"Well, what do you think?"
Her companion's answer was a flick of her tail, followed by a disaffected meow.
"Yeah, me too." Sighing heavily, she gazed down at herself. Ivory dress with a lacy neckline, hair tied up, pearl earrings...exactly as someone would dress to go out to one of the city's finest restaurants with one of it's wealthiest citizens. She should feel excited, happy about the evening to come, but instead.. "Should I even be doing this?"
Samantha mewed again, and hopped up as her owner sat down heavily on the bed, before padding close and rubbing her head against her arm. Murrue smiled a little, petting the cat to hear her purr. "I know who you'd choose. You liked him, didn't you?" The day she'd visited the tiny house in the woods she'd injured her foot while swimming, and her companion that day had treated the wound and later carried her home. Samantha had taken an instant shine to the blonde man and he to her, fussing and playing with her for a long time. "Maybe you're smarter than me.."
Samantha mewed as though agreeing, making the young woman giggle. Certainly her pet cat had chosen who she preferred. She remembered coming home in the rain one day, Andrew's jacket over her head as shelter (he'd lent it her) and Samantha had taken one sniff at the garment and hissed.
"I need to know for sure," she murmured softly to the cat. "That's why I accepted when he asked me. Erica was mad, and she has every right to be. Mwu...I didn't tell him. How could I have? He's never tried to hide how he feels, and deep down I'm pretty sure I feel the same. But I need to know. I want to see if the feeling I get around Andrew is the same..." Samantha for her part flicked her tail again, the action evidently disapproving. "You're just like Erica.."
Selfish. That's what I am, and Erica would certainly have called me that if she knew about Mwu. I can't have my cake and eat it, and if I carry on this way I'm going to hurt both of them... Hurting Andrew would be bad enough, but Mwu had shown her nothing but kindness and affection - he didn't deserve to be treated this way. Reaching out to her vanity table, she picked up the gift he'd given her, the seashell he'd made into a pendant. He'd told her he sometimes went shell-hunting when the tide was low, and he'd found this one night. "He told me he'd decided then he'd give it to me, because it was the prettiest one he'd ever seen.." The words had made her blush and smile then, but now brought a lump to her throat.
The clock in the kitchen chimed seven, and she sighed. Time to go. She'd arranged to meet him at the convienience store down the road - she never usually told dates where she lived...things were just safer that way. After setting food down for Samantha, she fastened the shell pendant around her neck, donned the awkward strappy shoes, and set off, trying to ignore her sinking heart.
He couldn't hide his pride. He and his date walked into the restaurant past the waiting lines (he never needed to make reservations) and were escorted to a table overlooking the bay. He could hear people whispering, asking each other who the girl was, how pretty she was. He knew it, had known it the day he'd first met her, that he could have looked forever and never found anyone like her...the perfect girl to be seen with. Most girls responded eagerly to attention from him, which didn't surprise him, but she had been different. He'd had to work harder for her, which he rather enjoyed.
"Would you like something to drink?"
Murrue's eyes were trained on the ocean, a faint smile curving her lips, and hadn't seemed to have heard him. "Murrue?"
"Hmm?" She blinked, coming back to her senses, and he smiled.
"A drink?"
"Oh no, no thank you.." She seemed different somehow - she'd been that way all evening. Worried, distracted...sad, for some reason.
"Here," Taking the pink rose from his buttonhole, he presented it to her with a smile. "Your favourite.." He knew she loved roses - she wore the scent as a perfume, and a photograph on her desk showed her surrounded by a garden full of the flowers. He'd give her roses - as many as she wanted if she'd let him. He'd thought long and hard over a gift for her to give tonight - something beautiful, and had seen many things, gold and silver, diamonds...but nothing really seemed to fit. She rarely wore jewellery, except for one pendant she'd taken to wearing recently. A seashell on a chain.
"Where did you get that?"
She smiled again, this one more genuine and happy than any he'd seen from her that night. "It was a gift." she replied softly, reaching up to clasp the object. Andrew nodded, hiding a frown at the jealousy he felt. It was clear from her smile and the pink flush to her cheeks that whoever had given her the shell was very special to her. He wasn't used to and didn't like having a rival for anyone's affection, least of all for hers. I can give her anything she wants. Anything at all. That's just a trinket.. By contrast, the (expensive) rose he'd given her sat unnoticed by the side of her plate. What was he supposed to do?
