Who: Melanie and Triton What: Pizza date! When: Wednesday night, March 9, 2011 Where: Melanie's apartment Warning: TBD
Those little butterflies in her stomach wouldn't go away as Melanie put a fresh coat of color on her plump lips. She pressed them together giving the air a fake kiss. She looked sharp in her Greek style dress, black with silver embellishments. She was just slipping into her black high heeled shoes when she heard the knock on the door.
Just as Celano had said. Early. Running to the door being sure not to trip over her own feet she opened it. Her heart dropped when she realized it was her own pizza that she'd ordered. With a pout she ran back to the counter in the kitchen to get money for the delivery boy. She handed it over taking the pizza and shutting the door.
Then came another knock at the door.
As promised he had brought over more pizza, with the toppings he still remembered her liking. He was rather pleased to see Mel again. When she'd left eh had assumed he would not see her again, but here she was still bright as ever and all the more attractive.
He knew soon enough she'd ask why he still looked the same and he'd have to address that. But he had time.
Pizza boxes in hand he'd knocked and smiled at her when she opened the door. "You look ravishing, as ever."
Her smile returned when she saw that familiar face, chewing on her nail until he sat the pizza's down on the counter. She then took hold of his hands and pulled him in further to the small apartment. She was alone in this big city. No roommates, no pets, which was perhaps why she was so excited to see someone she knew.
Her heart bounced in her throat.
"You like it?" she said with a grin and a small twirl. "It's not blue, but I thought you'd like it," she slid her hair behind her ear. She was being openly flirtatious and she hoped he didn't mind.
Curious, he looked around the apartment rather glad for the sudden silence. His sister was ever the tempest, and despite him ignoring most of what she did it was still nice to be around someone who actually liked him.
"Of course, and you could wear anything and I'd still like it." He grinned, flirting right back as he sat down, "so tell me how you've been? And how was Japan?"
"I am quite sure a potato sack looks terrible on most everyone." She giggled slapping him playfully on the arm and pushing him towards the couch. There were still a few boxes around of things she didn't have the space to put it. She sat down beside him with her legs crossed, just nudged ever so slightly against his leg.
"Japan was different," she said cheerily. "Took a while to get used to some of the food and being the tall one in the crowd," though up against Celano she seemed short again. She liked that.
"I'm sure you'd manage it." Smiling he set his arm on the back of the couch, having missed how easy it was to talk to her and just be beside her. She didn't expect anything from him, and above everything he needed that.
"Did you at least take some pictures? I've never been there." He didn't think he could visit the island. It was so far from everything he'd ever been used to, and he doubted the local Gods of the island would be pleased with a Greek on their surface.
"Maybe with a cute pair of shoes and the right belt," she said with another laugh snuggling in a little closer. She'd missed this. This closeness without thought that he'd ever hurt her. It was hard to come across people these days that had other motives. Her last boyfriend had been just that. Nothing at all like Celano.
Her eyes wondered off for a moment, turning to face him, her elbow poised on against the couch, the other hand reached out for his to idly play with his fingers.
"Yes lots of pictures! Want to see?" She bounced but didn't want to get up just yet. "I loved Tokyo. It actually is a lot like the city here."
Smiling he set his arm around her shoulders. He was grateful she'd returned and still seemed to feel the same about him. This time he'd follow her pace, not wanting to scare her off again.
He let her play with his fingers before nodding, "That's why I asked. It sounds very unique. I've always had some small fascination with different cultures and countries."
She wasn't sure why she still felt this way, as if the time away had given her a chance to grow up a little, to realize what good there was in someone like him. A friend, someone who genuinely cared.
"Haven't you ever been anywhere else?" She couldn't remember if he'd ever said. She knew he was of Greek heritage but he didn't often get into details. She pulled him up off the couch into another room where she could set out all the pictures.
Pulling down a few picture boxes from the shelves in her bedroom she set them down on the bed and started to spread a few out to give him little stories here and there. Taking a seat she waited for him to join.
Pointing to one picture she smiled. "This was in the fall, in Kyoto, a garden staircase." There was so much culture there, old ancient things that America was still too young to have. She was fascinated, her eyes practically lit up.
"I lived in Italy for a little while, when I was younger. But my parents moved here after a while." He couldn't give her too much details. She'd start to wonder then. He didn't like lying, but it was a necessity. Perhaps in time he could fill her in.
He settled on the bed beside her, going through the pictures. "You still do actual pictures rather then online things. I'm impressed." He smiled, "and it's gorgeous, I envy you. You also have a good eye for things."
