Amidst love and heartbreak

Teasing Emily

Ethan’s POV

The dinner was nice and calm, apart from the constant teasing and half-bickering with each other. One thing is sure. I will never get bored with this girl. Once we finished dinner I suggested we go to watch a movie. I had already chosen a typical girl movie. I wanted her to have a good time but I can’t deny that I had fun as well. The romance was actually full of heated scenes and her blushing face was the best. If only I could have taken a picture… 

The only thing I am thinking about now is what will she do when we finally go all the way. Will she be that embarrassed or will she finally let herself go. By the end of the movie, when the couple was finally happily together and there were no more scenes that made her uncomfortable, I decided to slide an arm on her shoulders and to my surprise, she didn’t push it away. It’s not that she leaned her head on my shoulder or anything, but the fact that I could pass my fingers through her hair from time to time and caress her neck, made me see that she was finally letting me in somehow.

“The movie was actually great,” I said while we were leaving the theatre.

“It was not that bad,” she said, probably trying to avoid further comments. 

“Oh, I bet you loved when they were in bed together. You were probably imagining being with the guy instead of the heroine,” I teased. I know some of the girls do imagine this while watching a movie with a hot guy as a lead character.

“No, I was not,” she said sternly. Anger was most probably rising inside of her.

“No, you’re right. You were probably imagining me, doing that at you,” I said teasing her once more. What could I do? She was so cute when she was angry and I couldn’t stop myself.

Emily’s POV

The nerve this guy has sometimes. How could he say something like that so easily? I can’t believe it. I think I have figured him out by now. He is trying to tease me but the problem is that I can’t stop reacting to his remarks. Everything is so new to me that my reactions are pretty spontaneous. 

We got back in his car and he said he wanted to show me a place he had recently discovered that he thought I would like. He put some music on while driving. The silence was a comfortable one. I can’t believe I am not feeling any uneasiness or anxiousness near him. I feel like I can let myself free and he won’t judge me for anything I do and I love the feeling. For the first time in my life, I can be totally free and be whoever I want without thinking twice if it is the right choice or not. At least I don’t want to think about it right now.

I was so lost in my thoughts that I didn’t even notice that we had stopped in front of my favourite book store. It was at the far west of the city and it is the only place you can find rare books that no one keeps these days. That’s practically my hiding place when I want to hide from the world and just want to read for a couple of hours.

“Where are we?” I asked pretending that I didn’t know the place.

“This is a place I found this morning. I wanted to end the date with a nice gesture like buying you flowers or something, but it wouldn’t be me.  Some people buy flowers, I bring you to a bookstore. At least the book…”

“...will last longer,” we said in unison and we both started laughing at what we had said. It was very important to me that whoever I was going to date should at least like to read. Reading and writing was a huge part of my life, so I wanted someone that would understand this part of my life. I am impressed that Ethan, the person that I almost expected to, brought me to a bookstore.

We entered and I was a kid in a candy shop once more. The smell of books and the different sizes and shapes of these books always put me in a state of trance. This was my personal heaven which today I have to cut short because it is almost eleven and the boy behind the counter will close pretty soon. We should have come here earlier is the first thing that came through my mind. But then we would have not had any dinner or movie because I know I tend to get stuck here for hours.

After I got a couple of books, I met Ethan by the counter. He had one on his hands and his credit card out ready to pay.

“Put everything here,” he said to the boy and he took the books from my hands.

“Oh, no. I will pay for them,” she said in a hurry to stop the boy.

“Remember, this is my version of flowers, so no arguing,” he said and I decided not to argue anymore in front of the boy.

Once we left the shop, I turned to him before entering the car and he tried to hand me the books but I had other plans. I stepped towards him and stopped right in front of him. I raised my arms… and then put them back down.

“Wha…,” Ethan started saying but stopped when he saw my arms up again and I took the last step before putting my arms on his neck and pulling him to myself. Our lips were only an inch apart from each other. In a heartbeat, I raised myself on my toes and finally kissed him. It didn’t take much for him to wrap his arm around my waist and pull me closer while his tongue invaded my mouth to show what he was feeling at the moment. He pushed me to his car and I was trapped between his body and the car, but I didn’t mind giving in. For the first time in my life, I didn’t mind losing control. This went on for a couple of minutes until suddenly he pulled himself away from me and passed his free hand through his hair. He closed his eyes for a few seconds and then shook his head before opening them again.

“I better bring you home before the naughty Ethan comes back. I am still trying to behave here, but you are not making it easy, baby,” he said and opened the door for me.

I could see him very disoriented through the whole drive back to my home, but he never spoke. From time to time he would pass his fingers through his hair. A nervous tick most probably. But why would he be nervous? It’s me who lost it and kissed him.from time to time a smile would creep on his face but he pulled a straight face almost immediately.

When we went back to my house I didn’t wait for him to open the door and went out as soon as he stopped. He did the same and came after me.

“Baby, you forgot something?” he asked while raising his arm holding a bag with our books in it. I went to get it from him but he pulled his arm away and leaned forward before capturing my lips once more. This time it was sweeter than the kiss we shared outside the bookstore and way more controlled.

“I am sorry I lost control earlier. I will try to slow down until you are comfortable with certain things,” he said once he pulled from the kiss. This is something I hadn't expected from him.

“I think I lost control as well, but thank you for understanding and pulling away,” I said and took a few steps before turning to him once more.

“Good night, Ethan. Thanks for the incredible first date. It was particular and well thought,”

“Do I get a second date?” he asked when I was finally at my door.

“We’ll see…” I responded and finally entered the house and closed the door.

This has been an incredible night and the date with Ethan was perfect. I definitely didn’t expect this from him. When I entered my room though I saw everything I had left out of place and the fight with Aron came back through my mind. Another feeling came through me almost washing the new sensations away. It was a feeling that I had rarely experienced in my life. Guilt.