"I have to go.."
Whatever he'd been expecting her to say, that wasn't it. "Huh?"
Murrue smiled apologetically. "I'm sorry. There's...there's something I have to do.." She got to her feet, placing her napkin back on the table carefully. "Thank you.." She made to leave, but he caught her hand.
"Who is he?"
"I..." She looked away. So, he thought bitterly, there is someone else. The one who gave her that necklace. Ever since we got here, she's been thinking about him. She's thinking about him right now.
"Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't know how. I'm sorry.." He nodded, letting her go, and she slipped away, leaving him with the memory of her sad smile, and the buzzing gossip of the people around him. He could only imagine the chatter tomorrow, about how the richest bachelor in the city had been dumped in public by an unknown girl. For someone who was used to getting everything he wanted, it should make him angry, yet oddly, it made him smile. In the material sense, I can have anything. But when it comes to something more lasting, it never works out. I wonder if having everything is what leads to me having nothing...
She didn't know how long she'd been walking. The taxi had dropped her off at the beach, and she'd done her best to navigate the woods that hid his house from the outside world. But everything looked different at night, and she'd taken the wrong path more than once. The impractical heeled shoes had caused her to stumble, which had led to her taking them off and walking barefoot. Beginning to despair at ever finding her way, Murrue leaned against a tree, rubbing at her aching feet. She had a nasty suspicion that the coral's wound had reopened, and had probably been joined by at least three or four other cuts and scrapes. Maybe I should have just gone home..
As she stood there trying to sort through tangled emotions, of pain, regret, apology and disappointment, an odd sound came to her ears, drifting through the night air. Music. Frowning, she moved toward the source of the sound, smiling as her feet led her down a now-familiar path. Light glimmered through the trees, becoming brighter the closer she got, and when she reached the clearing she stopped, peeking out to see.
He was there, sitting on the porch facing out to sea, idly plucking the strings of the guitar he held. He'd freely admitted he didn't really know how to play the instrument, but he liked the sound it made, which was so typically him that she hadn't been able to help smiling, just as she did now. As she watched he smiled himself a little, azure eyes flicking up to the stars that sprinkled the heavens - and her heart skipped a beat. I never really had to choose, did I? My choice was made the day I met him... Taking a deep breath she stepped out into the clearing, pinking as he glanced up and stared.
"Murrue?"
For a moment he hadn't recognised her. So used to seeing her in skirt suits or simple sundresses, he at first hadn't been sure who she was, wondering whether he'd fallen asleep and was dreaming of her. Dressed all in white she looked more like an angel than a real person, the illusion only shattered when she giggled. Blinking slowly he gazed at her, taking in everything. The white dress shimmered in the dim light, clinging to her slender body perfectly...she looked amazing. Getting up, Mwu walked over to her with a smile - then got his second surprise of the night when she threw thin arms around him in a tight hug. Frozen for an instant at the unexpected embrace, he closed his eyes, breathing in the scent of roses...and returned the hug, nuzzling his face into her neck and holding her as he had wanted to for so long.
"Are you all right?"
She nodded, pulling away slightly to regard him with an affectionate smile. Then, to his utter dismay, the gentle expression crumbled, tears welling up in her eyes. "Hey, hey, c'mon..." Pulling her close again he stroked her hair softly. Not understanding the reasons for her sadness, but hating to see it, he led her over to the porch to sit down. "It's okay.." Murrue nodded again, but the tears were falling now, her thin frame shivering with her sobs. Carefully he wrapped her in a blanket and sat beside her, rocking her gently. His T-shirt was slowly being soaked through with her tears, but that didn't matter. However long it took, whatever was wrong, he would stay here with her.
"I'm sorry.."
"Don't be."
She managed a thin smile, but didn't say anything further. She looked sad still, face still stained with half-dried tears...she now seemed more like a ghost than an angel. Not knowing how to comfort her, but wanting her to know he was there, he brushed away a lock of dark hair from her face, offering a gentle smile when she looked up at him. "Do you feel better now?"
"A little.." She nudged a little closer when he slipped an arm around her, resting her head on his shoulder. "Thank you."
"You look beautiful."
She blushed at the unexpected compliment, but finally smiled properly. Reaching out she took his hand and squeezed gently. The two of them sat together in comfortable silence for a short while, before she spoke up again, rather hesitantly. "Sorry for coming over here unannounced.."