"Oh I'd love to go to Italy!" She bounced again.
"Yes I do! I want something I can hold on to..." her words slipped by very quietly in her sentence. She spread out a few more images giving him stories one right after the other. "I don't always have a good eye," she said after a while feeling that pout hit. Drawing her legs up fully onto the bed she curled them turning to face him again.
Maybe if she just kissed him, something, anything, this feeling would stop tugging her around.
"It was one of my favorite places. Very beautiful. I spoke the language for most of my youth, then had to learn English. It wasn't easy." He chuckled, "Oh I agree. Most technology things escape me. I'm pretty sure if my computer wasn't very user friendly I'd manage to blow it up somehow."
He glanced to her, knowing that expression. "What's wrong?"
"I'm sure it's gorgeous." She grinned. "Don't you miss it?" She chewed on her bottom lip scooting a little closer and pushing some of the pictures out of the way.
"Nothing," she said shaking her head, pulling her hair behind her ear nervously, still glancing down. She couldn't look at his face, into those eyes at the moment.
"I didn't think I'd miss you this much..."
"Well yes I do, but I've come to enjoy this country as well. I mean, I miss Greece too but I have a home here now." He watched her, trying to catch her eyes. He smiled at her words, reaching out to set his hand on her cheek. "As I've missed you. I don't want to rush you again Mel, but I'm willing to give us another try. Maybe I was too eager the last time, I've learned from my mistakes."
Her cheek flushed lightly at that touch, a smile smile that she couldn't help. She looked up at him now, those big brown eyes. "Way to go slick," she said jokingly, "you know just what to say don't you?" She felt a little breathless.
Her hand reached up to touch his. She let it stay there for a while until she just moved forward for a kiss.
He smiled and returned the kiss, drawing back after a while. "I have my moments." He kissed her again before drawing back, "but let's have dinner, and you can tell me all about your trip." He rose and offered her his hand.
Her hands gripped his face, hoping that when he drew back that the feeling would be quenched. It wasn't and the more he played so sweet the more she remembered how much she adored him.
Hopping down off the bed she took hold of his hand. It wasn't long before she tugged him close again, her hands on his face again, pulling him down to her level so she could make this up to him. She kissed him again.
Didn't he want her?
He blinked as she kissed him, but returned it. With a smile he drew back, a little confused at her. He didn't want to rush her, and he wanted to catch up before anything else was to happen.
Gently he guided her to the kitchen, still a bit lost, "so where are your plates?"
She felt a little embarrassed now, not sure herself where this was all coming from. She blushed turning her head down, picking at her bottom lip between two fingers.
"I'm sorry," she apologized, "I don't know where that came from," laughing at her own embarrassment. "My last boyfriend wasn't so...." she shook her head before trying to continue, "he wasn't so considerate. Now, with you here," she wiped under her eyes a little not wanting her mascara to run, "I don't know anyone and then you show up." She shrugged not realizing why she was getting so emotional over it all.
She held onto his hand "You have no reason to be so nice and...." she tried to take a deep breath.
He stepped forward to settle his arms around her, "hey now." His voice was calm and he ran his hand along her back. "We both made mistakes. I tried to go to fast and didn't listen to you. I didn't agree with how you escaped me by going across the planet," he grinned at that, "but I'm not angry. If I was, I'd not have talked to you again. I don't keep grudges." Smiling he set his fingers under her chin to get her to look at him, "I still care for you, but I'm not going to rush. I want to catch up with you."
She took another deep breath trying to calm down those ridiculous hiccup like sobs that were coming out making her feel so stupid. They were small, not nearly an overreaction, but enough of one to keep her feeling embarrassed. Her bottom lip pouted out as he lifted her chin forcing her to look at him.
Hands settled on his arms, she felt a little light-headed. "You can be, I was pretty stupid." She bit her bottom lip, "And scared."
He continued to run his fingers down her back, trying to calm her down. He had no idea what could have caused her to cry like this. He hoped it hadn't been him. He smiled at her and set a kiss on her forehead, "you were young. Nothing that we can't fix."
Her arms snaked in around him, finding contentment at hearing his steady heartbeat.
She waved off her ridiculousness, he didn't need to see her like this. To see her upset over what she wasn't sure herself. He was just everything most guys weren't, she wondered why she'd let it slip through her fingers. He was perfect. Laughing she looked back up at him, still a little dizzy. "I'm being ridiculous, I don't even know why I'm," she shook her head, "I don't know why I'm crying."
