glimmer of one, but still present. “I am happy while you’re around…Why wouldn’t I be?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A slight shrug, "I aim to please is all..."</span><br/><br/>Her eyes dropped then, a light shrug moving through her shoulders. “Despite what I tried to do…I like being around you, Elijah…You wouldn’t still be here if I didn’t…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A paused filled the space between the two of them, before he finally said. “Is it too forward to ask for another kiss?”</span><br/><br/>The silence was deafening, the only sounds heard being their breathing and her heart beating. When she thought it was going to be too much, his voice broke that silence, her eyes widening, gaze remaining averted while she thought it out.<br/><br/>Kissing him would be…bad. Very bad. It was bad enough he was practically naked, and so close, calling extreme restraint to follow her “no touch” self-ordinance. Now he was asking for a kiss? Her fingers were fiddling with the hem of her shirt while she continued to mull it over, annoyed at herself for even considering the notion instead of vetoing it right away.<br/><br/>But, rather than decline, she found herself saying, “No…it’s not too forward…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Like last time, he took his time, his form loomed a bit closer as his eyes held contact with her own until the last minute. Then they fluttered closed and his lips pressed against her own. As with the last time it started slow, sweet and tender. It was as if he sought to savor the moment and draw it out a bit, for as long as he could. However, unlike last time, the longer it lasted the more he poured into it. A slow heat that built with each moment that passed until he felt himself naturally lean into her for a bit more.  <br/> <br/>It was at that point that he stopped and broke the kiss, though he lingered close for a few more moments.  <br/> <br/>And because he felt like something had to be said at that moment, “Hi...” with a small smile on his lips.</span><br/><br/>Unable to look away, she watched as he grew closer, and closer, eyes flitting between both of his until they dropped to his lips, eyes closing at the last possible second. His lips against hers, her breath caught, chest rising as she held that breath, mind going blissfully blank. Where she’d been overthinking only a moment before, everything was focused on him; On how his lips felt, on how this entire moment felt.<br/><br/>And the longer it lasted, just like he poured more into it, so did she, her body leaning into his as a hand tentatively slid up his arm to rest on his shoulder. Had he not pulled back, her hand would have made its way up to his neck, holding him in the moment she was happy lost to. But…like all things, this kiss, too, came to an end, though her eyes didn’t open right off. Instead, they remained closed, mind happily lingering in what kiss they’d just shared.<br/><br/>“…Hi,” she finally said back, once she’d caught her breath, and her heartbeat was evening out. Her hand lowered back to her side while the inner of her lower lip became embedded between her teeth. “So…did you decide on your…clothing arrangements?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He nodded without saying anything at first, “Yeah. I think pants and my shirt would be a good idea...”  <br/> <br/>There was more that he wanted to say and even do, but this seemed to go too fast. Even if it felt good, it was too fast and they might want to take some time. That is not saying that his time would not be spent thinking about the kiss that they just shared.</span><br/><br/>A nod of her own and she licked her lips without thinking about it. But, it caught up to her, and she blushed. “I’ll leave you to get dressed then…” Without moving right off, she stood there, looking up at him a while longer, finally forcing herself to take that first step back, and then another, turning and leaving the bathroom so he could get dressed.<br/><br/>Once outside with the door closed quietly behind her, a hand reached up to touch her lips, fingers barely grazing over them as her smile pulled a bit broader. A deep breath was released, and she continued to the kitchen, looking through what little she had for breakfast-type items. Calling out to him as he got dressed, she asked, “Anything you’re craving for breakfast?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> When she left, a breath he had not even realized he held was released, along with his form as it relaxed and slumped against the door. That was....there were no words and he would likely find himself writing about this later. In his journal, which he hoped she would never find or ever read.  <br/> <br/>Slowly he dressed, mind a flutter with all of the thoughts, while his heart raced with all the new and somewhat scary feelings.   <br/> <br/>The question was heard as he exited the bathroom, his tank top pulled slowly down over his head. “Hmmm...um...how about some eggs and toast?”