Not So Sweet Candyland

XXII: Eve of a Good Night

"You know, I really appreciate that you stay by my side, even though you know I can be a bit wild."

"What do you mean?"

"I'm talking about this adventure so far. We haven't really done much, but what we have done, it's been fun. We got to know each other and we get to see places."

"Ok, I'm getting a little scared. The normal Berry would call me an idiot and beat me up by now."

Berry giggled.

"What do you mean? No, I'm just feeling good tonight. For the first time in who knows how long, I feel youthful and free. Like I want to dance, even if I'm all alone."

She got up from her spot at the fireplace and looked at Chase.

" are you feeling little playful today, perhaps?"

"Huh?"

"Not like that, but I mean that do you want to get in some trouble with me?"

"You think trouble is hot?"

"Trouble's hot when I'm the dominant one."

Chase's eyes widened.

"I'm not saying that we have sex, but, let's pretend to be a couple and dance around this fireplace. And, also because you're a terrible terrible dancer."

"Nice, the old Berry is back. I thought I lost her."

Berry rolled her eyes.

"Of course, you thought that you did. Not very surprising, considered whatever comes out of your mouth like 50% percent of the time. You either ask questions or add nothing to what we are looking for. Are you that useless in the real world too?"

"No. I just don't talk ever. Only when I'm supposed to."

"Wow. You just wanna slide through life as easy as you can. I know people like you, and that makes me sick. If people don't recognize you then you can get away with the simplest crimes."

Berry inched closer to Chase's face and Chase got panicked for a second.

"It's not like that at all! I'm just saying that in life, I just get by."

"So, you're basically cheating at life?"

"Why do you have to open your mouth and accuse me of the dumbest things?"

"I like to make fun of people who have no personality, and you're no exception." She poked Chase's chest and Chase rebounded a little bit.

"No need to get scared, it's only me."

And at a sudden, Chase's stiffness melted and his lips curled up to a smile and his face got pink.

"So, will you dance with me?" Berry seemed calm as well, as she just pulled a spell on Chase.

"I will."

She grabbed his hands. His hands were on her waist and her arms were on his shoulders.

"We're not going to do anything fancy, ok? Just sway with me, ok? Unless you find some way to step on my feet like last time, then we should be ok."

"Why would you think that I would mess up?"

"Because you do, Chase. You're the sticky situation, and I'm water to you. I save you from your sticky situations. But, what if one day, I couldn't save you? Would you fend for yourself? No. I won't let you die on my watch, I lost lives because of my carelessness, and I feel if I create a bond with somebody, they will either push me away or die. It happens everytime."

"I will try not to die, because I know that underneath your tough exterior, you're just lost in life and you feel at times that you have no purpose. I lacked a life because my life had none of this. My life at home is very utopia like, it seems. But, coming here on accident might have been the best decision that I ever made. Because I met you."

"You're making me blush."

"Are you serious?"

"In a way."

"So, I guess I found your soft spot?"

"What makes you think that you trying to sweet talk me will get you anywhere? Will it boost your ego or something like that? Even though you say that you are a guy that lacked a lively life, was your life really like that? Back at home, in Colorado. I kind of feel like you're lying, know why? Your actions seems like they're done out of routine, like you touched a girl like this before. Have you?"

"Not this close, I never danced with a girl like this before."

"Really? I still find that hard to believe."

"Then, what you say. It'll be hard to win you over, we both have cold exteriors, but we could be two different, or two of the same."

Berry stood back for a second.

"Chase Villanova, did you actually say those words out of your mouth? I'm impressed."

"I'll impress you in more ways than one of you really want me to." He winked at Berry.

"Geez, I thought that you were imitating me. I guess being right by me got you to learn how to talk to people."

"I learn from experience for most things."

Berry laughed for a second and that's when she stopped dancing and sat down from the fireplace.

"You know, when I first met you, based on the way that you looked, I thought that you were going to be this cocky, conceited jock that thinks that with a bad wink and some terrible pick up lines, that you could get whatever girl you wanted. You might be that way at home, but you seemed quiet and distant."

"Looks aren't everything, you know."

"Hey, I'm just saying. If you saw me, you'd never think that I was a princess. We're in the same boat."

"This world, do you want to explore it with somebody? It seems as if you know how to get out of here, but you won't tell me."

Berry awkwardly laughed.

"Because that would be boring. You meet me and then we get out together? You would probably forget about me and then go back to your normal life. What's the fun in always getting what you want? You need the unpredictable, you need the drama, the fun, the anything. The last thing I want in my life is to live a plain Grey life."