A/N: lmao

It frustrated me, that one obscure moment of kindness was all it took to erase years of bullying and torment — but the fact was still the same.

Something between us had changed.

It wasn't instantaneous. It was more of a slow burn, something that propelled me into those dreams night after night, and carried me to that very moment. I followed him through that courtyard and around the corner, where no one could see or hear us — and realistically, where any number of things could have happened.

But the moment he faced me, was the moment those thoughts and worries vanished from my bloodstream.

Instead, I leaned against the exterior wall and breathed in, filling my lungs with the crisp autumn air and the scent of his cologne, as he neared. It was a mixture of dark chocolate, black currant and sandalwood. It must have been expensive. It certainly smelled expensive.

It was around then that I realized how close we were, how the distance between us had been fleeting from the moment I walked into that dress shop.

His eyes found mine. "I thought you should know…Astoria took the photograph."

I looked at him, perplexed. "Astoria? But — But she —"

"Has a bit of a mean streak," he finished. "She's also quite possessive."

"Possessive?" I repeated, staggered. "How do you mean?"

In that moment, he inched backwards, hiding the colour on his cheeks. "It doesn't matter. Point is, she took the photograph on my camera and I found it later that night, which is why I delivered the film to you."

"You didn't — erm —"

"I didn't look at it," he interjected, sensing my train of thought and subsequently fixing his attention on the lake, around which there was an orange glow.

It appeared the bonfire had started, but there we were, apart from the other guests, caught in this moment of neither here nor there. It was like the past couple months had been condensed into one conversation.

There were nerves in my chest, most of which I ignored. "Thank you," I told him, for the second time that evening. "I'm not sure what I would have done, had that photograph been published."

He glanced down a moment. "You're welcome."

It was the strangest feeling, standing there, knowing I had gone from loathing him with the fire of a thousand suns to dreaming about him night after night. Then, came this Harvest Moon celebration. If I hadn't known better, it would have seemed to me as though the universe were bringing us together.

But that can't have been the case, because the universe hated me.

In realizing that, I realized I viewed moments with him as a good thing.

This unsettled me, enough that he noticed.

"Is everything okay?" he asked.

I swallowed hard and then nodded. "Just — Just a bit — I don't know."

"Stressed?"

"Amongst other things…"

His expression softened some, after which he said something. "I — I can't imagine what you're going through with the papers, but I can tell you it will pass," he assured me, echoing his own troubles with the press. "...and when it does, you'll come out so, so much stronger. I promise you that."

There were a number of different things I could have said in response. But none of those words came to mind. I couldn't phrase exactly how he made me feel, right then. It was a mixture of confusion and astonishment and warmth and nothing I had ever expected from him — not in a million years.

I glanced up at him moist-eyed, and leaned in, uncertain as to where this would go, if anywhere at all, before pressing my lips against his cheek. It was light and soft, and I hoped it conveyed everything I wanted him to know. His breath was sharp, startled but not displeased. I could tell I had taken him by surprise, as well as myself, but the moment I leaned back, was the moment he leaned forward.

Just like that, we were suspended.

It was not the sex-fuelled rage I had anticipated. It was slower and heightened, to the point that my senses were focused only on him, as our lips hovered millimetres apart.

From there, I closed my eyes and waited.

A/N: trolololololololo

Kidding. Soz. I promise the next chapter is a looooong one. Thanks for reading! You're all wonderful, beautiful people and I can't thank you enough for putting up with my cliff hangers lmao.

Cheers

xo.