The day wore on and nothing dampened her mood. Not the woman who screamed at her over a book that she’d pre-ordered and she’d yet to receive. Not the man who let his child tear down several displays. Not the three employees who called out within moments of each other because they were “sick” (when in actuality, they’d been partying too hard and the evidence was clear on their facebooks).<br/><br/>Smile still on her face, she hummed along to nothing in particular while she went about her day, checking her phone sporadically since she’d gotten to work.<span style="font-style: italic">Stop doing that,</span>she scolded herself.<span style="font-style: italic">That’s not going to make a text come any fa-</span><br/><br/>Vibrations caught her attention as the phone danced across her desk, eyes dropping to it and staring at it. The name was clear as day and her hand went for it, only to pause mid-air.<span style="font-style: italic">You don’t want to seem over eager…Wait a moment.</span>Letting out a breath, she continued to stare at the phone as though it’d jump up at her at any time, finally breaking down and opening the text, the simple “hey” bringing a larger smile to her face.<br/><br/>…And then the dilemma.<span style="font-style: italic">…How do I respond to that?</span>she thought, eyeing it.<span style="font-style: italic">I don’t want to send “Hey” back…that’s unoriginal…but I can’t be all “hey! I was hoping you’d text,” either…hmmmmm…”</span>Staring at her phone a little longer, the cursor blinking at her, she let her fingers type and hit “send” before she could overthink and stop it. The text was simple, all the while hoping it wasn’t too little, or too much. That she didn’t seem over excited by how fast she’d replied, nor unenthused simultaneously.<br/><br/>*Hey, yourself*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> As a response did not come right away Elijah set to work. Zeros, ones and various other computer codes moved across the screen. Eventually, as was he wont to do at work, he began to zone in so that when his phone went off he practically jumped in his seat.  <br/> <br/>After a moment to calm himself he read over the message, a smile unnoticed on his lips while he thought about what to so say back.  <br/> <br/>*How is work? *  Send button pressed, phone set back down as he felt himself very cool and collected.</span><br/><br/>Another message received, another jump, and her phone ended up out of her hands and spinning on the desk, completely dropped from her grasp in the excitement of it all. Glancing around to ensure no one had witnessed her little moment, she picked it up gingerly and opened the text, smiling from ear to ear, despite how calm the message read.<br/><br/>*Work is work. How is it on your end?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> His fingers had barely touched the keys of his computer again when his phone went off with another message. This time he only jumped a little and his phone in his hand before he could even think about it, *It goes. Same stuff different day. Though people keep making a comment about how much I am smiling today....* again the send button pressed without a thought and this time he waited a bit before he would get back to work.</span><br/><br/>That comment alone had her eyes widening, as did her smile, nibbling on the inner of her lip while rereading the message to make sure she hadn’t misread it.<span style="font-style: italic">He’s been smiling a lot today?</span>she thought to herself, head tilting to the side while her mind drifted.<span style="font-style: italic">He’s got a good smile…</span>*Oh are they? Whatever would you have to be smiling about today?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The choice to wait had been the right one, as she replied back nearly instantly. A physical shrug was given even as he typed out his response to her.  * The only thing that has changed in my life would be meeting you....so one can say that I am smiling about that.... * send button pressed without any hesitation.</span><br/><br/>Her head felt light when she read his reply, beginning to type back to him only to be needed with a customer. Begrudgingly leaving her phone on the desk, she went off to assist them, all the while willing them to be done with it and not need her any longer. By the time she got back, she was afraid the pause would read too long. *Meeting me is something to smile about? Are you sure you met me? Or…does running a girl down count as meeting these days?* she sent back with a grin.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> No instant reply came and he thought that he might have said too much too soon. The curse of him being forward and forthcoming about everything might have just seriously bit him in the ass. He had begun to work again when his phone went off and he picked it up as fast as he could without dropping it. The words only continued to make him smile and his thumbs moved over the screen without much thought now, just answering honestly.  <br/> <br/>* Yes. You are definitely something to smile about and well the whole running into you thing was fate giving us an extra hand lol *</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">He really is adorable…and far more confident when talking via text…</span>Chrys mused while figuring out her reply. *If you’re so smiley, you should send me a picture. I need one for your contact listing, so this would be a good time, no?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The thought about whether or not to take the picture was a short one. Before he knew it he had the camera positioned and snapped the <a class="postlink" href="https://www.usamuscle.com/assets/content/Media03/galleries/patlee/thumbnails/_130308-6479.jpg">picture</a>. It was sent right after and he just sat there waiting for her response back. Yeah...work was not going to get done today.</span><br/><br/>As soon as the picture opened, her eyes widened with appreciation, taking a moment to appreciate it before saving it and setting it as his contact list; A nice…long moment to appreciate. *Well well well, you take a good picture. Can’t say I’ll ever be sad to see you call, with that picture popping up.* she sent back.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The comment made him blush. * Oh? Is it just the picture or would you be looking forward to my awesome comments and jokes? *</span><br/><br/>*Oh, you know…I’m just a shallow girl with simple wants…Of course I’d be looking forward to your awesome comments and jokes* she sent back with a laugh. *So…did you blush like I imagine you did?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> And the blush got worst, *No.....&gt;.&gt;* He looked about the office for a second to make sure he did not get caught not working. * So, what were your plans for lunch? *</span><br/><br/>*I knew it! :D Don’t worry, though…it’s kind of adorable.* Sending that off, she thought about her lunch plans. *I don’t have any really. Eating…breathing…blinking…*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> She thought he was adorable. That thought made him smile and even caused his blush to deepen if that was possible. * What a coincidence, those are my plans too. We should do that together, you know for efficiency sake. :) *</span><br/><br/>*Oh should we? And, did you have a place specific in mind to meet at? Or are you planning to try and run me over again? ;)* she sent back. *I’m not sure I can handle another day of that.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *Even with the personal chauffeur treatment? *  he sent with a smirk.</span><br/><br/>*Oh, you mean you’ll carry me from place to place all over again?* she sent back with a grin.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *Should the lady wish * work was completely forgotten at this point.