After the girls had returned her to the apartment, Roselynn realized how late it was getting; she quickly changed into a long denim skirt, brown boots, and a casual burgundy blouse before heading into the kitchen to see what she could put together for dinner. Finding some fresh chicken breast and checking to see that she had all the required ingredients, she pulled on an apron and set to work making chicken parmesan. Just as she was setting the table and had uncorked the wine, Warren arrived home. After quickly depositing the satchel bag that he used for school in the library, he strolled into the kitchen, grinning appreciatively at what he saw.
"That smells amazing," Warren sighed, taking a big whiff of the air as he walked into the kitchen, "A man could get used to coming home to smells like this."
"Yeah, well don't get used to it," Roselynn teased, setting the chicken and pasta on the table before playfully poking her friend in the chest and adding, "It's your turn tomorrow" before returning to the kitchen to bring out the salad she had also prepared.
"I don't know how I'm going to beat this." Came the reply as Warren sat at the table, "You look nice, new clothes?"
"Yes, Maureen, Evelyn and I made a day of it." Roselynn smiled taking her own seat. "Mrs. Grant took me to her husband's shop where I sold one of my gold Hoods for some of the currency used here. It was more than enough to pay for what I purchased, I didn't want you to feel like I am taking advantage."
"I would never think that." Warren smiled reassuringly at her.
"I have a few more Hoods left that I can sell," Roselynn continued, "I really would like to do my part in contributing to expenses while I'm here."
"I'll let you know," Warren said, taking a bite of the chicken, "One thing's for sure, if you keep cooking like this I'd call it even. This is fantastic!"
"I'm glad you like it," Roselynn blushed. The rest of the meal and the night was passed amicably, with the friends sharing about their day before Warren set about cleaning up the kitchen insisting that it was the least he could do after such a great meal. Roselynn took the chance to put up her new acquisitions before settling in the living room with a book she found in the library.
"What do you have there?" Warren asked, entering the living room, wiping his hand on a dish towel. Although he would never say it aloud, she looked like she belonged there, curled up on his couch, legs tucked to the side with her toes peeking out from under her skirt.
"Little Women," Roselynn responded looking at the title of the novel and back to her friend.
"My sister loves that book." Warren smiled, "Are you enjoying it?"
"Yes," Roselynn nodded, "Is this Jo an important woman?"
"No," Warren chuckled, walking into the library and retrieving a book from his satchel bag before returning to the living room, "Little Women is just a story, it's not based on any historical figures."
"Oh," Roselynn shrugged going back to the book as Warren took a seat on the opposite side of the couch.
"Hey before you fall head deep into the story," Warren interjected, "The Grants invited us to join them for dinner next Friday. Would you be interested?"
"I would love to," Roselynn smiled at her friend, closing the book in her lap.
"Great, I'll let them know tomorrow." He nodded before turning his attention to his text book while she resumed her reading. "Just so you know, I'm glad you're here."
"I'm glad I'm here too." Roselynn gave him a half smile, "I haven't had such a relaxing yet full day in many years. I rather enjoyed meeting Evelyn and Maureen, they are quite the pair. I think we'll become good friends if I stay here long enough."
"I have no doubt about that." Warren chuckled, "The three of you have similar personalities; Maureen isn't that much older than you, perhaps a year or two, and Evelyn although she is younger, reminds me a lot of you."
"She told me today she wishes to become a teacher." Roselynn commented.
"I seem to remember another young lass with the same ambition, Lynn." Warren teased.
"You remembered?" She was surprised.
"How could I forget?" He challenged, "You were so passionate about it. I only wish we had universities in the kingdoms so those like you could get an education."
"Even if we had, I doubt Mother would allow me to go." Roselynn sighed, "Especially if she found out I wanted to use my teaching to change the minds of our kingdom about Wolves."
"A very noble cause," Warren commended her, "But such a monumental task for one person."
"I doubt I would be alone for long," Roselynn shrugged, "I'm sure there are other sympathizers out there who would continue and spread my work."
"I don't doubt," Warren chuckled, "Although you would have to be careful lest your mother remove your pretty little head from your delicate shoulders."
"You dare compare my mother to the Queen of Hearts?" She jokingly challenged.
"I do," He smirked, "Can you not see the similarities?"
"I suppose I could," She nodded thoughtfully, "Both have a fetish for the color red, both have very short tempers, and cannot stand little girls who don't play by their specific set of rules."
The friends laughed at the observation for a few moments before Warren turned suddenly sober, it was like a switch was flipped. He sat quietly before turning his warm toffee eyes on her sea green ones, "I truly hope that if you were to pursue this course that your mother would not harm you, I would hate to think of something happening to mar that lovely neck of yours. I do not wish to lose you."
The warm honey smoothness of his voice washed over her, stealing her own. She was lost in the hypnotizing gaze of her friend for a few moments, wrapping herself in their depths. When he finally broke their gaze, she almost felt disappointed they hadn't done more than look at each other. They both knew that if they had continued, there would have been more than just friendship between them. The thought wasn't completely repellent to either, after all they were both intelligent, well read, and attractive people from prominent families. It was only the still present tension between their factions that prevented them from being more than just friends, although technically they shouldn't even be that.
"I think I'll take this into my room and read for a bit before going to sleep myself." Roselynn said, finally finding her voice before she was drawn in again, "Good night, sleep well."
"Good night." Warren replied, hugging his friend before walking her to her door, and then going on to his own room. Instead of settling in for bed, he found himself standing on the balcony outside his room, looking up at the night sky. It was very nearly that time of the month, tomorrow would be the full moon. While the pull of the moon wasn't as strong in this realm, he still felt the effects. At least his family had learned how to better deal with their lunar cycles, he remembered his father saying the worst time he ever had with his cycle was the first lunar cycle after he met Warren's mother and realized who she was to him, despite her continual spurning of his affections. His father had also mentioned that he was under the influence of the evil queen at that time as well, so that may have made things worse for him. Giving one more glance at the nearly full orb in the night sky, Warren ran his fingers through his hair and prayed that his father's theory about magic being the real reason behind the bad cycle all those years ago. "Please let Roselynn be patient with me tomorrow, and don't let any harm come to her." He whispered softly to the night sky before turning around and, closing the doors behind him, settled in for the night.