</span><br/><br/>When she finally got an answer, it sounded fine to her…but now it was a matter of figuring out if she had enough, or any. She hadn’t made eggs in a while, opting for cold breakfast meals. Opening the fridge, she pulled out the carton of eggs, a small one at that, and found she had a couple of eggs left. The bread loaves she’d bought earlier that week, though, were dicier. One had to be thrown out, but the other looked fine, so she put some pieces in the toaster, waiting to be pushed down.<br/><br/>Actions finally halting, she looked up and over at the entrance of the kitchen, noticing Elijah in his pants and…tank top. A brief moment and her mind went blank again, before coming back out of it. “…How do you like your eggs?” came her question, mind having caught up enough to ask.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Scrambled is fine,” he said, now paused in the doorway to allow her enough time to work. “Do you need any help?” the question asked mostly as he did not want her to feel like he was lazy or that she was obligated to cook for him.</span><br/><br/>“Scrambled eggs…alright,” she replied, eyeing the pan she’d taken out, and then pausing. “…How do you make scrambled eggs?” That was the only admittance of help needed he’d likely get from her, but it was one nonetheless. “Can’t say I’ve ever made them.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> For some reason that made him smile, "My grandmother generally cracks the eggs into a bowl, beats them, adds a bit of salt, pepper and cheese. Then she just pours into the pan to cook, with some butter to help it not stick." The smile still there all the while the explanation was given.</span><br/><br/>Without another thought, she nodded, following his instructions as he said them. A bowl was grabbed, three eggs cracked and whisked, the salt, pepper and what cheese she had added in. Then she poured it into the pan after some butter melted, and watched it, occasionally poking at it to make sure it didn’t overcook.<br/><br/>“Guess the only other help I need is gauging when these are ready,” she commented with a light laugh. “And to know when they’re nearly done, so that I can get your toast going. I’ve some jellies in the fridge if you want it, too, if you want to look.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> They should just take like four minutes or so, nothing much really,” he said as he checked the fridge and took out a strawberry jelly to use on the toast. “Don't cook often at all, huh?” he teased her.</span><br/><br/>Another laugh and a shake of her head later, “That obvious, huh?” Pushing more of the egg around, making sure it wasn’t sticking, she set a timer with her other hand, so that she wouldn’t have to watch it so closely. “I’m just more for…cold, simple foods, or takeout,” she amended. “Easier that way, though I suppose that makes me sound lazy.<br/><br/>“What about you?” she then added, glancing over in his direction. “Do you cook a lot?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I'm no better, actually” he readily admitted. “I mean I know I have a fridge, you know for keeping drinks cold and for storing my leftovers when I order out,” he grinned and shook his head. “Other than that, well, it could just as soon as hold books with how little I use it.”</span><br/><br/>“Sounds like we’ve got that in common, then!” she replied with a relieved laugh. “You should have seen my face when you mentioned what you wanted for breakfast; I didn’t know if I had it, and, if I did…if it was still good!” Checking the timer, she worked the eggs a bit more, lowering the heat and eventually turning it off, soon after popping the toast down. “The one thing you can count on for me to have is milk. I need it for my cereal. Or bread, but even that one’s pushing it a bit if I go on a takeout binger…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I love cereal too,” he volunteered. “Just so easy and simple, not to mention the crap ton of flavors that it comes in,” the excitement clear in his voice.</span><br/><br/>“Exactly! Simple and a lot to choose from! It’s the reason I like takeout so much,” Chrys echoed. “Variety and it’s simple.”<br/><br/>Plating it up for him was easy, leaving him to butter and jelly his own toast while she got a bowl out for her cereal: Cheerios. “What would you like to drink, anyway? I’ve got…milk and water.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “You aren't having any?”he asked in confusion. “I thought we were doing the whole breakfast thing together? I feel like you went out of your way for me....” he mumbled slightly, while he looked at his meal compared to her own.