Red Room Hours with John Tan

Romance

It was five thirty and you weren't even close to being ready, how had the day gotten away from you so quickly? Classes and a study group then you'd barely made it back to your room with time to shower and change. Hair dryer in one hand, mascara wand in the other, you were beginning to become frazzled, when you heard the knock at your door. No, absolutely not, he couldn't possibly be thirty minutes early, what happened to meeting him at his car? Fluffing your mostly dry hair and swiping mascara on your remaining lashes you ran to the door, and peaked through the peephole. He had his back to the door but he was there, way too early. You were still wearing your towel, the yellow dress you'd chosen hung over your closet door, untouched.

With a sigh you pulled the door open and felt the emotions building, John stood there, neatly dressed in dark jeans, not a rip in sight and a white button down shirt with swirls of pink flowers down the front. He was holding a beautiful bouquet of pink roses in one hand a teddy bear in the other. He took you in slowly and blushed furiously.

"I'm early, I'm so sorry Y/N, I can wait in the hall. Damn, I've messed this up, I wanted to do something cute and I'm ruining it." He stuttered out the words backing up and you reached out taking his arm and yanked him into the room.

"John don't you dare! This is the sweetest thing any guy has done for me, don't apologize!" You slipped the flowers from his hand lifting them to smell the sweet aroma and then pressed yourself against him wrapping your arms around his neck to hug him close. "This was very thoughtful, I'm just running behind. Give me a couple minutes okay?" You pulled back and kissed him softly, he relaxed, clearly nervous which made it even more adorable. You handed the bouquet back to him and took the teddy bear squeezing it's softness.

"He's so cute! Thank you, you're so sweet John. Can you put those in water while I finish getting ready? There should be a water bottle or something big enough over the sink by the fridge." He nodded turning to do as you asked.

"I thought you might need your own Boof, for when I'm not around, ya know?" You were not going to dissect that thought. You set the bear by your pillow on the bed then opened the dresser removing lingerie. Finally you tugged the dress from the hanger and hurried back into the bathroom, shutting the door.

You sped through the last of your hair and make up, slipped on the lingerie then pulled the yellow dress over your head and smoothed it over skin already silky with perfumed lotion. A glance in the mirror made you smile, the yellow dress brought out the rosiness of your cheeks and the shine in your locks. When you opened the door and returned to the bedroom, John immediately stood from his seat at your desk, his eyes on you intently.

"I know I always say it, but Y/N, you look beautiful. This is my new favorite dress." He linked his fingers with yours and turned you so he could see the dress from all angles. He must have enjoyed the view because he turned you once more then pulled you into his arms kissing you from the corner of your mouth down to the pulse in your neck. You felt dizzy with the attention and spinning and felt it deep into your tummy.

"Everyone is going to be jealous of me with your shirt unbuttoned so low," you dragged a fingertip down his revealed skin from collar halfway to his belly button with a laugh.

"I won't notice, I'll be looking at you." It was John's turn to laugh, probably at how cheesy his line sounded, but it felt sweet too and you brushed your lips to his warmly. "We should get going, but you need a sweater or jacket, it's a little cool out right now." The emotions started again, was he taking care of you?

Stepping away you opened the closet and pulled out the yellow sweater from the book store afternoon, your mind immediately going back to the bracelet cord you'd stuck in the pocket that day. You looked to your jewelry box on your dresser and wondered if you should have returned it by now. Maybe he thought you'd thrown it away with the empty cups? You banished the thought from your head, the last thing this night needed was the memory of Bree, you'd spent too much energy on her already today. Tossing the sweater over your forearm you stepped into a pair of comfortable heels. He reached out and looped your fingers again and you were out the door.