collaborative love | [ON GOING] ×

page 22

Cadence
Elliot

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CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO
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   "I still can't think of why this was a good idea." Cadence said, curling up on Elliot's couch for about the third time in her life. She had just come over about half an hour ago for a movie night Elliot insisted was an "inspirational plan". "So far I don't feel inspired."

   Elliot scoffed as he crouched in front of the DVD player sitting in the TV stand. "Sometimes your pessimist personality really does a number on me, charming."

   Cadence rolled her eyes and adjusted her position to lean against the arm rest of the couch while she hugged one of the pillows to her chest. Her eyes roamed Elliot's figure, finding herself admire his generic frame. While Cadence had a soft spot for shirmpy-looking boys, Elliot was much more buff, and she surprisingly found herself attracted to it. Though Elliot was for sure not her type. At all.

   "And the movie night hasn't even officially started yet, so you couldn't be inspired yet anyways." Elliot said as he closed the DVD case, placing a DVD into the player and closing it.

   "God, I hate you." Cadence mumbled to herself as she looked away from him right before he turned around to get up. He threw the case on the floor gently and walked back over to the couch, sitting too close to Cadence than she would have liked.

   Elliot's gaze linked with hers while they both remained silent. He started leaning closer to her, Cadence shirking back into the corner of the couch as his arm stretched past her to the arm rest, all words fleeing from her mind while he did so. Inches between their faces dwindled as he continued to lean in closer, until he stopped. Cadence remained calm and composed on the outside, though her heart rate accelerated dramatically. Her eyes remained on his, as did his vice versa, except for a fleeting moment where Elliot let his gaze drop to Cadence's lips. She blushed profusely and bit her lip nervously.

   Fuck.

   Elliot's eyes found hers again and he leaned back, putting more distance between them before he did something he'd soon regret, and brought his arm back. With the remote now in his hand, which had just been on the end table beside Cadence, he held it up and grinned at her. Sitting back into the couch and resting his useless arm on the back of the couch, his hand behind Cadence's head, Elliot pointed the remote at the TV to turn it on. Cadence took the time he looked away from her to squeeze the pillow she held and mentally cuss herself out.

   JESUS FUCKING CHRIST.

   Her hand went to her mouth to cover it, glaring at Elliot, wondering if she stared hard enough, would it put holes in the side of his head? She took deep breaths to calm herself as Elliot switched the TV settings to get the main menu up of the movie.

   "Fucker." She muttered, readjusting her position to rest her sock covered feet on the coffee table in front of her, pushing herself even further into the arm rest of the couch, and further away from Elliot.

   He smiled to himself, hearing her swear at him. He did need to better control himself though, he couldn't help but find himself attracted to her immensely. Which wasn't the best for their professional relationship.

   "What bloody movie are we watching anyways?" Cadence finally asked, breaking the awkward silence. Elliot pressed play and set the remote on the table.

   "10 Things I Hate About You."

   "Seems suiting."

   He turned his head in her direction, seeing her even farther from him now with still hot red cheeks, causing him to smirk. "Are you saying I have good taste?"

   "I honestly have no idea where you get your bright ideas from." She glared at him and hugged the pillow tighter.

   "Someone's in a bad mood, I see." He leaned back into the cushions of the couch, putting his arm on the back of it again, his hand close to Cadence's head again. "Disappointed maybe?"

   "No jackass. Don't make assumptions."

   "Funny. What did you assume I was doing that made you so upset, Cadence?"

   "Can we just watch this fucking movie so I can go home?"

   He smirked more and remained quiet as the last movie trailer stopped playing, turning his attention to the screen, as did Cadence.

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   The movie was about half way through and it was now almost 10:00PM, according to the clock hanging right above the TV. Cadence now had her head resting on her arm, on the back of the couch where Elliot's arm used to be. Since he moved, Cadence took the advantage to lay her head down, getting rather sleepy. She wasn't enjoying the movie to say the least.

   Her eyes droopy, she struggled to keep them open. Waking up and dozing off, off and on, Cadence eventually gave up and let herself drift off, not caring if she hurt Elliot's feelings.

   Elliot had his hands rested on his leg, which was crossed over his other one. He noticed how Cadence went even more silent than she was before, as she had been making negative comments throughout the entire film. He looked over and noticed her fully asleep now.

   He playfully rolled his eyes and smiled, slowly and carefully scooting closer to her, putting his arm around the back of her head and reaching to put some strands of her hair, that had fallen in her face, behind her ear. Lightly brushing them away, he halted as Cadence groaned lowly and snuggled her head against her arm. Elliot's hand made its way onto her thick brown hair and petted it gently.

   He continued to watch the movie by himself as he allowed his hand to play with her hair softly, trying not to wake her, but let her sleep.

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is it just me, or is elliot a FUCKING CREEP

and before any of you say they're basically strangers, they've been "friends"/co-workers for almost their entire careers, SO

THEY HAVE HAD THE TIME TO BE ATTRACTED TO EACHOTHER
just, not get to kNow :')

i felt like him playing with her hair might have been too soon for people coming in with no context and them not even being a couple
oh well

OH WELL