</span><br/><br/>*Be careful what you allow the lady to wish for…*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Oh? Why is that? *</span><br/><br/>*You never know what she may wish for. It’s a dangerous thing, the female mind.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">* I think I can handle it * he sent back without a care. * So, how about some pizza for lunch? *</span><br/><br/>*I don’t know…You had a hard time with me speaking my mind and not blushing. Who’s to say you can handle it now?* she replied with a grin on her face. *Pizza works. Which place?* sent off shortly after.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I can so handle you * he took another picture and sent it with him grimacing and flexing. *There is a place called Nick's, down on 8th. Heard of it?*</span><br/><br/>*Oh yeah...definitely can handle it...I think I have a menu of theirs; Been meaning to stop in. Nick's is perfect.* she sent back, saving the picture (after ogling it for a good bit).<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Ok then we can meet there at noon? *</span><br/><br/>*See you then, barring no one else bowls me over on the walk that way,* she sent back with a smile.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *If they do then they have to answer to me *  another picture snapped of him brandishing a fist. *See you later*</span><br/><br/>*Oh, well now…now why would they have to answer to you?* she sent back, unable to hold in the giggle that tumbled freely from her lips, causing a few of the employees to look at her in an odd fashion. Glowering at them with a lack of real force behind it, she put the phone down and pretended to be doing something important.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Part of that business package we talked about last night. Until such a time as you fire me, your safety, wellbeing and happiness are my concern. So, if someone were to bowl you over, then they would have to answer to me * all very matter of fact.</span><br/><br/>*But then comes the question…mixing business with pleasure is a very risky thing to do, is it not? What happens if there’s a conflict of interest? How can you guarantee my happiness, safety and wellbeing if your services are called elsewhere?* she sent back.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * You are my one and only client, so no worries there * reply sent quickly.</span><br/><br/>*We’ll see if it lasts. With how…inclusive your package is, I’m sure you’ll have other clients chomping at the bit ;)* came another reply.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Not as many as one would think. The current tally is one.... lol *</span><br/><br/>Her brow rose, narrowing her eyes at the screen while she mulled that over. *Really only one? This isn’t one of those games were you divide the number by five and square root it before subtracting one, is it?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I work with numbers for a living, I would never joke about their true value*</span><br/><br/>Visibly facepalming, she let out a sigh.<span style="font-style: italic">He really is just as….innocent as I thought he was…but how the hell did he manage that?! He’s…him!</span>came an exasperated thought before sending off a reply. *So lucky number one then…lol looks like I get to break in that package deal, eh? You’ll get to carry me around often…to ensure my happiness and safety, and wellbeing…yes…*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Unfortunately, or fortunately for Elijah, certain words stuck out in the message. The context of which caused him to blush and feel very self-conscious of how tight his pants were that day. * If that is what the lady wishes...*</span><br/><br/>*Quite the “As you wish” moment we’ve got going here…So if I wished to jump off of a bridge, would you jump with me?* she sent back.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *Never been a fan of bungee jumping, but I suppose for you I would give it a go lol *</span><br/><br/>*Who said anything about a bungee…? ;)*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * hmm...well in that case, that would be something I would have to refuse because it would put not only myself in danger, but you as well. So, no jumping off of a bridge*</span><br/><br/>A frown played out on her lips. *Even if it wasn’t high enough for a bungee, you’d still say no? Well…we’ll just have to warm you up to the idea, somehow.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The idea of anything that involved her and getting warm made him smile, * If you say so. Lol *</span><br/><br/>*I most definitely say so. But, don’t worry, there’s a ways to go before any bridge jumping happens…It is cold, after all. Can’t have you catching the flu because of my negligence* she sent again, work hopelessly forgotten as the checklist in front of her went ignored.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Well, if you promise to take care of me, it can't be all bad. Right? * Work was the furthest thing from his mind at that moment.</span><br/><br/>*I don’t know…Even if I took care of you—and I’m an expert at making Chicken Noodle Soup—I’m not sure it’d be worth it. Snot, stomach aches and shivers aren’t really the most fun, regardless of who’s taking care of you.* she sent back, though the thought of taking care of him didn’t seem too terrible.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> *We would just have to wait and see, no?* he sent back. * I would take care of you if you were sick *</span><br/><br/>*That’s sweet :)* she sent back. *Though, I’m not sure I’d let you; I’d likely quarantine myself off and not see the light of day for a week or so. Whatever would you do without me for an entire week?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I'd still come and visit you every day and if you forced me to be away from you, I would just sit by your door and read to you * The smile that he had was whimsical, and distant as if he pictured it at that moment. *Flowers would be brought to, so that on the day that you felt better, you would have fresh flowers there to greet you outside your front door. *</span><br/><br/>Reading the message, it gave her pause, eyes widening, the smile on her lips growing tenfold. The visual the text gave her was a sweet one, something seen in a chick flick or daytime television. *Are you sure you don’t belong on some Lifetime movie set somewhere? Lol* she asked with a laugh. *These answers are too good to be true.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I don't think I could be in movies...get all shy in front of a camera. And well....you see how I blush....* he sent back. * But, I think it is because I just speak from the heart *</span><br/><br/>*You’re fine in front of the camera when taking pictures for me…* she replied with a grin. *And that blush only makes you more appealing. Sidenote, you should get snapchat.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * Taking a picture is one thing, trying to act is another. Think I am too honest for that. * he sent and then right after. *What is snapchat? *</span><br/><br/>*Snapchat, an app that allows us to send pictures back and forth, captioned, doodled on, and they vanish so the embarrassment doesn’t follow us for the rest of our lives :P What do you say?*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> * I was not sure until you said that the embarrassment would vanish. So, I just do a search for it? * the app store already pulled up and the name typed in after he sent the text.</span><br/><br/>*Good. Now I can thoroughly embarrass myself and not worry about the picture lingering long after I’ve sent it!* she sent back. *So…getting as much work done as I am?* she sent after, noting the clipboard in front of her, neglected.