Chapter 24: Chapter 24: His Rules
After going through rage, and guilt, and being down, to thinking about just calling the whole thing off, to taking up William on his offer, to finally deciding she needed to calmly think about this, Dell found herself knocking on Sean's door late that night. She wasn't sure he would answer but, to her relief, he opened his door.
"Hey," she said, a little nervously.
"Hey," he replied, a little glumly. But at least he didn't shut the door on her.
"I, uh... I wanted to apologize about the party. That was a little rude of me to bring you there and then leave you alone."
He kept silent.
"You're probably still mad at me. But I just... I don't want to give up just yet. Can we give it another shot?"
She saw him sigh and begin to say something.
"I'm willing to adjust," she added quickly. "No more daily texts, then, if that's what pisses you off."
Sean raked a hand trough his hair with an exasperated expression. "It's not the texts per se. It's the fact that everything's for show, and even if it's not me, it's okay."
"Well..." She murmured. "It is okay even if it's not..."
With a flat expression, Sean began to close the door.
"No! No! No! That's not what I meant! Please! Let's make up! I'm willing to compromise."
"I'll only agree if you agree to three rules of my own, too."
"Alright. I think it's just fair. Go on. What are your three rules?"
"Number one, you're allowed one selfie per date, then phones off for the rest of the day. You do your editing and posting after our date."
"Phones off?! But what if the office calls me?"
Sean glared at her.
"Okay, okay. What's number two?"
"We get to hang out at home once in a while. And no pictures or posts then. Just popcorns and movies."
"But how will people know?"
"They won't."
"Then... what's the point--"
"The point is I won't agree otherwise," Sean growled.
"... How often is once in a while."
"Whenever I feel like it."
"That's a little vague--"
"Do you accept it or not?"
"Fine! I accept it. And what's the last one?"
She saw Sean pause and regard her before answering. "I want a kiss from my girlfriend every morning."
"What?!"
"If you don't like it, you can find another guy for your little project." And with that he began to close his door.
"Wait! Wait!" Sean stopped. Dell hesitated, but asked, "Cheek is fine, right?"
"Cheek is fine. But none of that beso nonsense. I want a real lip-to-cheek kiss."
Dell hesitated. "Can I ask why you're asking for these rules?" She asked cautiously.
"No."
"But it's not like you even like me."
"Shall I take that as a refusal, then?" His poker expression was unchanging.
"Fine fine! I'll do it."
"Good. Now give me a kiss so we can make up."
"Umm..."
With a sigh and rolling of eyes, Sean said, "Fine. I'll be the bigger man tonight and kiss you to make up." Before she could react, Sean had his hand in her hair. And slowly and deliberately, he softly pressed his lips on to her cheek.
At contact, all at once her heart started beating hard, she felt her face flush, and she was quite sure she stopped breathing. And all the while a screaming inside her head rang out, refusing to be overwhelmed by a swarm of butterflies that had seemed to spring out of her belly at the touch of those warm lips. And all she could do was stand stiffly until he released her.
When he pulled away, he was smiling like a satisfied cat.
"Okay, we've made up," he said, poking at her cheeks she knew were bright red with embarrassment. "I'll see you tomorrow." And with that, he unceremoniously hurried her out and closed the door.
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