Butterfly and Flame - Alina and Evan

Moonlight

It had been a very long day. She plopped onto her bed and brought the pillow up on top of her chest to hug it tight. She closed her eyes and she saw him there. Standing at his car as they said goodbye. He thanked her for the meal and the company and told her that he had enjoyed them both. He leaned against his car and said that in all the happenings of the day he had forgotten to give her something that he intended to give her when he arrived at the studio. He never mentioned her attack and she silently thanked him for it. He reached behind his seat and brought out a small brown paper bag with a handle and a bow of tulle tied to the top. He gave it to her but only on the condition that she open it now. She smiled and her eyes shown with wonder and excitement to know that he had thought about her enough to buy her a gift. It was so unexpected and she couldn't think of what it could possibly be. He said that when he saw it he thought of her immediately. Well now she was intrigued. Taking the bag she realized it was a bit heavy. She looked at him through her eyelashes with a smirk on her mouth and said "Evan Alexander what have you done now". He raised his hands in surrender and shrugged his shoulders. She pulled out a black box that was just a bit bigger than her hand. She lifted the lid and saw that there was silk bag holding something placed in the center of a foam cut out. She furrowed her brow at not knowing what it could possibly be. She looked up to take a look at him watching her with a look of anticipation on his face. She lifted the silk bag and felt the weight of it in her hand. She untied the drawstring of the silk bag and slid her fingers through the opening noting that she touched a cold hard surface. As she pulled it out she realized it was a frame but upside down. Turning it face up she opened her eyes wide and breathed in slowly making the shape of an "o"'with her mouth. Slowly a smile spread across her face that reached her eyes. It was even more beautiful by the light of the moon and the streetlight from above. Evan starred at her delighting in her reaction to his gift. "Evan. I don't know what to say!" He looked down at her hands holding the frame and said "you don't have to say anything, so you like it?" Alina looked up stunned that he even asked her that. "Like it. I love it! I've never been given something so beautiful before other than my grandmothers necklace. Truly this is as beautiful as that. Evan. I didn't know you even took a picture of me. Thank goodness it was before I was run over by "Henry" the great". She smiled warmly. "Its beautiful. You caught me tossing the coin and turning at the last minute to see it land. How did you do it so quickly"? Evan smiled a warm and full smile at her and said that he had watched her run through the gates, late of course; pass the fountain and then go back and start rifling through her purse in search of something. It was obvious to him then that she was looking for a coin to toss. "I decided to snap a picture because the lighting was perfect....and I took a chance on the model.... because she looked perfect too." Evan said it so calmly and without a fuss that she did a double take when she looked up at him as he was speaking and looking at the frame, and then back to him again. He saw her blush. The pink glow spread across her face and down to her neck. She was looking up at him with wide eyes and a small smile. Suddenly becoming shy and quiet. He decided he should keep talking in order not to ruin the mood with too much silence. "I found the frame while running around the city during some appointments. The frame is vintage I believe, from the turn of the last century. It's also solid silver. I didn't know what I was looking for until I saw it. The butterflies engraved and carved out in relief on it drew my attention immediately. It reminded me of you." Alina stood there staring at Evan as he spoke. Staring at his eyes, his lips that were so beautiful and his strong jaw. He was simply gorgeous and he was standing in front of her giving her an amazing and sentimental gift and all she could do was stare. "I'm ah. I...uhm." Suddenly she felt hot and nervous and scarred all at once. "Evan, Thank you!" Before she could bolt, which was what it looked like she was preparing to do he reached out to her arm and he immediately felt her warmth and a current that ran from her to him. He used his other hand to do the same. Now she was within his arms, just a foot away from him. "Alina it made me happy when I saw that picture of you. Happy that the picture developed perfectly and..... happier to be able to give it to you". Alina felt like she couldn't breath. She looked down, sideways and finally back up to him and once again thanked him for the lovely gift and the sentiment. She broke contact by saying that it was late and she knew he had a long ride ahead of him. She would call him in the morning so that they could go over their schedule. She noticed that he momentarily showed disappointment in her words but then it was gone from his eyes and he smiled agreeing that it was time he left.