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">* What is this thing called work? Lol * he sent while the app installed. A ping from his phone and he found her contact information in the app. A request sent to be on her contact list, * We should just blow off work and go to lunch early. Cause it is not like we are doing anything for work at the moment lol *</span><br/><br/>Getting his request, she accepted it. *Oh should we? But…what would you say to leave? I’m sure your boss wouldn’t want you skipping out for an early lunch with little ol’ me.*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000">* something important came up * He sent and then took the time to take a picture and send it. Caption read “Sooo hungry!” which accompanied him with a frowny face.</span><br/><br/>Laughing at his picture, a hand having to come up to quickly stifle the sound, she sent back her own snapchat, this one a short video of an eye roll (though still stifling the laugh simultaneously) captioned, *If you insist*<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The eye roll had him laugh aloud, which caused Tim to rise from his seat and look down at Elijah with an amused face. * I do. Meet you at Nick's in....30? * message sent and already out of his chair to let his boss know he was taking an early lunch.</span><br/><br/>*Meet you in thirty* she sent back. Then it was a matter of doing some last minute work so that they wouldn’t be lost. After that, all she did was pull on her coat, write a message so they’d know she was leaving early for lunch, and start walking. Though the walk was a longer one, having to change her shoes again (because she didn’t want to fall on the walk over, nor did she want to jinx her luck by trying the walk sans boots), her mood was light, happy. Humming the last song she’d heard on the radio at the shop before leaving, Chrys made pretty good time, arriving to Nick’s just shy of the thirty-minute mark and rushing inside, hastily brushing the snow out of her hair to try and salvage her appearance.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Again,” he said from behind her. “You beat me. I swear you made up the whole being new to the city thing and know of short cuts that I am not even aware of,” he laughed. “ Shall we?” he asked while he grabbed the door handle to open it for her.</span><br/><br/>She jumped, having not expected him to pop up directly behind her, so completely intent on getting the snow out of her hair that she hadn’t heard him pop up. A laugh loosed, followed by a nod. “I believe we shall,” she answered, doing the curtsy again and stepping through. “Thank you.” Shrugging her coat off as she found a booth, she replied to the other part. “Not that I was making it up; More that…once I figure my way around, I get there no issue. You caught me on an…off night.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Despite the weather, he wore no jacket or even sweater. For him to sit it was mostly just a matter of shrugging off his backpack and placing it into the booth that they claimed as their own. “Oh? Is that what it is? Well, then if I am not to be your guide, what purpose does the lady have for me?” he asked with a grin just as the waitress walked up to take their drink order. “Water for me please,” he said with a glance in his direction.</span><br/><br/>“Oh, no, no I still need directions, don’t worry,” she assured him with a wave of her hand, ordering a water for herself, as well. “Besides, there’s plenty the lady still needs…General company would suffice, or maybe directions to the movie theatre on Saturday? I’ll be needing help with those…and, you know…the pain is just so much, I’ll need you to carry me around to make sure my wellbeing lasts as long as possible…Might even need someone to keep me warm with the big storm blowing in later this week. Lots of things the lady would have you do; Just a matter of you being available for it.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> He cleared his throat to try and cover up his blushing about the keeping her warm comment, though he was pretty sure that she noticed anyway. “Oh, well good. I would hate to have no purpose in life,” he joked and looked over the menu. “Ever have a calzone?” he asked to try and get some not so awkward conversation going. Mostly he sought to have anything that did not make him blush.</span><br/><br/>The blush was noticed, causing her eyes to drop as a knowing smile slid over her features. “A calzone?” she repeated. “Aren’t those just pizzas folded over on themselves and sealed?” Her head tilted to the side, eyes sliding back up to his. “So…that blush…is that saying you’d rather not help me stay warm? I could always just…layer up, snuggled up on my couch alone with blankets and some movies, watch the snow fall, that sort of thing…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “What! No.no...no....” he stammered to answer, the question about the Calzone ignored in light of the more pressing comment. “No. The thought of keeping you warm in the cold is actually something that sounds very nice and desirable....I just....” he shrugged and felt his face heat from the blush that would not leave him be. “I am just not...very experienced with that....kind of....thing...” he managed to get out, though it followed another throat clear.  <br/> <br/>“As for the calzone,” quick to try and change the subject. “Yes essentially, though for some reason, at least to me, they taste better,” he explained while he looked up from his menu to meet her gaze.</span><br/><br/><span style="font-style: italic">Adorable…</span>That’s the only word that came to her mind consistently when thinking about Elijah, in regards to his general demeanor. Sometimes, he was confident, and others he’d blush vibrant red. A man that muscular, that large, blushing like a school girl…was adorable. “You’re not experienced at sitting near to someone, sharing warmth?” she continued, head tilting a little further, before scooting further into her booth. “Perhaps we should practice then…Right now.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Umm....um....well...” he stammered for a bit, though he did rise from his side of the table to join her. The blush was bright on his face and he could not help it, for it only got worse as he slid into the seat beside her. “So...um...how about a Calzone and we split it?” he offered with only a bit of stammer in his voice at the beginning.</span><br/><br/>For a moment, she didn’t think he’d come to her side of the table, his stammering and hesitance worse than she’d seem from him previously. But, he did rise, and he came over to her side, though his face was brighter than most fire trucks she’d seen.<span style="font-style: italic">Adorable…</span>“Sounds fine to me,” she replied with a smile and a nod. “…But you know, you don’t have to sit over here if you’re uncomfortable,” she added. “I promise I won’t beat you if you’d rather sit over there.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No, I just....I am nervous...” he shrugged and tried to relax. “I really am more confident behind a screen of some kind,” he teased himself with a side glance in her direction.</span><br/><br/>His teasing was met with another smile, but she didn’t press the issue, instead glancing around Nick’s, not surprised to see it so empty given the weather and time. “So, got comments on your smile at work, huh?” Chrys asked, changing the subject. “Did anyone decide to comment when you left for lunch early?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Yes, Tim commented on my smile, then said something about me playing for the other team,” he chuckled. “And nothing really, since I never take an early lunch or anything, think he more surprised that I had something other than work to do,” another laugh at himself. “What about you? Anyone say anything to you?”</span><br/><br/>She shook her head with a laugh. “I think a few were more surprised that I wasn’t keeping them on target today…I was far less focused than I normally am, so a few of the not-so-early birds got passes. Then there was the time I laughed and a few of the people milling about looked at me funny…Otherwise? Nothing.”