You're only allowed to fall for me.
.~~~.
I never got used to riding in limos. They were so pointlessly large.
"Did you have in mind where you wanted to go?" Kyoya sat across from me. He looked positively average in just a button down shirt and…jeans? I'd never seen him in any before. He looked very relaxed. It was good to see but still sort of strange, since he was so uptight all the time.
"Um, there's this ice cream place. It's in a commoner's mall but the food there is really good. We could walk around and chat."
"If you like."
This was the longest I had seen Kyoya without his computer. I kept getting sort of anxious. Like he might pull it out at any minute. He was always all business. Which reminded me. I pulled out a small black notebook from my bag.
"Do you mind if I take notes?" I cringed at hearing my own voice. That sounded so stupid. "I mean I'm not analyzing you or anything, just I'm trying to get a better sense of-"
"Whatever you like."
Kyoya had this annoying trait. He was always interrupting. It was almost as though what I had to say wasn't important enough to be heard through. But I bit my tongue. Because I knew he was probably sacrificing a lot of time coming on this makeshift date.
We clambered out of the car, and I led the way to the ice cream parlor.
"So…Kyoya."
He glanced down at me.
"What's your dream girl like?"
He shrugged. "I've never given it much thought."
I made a face. Of course he hadn't. "But, you must have preferences."
"Preferences?"
"Yeah, you know, like-" It was our turn to order, so I held a finger up, showing him I would continue in a bit. "I'll have the pina colada and, do you want anything Kyoya?"
He shook his head.
"Well he can have some of mine. Just a pina colada please."
"Cup or cone miss?"
"Cone." I said, smiling.
The lady handed me the ice cream and I licked off the top. It was just as delicious as I remembered. I held it up to Kyoya. "Here, try some."
"No thank you."
I shot him a look. "Kyoya. You're being annoying. Just try a lick."
"It's quite alright."
"Kyoya." I didn't think. I just kind of shoved the ice cream up in his face. I figured he'd dodge it or open his mouth. But he didn't do either. So it just sort of fell on his face, pina colada dripping on his nose and mouth. He stood motionless.
Now I had never come face to face with death, but if I had to pick a moment, I'd say that'd be it.
"Oh my god I'm so sorry!" I said frantically grabbing some napkins. "It's ok it's just on your face we can wipe it off! Tastes good though right?" I babbled nervously. A small chunk fell from his nose onto the ground. I tried to bite my lip, to stop myself from laughing, but I couldn't. I covered my mouth with my hand, laughing, trying to hold onto the ice cream with the other.
"I'm so sorry. You look so funny though. Here, here. Napkins. And there's a bathroom, you can wash off your face so it's not sticky."
He walked wordlessly into the bathroom.
I went over to one of the booths and cowered in my seat, nervously eating my ice cream. He would never talk to me again after this. He'd probably banish me, and not give me a ride home. I sighed. It was my own fault anyhow.
The bathroom door opened and he made his way over to me, sitting down on the opposite side of the booth.
"What was it you were saying about preferences?"
My eyes widened with surprise. He was letting it go? My heart began to pound. Maybe he had some sort of devilish plan to get me back later. He'd done it to Tamaki plenty enough. I shook my head, trying to answer his question.
"Yeah, you know. Like do you prefer long hair or short hair?"
"I don't see how it would make a difference."
I think my eye twitched.
"Ok, well…um maybe a color? Most guys have a certain hair color they're attracted to."
"I like red hair."
"Red hair! Ok I can work with that!" I happily scribbled it down in my notebook. When I looked up, he had his chin in his hand, and he was looking at me intently. The strangest feeling ran through me.
"W-what?"
"Doesn't this seem rather futile?"
I could only blink at him. "W-well it's how I get ideas. I people watch and chat."
"Shall we walk around then?" he suggested.
I finished off my ice cream and we exited the parlor. I suddenly got very nervous. This was a commoner mall. I could almost guarantee there would be nothing here that he would care about.
