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They had continued their discussion on Jane Eyre. Alex was glad they did. He had read quite a bit of the book himself but he was nowhere near finished only because he already knew what happened in the next few chapters. Besides he preferred Irene's explanations instead.
He thought Jane was rational even though she could be a bit stupid sometimes. Most of all she was very kind. Irene was explaining an event and pointing out quotes on the page. She reminded him of Jane. Not that Alex thought Irene was stupid, of course not. Despite the jitteriness she was very eloquent. It was Irene's kindness that reminded him of Jane. Irene's warming benevolent geniality, he decided is what made him gravitate to her. It was her understanding kindness. Her understanding and her forgiving kindness is what he liked about her.
He wondered how far her forgiveness went. He then went on for a time thinking different accidents she would forgive him for and forget about and let him start fresh without judgments. He even started thinking of accidents that hadn't happened to him in his life yet. With every one he thought of he was wondering if she would forgive him for it.
He assumed this was the reason why it annoyed him to no end when her anxiety bubbled forth. Just the sight of her chewing on her snub of a nail irritated him immensely. People and social situations are what made Irene nervous, mostly because of her ability that was ironically activated when she felt unsettled causing her to be a growing snowball of fears and jitters nearly all the time. And she had no reason at all to be nervous to begin with! She had done nothing wrong! Alex had done wrong! Alex was the one that hurt people.
She looked up from the book and paused, she had caught him staring. Her thumb shot straight to her lips as she avoided eye contact with him and fidgeted. Which only enraged him all the more, she didn't do anything! And still he had made her nervous! All she did was talk about Jane Eyre like he had asked her to. Somehow that had sent her into another one of her anxiety episodes? She had nothing to be insecure about.
In one fluid movement before she could inquire him of his staring Alex pulled away her hand by the wrist and kissed her. Needless to say she was surprised and now it was her turn to stare. She looked back and forth between his mouth and his face.
"I'm sorry." He grumbled lowly with an unfaltering stoic face. He came forward and kissed the corner of her mouth. When he reeled back his face hadn't changed.
"It's alright." She smiled, looking down at her book and then up at him. She wasn't exactly certain if he was apologizing for the kissing or the staring but that didn't really matter, at least not for her.
Even though Alex didn't care if she was forgiving him for making her nervous or for kissing her so abruptly, he was still happy that she forgave him in the end.
He hoped that she would continue being the forgiving and loving Jane to his imperfect and regretful Mr. Rochester.