</span><br/><br/>His reaction had her frowning, turning away to hide her wrinkled nose. “Oh, um…” She didn’t have a good answer for him. That the eggs lost their heat far faster than other breakfast foods, and it’d lose all sense of appeal the moment they went below room temperature? She couldn’t say that she didn’t have enough eggs as she was almost certain he’d seen her set up and saw she had a few left. “I’ll make myself some, too,” she finally added, putting the bowl back. “Not used to cooking for more than one person at a time…” A laugh ensued, small, the excuse pathetic to her ears. “You don’t have to wait for me, though. Don’t want them to get cold, right?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> There was something about this that had him feeling like he messed up or caused him some drama or difficulty. The laugh sounded a bit forced, a slight frown formed on his lips while he looked down at the plate of eggs. “I would rather eat with you, so how about you have your cereal and I will eat these delicious eggs and next time we go out for breakfast?” he offered with a smile.</span><br/><br/>“Really, it’s fine,” she said with her own smile. “I can whip these up in a matter of minutes, remember?” The smile was more genuine as she tried to alleviate whatever he’d frowned about. “Can you, at least, taste them to make sure that I did it right before I make another batch?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Sit down with your cereal and I will taste the eggs,” he counter offered and waited with a grin. “Better hurry before they do get cold,” his toast taken up and buttered, then jellied while he waited for her to join him.</span><br/><br/>She looked at him for a brief moment, considering whether or not he’d still feel bad with her eating cereal while he ate his breakfast, but she didn’t fight it. Instead, she just nodded with another smile, pouring her cereal and the milk, and grabbing a spoon before heading out into the living room, plopping down on the couch in her usual spot. “Alright…let’s see what’s on for morning television; that thing I never watch, but know exists.”<br/><br/>Turning it on, she let it become more of a white noise in the background while she paid more attention to him in her peripheral vision. “How’s it taste?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Plate gathered, he went and joined her at the table in the livingroom. The first taste placed into his mouth as she asked about the flavor, so the <span style="font-style: italic">Mmmm</span>, was perfectly timed. “Good,” he managed to get out without much effort. “Very good,” he managed before the next bite, which was chased by a bite of toast as well. “How's the cereal?”</span><br/><br/>“Very…cereal-y,” she answered back with a smile. “I’m glad I didn’t ruin them!” And, she genuinely was excited she didn’t ruin them, as she had to trust a timer and her eyes, not having experience in it. At all. It was when she settled in that she remembered what she’d forgotten. “Did you need a drink? I know I asked, but then I got a little sidetracked…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Nope not ruined at all, they taste really good.” The smile stayed on his lips while he ate, “Um...some water would be just fine.”  <br/> <br/>When she left to get the drink he continued to eat, content for the moment though a part of him felt like this was a bit fast. He dreaded that there was a chance he could ruin all that he had to gain from being in a relationship with her. When she returned with the drink he sipped it for a moment before he decided to bite the bullet and speak on the subject that was on his mind.  <br/> <br/>“You know, this is the first time I ever spent the night in someone else's place....”</span><br/><br/>The smile on her lips grew, as she heard they were good, feeling accomplished in another’s element.<span style="font-style: italic">Even if it’s only making eggs, I think that’s damn good for me…</span>And, that smile remained when he said what he’d like, walking over to the kitchen, she got him a glass of water, bringing it back in no time at all, before settling back into her seat and bowl of cereal. Then, after the companionable silence ended, and he made his comment, her eyes wandered in his direction.<br/><br/>“First time…ever?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Yep. I just never....well you know....” he half explained, a light blush touched his cheeks. “Never really been with people or had friends like this....” he continued to ramble a bit. “Chrystal...” he began after a moment. “Can I ask you something?”</span><br/><br/>The rambling had the smile on her lips growing at his adorable rambling, at the blush painting his cheeks. And then he wanted to ask a question? Putting her bowl down and shifting to give him more of her attention she nodded. “Shoot.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Where do you see this going? I mean our relationship?”