The Acceptance

Chapter 6: Stunned

I gave you a tour of my loft as promised, moving from room to room while trying to gather the nerve to breach the topic weighing on my mind, only to be interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. I excused myself to go answer the phone, leaving you in the kitchen to explore. To no-ones surprise it was my mum calling to check up on me and fill me in on the comings and goings of my father and brothers. I tried unsuccessfully for the better part of 20 minutes to get her off the line in polite manner and finally reached the end of my tether and told her I needed to go to the toilet and that I would call her back tomorrow. Not at all ladylike but an effective excuse I used in dire situations.

I returned to the kitchen only to find you weren't in there. I called out to you and got no reply. Disappointment hit me as I reasoned that you had left while I was on the phone and cursed my mother out loud. I nearly jumped out of my skin when I heard a laugh coming from my bedroom. I quietly walked to my room determined to scare you as you had scared me, however once I got there all thoughts of revenge quickly dissipated at the sight of you sitting on my bed cross-legged flicking through my photo albums.

Your eyes met mine as you laughed heartily at a picture of me in primary school with pig-tails and glasses. "I didn't know you wore glasses." You choked out between gasps for air.

"Well wore is the key word in that sentence, they were corrective, so I didn't wear them for long. You comfortable there?" I figured if she could be cheeky then so could I.

"Yes quite, I'm sorry you were on the phone for ages, and so I thought what the hell I would just continue the tour by myself. I didn't get very far; I stumbled on these treasures and got thoroughly distracted." You explained pointing at the albums now strewn across my bed before patting a clear spot next to you, inviting me to join you.

"Sorry about that, well my mum can talk and... well you get it." I blushed furiously as I saw the picture she now held in her hands. It was the customary naked baby in the tub photo that no person in their right mind shows to their guests and now the object of my infatuation held it in her sights. I silently prayed for lightning to strike me down and end my misery for the fates were definitely against me and as they say you can't fight fate.

"You were so cute!" You gush as if talking to a toddler.

"Hey you weren't meant to see that and what do you mean by were cute, I'm still cute dammit!" I teased, knowing that you would pick on me mercilessly if I didn't distract you from the photographic evidence of my most embarrassing and awkward moments.

A sober moment past and I thought that I had out stepped my bounds and had somehow ruined the moment, before you quiet replied "No honey, you are not cute. You are beautiful."

I sat there stunned. No one had every called me beautiful... well, except my mum, and she doesn't count.

I didn't know how to respond and I could feel my defenses going up in response to the overwhelming torrent of emotions hitting me at once. Before I could completely shut you out you leaned in and pressed your soft lips to mine.

It amazed me how well you could anticipate my reactions, how you softly continued the kiss until the shock gave way and I could respond to the kiss that I had imagined over and over since we met. As we parted I whispered that you were the beautiful one so quietly that I didn't think that you had heard me, until a soft 'thanks' passed in your lips.