SECRETS | D.S

twenty-four

Dinner and a movie seemed like the perfect way to end the week.

Dan arrived at Katie's shortly after six to find her draping a blanket over the couch, the table set and waiting.

Pizza and wine was something he'd never turn away, and after dinner, plates aside, they settled down to watch a film of his choice, which, by definition, was a dangerous idea. He chose something he thought they'd both enjoy, but it wasn't long before watching in silence became snippets of conversation during the more boring scenes.

"So, you survived your first week," Dan said, kicking at her bare foot with his sock, "to be honest, didn't think you would."

"Thanks for the confidence," she rolled her eyes, nudging him back, "but yes, I survived."

"I knew you would," his smile softened, and her cheeks were tinted red ever so slightly.

"It's good to be here, back home," she admitted, turning back to the screen again, "I didn't realize how much I missed it until I came back."

"I'm really glad you're here, too," Dan's head fell back against the pillows, "I mean, flights up to visit you would have been rather expensive."

"Would you really come all that way?"

"How could I not? You're too awesome to not have some idiot running after you, catching last-minute flights... the idiot being me, to clarify."

"Suppose you are an idiot if you think I'm worth flying out to Switzerland for," she smiled at him, her eyes shining.

"Of course you are."

"And to think... we might never have had a chance at friendship if I hadn't moved back..." she grew silent for a moment, no longer watching the characters dancing across the TV screen, "I'd never have given myself a chance to find... you... this... whatever this is..."

"What would you like it to be?" Dan's eyes melted into her own, the light of the television dancing across his face, softening his features.

"I..." the words hung on her lips, wanting to say the right thing, but tempted to follow her heart as well, sending her thoughts racing through her mind all at once... "I want this... you and I... curled up on the couch watching some stupid film, talking the night away..."

"Me too," Dan said softly, "as long as we're together, I don't care what we do... I can watch paint dry with you any day."

Her laugh tugged at his heart and his smile was genuine.

"I didn't quite mean that," her head fell against his shoulder as she cuddled into him just a little.

"I'll buy the paint."

"It's a date."

Should I... I don't know... maybe ... I --

His mind was running away with him again, a million pieces of what he wanted and what he was afraid of, spiraling through his body like fire. He could hear his heart beating in his ears, fast, feeling lightheaded, but only for a second before he decided to ignore the doubts screaming at him from within and do what he'd been dying to since that night at Hyde Park.

Slowly, he lifted her face to his, fingers brushing her skin gently, under her chin, her eyes meeting his, and he kissed her softly, so softly that at first, he wasn't sure he'd done anything at all, but she leaned into the kiss and he felt himself relaxing too, allowing the uncertainty to melt away.

One kiss became two, and soon, the world disappeared around them, his fingers working up into her hair as gently as possible, drawing her closer still. But she pulled away after a minute, abruptly cutting off the fireworks exploding inside his chest, and took a breath.

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing," she said quickly, "I just... I don't want this to move too fast... us..."

"Of course," Dan nodded, trying to rein in his emotions before he said something he might regret, "of course, sorry."

"I want this, trust me," she sat back, "all of this... us... but... I want to take our time, to really get to know each other before we... before this goes any further."

"Of course," Dan was still caught up in the moment they'd just had, "I want that too."

"You're amazing, Dan Smith," she kissed him softly, once more.

"You're amazing, too..."

"Right, tea?" her laugh was filled with relief as she stood, letting the film play on by itself.

"Sounds great," Dan nodded, standing to help clear the table.

He did the dishes while she made them tea, and just like that, they'd fallen back into easy conversation. As much as he wanted to be with her, to kiss her the way he just had, to wake up to her the next morning with a lovesick smile etched across his face, he knew that he wouldn't push her, not now, not ever, and he, too, wanted to take his time with this.

Because for the first time in what felt like forever, he was in love with a girl who made even the most boring of conversations feel like the best thing in the world.

And he couldn't wait to spend as much time with her as he possibly could.

Even if that was spent watching paint dry.