</span><br/><br/>…Just like that, it was her turn to have a blush, a deep blush, on her own features. Eyes widening, she was suddenly self-conscious and lamenting the way she’d shifted to give him her full attention. “Uh…” A hand reached up to push her hair out of her face, dropping her gaze to her lap while thinking it over. “That’s…uh…I’m not sure. I’m just sorta…going with the flow, I guess…?” A pause as she lifted her gaze back to his, brows pulled together just a touch. “…Why?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Because, if I can be a bit forward....I want to have this lead to something more. Like...I really do want this to be more in the future, which has me a bit worried about some things....” he stated and was forced to look away due to his slight embarrassment.</span><br/><br/>It took all she had in her not to facepalm at the sudden seriousness of this situation…that he wanted it to lead to more, and had cause to worry. Which, in turn, had her worrying. “…What things?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I've never done...anything like this before....” he stammered. “And I am worried I will mess it up and I will push things a bit too fast....” he looked away for a moment and then back to her. “I mean like when we kissed in the bathroom....I....I...well...I wanted more....I wanted to continue the kiss and press for some more....” he barely managed to get out.</span><br/><br/>Her cheeks could have reddened any more; She’d likely have died from lack of blood flow to the heart. She couldn’t have held eye contact, even if she wanted to, her gaze dropping the moment he brought up the bathroom.<br/><br/>It wasn’t as though she was any more experienced than he was, having spent the night with one person in that way (a night she’d rather forget) and only spending nights over with Annelise. But he didn’t have…any friend he’d ever spent the night with, and to know that he’d wanted to press for more… It had her heart jumping.<br/><br/>“So…what are you saying…exactly…?” she finally asked after another silence—this one, less than comfortable—descended. “What do you want?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I want you....but....maybe we are going too fast?'</span><br/><br/>That one statement hit her like a ton of bricks. He thought they were going too fast…because they shared a kiss in her bathroom? Because he spent the night while injured by something she’d caused?<br/><br/>“…You want time then?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I want time to...well...I guess...woo...you. To sweep you off your feet....and I worry that I’ll say or do the wrong thing....”again it was nearly painful for him to get out.</span><br/><br/>“Then…you do want time…”<br/><br/>Her voice was quiet, but she nodded. “…Alright, then time is what you’ll get…” Standing up from her seat, she took her bowl of cereal back into the kitchen, dumping the remains in her disposal and washing out her bowl before putting it up for something to do; Anything that wasn’t the awkward moment happening in the other room for whatever her considered ‘too fast’.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He had messed it up that much he knew without any saying to him. The conversation that followed did not help at all either and ended with just confusion and him of the mind set that he had ruined everything.  <br/> <br/>Work the following day he was miserable and it showed. Where people had smiled and waved at him the day prior, today they avoided him like the plague, everyone except Tim.  <br/> <br/>“What's got you down?”  <br/> <br/>“I'm stupid,” Elijah responded with a grunt, the pen in his hand was thrown down on his desk with a frustrated huff.  <br/> <br/>“There are several words I would use to describe you, but stupid is not one of them,” the other man said before he drank a sip of his coffee. “So, what happened?” <br/> <br/>“We kissed....”  <br/> <br/>“That is nothing to be sad about,” he scoffed at him.  <br/> <br/>“Then I said we were moving too fast...”  <br/> <br/>At this Tim paused and just leveled a gaze at him. “Let me get this straight,” throat cleared. “You two kissed and then <span style="font-style: italic">you</span> told her it was going too fast. “Really?”  <br/> <br/>“See...stupid,” he grumbled.  <br/> <br/>“Now  now, you are not stupid. Just you should back off, take a deep breath and just chill. You have not ruined it, but you do need to give her some time....ok?”  <br/> <br/>“Yes,” he mumbled from where his head laid on his own arms.  <br/> <br/>“Good. Why not try and send her a text or something?” <br/> <br/>“Yeah, ok.” And with that Elijah was left to wallow in his own self-doubt and hatred.</span><br/><br/>Confusion. A lot of confusion and a bit of hurt was all she was left with after their conversation.<br/><br/>Had he not been so innocent, she’d have thought it was all a ploy, something to get her to justify for him that what he wanted was fine; That wanting<span style="font-style: italic">her</span>was fine. It was something she’d often heard of, but never seen firsthand. But, she knew better, knowing that it wasn’t something he’d do, that he genuinely thought they were moving too fast.