Ayana-
Tristain's room was the same size as mine but more full. There were three sets of bookshelves, a small couch, and double door, plus a king sized bed and windows with a perfect view of the woods.
He led me to his bed sitting me down. I watched for a few seconds as he paced in front of me nervously. He seemed to be thinking really about something. After another minute I got tired of waiting and stood up. "You said you wanted to talk to me?"
He stopped looking at me, surprised I even spoke. "Yeah, I am just....give me a second." I sat back down taking him in. The brown curls on top of his head were messy and looked wet from a recent shower. He was wearing a white t-shirt with some long sweatpants. Every time he turned I could see an outline of something black on his back. Maybe a .....tattoo? I couldn't see it correctly.
He suddenly stopped facing me. "Okay Ayana, what I'm about to say to you might sound weird and a little crazy. But if I don't say it now I won't ever get the courage to say it again, so please listen." He paused, "And please don't say anything till I'm done speaking."
I nodded not knowing how to respond to that.
He started again taking a deep breath, "I like you Ayana. Like really like you. So much that you're on mind every day, hour, minute, and second. You are all I ever think about. And everyday I ask myself if I'm just imagining these feelings but I'm not."
My eyes widened at everything he just said. He walked to me bending down at my knees.
"And I know it's a bad time to be telling you all this with the mission and everything. But....I just couldn't keep this in any longer. You have to understand how much I care about you, and how much I want you to like me back." He paused touching both of my knees, "Do you like me Ayana?"
I looked down not knowing what to think. I had a sudden urge to laugh but stopped myself thinking that would be rude. I really didnt know what to say. Yeah, I liked him but did I want to be with him in a boyfriend/girlfriend way? No idea.
I place my hands over his on my knees. "Tristain," I said looking seriously at him. "You do know that if we were to be together it would be going against the rules. And no one ever breaks the rules. And you know why, because they get outcasted. Thrown out to be an outsider stripped of their magic forever. I dont want that for you or me. And I couldn't handle being away from my family. Could you?"
He looked down seeming to think more. "Of course not," he finally said. He looked up again more hope in his eyes. "But if just don't get caught. We could hide the way we feel about each other and it could just be between us two." I gave him a skeptical look, I didn't like like lying to people that much.
He took my hands squeezing them lightly, "Please Ayana? We can be careful."
"Maybe.....", Was I really agreeing to be his girlfriend and keep it a secret from everyone here. Yep.
Apparently maybe was all the confirmation he needed. He stood up scooping me into his arms swinging me around happily. I laughed marveling at how strong he was. He put me down, putting a piece of my hair that had escaped behind my ear. His hands were warm on my skin that I leaned into time getting closer to him. He hugged me again and I laid my head on his shoulder smiling to myself. What the hell did I just do?
"Ayana?" I brought my head back looking at him.
"Yeah."
He brought a hand up caressing my cheek, "Can I kiss you?"
My eyes widened but I nodded anyway, butterflies in my stomach.
He leaned down pressing his soft lips to mine.