"You'd never need to announce it. Although I was surprised to see you, especially dressed like that.."
Murrue nodded, small hand picking at the fabric of her gown. "Tonight was supposed to be when I finally made up my mind. Finally decided what it was I wanted. Inside I already knew...but I had to be sure. So I..." She sighed.
"How did it go?" he asked quietly, surprised at the pain he felt. He knew where she'd likely been, and had never felt more jealous of his old friend than he did at that moment. He'd fallen for Murrue almost the moment he'd seen her, and the feelings had only grown stronger the more time he'd spent with her. He'd vowed to not give her up to Andy...but what if that was what she wanted? Is that why she was crying when she came here? Is this a goodbye?
"It didn't."
"Didn't what?"
"Go." She sighed again, but a small smile quirked her lips. "I couldn't stay. It didn't feel right. I said that I had to be sure, and I realised when I got there that I already was. So...I came here." The smile widened. "I made up my mind." Mwu stared at her for several minutes, trying to process what she'd just said.
"You.."
She giggled, then squeaked in delighted alarm when he scooped her up to sit on his lap. All he could do was hug her, more relieved than he could say. She chose me. All he has, all I gave up, and she chose me... "You ran out on him?" She nodded, her smile a slightly guilty one.
"I must have hurt him. I did apologise, but.."
"Is that why you were crying?"
A small nod, and a shuffle closer to pillow her head on his shoulder. "I know I made the right choice, but I knew that my choice would hurt someone. You didn't both have to chase me, you know.."
"How could I not have chased you? Although I might not have had to try very hard with your feet in that state.." In contrast to her pristine white gown and almost unruffled hair, her feet were bare and dirty, covered with tiny cuts and scrapes. "How on earth did you do that?"
"Can't walk through woods in shoes like that.."
Which was how, fifteen minutes later, she found herself sitting on the porch with her feet in a bowl of warm water, and a bowl of hot stew on her lap. She felt warm, comfortable, and for the first time that day, happy. The restaurant had been beautiful, all linen, crystal and china, the light glittering from a dozen different surfaces, but as she'd taken her seat she'd seen the ocean from the window. I thought of him then, of him sitting here like this...and all I wanted in that moment was to be here with him. I didn't want to hurt Andrew...but I couldn't lie to him. Or myself...
"How do you feel? Feet all better?"
She nodded happily, wiggling her toes. He'd washed them for her despite her protests, the fairly intimate gesture making her blush. He'd claimed he hadn't wanted her dress to get dirty, but secretly she thought he'd done it because he'd enjoyed it...as had she. Mwu laughed. "Let's see."
She lifted one of her feet to let him inspect it, and smiled when he placed it in his lap. "You just like feet."
"I like your feet." To prove his point he kissed her big toe before stroking her foot gently. "I like every bit of you."
"Are you flirting with me?"
"Maybe. Would you mind?"
"Not at all."
He pretended to think, looking her up and down. "So if I asked to kiss you, you'd let me?"
"Yes, I think I would."
Mwu grinned, and she giggled, finding herself enjoying this game. Deciding to continue a little longer she shuffled away from him. "Maybe."
"Only maybe?" He looked hurt, the perfect puppydog expression, and she had to fight hard to hide a smile. He'd kissed her before, yes, and she very much wanted it to happen again, but teasing him was fun. Setting down the empty stew bowl she moved back toward him, brushing thin fingers over his face.
"Maybe.." She got no further. Faster than she could speak he pulled her onto his lap, catching her in such a passionate kiss it made her toes curl. She'd entertained thoughts of teasing him more by pulling away...but rational thought had vanished, and all she could do was kiss him back. It seemed to last forever, only ending when the need for air forced them apart. He laughed, a low growling chuckle, and pressed another kiss to her cheek, moving steadily downwards. Murrue closed her eyes at the touch, hearing a soft sigh of bliss echo in her throat. The kisses, and way his hands caressed the back of her neck...it felt wonderful. Not what she'd expected after knowing him only three weeks, but right now she didn't care.
Eventually however, he pulled away, settling her on his lap with his arms around her waist. Rather dazed, she stared into space for a while. The moon, the stars, the scent and and feel of him and their surroundings...it all blended together into a blissful haze.
I love him. How long I've loved him for, I don't know. But that's why I feel uncomfortable around Andrew now. Choice? There was never a choice. It's been him since the day we met...
( :happy smile: for sises
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