<br/><br/>And that’s what she didn’t understand.<br/><br/>They hadn’t done anything wrong. They’d kissed, yes, but there was no touching, there was nothing forward. He’d been in his underwear, sure, and she’d been close to that region, but that was solely for medicinal purposes! He’d burned himself, and she’d helped bandage it.<br/><br/>So where was the speed that he thought they were moving at?<br/><br/>As expected, she got a text that night from Annelise that was ignored. Along with another text the following morning when she got up for work. And again while she was at work. Each text went ignored, unread, dreading each time her phone went off and leaving her to her thoughts for the majority of the day. Her colleagues steered clear of her as she was back to her usual cool demeanor. No more giggling or being on her phone. No more hiding with customers.<br/><br/>Just work. A lot of work.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">What part of what we did was too fast…?</span>Chrystal asked herself for what felt like the millionth time as she worked on cataloging the new shipment of books they’d gotten in.<span style="font-style: italic">What had I done to ruin that? I thought he was comfortable…he’d been the one to push the lack of clothing in the first place! To ask for that kiss! …But then thought we were moving too fast?</span><br/><br/>A frustrated sigh fell free of her lips as she angrily checked off a book on her list.<span style="font-style: italic">It was a bad idea, anyway. This whole thing is a bad idea. Guess I should be happy he called timeout…</span>Another sigh, another angry check, and a not-so-subtle kick of the box later, and she was back at her desk. Where the angry checks left off, angry typing then took up, followed by an annoyed shove of her keyboard away from her fingers, leaving her to rest her chin on her hand. Her mind was busy running over the night before until she couldn’t do it anymore.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Work. I need to focus on work.</span><br/><br/>With that, she let her mind go blank, and just focused on the mindless work that was inputting books and delegating others to put them up on display.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Though he did not expect anything from it, he pulled out his phone. *Hey * Message simple and with some hope that she would respond.</span><br/><br/>The day had been moving along just fine, work getting done in quick, efficient order now that there were no distractions. There’d occasionally be a message from Annelise, but she had yet to open a one, only checking her phone out of habit. Sitting at her desk with her salad, she continued to work through her lunch and into the afternoon when her phone went off again. She checked it, not expecting anything more than another Annelise message to go with the others piling up in her messages…<br/><br/>…When she saw it was from Elijah. Her eyes narrowed at the phone, as though to read it without opening it and assess the damage. When they’d parted ways, she’d tried to appear amicable, but she’d secretly wanted to scream at him to stop overthinking, that overthinking was her job.<br/><br/>For a while longer, she stared at that alert, debating on whether or not to open it…only to cave about fifteen minutes later after eyeing her phone.<span style="font-style: italic">“Hey”</span>…she read, putting the phone down again, though her eyes remained transfixed on it. Continuing to ignore it for a few more hours, she tried to focus on work again, but to no avail.<span style="font-style: italic">Why would you send me a message after what we talked about…? God, you’re confusing.</span><br/><br/>*Hi*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Time ticked away and with it his hope that she would ever answer him back. <span style="font-style: italic">Ruined. I ruined it.</span> He thought while he forced himself to muddle through some work. When his phone went off, it caused him to jump as he was not expecting a response at that point. For a moment he took the time to calm himself then sent off a message.  <br/> <br/>* How's work? *</span><br/><br/>His reply was far faster than her own had been, her attention having turned back to the work set before her when her phone went off again. Eyes turning toward it with a furrowed brow, she saw it was from him, opening it and continuing to eye it longer.<span style="font-style: italic">“How’s work?”…We talk about you needing time, and then you want to have a regular conversation?</span><br/><br/>*It’s work. You?* was sent back after she thought it over, the hesitation causing her to wait about a half an hour before hitting the “send” button.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Again the time ticked away and again, he thought that she would not respond. *Boring and I am having trouble focusing.... * he sent.