The Gold and the Forest

XXVIII

Chapter 28: Iris

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"Hey! That was cheating right there!" Clan pointed animatedly at the TV screen they were playing a fighting game on. Iris had a smug look on her face as her fingers masterfully navigated the controller.

When he lost the fifth game in a row he turned towards her, handing the controller back to her and sighing dejectedly as he sagged over the armrest of the sofa.

She patted him on the back with a smirk. "Not so high and mighty, are ya?"

He pursed his lips and moved her hand off.

"Oh, c'mon." She sighed with a smile, putting her controller down and then resting her chin on his shoulder, her body pressing into his back.

They both went quiet.

"The party..." She began. "Do you want to continue that? Your brother stopped us before we..."

"He needed me." Clan turned around, and Iris was now laying between his legs, he gave her a look up and down and the playful smirk returned to his lips.

"I thought you didn't like me all that much, and that moment was just the party frenzy getting to you."

She sat up, adjusting her clothes and scooting away from him. His grin turned into a frown.

"You know, I'm okay with waiting until you get serious with me." She flicked her bangs out of her face, looking ahead at the screen. "As long as that takes. But if you don't think you'll be able to take me seriously just fuck off and date my friend again or something."

Clan stopped his train of thought upon the end of her sentence.

He opened his mouth and then paused.

"Yeah," Her voice was cold. "I know."

"Well that's something I can't talk my way out of."

"You could." She looked towards him, eyes softening. "But maybe you don't want to."

"Look, Riz." His voice was serious, something that sounded unnatural for a guy like him. He sat up properly. "I know I can't deny that I went out with your friend to piss you off, and I truly am sorry about it."

"Are you, now." Iris deadpanned, arms folded across her chest.

Declan pressed his lips together, holding back a laugh.

"See!" She pushed him by the arm, and he toppled onto the armrest again. "You don't really care!"

"I do!" He protested loudly but softened his voice when he noticed the subtle movement of her wrist, wiping her tears.

"Riz." He crossed his legs and grabbed her shoulders. She didn't move her head to look at him. "Riz, I'm sorry, okay?"

She sighed out heavily, annoyed. She shut her eyes, and a stray tear escaped down her cheek.

"Riz." He repeated, but softer.

"Riz this, Riz that!" She complained. "I'm Iris!"

"Iris."

Her head snapped to look at him, her lips parted in shock.

"You—" She mumbled. "You said my name."

"I would absolutely suck ass as your boyfriend." He admitted now that he had finally caught her attention. "And I will probably run off to rescue Carl's dumb ass if he ever gets into any trouble. The girls will never lay off this sexy boy. I'll probably be bad at talking about feelings."

She frowned deeply, giving him a scalding glare.

"So, what?" She snapped. "Your new tactic is to dissuade me from liking you? Funny joke, Declan—"

He stole a kiss from her lips, which promptly shut her up.

Pulling back, he shot her the most smug glance he could muster. She turned bright red upon realization of what he had just done.

"Declan!" She screeched.

"I'm asking you to date me, Riz." He stopped, thinking. "Or rather, Iris."

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