<br/><br/>The waitress came up, pad in hand, ready to take their orders. “Have you two decided? Or should I come back later?” she asked, smile given and pen at the ready.<br/><br/>“Well I know we’re doing a calzone of some kind, but I’m not sure if we ever decided on a specific kind,” Chrystal replied with a laugh. “Did you have a preference, Elijah?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh, well I am sure that they enjoyed the bit of a reprieve,” he joked. When the waitress approached he looked up from the menu and smiled, not even noticing the way she smiled back at him. “Yes. A beef and ricotta cheese calzone. Can we have it cut in half please so that we can share?” he asked.  <br/> <br/>“Of course, deary. It will just be a few, ok?” another smile thrown his way but he had already turned his full attention back to Chrystal. “This should be something that you really enjoy,” enthusiasm in his voice.</span><br/><br/>“I can’t say I’ve ever had it,” she replied with a light laugh, his enthusiasm infectious. “But, I like the two on their separately so I’d imagine it’d be just as good in a calzone.”<br/><br/>Picking up her water, she took a sip, analyzing him in a sidelong glance. He looked cute in a sweater vest, with the tie, button-up shirt…She was surprised he’d not bothered with a coat despite the weather. Though, he had felt hot, at least to her, but that didn’t say much. “Now….what do you want to talk about? We’ve covered…work…usual nightly schedule… ‘business arrangements’…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Elijah mused for a moment then gave a shrug, “Do you have any siblings?”</span><br/><br/>That was the first time that she faltered, eyes dropping while she thought of how to answer it. “One,” she finally answered. It wasn’t a lie, she really did have one…Whether or not she was even still alive after what happened, she wasn’t sure. It’d been ages since she saw her last.<span style="font-style: italic">And you’ve got Annelise and the others,</span>she reminded herself.<span style="font-style: italic">Or will…and I can’t ask him if he has his as I already know the answer to that…So what to talk about now…</span>“Favorite memory?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> It was the first time since they had met that he saw her falter. And the way she did not elaborate told him he had hit a sore spot with her and thought to say something on it, but then she changed the subject and asked him a question instead. Now it was his time to falter as his favorite memory had his mother in it.  <br/> <br/>“When I was little my mother picked me up from school early and we drove around for a long time, just taking in the sights and enjoying one another's company,” a smile came to his lips about the same time as the faraway look in his eyes. “Then we went for Ice cream and watched the sun set,” he looked over at her then and her smile got a little sad. “We had been evicted and she did not want me worrying, so she treated me to the best day ever, so that I could be a brave and happy boy.”</span><br/><br/>The memory was a sweet one, one that had her completely focused on him, resting her chin on her hand, a light smile on her lips until he mentioned the eviction. She’d never been evicted. She didn’t know how her family was, but the memory she had was of a family that didn’t wont for money.<br/><br/>As her mind wandered, no longer was she thinking about his story, but about her own. About her life, her family, how long it’d been since she’d seen them…since the incident happened. To think she ran away from her family, when Elijah had lost his own…it made her feel worse. The smile melted from her lips completely, shaking her head to get her mind focused again, sipping off of her water so that she had something to do. But, even that was short-lived as she hastily replaced it on the table, needing to keep her hands in her lap until her emotions resettled.<br/><br/>“Now…”<br/><br/>The waitress appeared again with their calzone, far sooner than Chrystal had expected. She set it down, smile broad, putting the plate before her and another in front of Elijah, her attention and smile lingering on him. “Is there anything else I can get you? Anything at all?” she asked, overly friendly. A mild look of amusement came across Chrystal’s eyes as she watched the near desperate attempt made to stay longer than needed.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No, thank you.” Elijah said without more than a simple glance in her direction. <br/><br/>“Now....we eat and enjoy this food and then we talk about what super power we would have if we could have only one,” he said with the biggest grin in the world, then proceeded to cut into his food.</span><br/><br/>She didn’t cut into hers. Not right away. Instead, she watched his complete obliviousness as the woman continued to stand there a little longer, waiting for him to change his mind. Pushing a stray hair behind her ear, she looked a little let down. “Well, if you…if you change your mind, don’t hesitate to ask for anything. Really…anything…”<br/><br/>And then she was gone, leaving Chrystal to watch him idly for a while until eventually dropping her eyes to the plate. “So…you really didn’t notice that?” she asked casually, cutting into her food finally.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> A long string of cheese had been left in a trail from his mouth to the plate and he had a very confused look on his face. “Hmm?”</span><br/><br/>A grin pulled at the corners of her lips, eyes glancing up at him for a brief moment, gesturing at the cheese with a nod. “You’ve…got a little something hanging from your mouth…” she commented, before answering his question.<br/><br/>“I meant the waitress. You know…lingering…smiling at you, hoping you’ll ask for something from her, anything to give her an excuse to hang around…possibly even a phone number…How could you not notice that? I mean, an attractive guy like you is bound to be used to this attention, right?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Still confused he wrangled the wayward cheese string, “Not sure what you are talking about...” he looked over his shoulder at waitress then back to Chrystal. “She was checking me out?” voice full of unbelieving and confusion. <br/> <br/>“Noo....I mean at least I don't think that I get that kind of attention?” he began to blush from the line of questioning. “I don't think I am attractive or anything...”</span><br/><br/>“Oh, she was more than checking you out…” Chrystal assured him. “Besides, with the way that you’ve talked about that co-worker of yours, you can’t tell me it’s a shock that people find you attractive…Your smile…eyes…muscles…personality on top of that? People would be crazy not to find you attractive…I’m willing to bet that she’d have sat right down with us and shared your calzone if you’d asked, without question.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Tim is hardly a woman to be used as a comparison,” he said with another shrug. “I mean he is gay and all, trying to convert me to his “team”. So, him noticing my smile is entirely different then if a woman were to notice and say something....right?” he asked confused and embarrassed.</span><br/><br/>“…..Does he only notice your smile?” she asked. “…Or does he notice when you dress a little nicer? When you get a haircut? Him noticing your smile isn’t so different as he notices it for the same reason I do and the waitress did…Otherwise, he’d not try to convert you…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Well...I...um...sometimes do make some effort in my....um...appearance. To see if he says anything...and um...well he did hook me up with his tailor....” he stammered out.</span><br/><br/>That earned him a smile. “So you share a tailor…with the man who’s trying to convert you to his team…and you didn’t think that…after the comments he makes…that it was for the same reason any woman would? I mean, you share a tailor with him…you don’t think they might…talk? Make him all the more eager to turn you?