Guarded Masterwork

Chapter Five

Harry couldn't believe it. Nearly two years had gone by without a glimpse of this beautiful woman. It was a dangerous interaction for the young man because he knew for damn sure he'd say yes to whatever she was about to ask.

"Okay, Harry, listen... I know I, sort of, disappeared on you back then... but," It seemed the girl who liked to put on a facade of confidence and assuredness was lacking both at the moment. In some cynical way, he enjoyed it. He wanted her, but he also wanted her to acknowledge that he was also human and didn't deserve to just be dropped as if he was nothing. A proper relationship can't work if there is no mutual respect, and he was glad to see that she came to realize that he had feelings as well. That's why she was so nervous. She knew it was not in her place to be asking for a second chance. They both knew, and, in Harry's eyes, he could see the genuinity in her body language. "Would you, maybe, like to try agai- well, not again because it was one date, but would you like to-"

The long-maned man was putty in the beauty's hands, and he couldn't bear to see her fumbling so much with a simple request that he'd immediately succumb to. He understands that she knows what she did was morally wrong, even if it wasn't socially illicit, but he knew that whether she had regret it or not, he would have still accepted her invitation in an attempt to persuade her to become as captivated by him as he was to her. So, like the older gentleman he was, he kept the tradition by asking her, instead, so she wouldn't feel any more embarrassed or nervous as Harry couldn't quite pinpoint her exact emotions. "How about coffee tomorrow?" Excitement lightened the man's eyes like the stars that glistened above.

With a hitched breath, Sofia's heart pumped, noticeably. He hadn't allowed her to make a complete fool of herself. Harry outstretched his hand in an unvoiced truce and was willing to go on a second date. The past was left in the past, and she couldn't have been more grateful. Although Sofia wasn't entirely sure if she was able to give someone her entirety yet, but she was definitely willing to try.

Especially if it was for Harry.

As she noticed she still hadn't answered Harry's question, she stuttered, "I-uh-I," and as soon as she realized just what she was doing, her switch flipped.

This is Sofia for crying out loud, she's not supposed to stutter. She needed to keep her cool.

So, straightening her posture and pursing her lips, Sofia took control of her composure once more and confirmed.

It had been settled, they were to meet at a little old coffee shop not too far from the mall the following afternoon, and Harry made sure to get the girl's number before they had parted ways for the night, sealing their goodbye with a smile of youthful excitement.

"Okay, spill. Also, I wanted to ask this earlier, but I was kind of mad and wanted to be petty, but - oh yeah - why the hell did you not tell me when you went on a date with that god of a man, what the fuck Sofia?"

"Firstly, I knew you were mad, and, secondly, I don't know. It was just a long time ago, and I never ended up calling him back afterwards." Sofia was sat on the ledge of the bathtub watching as Liani waxed her legs, helping out when Liani needed a break from self-inflicting pain and had Sofia rip off the wax instead. "Wow, that barely took anything off. Are the beads still even in date?" Slightly agitated, Sofia was desperate to change the subject. She also wanted to keep her arranged lunch a secret from her best friend in fear of never winning another argument because Liani was right this one time. Sofia knew that if they had continued on with the topic, she'd spill the beans at some point whether it be intentional or not.

"I know, and I'm pissed. Like look at it, and I've got a whole other leg to go!" Not able to care less about the pain the heat of the wax could bring, Liani lathered some more over her freshly numb spot with a wooden stick and blew it to cool. All she wanted to do was check her phone and then go to sleep, but she was stationary to the one spot on the bathroom rug until completely finished. That was an order. To herself. "But yeah, anyway, what'd you guys talk about?"