hcwlled

@baredteeth 

the  [uhm]  ..  the ..        (embarrassingly,  the  proximity —  casual  as  it  may  be — is  almost  dizzying,  struggling  to  continue  coherent  thought.  still,  katalina  digs  deeply  into  her  mind,  heavy  weight  of  her  hands  full  a  looming  threat  of  her  breaking  something)      there’s  supposed  to  be  napkins  and  a  mantel  up  there.  i  think.  could  you  get  it ? 

⠀ ⠀ (  he  reaches  above  her,  caging  her  in,  not  giving  her  the  chance  to  move.  his  lanky  arms  stretch  further  than  hers  even  on  a  stool.  )  what  are  you  looking  for  again.   

i  don’t  see  why  not,      (it’s  shrugged;  partial  lie  as  she  can  think  many  reasons  why  not,  but  none  seem  all  too  important.  slim  fingers  wrap  around  his  wrist)         c’mon,  we  can’t  take  too  long.
            
            —    @baredteeth      (❕)

⠀ ⠀ oh,  um,  sure.  (  he  follows,  hesitant  for  second.  )  you  sure  i’m  allowed  back  there  ?

lemon ?  i’d  have  to  check  in  the  back.  come  with ? 
            
            —     @baredteeth      (❕) 

i’m  not  ticklish.           (  it  comes  out  more  huffed  than  intended,  her  gaze  focused  deliberately  on  him,  a feeble  attempt  to  ignore  the  rosy  flush  coating  her  cheeks.  under  her  breath  she  mutters,  )            i  didn’t  think  this  through. 
            
            —    @baredteeth      (❕)

⠀ ⠀ try  harder.  (  he  clicks  his  tongue,  pressing  slightly  more  pressure  on  her  thigh,  like  a  warning  almost.  not  that  he  would  ever  do  that.  sebastian  looks  up  through  his  bangs  )  why  would  you  get  a  tattoo  here  if  you’re  so  ticklish  ?  

i’m  trying,  i  swear.  it’s  not  that  easy. 
            
            —    @baredteeth      (❕)

you  think  i  always  look  nice?      (  she  asked,  the  question  laced  not  with  malice  but  with  disbelief.  not  because  she  doubted  she  was  pretty,  but  because  usually  by  the  time  she  saw  him,  she  looked  quite  messy.  ) 
            
            &&.                      ( @baredteeth ) 

it suits you.  really well,  actually.  [  he pauses for a moment.  ]  not that it didn’t suit you before  —  you always look nice,  so  — 

you  think?   hm.  thank  you.  i  thought  it  was  time  for  something,  y’know?
            
            &&.                   ( @baredteeth ) 

(  she  nodded  understandingly,  a  small  delighted  smile  tugging  at  her  lips.  )       thank  you.  for  picking,  i  mean.  i  haven’t  been  able  to  get  another  one  since  i  couldn’t  pick  which  i  wanted,  so  it’s  a  big  help. 
            
            &&.                          ( @baredteeth ) 

[  he stays silent for a moment,  considering the options.  he feels the tips of his ears heat up,  and hopes she hasn’t noticed.  ]  um,  the second one.  the placement won’t hurt as much,  so i recommend that one first. 

i’m  not  sure  yet,       (  she  admitted.  )       i’m  between  two  things.  i  wanna  get  them  both  at  some  point,  i  just  don’t  know  which  to  get  first.  look,      (  she  pulled  her  phone  out  of  her  pocket,  taking  a  few  beats  before  showing  him  a  picture  of  one  of  the  things  she  wanted  to  get,  followed  by  the  second.  )       which  do  you  think?
            
            /        her options:  the first one  ( https://pin.it/14ov2B7U9 )  and the second one  ( https://pin.it/1tKFYsgGz ) 
            
            &&.                     ( @baredteeth ) 

you  don’t  have  to—  i’m  not  really  all  that  hungry,  i  can  do  it  myself.       (  as  if  on  cue,  her  stomach  rumbled,  proving  her  otherwise  and  effectively  calling  out  her  lie.  she  looked  down,  embarrassment  flushing  her  cheeks.  )     ..   okay  so  maybe  i  am.  [ but ]  i  can  still  do  it,  really. 
            
            &&.                           ( @baredteeth ) 

yeah,  no problem.  it was a slow day for me.  just a bunch of flash tattoos so...  [  he trails off,  mirroring her bashful smile.  he closes the distance between him and the table she’s at,  picking up the rag and finishing up for her  ]  but why don’t you sit and eat,  i can finish cleaning for you. 

oh.      (  she  stilled,  lifting  her  head  to  look  at  him.  the  table  beneath  her  hand  remained  half  cleaned,  uncertainty  everywhere  on  her  features. )      that  was  thoughtful.  and  perceptive.  thank  you.      (  her  lips  curved  into  a  small,  almost  bashful  smile,  taking  the  container  into  her  hands.  ) 
            
            &&.                     ( @baredteeth ) 

well,  you  wanna  talk  about  it?  or  do  you  actually  want  me  to  get  something  today? 
            
            &&.                ( @baredteeth ) 

i mean,  the sweets would help.  but sorry,  today’s just been stressful. 

funny,  this  is  the  first  complaint  i’m  getting.  is  it  because  i  have  no  sweets  today?
            
            &&.              ( @baredteeth ) 

birthdays  are  supposed  to  be  special.  and  nice.  and  a  big  deal.  don’t  you  know  that?  besides—  you’ve  given  me  absolutely  no  time  to  get  you  something  now.  which  is  super  unfair,  by  the  way. 
            
            &&.                  ( @baredteeth ) 

[  he looked up again,  no use in trying to play it off as nothing now.  he shrugged.  ]  you never asked and there’s no reason to just bring it up so.  i mean,  it’s not really a big deal.  just a birthday. 

absolutely.  it’s  not  nearly  as  much  fun  to  bother  anyone  else.        (  she  hummed.  funnily  enough,  she  was  being  honest— bothering  other  people  led  to  her  having  to  fix  weird  messes  usually.  it  was  funner  with  him.  )     wait.  wait  wait—  it’s  your  birthday?  this  weekend??  why  am  i  only  finding  out  about  this  now? 
            
            &&.               ( @baredteeth ) 

(  for  a  moment,  there  was  complete  silence.  her  brows  furrowed,  mouth  opening  only  to  close  once  again.  )           ..  go  back  to  the  sarcasm. 
            
            &&.                ( @baredteeth ) 

less me  ?  [  he scoffed,  slightly offended but mainly annoyed.  he cleared his throat,  putting on a soft smile and a lighter tone.  ]  you got this,  kat.  you’ll be fine,  i’m right here.  

hm.  nope.  try  again,  but  sound  less  ..  [ you. ]   like  you  really  mean  it  this  time. 
            
            &&.                ( @baredteeth ) 

@hcwlled (Hiii)