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Noooo! Not until now!” Elijah could feel his face red with embarrassment and uncertainty. “Man....now I need to get a new tailor. I thought that he might have been measuring my inseam....” he buried his face in his hands and sighed.</span><br/><br/>A hand reached up and rubbed his shoulder, trying to hold back her own laughter at the situation as a whole, at his reaction to the realization. “Relax……” she started, the humor evident in her voice. “Take it as a compliment and move on! Really, it’s not as bad as you think…Just means you’re desirable, right?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I guess....but...I mean...my inseam. I know that I have more than average and he had to like...work around it but still.....” he sighed and shook his head. “And I have to go back to work to see him again....”</span><br/><br/>A shake of her head before pulling him into a hug, she let out her own sigh, still trying not to find the whole thing funny. “I promise, I’m probably making it out to be worse than it actually is…” Chrystal tried to assure him, a hand smoothing over his back out of habit, mind still going over the ‘more than average’ comment. “I doubt they gossip like Valley Girls and Tim likely doesn’t know the…extent of your inseam…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “But they do gossip! I just tend to ignore it, because I sit at my desk and eat lunch most days,” his complete focus on this whole conspiracy to convert him to the gay side had him not noticing the hug.</span><br/><br/>Pulling back enough to look at him, forcing his eyes to connect, she just met his gaze for a moment. “Please…relax, Elijah…I didn’t mean to freak you out like that, really…I’m sure it’s not as bad as you think it is…” she tried, her voice losing all humor, and actually concerned that he was so panicked.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Sorry....” he sighed and composed himself. “Geez, I sound like some panicking coward or something...”another sigh and a half smirk. “So...um...you think that I am attractive?” he asked as he tried to change the subject just a bit.</span><br/><br/>A light laugh as she relinquished hold on him completely, going back to her food with a light shrug. “Do you really have to ask?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I think so...” he grinned already on the verge of relaxing, though he might still look at Tim differently. “What does hopelessly adorable mean to you?”</span><br/><br/>“The same thing it means to me when I think it about: you’re hopelessly adorable…inconceivably adorable…simply put, the epitome of adorable,” she answered without hesitation before taking a bite of her food for the first time since they’d gotten it. “This is really good…I’ll have to remember it for the next time I’m craving pizza.” The last she added with a glance in his direction and a smile.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Tim called me hopelessly adorable and now you are saying I basically embody adorable...” he scratched his head and shrugged. “I am not sure how I should take that, but don't most men want to be not adorable?”</span><br/><br/>“Well, it’s not that it’s a bad thing; Means Tim thinks you’re cute…but I could call you something else, if you’d prefer? How about ‘Ruggedly Handsome’? Would that better suit your manly side?” she asked, a bit of a teasing air to her words while maintaining a serious edge. “But…the blushes…and that shy smile you do…it is kind of adorable. Can’t really be helped to get such a name when you give smiles like that…or that stammering thing…I quite like it, but ‘Ruggedly Handsome’ it is!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I think you are enjoying this conversation quite a bit,” he laughed and went back to eating, truth of the matter was that he too enjoyed the conversation; a lot. “So, what are your plans after work?” new topic thrown in before he focused more on eating.</span><br/><br/>“That is part of your business package, isn’t it?” she replied in kind, with a grin. “Part of my wellbeing is making sure I’m happy and enjoy myself and this conversation did that.”<br/><br/>Nothing more was said for a while, merely enjoying her food, and his company. Did she have any plans after work? The usual: takeout and television.<span style="font-style: italic">Quite the social schedule you have going,</span>she thought wryly before shrugging. “My plans are the usual. I know, I know…I’m terribly busy and you’ve no idea how I can handle such a schedule…But it takes dedication and attention to detail. An art learned through years of menu-perusing and remote controlling,” came her joke with a shrug. “You?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh yes, so busy,” he chuckled. “I am going to probably work out and then make my nightly rounds on the streets,” he took a bite and chewed it before he spoke again. “What do you think about maybe, joining me? We can do dinner again afterwards, this time you can pick the place. What do you say?”</span><br/><br/>“I don’t know…” she started, picking up another bite and chewing on it thoughtfully, drawing out the pause while she “thought” it over. “If you continue to spend a good portion of your time with me, won’t you grow bored, sick of me, far sooner than not? Besides…You nearly had a panic attack on me a short while ago. Perhaps you need a break to recover.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Hey, I mostly panicked as most of my shirts are very form fitting and now I wonder if he is going to be checking me out...or not....” he pouted slightly then shrugged. “Besides, I am sure that you want to like...make sure...I am...safe at night? Yeah that's a reason!” he grinned then went back to eating.</span><br/><br/>“But…you have the penis…the…apparently more than average…inseam…You should be safe, shouldn’t you?” she questioned, while taking another bite. “That is, of course, the reason you gave for me to not be out alone, despite you being alone and safe.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Fair enough,” he said as he tried to think of another reason to speed up their second official date. “How about, just because it would be nice to have someone to talk to on my usually lonely walks through the city?” he offered with what he thought was his best smile. “Company is always welcomed on cold nights,” another smile given.</span><br/><br/>Debating, she wasn’t sure she wanted to see him doing his good deeds…not yet. She already had to fight off fits of guilt enough without watching him firsthand. On the other hand…she liked spending time with him. He made her smile, whether it was with his stammering and blushes, or with his moments of confident banter. “…What time?” Chrystal asked, considering going against her better judgment and accepting his offer.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The smile at her answer could not have been smaller even if he had wanted it be, which of course he did not. Instead, “About seven? That should give me enough time to get home workout and shower then meet you at...a...place of your choosing?”  he offered with a huge grin already too excited for his own good.</span><br/><br/>That smile had her melting, almost jumping at the offer too eagerly. Instead, she nodded, keeping her demeanor calm, cool, and collected. “Alright, seven o’clock it is,” she replied. “We’ll meet by the…old movie store? The one that shut down by the grocery store? We could meet there and then wander around while I keep you safe from any predators…and warm from the cold. Sound good?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Sounds perfect,” the smile seemed to now be a permanent fixture on his face. “Until then, expect to be molested via Snap Chat,” he said without thinking then took a bite of his food. “Or....did I mean harass?” a shrug given before he went back to his food.