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">…He’s having trouble focusing…just like he thought we were moving too fast…</span>came a thought, before sending a text off.<br/><br/>*Sorry to distract you*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A sigh as he read the message. * It's not you. If anything talking to you I actually feel focused.... * sent then another sigh. * I am distracting myself with how foolish I have been and how much I overthink things....I'm sorry....*</span><br/><br/>The first message she received, she read and frowned at. Elijah was terrible at sending mixed signals, one minute needing space and the next wanting to talk. Then, another message came through and her frown set in deeper.<br/><br/>*Stop apologizing. You need time and space. You need to think. You said so yourself.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *This is why I am no good at these relationship things... * he sent without a thought. * I was scared and did not think it out clearly and then also over thought it....I am sorry....I well....miss you already and it has only been a few hours...*</span><br/><br/>Again, the message came in two parts, the first received with another frown from her while the second was conflicted. He missed her…but had gotten scared with just a kiss. A simple kiss.<br/><br/>*Now you have time to think things over…to think it out.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I have and I want to start over. Or try and erase my mistake....*  he sent back. * My name is Elijah Maddox and I shove my foot in my mouth when I overthink things and ruin a good thing. *</span><br/><br/>Shaking her head, the message went ignored for a while. Finally, she read it, and shook her head. *I need to get back to work… Ttyasp.*<br/><br/>With that, the phone was shut off and shoved in her drawer, ready to be ignored for the rest of the day from the safety of a locked space.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The response back was less than hopeful and when his message about the date later that week went unanswered he just shut his phone off and tried to focus on work. By the end of the day, he got called into the office by his boss for some mistakes on a few files. It was uncharacteristic of him so it was more of a concerned talk rather than anything severe. A wave to Tim, his bag grabbed up and he headed home for the night.  <br/> <br/>His usual routine felt disconnected and lack luster as he worked out, it was not until after his shower that he remembered to turn on his phone, before he settled up with a book in bed.</span><br/><br/>Her phone remained off for the duration of her shift, and wasn’t turned back on until she got home and settled in for a night of takeout and television. It wasn’t until she had to place her order that her phone went off with another text, among the ones from Annelise. Hesitating, she finally opened it to see what Elijah had sent.<br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Are we still on for our date…?</span>she repeated. A frown set in while she continued to consider it. *I’m not sure. I guess we’ll see the day of?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">Phone went off and he glanced at the message. A deep sigh before he responded, * Alright. I'll message you the day before and the day of. At least to try and figure out what movie we will go and see.... *</span><br/><br/>The message read as she expected it would, sigh heavily implied by the use of ellipsis. *Alright. Have a good night.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The urge to throw his phone was a great one, but instead he threw the book he had. Face now buried in his hands he was not sure what he would do now if he should even bother to do anything at all. Sure, he did not blame her at all for how she reacted and continued to act. If the roles had been reversed he is sure that he would have done the same. With that being the case, he would have to do what he thought would make the situation better, or at least what he hoped would make the situation better.  <br/> <br/>A grunt left his lips, his form was pushed up from the bed and made his way to his computer in the living room. Glasses pulled on from beside the keyboard, he slipped them on and set to work. Fingers seemed to move of their own accord, as he worked in silence. When it was all said and done he sat back for a moment to survey his work. It should at least break the ice with her once again. That was the hope anyway, but he could not be sure until it all went into effect. Back to bed he went, though sleep was slow to take him. Instead, his mind felt it worthwhile to make him remember the kiss they shared over and over.  <br/> <br/>How sweet she smelled, how soft her lips were against his own. The way his body shivered at the feel her tongue and how he wanted to do more...so much more. Perfectly, her body fit against his own and he wanted to feel that now and everyday.... <br/> <br/>“Let's hope this works,” his whispered somewhat breathlessly into the night, eyes now closed and waited for sleep to finally take him.  <br/> <br/> <br/>The next day while at work, Chrystal would receive a delivery, the sender was unknown but it would be a single <a class="postlink" href="http://miggyzaballero.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/blue-rose.jpg">blue rose</a> atop a box. When she opened the box she would find a <a class="postlink" href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-j9Ta7nrKtEo/T0zLj7__aII/AAAAAAAAAd8/-FwYdk94jsk/s640/tiramisu.jpg">dessert</a>. No note on who sent it to her, but it would not be hard for her to know.</span><br/><br/>Sleep didn’t come easily to her that night, tossing and turning in bed until the wee hours of the morning. Just as her eyes closed, her alarm began to ring in its usual obnoxious fashion, met with a slam of her hand down (harder than necessary) on the button to turn it off. Her routine that day was the same as it always was: shower, dressed, and out the door, grabbing a bagel on the way to eat.<br/><br/>And, when she got to work, her phone was automatically turned off and locked in her desk, focusing completely on her work and what was needed. The employees were kept busy, whether handling the shipment of books she didn’t finish the day before, or rearranging the displays for the new promotional books. Posters were put up for a signing due in a few weeks, so those, too, were put up in the storefront windows and they were all given the pamphlets to familiarize themselves with the woman’s work, should customers have questions.<br/><br/>Just as she was getting ready to go off to lunch, she was trying to rush through the last of her check list, checking in with each of the people on the floor so everyone was on the same page…when a delivery came for her. Frowning in confusion, she accepted it, going to her office to see what it was. The rose atop it had her puzzled….but what was inside that box…had her stopping completely.<br/><br/>The door closed behind her, she stared at it, not sure what to even think.<span style="font-style: italic">Tiramisu…</span>her mind continued to repeat.<span style="font-style: italic">He got me…Tiramisu…</span>Dropping into her chair unceremoniously, she stared at it a little longer, before her phone was dug out of the desk drawer, turned on, and his number dialed. What she was going to say, she wasn’t sure, but she’d figure that out after he answered.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Yes sir...I know sir....I'll fix those reports now sir....won't happen again...” the phone was hung up and he reclined back in the chair, hands quick to cover his face as he sighed.  <br/> <br/>“Another ass chewing, no pun intended,” Tim asked from his usual perch.  <br/> <br/>“Yes. Apparently,” he paused to remove his glasses so that he could pinch the bridge of his nose. This morning his eyes hurt too much to bother with his contacts and he was forced to bring his glasses to work. “The reports that I did this morning were wrong again and he said he expected more from me and would hate to take administration action against me for all the work that I have put into the company,” he sighed and looked over at Tim.  <br/> <br/>“Everyone has their rough times, you just need to shake it off and get back on that horse or whatever,” Tim tried to sound optimistic, but it was obvious that Elijah did not care or at least did not hear. Instead, he had replaced his glasses and began to work on the reports he messed up this morning. Not another word was said and Tim left him to his work.  <br/> <br/>The code began to run together and he felt his eyes strain and his vision blur when his phone went off. Without looking at it he picked it up and answered it, “Hello?”</span><br/><br/>The way he answered the phone, it sounded like he was either stressed or just feeling very run down, which had her frowning a little more. “…Bad time?” she asked, ready to just hang up and try to thank him later. “I can call back later, if that’s easier?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> It took him just a moment for the voice to register and when it did he sat up a bit straighter. “What? Oh um...no and yes?” he sighed. “I just got a bit of a chewing out by my boss, but I'm good. Um...so...hi,” his voice cracked just a bit at the end, which prompted him to clear it. “Um..everything ok?”</span><br/><br/>At the mention of his boss chewing him out, she winced, that wince amplified by the way his voice cracked.<span style="font-style: italic">No doubt my fault…</span>came a thought, as her fingers rubbed at her temple. “You don’t sound good,” Chrystal replied to that, ignoring his question. “Want to talk about it?