Dancing With The Devil (part two)

Chapter 22: The Three Words

Astrid sadly walked back from Dominic's house feeling slightly guilty. As much as she liked Dominic, it wasn't what she wanted. She pushed her front door open and stepped into her house. Astrid inhaled calmly before turning the corner to find Jim sat down with his head in his hands. She leaned on the door frame and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I've never seen anyone with so many expressions on their face before." She said and Jim looked up. He laughed and stood up, slipping his hands into his pockets.

"I have," he pressed his lips together, "I used to see it every morning."

Astrid laughed softly as Jim walked a little bit closer to her, so that they were stood about a metre apart.

"Yeah well, I don't have as much to think about anymore," Astrid begun, "and if everything goes to plan tomorrow, we won't have to think about it ever again."

"Seb and Faith went upstairs."

"I guessed."

"What about your boyfriend?" he said and Astrid bit her lip, "You deserve him."

"Maybe," she stepped forward, "doesn't mean I want him."

She took his hand and pressed her body against him. Jim responded by warping his arms around her.

She breathed in his familiar smell and smiled, "We've never hugged properly before."

Jim chuckled, "Well, a few years ago I would have said never again... but this is nice."

After a good minute Astrid slowly pulled away so that they were looking at each other. He pushed a piece of her hair behind her eyes and traced her lip with his thumb. He opened his mouth to speak but decided against it. She lifted her arms up to rest on his shoulder and looked down at their feet.

"We probably shouldn't be doing this." she said and Jim nodded.

"Probably not."

She nodded her head in agreement, yet still did nothing to pull them out of the position they were in. She continued to look into his eyes, contemplating what to say next, well, she knew what she wanted to say, she just suddenly found herself incapable of speaking.

Astrid swallowed the lump in her throat and took a breath, she spoke the three words clearly and calmly.

"I love you."

Jim's face didn't move much, but they were close enough for Astrid to see right in to Jim's eyes. She saw Jim's pupils dilate and his lip twitch up into a smile for a second. Astrid smiled sadly and placed her hands on Jim's, lowering them from her face. She smiled again and walked towards the stairs, to be stopped by Jim's voice.

"Astrid," she stopped what she was doing and smirked. She turned around to face Jim who was also smirking gently, "I love you too."

Astrid smiled at him before turning back around and walking up the stairs.