The parking lot
I held Professor Lee's—Daniel's—hand as we left the hospital, smiling up at him as he led me to his car. My face felt like it was permanently glued into it: I just couldn't stop smiling! I hadn't stopped since I had finally told him that I loved him, and neither had he.
"Gloria?" He said my name, it rolling off his lips in that way that always gave me chills as he opened the passenger's side door for me. I turned towards him. "Will you stay with me tonight?" I watched as his cheeks darkened a little, as if he had said something wrong. "Y-You said that you didn't want to go home; and there's really no reason for you to stay in a cheap hotel when you can just stay with me. I would rather you—I want you to stay with me..." He sounded almost as if he was rambling, and I felt myself smile. Was he nervous asking me this? Was he feeling shy? I gently pressed my fingers to his lips.
He's so cute when he's nervous.
"I want to stay with you, Daniel," I whispered, stepping towards him. "Can I stay at your place tonight? Can I stay there...every night?" I bit my lip as he reached up and removed my fingers, planting a gentle kiss on them.
"Yes," he smiled. I moved in to embrace him, and he leaned down to kiss me.
We kissed for several minutes—I couldn't get enough of it—until a strange crinkling sound caused me to pull away. Confused, I touched the suit jacket he had draped over my shoulders to keep me warm, hearing the sound again. Reaching into the inner pocket, I withdrew a single, red rose.
"What's this?" I asked, staring down at the flower. It looked like it had seen better days:—our prior embrace had clearly squashed it—but its petals were still full, and this beautiful, deep shade of red. I brushed my fingers along them.
"I-I bought that to give to you..." he replied, sounding shy again. I looked up to see that his face was pink again. "I wanted to give it to you after the musical was over. I had planned to tell you everything before you left the auditorium...after everyone else had gone. But I sort of forgot about it, considering..." He motioned towards the hospital behind us. "I can get you another one. One that hasn't been flattened..."
I just shook my head.
Carefully, I removed the rose from the plastic it was wrapped in. I broke off most of the stem, and then reached up and tucked it behind my ear. My eyes met his again, and I smiled.
"Do you think I'm pretty, Daniel?"
It was so corny, and he probably thought so, too; but he returned my smile as he let out a soft laugh. His fingers reached up to touch the flower, and then they touched my cheek.
"Yes. I think you're beautiful, Gloria."
As he leaned forward to kiss me again, flakes of the winter's first snow began to fall from the sky.
Perhaps, you and me...Yes! We can be!
YOU ARE READING
Perhaps (Book 1) | ✔
Romance"It started the first time I saw you..." * I was all alone. No one was there. No one knew that I was drowning right now. No one knew how much I was hurting. No one could see me... Except for one. Professor Lee... Yes. Professor Lee. My Professor Le...