As we were walking, we passed by a group of girls, and one of them smiled at Kyoya. Once we were out of earshot, I nudged him. "What did you think of her? She was pretty, don't you think?"
"Which one?" he said, oblivious.
"The one that smiled at you!"
"Come again?"
I shook my head. "Kyoya you're never gonna get a girlfriend if you don't notice-"
At that moment I tripped. It was straight out of one of my stories. Of course I would fall, at this very moment, embarrassing myself for the second time in front of Kyoya. My arms reflexively spread out, to take most of the impact for when I would hit the ground. Except, I never got to the ground. Because Kyoya had a hold of my arm.
"A lady like you shouldn't be so clumsy." He said, rather irritated, pulling me up so I could steady myself.
Ok, so maybe it wasn't as romantic as I had originally envisioned it to be. If I had to edit it, I'd say when she trips, he scoops her in his arms and chastises her sweetly for not watching where she was going.
You're only allowed to fall for me.
Oh Kyoya, only if you're there to catch me.
Hm. So maybe Kyoya was right. That was pretty corny.
I shook my head, bringing myself back to reality. I scoffed at him. "So I misstepped. At least I notice when people smile at me."
"I saw it just fine, Adeline. I just can't muster up the energy to care."
"Well why the hell not? Admit that it's flattering, at least."
"Any sort of relationship with that girl would not be advantageous. To pursue any means of response would be pointless."
"Oh." I said. Everything with Kyoya needed a purpose. "But what if she was really funny, and she made you laugh and stuff?"
He pushed his glasses up. "She'd still be just a commoner."
It was a bit harsh but very Kyoya-like. So I let it go. Besides, it revealed that his girl would have to be someone just like him. A true Queen. I scribbled that down in the notebook, and added a few remarks to the tripping scene I had written about before.
We walked around the mall, and I showed him a variety of different things, but nothing he took a particular interest in. Hanging out with Kyoya was kind of exhausting. It was like I was trying to entertain a child who was hell bent on not giving a damn. Not to mention all I had eaten was that ice cream, and half of it had been lost to Kyoya's face.
"How about we grab some lunch?" I suggested, practically starving at that point.
"If it's all the same to you, I have a place in mind."
"Ok," I said, "Sure."
We sat in the limo, but next to each other this time, and the silence was gnawing at me. I couldn't take it. "So court me." I said.
He lifted his eyebrows. "Court you?"
"Yeah, you know. Like you do at the club. You've never courted me before. I wanna see what it's all about."
He cleared his throat. "I won't be courting you. You're not my client, and there's no need for me to be fake around you."
I sighed. This was going to be the most boring car ride ever.
"Ok so then pretend I was your dream girl-"
He sighed. God was he always doing that?
"I told you, I've never given it much thought-"
"Well think one up right now. Say she was here right now. What would you tell her?"
He shot me a glare but I held tightly to my notebook, as though my courage resided in it. "Please? Indulge me."
He blew out an angry breath but answered me anyway. "I'd compliment her, naturally."
"Ok," I scribbled, "That's a start."
I hadn't noticed how close to me he had gotten, because I was sort of excited that he was actually giving me something to work with, so my full attention was on my little black notebook.
"And I'd whisper sweet nothings into her ear."
I froze. He had just hardly spoken above a whisper, and I could feel his hot breath against my ear. Without realizing it, my heart began to pound. So this is what made Kyoya so alluring. The worst part was is he wasn't trying to be sexy or attractive or anything. He said it in his matter-of-fact voice. Very firm and to the point. So why was I so bloody nervous?
I cleared my throat, giving him time to make some space between us before I lifted my head to look at him.
"That's very romantic," I said, "This story might end up being the most cheesy of them all."
He grimaced. "Really?"
I laughed. "Oh relax, Kyoya. It's only loosely based on you anyway."
Except it wouldn't be. This character was in every essence Kyoya-esque. I had taken it as a personal challenge to find his perfect female counterpart. I didn't have very much so far. She would need red hair, and she'd have to be patient. Patient enough for his icy walls to melt down. Oh. Icy walls. That was good. I should write that down.