He ran his hand along her hair, doing his best to calm her. He figured the stress of it all, of having moved back and knowing no one, was just getting to her.
He smiled at her, making her sit down and getting her a plate with a slice of pizza. "Eat something. You're probably just stressed out from the move and the culture shock. It's fine."
"I'm glad you're here," she said in a soft whisper.
She shook her head vigorously, agreeing as she took a seat taking another deep breath as the pizza was put down in front of her. She beamed at the slice.
"You did remember."
He smiled at her, "I'm glad I'm here too." He took his own slice and sat down before her, "told you I did. I have a good memory." He winked at her then.
She smiled through a mouthful of pizza trying to keep the cheese and pizza sauce from getting all over her face. She nodded contently eating until the slice was gone. She'd have gone for another but she wasn't as hungry as she was before, her stomach still in knots.
Scooting her chair over she rested her head on his shoulder. "So what else do you want to know?"
He smiled at her as he finished his own meal, offering her another slice. "Anything you want to share really. Hows your family?" He knew she'd lost her parents, but he assumed she had a better relationship with her siblings then he did with his own.
She waved away the slice, which was odd considering the girl did know how to pack away food. Especially junk food. "My sister's are okay. Amanda is doing okay and Jill is expecting her first baby. She's hoping it's a boy, she wants to name it after Dad. And Kristie called just yesterday to check up on me. They're all doing well."
She moved off his shoulder. "And your's? Aside from the situation you told me about earlier. How's your mother doing?"
"I'm glad for that." At least her family was more normal then his. Although you didn't have to try hard for that. He wondered why she didn't want more, so just finished the slice for her.
"She's alright. Well as alright as she'll be for a while. Other then that, pretty much the same. I plan to spend some time with my little brother tomorrow. You'd like him. Spunky kid."
She nodded enjoying the talking, forgetting about her lapse in bad judgment and silly reaction a few moments before.
"She's got a great son around," she nudged him lightly with her elbow. "I bet she's glad to see you." She paused a little confused "Little brother? You never mentioned a younger brother before. Just how old are you're parents?"
He realized his mistake then and gave a small smile. "My father's a bit older, as is my mother. He's not my full brother though." He watched her, "my father had an excursion in London, met a young girl who was too drunk and well..." he waved his hand. "The girl kept the child, but wants nothing from my father. I've only met him a few times so far. Hi mother, she's a bit wary. If you knew my father, you'd understand."
"Oh," she said still trying to piece it together. "He fond of younger girls?" the thought suddenly made her a little wary about his family herself. "Is he not a nice person?"
If she had any idea what she was dealing with maybe she'd know how to handle it if she were to ever meet his family. Them all being in the city, the chances were likely if their relationship went anywhere this time.
He sighed, "he's fond of any girl." He shook his head, "not exactly." He smiled at her, "but nothing you have to worry over alright?"
Her brows raised a little, "Oh," was the soft reply. She knew she shouldn't wonder about Celano himself, no one was their parents, but she wondered if that was why he was so sweet.
She nodded sucking in her bottom lip. "I learned self defense in Japan," she laughed. "Took a few classes."
"Good, but probably unnecessary." He smiled at her then kissed her temple, "so let's talk about something beyond my rather crazy parents hm?"
"What do you want to talk about?" she offered standing up and flattening out her dress. She tugged on his hand to pull him back to the living room, though the rooms themselves were practically one.
Plopping off her heels she waited for him to sit then followed by sitting in his lap, letting her legs stretch out across his and onto the couch.
He always made her feel so comfortable. Smiling he settled his arms around her waist, "anything. Everything." Smiling he set his head on her shoulder. "I like hearing about you. It reminds me there are normal people out there."
She giggled resting her arm around her shoulders letting her fingers play with the hair on his neck.
"I'm not normal," she blushed.
"You're more normal then I am, which is always a plus. My family is...screwed up." He sighed, "so please indulge me in tales of some sort of normalcy."
Her fingers rose a little higher massaging his neck and scalp. "Did I tell you of the time I went to get my hair dyed in Japan? Or how terrible they messed up the haircut." She laughed lightly.
He leaned into the touch, loving it. "Now this you have to tell me. What color did you get put in it?"
"Well," she started spreading her fingers out each time she moved her hand against his neck then pulled back. "I was going for a strawberry blonde but it ended up bleached. Bleach which the next day turned an almost light green," she wrinkled her nose. "And the haircut," she near snorted at the memory, which then hadn't been that funny at all. "It was shoulder length. I looked like something out of a cartoon. It was horrible. You would have laughed."