</span><br/><br/>It took every ounce of will she had not to burst out laughing at the sudden mention of molestation via SnapChat. This meant she focused on her food and her water for a good bit, pushing it around as she kept her breathing even so as not to burst out laughing…And then she commented, as casually as she could, “So….I’ve now learned you plan on molesting me…via SnapChat…Didn’t realize that my wellbeing included molestation.”<br/><br/>Once again, the waitress came up, Chrys catching Elijah’s eyes knowingly and glancing up at her with an amused smile. “So, how is everything here? Do either of you need anything?” the woman asked, clearly only speaking to him, eager eyes waiting for anything he may need.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Um...nope. Honey,” his use of the word intentional while he draped his arm over Chrystal's shoulders. “Do you need anything else?”</span><br/><br/>If she hadn’t already been trying her hardest not to laugh before she popped up, she might have laughed at the sudden use of “honey”. Then, there was the option that she could play dumb, watch him flush and try to recover while she became almost desperate to land him after Chrystal denied what he’d said. But…as much as she liked seeing him embarrassed and off his game, she felt like playing along.<br/><br/>Her hand crept up his thigh, coming to rest on the upper of it, leaning more into him as she glanced from her to him. “Mmmmmno, I think I’m good,” she replied.<br/><br/>The look the waitress had was priceless. It was so crestfallen, so let down that she barely mumbled anything, her attempt at saving face failing miserably before hastening away in the blink of an eye. “…And you think people aren’t attracted to you…she nearly died when you dropped the ‘honey’,” came her remark, not moving away just yet, far too amused by the situation to think about it.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Yeah, that was pretty fun and obvious. Is it wrong that I enjoyed that quite a bit?” he asked with a smirk that was perhaps the first devilish one he had ever shown. “Because, I really did,” he chuckled and then took complete note of their closeness. “Was this the whole keeping you warm that you had in mind?” he asked somewhat coyly.</span><br/><br/>“Possibly…though I don’t know…” she started to answer, hand remaining on his thigh though her thumb slid over it in a repetitive, subconscious motion. “You said you didn’t have experience with this sort of thing, so I’m expecting you to somehow trip, despite sitting down and manage to run me over again…since you’re just so…inexperienced at sharing warmth and all…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The hand on his thigh was not missed and he felt his heart rate pick up just a bit, “Really? You don't have that much faith in me, huh?” he asked. The hand he had on her arm mimicked the actions of her thumb on his thigh. Fingers soft, hesitant almost as they were moved up and down along her arm, “I know I am clumsy, but I am not that bad. Am I?”  <br/> <br/>It was nice to be this close to her, to share in the...warmth of the moment with her. Sure, he himself thought that he would ruin this moment somehow. That he could indeed trip and fall into her, or knock something off the table onto her. All he could do was hope that he did not do this and their lunch continued to be pleasant.</span><br/><br/>His fingers started moving along her arm, and the sensation was nice. Light, and causing tingles to follow the trail of his touch, it had her heart jump, though she outwardly remained the same. “No, you’re not that bad. If you were, I doubt we’d still be this close. But it was<span style="font-style: italic">you</span>who said you had no experience in this area…” she pointed out, with the lightest of smiles on her lips. “From where I’m sitting, though, you seem to be doing just fine.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Am I?” he asked with a coy smile. “Perhaps, it is because I have you to guide my actions?” he offered with a slight shrug. He did not say much else, instead he just sat there and enjoyed her company, for how long he was not sure, but eventually the check was brought and he was forced to remove his arm while he fished his wallet out from his pocket. “So, snap chat for the rest of the day and then dinner later?” he said as if to just confirm their plans.</span><br/><br/>“Of course,” she said. “Whatever would you do without me?”<br/><br/>When the silence descended again, it was a nice silence, a comfortable silence, one that she could enjoy easily as she relished in his company. What she enjoyed even more was the look on the waitress’s face as she brought the check over and hastened away with little more than a mumbled remark about the check. And then his arm was removed and she almost thought about telling him to put it back, that she wasn’t through yet, but she held her tongue, gathering up her things instead. “Sounds almost perfect,” Chrystal confirmed with a nod, fishing through her own purse for her wallet, taking out her card and putting it on the check before he could manage it.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Forget my own head if it were not attached to me?” he joked and stopped the awkward fumble for his wallet that was stuck in his pocket, at least until he stood up. “This impromptu lunch was nice,” he said out of the blue, along with a smile that was genuine and honest. “I doubt that I will get much work done at the office, but I expect to have fun regardless,” emphasis added to the end as he gave her what would come to be known as his signature coy smile.</span><br/><br/>His sudden comment was met with a smile of her own; Where it’d been small, a flicker of a smile, it grew into a larger smile, with just a hint of shyness. Standing herself, and slowly shrugging on her coat, she nodded with a light laugh. “I didn’t get much work done before lunch, and I’m guaranteed to get even less done now…But this was nice; I had a good time,” came her reply. “If I didn’t need to make sure others did their work, I’d just call and say I wasn’t coming back so that I could make sure you got no work done with hilarious snapchats to distract you while you tried to work.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh, really?” he asked. Now he stood and shouldered his bag, “You would <span style="font-style: italic">make</span> sure that I got no work done, huh? What if....I....turned off my phone, then what?” He would never do this of course, but he was interested to see what she said about it.</span><br/><br/>Her face took on a crestfallen look, lip going slightly pouty as her eyes dropped for a moment, arms wrapping about herself. “…You’d…” she started, glancing up at him before looking away again. “…You’d turn your phone off and…ignore me?” Her voice got quiet, stepping around him as the dejection continued. “…I guess there’s nothing left to say except…I’ll leave you to your work…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Just like that he began to panic, “Wait! What? NO...no...no...no... I was only playing! Please, no I did not mean for you...or that I would really....” he stammered and went to grab her arm, so as to halt her exit.</span><br/><br/>The stammering was adorable, almost making her break character, but instead she kept up the rouse, letting him grab her arm, but not bothering to look back. “No…really…it’s fine, I understand…So, I’ll let you get back to work…and sorry I bothered you…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “No....” he practically pleaded. “I really was just joking, Chrystal. Please don't go. I am so so sorry...” he was about beg fully if need be, as he saw himself about to lose someone who had the potential to be more than just a friend.