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Not much to talk about,” he began and relaxed back into his chair some. “I did not sleep too well last night and this morning I did some reports wrong,” he sighed. “Would not be an issue, but I did the same thing yesterday. He just felt the urge to remind me that another mistake and I would get written up,” another sigh, this time followed by a brief pause before he sought to change the subject. “How is work going for you?”</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Yep…my fault…</span>she replied with a mental sigh. But, now wasn’t the time. “Work is work…However, work isn’t why I called.” A brief pause as a hand idly toyed with the rose that’d been atop her box. “I actually called to say thank you, for the tiramisu. It was an…unexpected surprise, to say the least…You caught me off guard with that…Just makes me have to ask ‘why’, though. Why go through the trouble of sending me this?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A small smile came to his lips and he smiled, “I owed you one and wanted to make sure that you got it is all.” Explanation given in a simple and matter of fact tone.</span><br/><br/>“You’re a confusing man, Elijah…” Her reply wasn’t said like a bad thing, not in a negative tone. It was more of a comment with just a hint of a smile. “I’m not sure what to make of you, and whether or not I should be trying to understand it…One minute you tell me we’re moving too fast, and then the next you’re trying to pick back up…And, not to sound conceited…but your lack of sleep and focus is related to all of that…isn’t it?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I am just as confused as you are,” he replied honestly. “All I know is that I want to spend time with you,” he said into the phone and then there was a pause as he thought over her last question. “Yes....yes it is....” he said slowly, as he did not want her to feel sorry or guilty in anyway.</span><br/><br/>The guilt was there, whether he wanted it to be or not. She knew the moment he mentioned getting chewed out, then there was the lack of sleep, the way he’d been responding to messages the night before. Anyone would have to be an idiot to not realize it.<br/><br/>“But is more time wise?” she asked, honestly not sure, ulterior motives aside. “I don’t want to put you under any pressure or make you think things have to be done that don’t, that we’re moving too fast. Is more time really what we should be doing?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “More time together?” he asked just to clarify.</span><br/><br/>“Yes,” she replied. “More time together. Is that really wise?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Let me ask you this,” he paused to give himself time to gather his thoughts and essentially center his feelings. “How did you sleep since this happened?”</span><br/><br/>Bracing for the question, she’d thought of a million other things he might ask. How she slept, though…was not one of the questions she’d considered. Another pause of her own while she considered lying and saying she’d slept fine, rather than the truth. “Not the best,” was all she said on the matter. “Why?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “The night that I met you I slept, for lack of a better term, like a baby,” he paused then steeled himself and pressed on. “And then we take time off and it feels wrong and I can't sleep,” he finished. “I guess I got scared and spoke without a thought and I do regret it....deeply....” <br/> <br/>A pause was given as he just sat there and waited for her to respond.</span><br/><br/>Her smile grew as she sat there, taking in what he’d said. But, even if the sentiment had her smiling and had her wanting to try it again…she still held reservations. “…What’s to say you won’t get scared and want me to back off again?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I give you my word as your protector and hopeful prospective courter,” he said into the phone, he smile hinted in the tone of his voice.</span><br/><br/>For a long while, the other end of the line was silent. Not a breath was heard, not a thing. All her movement ceased, her mind fully considering this, thinking of all the outcomes, apart from the obvious. And, as the pause continued, she wasn’t sure she’d even reached a real agreement with herself, still going back and forth on what was the right thing to do.<br/><br/>“…Then…I’ll see you at the movies for our date?” Her voice was quiet, but definitely there, saying it before she changed her mind.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “It's a date,” he replied and did not even attempt to conceal his pleasure at her words. “Now, tell me about how the thing tasted? The picture looked so good when I ordered it, I thought about getting myself some,” he joked.</span><br/><br/>A light laugh fell free of her lips. “I haven’t tasted it yet,” she replied to that. “I was more focused on calling and talking to you when I opened it that it’s…still looking at me, waiting to be tasted. I think you’d like it, though. Maybe I’ll order you some, so you can taste it firsthand rather than ask me how it is.”