</span><br/><br/>The waitress had heard the commotion (as they were the only ones in the restaurant at the time), and was practically hanging on every word, leaning on her station with rapt attention. Chrystal eyed her, dropping the façade and turning around to throw her arms around him in a tight hug. “Elijah, Elijah, breathe…” she started, holding him tightly. “I’m not leaving; I was teasing, and apparently my acting was far better than I expected…” Pulling back just enough to look at him, she gave him an apologetic smile. “Really, if I were leaving over you turning off your phone to do work, then I’m not worth your time.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The sigh and smile of relief that he had was nearly palpable, before he scoop her up in his arms, “You are starting to be a difficult client.” He leaned over so that she could grab their boxes before he headed to the door, “You think she is dying from jealousy, yet?” he asked when they exited the store and he carried her a bit more before he set her down.</span><br/><br/>A laugh tumbled free as he scooped her up, clinging about his neck with one hand while grabbing the boxes with the other and situating them on her chest. “Oh, she’s definitely dying from jealousy…” she commented, having caught sight of her face as they left, feeling the daggers thrown her way as they left. Once her feet were on the ground, she pouted again, this time making sure to be comical with it. “And I’m being difficult? Would you rather I be easy?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> That easy comment and how it was said was not lost on him, which made him blush something aweful. “N..noo...” he said then cleared his throat and looked away. “Easy would be that waitress, right?” he asked just to confirm his first attempt at social understanding.</span><br/><br/>This time, she laughed more freely, uninhibited. “Exactly, she would be what is considered easy,” she replied, a hand reaching up to caress his blush. “You really are<span style="font-style: italic">ruggedly handsome</span>. you know that?” Though she used his new “nickname”, it was said with the same tone as when she’d previously called him “adorable”. “…Blushing again and all…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The new nickname, said in the same tone as his previous one, did nothing to help the situation. If anything, it only made it worst for him. Now, with what he could swear was a beet red face he could only cough, clear his throat and attempt to change the subject. “So...um...how do you feel about animals?” he asked at random, eyes cast mostly to the light traffic as it passed by in the street.  <br/> <br/>When the nerve would return he would meet her own gaze once again. It would be these moments, that the confident male would be present. The one who was sure of his actions, who would not slip and fall, or do anything that would be considered embarrassing or clumsy.</span><br/><br/>The subject change wasn’t missed, earning him a coy smile before a light shrug moved through her shoulders. “Depends on the animal, really,” she answered. Something in his eyes had changed. One minute, he was blushing, shy and stammering, and the next the confidence was back.<span style="font-style: italic">Interesting how he flips like that…</span>came an intrigued thought. “Why do you ask?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I've always wanted a pet, but never had the time for one. Or, at least the time that I felt they deserved to get from me,” he further explained. As of yet he had not noticed what direction they had started to walk in. Whether they headed to his work, her's or neither was yet to be discovered. Hard to pay attention to where a person goes when so focused on just one particular thing...or...person.</span><br/><br/>“Whereas I never stayed in one place long enough to have a pet. Made no sense to get one, and then move around with it. I’d have felt guilty dragging them around whenever I left for a new place,” she answered, not really paying attention to where they were going, and not really caring. If she got back to work late, the other employees wouldn’t mind; It’d mean they had a break. If she didn’t go back that day, they’d be all the more happy.<br/><br/>“If you could get a pet, what would you get?” she asked then, curious if he were more of a cat or dog person.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I was just about to ask you that,” he laughed. “A dog. They just would suit my whole active lifestyle, you know?” he asked but then went on to further explain. “Probably one of those active breeds. Like a Husky or something. That way when I go on runs I can take him with me and even on my nightly rounds through the city to help people. I am sure that would even help the people, you know because of that whole thing about therapy with a dog,” the excitement in his voice clear as day, as if it was something that he thought about it often.</span><br/><br/>And, just like that, she was reminded of how good of a person he was. Her steps slowed a touch, if only so that her mind could catch up with what he’d said, and focus on not giving away her sudden influx of guilt.<span style="font-style: italic">A therapy dog…</span>she thought.<span style="font-style: italic">Of course. Not because you want a companion, but because you want a therapy dog for other people…For the love of all that is fucking holy.</span>The excitement was reciprocated with a smile, one that reached her eyes with a fair amount of effort, but it was there, nodding in response and checking the time before checking her surroundings.<br/><br/>“I’m not even sure which direction we wandered in…Where’s your job from here?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> There was something about her, though what that was he was not sure. He got this, well feeling, that his  lifestyle for some reason upset her. How that could be he was not sure, then again he more than likely read more into the odd feeling that he felt. A mental shrug and he focused on her question instead, which caused him to glance about the area for a landmark or two. <br/> <br/>“Hmm....I think that it is....that way?” he pointed off in the opposite direction. “Which way to your job?” he asked.</span><br/><br/>“If I told you which direction, you wouldn’t have to wander around aimlessly to find me later,” she answered with a quick smile. “Suppose I should let you get back to work, huh?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Here I thought that I was being clever, “ he grinned. “Um, well I suppose, though are you sure you remember which way is back to work? I mean I am at your disposal after all.”</span><br/><br/>A laugh. “I can find my way back, though your attempt to figure it out through direction and offer to help me find my way is duly noted,” she answered. “Can you find your way back to work? I can’t have the insurer of my happiness and wellbeing getting lost.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I may get lost, so maybe you should walk me just to be sure?”  <br/> <br/>If anyone at the office saw them together there would be shit and a lot of it, if only so that they could tease him and give him flack for not introducing her to the rest of them. Especially Tim, whom he was a bit unsure of his actual motives when it came to Elijah as it was.</span><br/><br/>“Hmmm…walking you to work?” she repeated. “That sounds like a tall order…but I guess I can help you with that this time. That means that I can ‘not stalk’ you, should the urge to visit you at work with takeout happen.”<br/><br/>Another smile, hand held out for his. “So, lead the way?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Not sure if that is able to be considered stalking when I would welcome the company and the attention,” he chuckled. “I am sure my co-workers would enjoy that too much,” another chuckle while he walked. “You know, for someone who was so difficult in the beginning with me even learning her name, you have really opened up to this whole spending time with me thing.”  <br/> <br/>The tease was harmless in its intention, just more of his attempts at playful banter and fun with her. Perhaps, if his confidence built, he would try this out with a few others. Even Tim.</span><br/><br/>It was that alone that made her rethinking how much time they were spending. They should be taking it slower, but he was always so…adorable, and eager, and it felt good to have someone want to spend time with her that didn’t want her abilities. “Perhaps I should pullback a bit then…clearly I’ve become too easy…”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Oh no,” he stated and grabbed her arm as if to keep her physically there at his side. “That line has been crossed and we are now friends so you have to hangout with me. It is in the fine print of our contract,” matter of fact tone emphasized with a firm nod. “No pulling back now,” he stated then blushed. “And...I just realized how bad that kind of sounds....”</span><br/><br/>His hand grabbing her arm she hadn’t expected, but now it had and she was stuck walking insanely close to him…while he continued to talk in what could be misconstrued as something far worse than it actually was. “So…this is the line that was crossed? I’m surprised I haven’t crossed any others as I clearly can’t be bothered to read fine print on documents I don’t remember signing…Hmmmmm…” A pause. “You drugged my thai food, didn’t you? To make sure I’d sign without issue!”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> That earned her a fairly hearty and deep laugh from Elijah as he felt that he knew she was joking, or at least he hoped that she was joking. “Oh, yeah. While you were looking right at me the whole time, I used my mental powers of awesome to hypnotize you while I drugged your food. Yep, so simple it was.”  <br/> <br/>“But, on a serious note, do you think this is too fast? I honestly, never had to think about whether something was too fast or not....” tone more curious than concerned.</span><br/><br/>A shrug moved through her shoulders while she glanced up at him and then back ahead at their walk. “Well, we haven’t defined what ‘this’ is, so it’s hard to say if it’s too fast or not. You’re trying to get to know me, and I you. It just happens that we talk frequently. Do you think whatever this is is too fast? Or normal for friends getting to know each other?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> It was a question that he took some time to answer,  “Well, if this was an online thing, we would have shared every bit of traumatic life experience we could think about and then we would fangasim over some piece of nerdom history, followed by being BFFs forever.”  <br/> <br/>“So...according to that, we are not going too fast. I don't think so, which means we are good,” voice confident as he explained his train of thought and hoped he did not sound as nerdy as he probably did sound.</span><br/><br/>“But this also isn’t the internet,” she reasoned with a perked brow, looking in his direction again. “We met…two days ago? And we’ve already had dinner together, lunch, planning on dinner again, have a date planned for Saturday, and are texting nonstop. Is that how it’s been with you and other friends?” Her tone wasn’t anything bad, no ill intentions in her words, but instead just curious if that was the norm for him.<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “I don't have many friends...” he said with a shrug. “I mean I have online people that I talk to on occasion but it is never as frequent as what we have been doing. Hmmm....” he paused in thought once again. “Maybe...we are going too fast....”  <br/> <br/>What was too fast and too slow he could not be whole sure, but he worried that there was the chance that he could somehow ruin it with them talking too much and being too involved with one another.</span><br/><br/>That had her stopping, to look up at him, giving him her full, undivided attention. “Do you think we’re going too fast? In your honest opinion…no maybes, no ‘possibly’…Do<span style="font-style: italic">you</span>think we’re going to fast?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> Now he felt like he was under a hot lamp, being interrogated about some crime that happened and they wanted to know where he was on Friday night. “It does not feel like we are...” he answered after a moment, though his hand came up to scratch the back of his head. “I like this, whatever it is and don't want it to suddenly stop. Rather just see where it goes, you know?” he finished at last.</span><br/><br/>His answer was…sweet. Though she was worried it might be a little too fast, she couldn’t deny that she liked whatever it was that was going on. “Well…then we can continue to see where it goes…” she answered quietly. “How else are we going to figure out whatever this is and where it could go if we don’t see it through?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Right!” his demeanor chipper and relaxed once more. “I mean, nothing says that we can't slow down later if we have to, right?”</span><br/><br/>“Well, it’s not like we’re really moving fast,” she reasoned. “We’ve not kissed, we’re not all over each other; We’re merely enjoying one another’s company, even if on a nearly constant basis. So, shall we continue our walk or do we have anything else we need discussed? I wouldn’t want to make you late for work, after all.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> <span style="font-style: italic">Kissing!</span> <br/> <br/>The concept alone had crossed his mind, but he had not thought that it was something she had thought about as well.  <br/> <br/>“Um...Kiss?” he asked. “Um...you think that is a possibility?” he managed to not stammer as much as he thought he would given the content of the question. A small victory for himself.</span><br/><br/>His reaction, the small pauses, the “um”, though the lack of stammering was an accomplishment in her mind, an adorable accomplishment. “Is kissing a possibility?” she repeated. “Well, that depends…can you handle kissing? You blush at a moment’s notice, and sometimes you’re confident while others you’re shy. The question really becomes do you want it to be a possibility.”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> “Well....” he began and gave a shrug while he looked away for a moment. “I had thought about it...once...or twice. So, then...it would be something that I would want to happen...” it took just about all that he had to not stammer all to hell. It felt like he had to think out each and every single syllable before he spoke. When they parted ways he would likely hide out in the men’s room for a brief moment and just have a mini freak out.  </span><br/><br/>She let the answer sink in, drag out the silence that settled in after he admitted he’d want to kiss her. But, rather than verbally reply right off, she gave him another hug and backed up a few steps, as though to leave him to his walk and start the trek to her own work. “The day you get comfortable enough to try kissing me…I may just let you; I’ve already kissed you on the cheek, so it’s up to you to up the ante.” With a grin, she took a few more steps back. “I trust you can find your way back to work from here?”<br/><br/><span style="color: #FF0000"> The hug was returned though he was still in a state of shock and uncertainty, “Yeah....I'm good from here.” A more confident smile finally given, “With some luck and a hope that day should not be too far off. Text me?”</span><br/><br/>“What’s luck got to do with it?” she called over her shoulder, having turned on heel to walk back work, grinning all the way. “And maybe I’ll text you. We’ll see.” That was her last remark before turning down an alleyway and disappearing, forcing herself to keep her steps light despite the overwhelming urge to skip and hum the entire way back.