A/N: Not really much to say this time round except I apologise for any OOCness. Hope you enjoy and your reviews would be muchly appreciated! :)
Disclaimer: I only own my OC
Kisa yawned and rubbed her eyes as she slowly shuffled to the front door. Upon hearing the same curt knock again she cupped a hand over her mouth.
"I'm co-...coming!" She half-yelled, half-yawned.
On her way past the kitchen, she glanced in and noted the time on the microwave, groaning when she saw the unfortunate hour. Yawning again, she paused to once more rub her sleepy eyes as she arrived at her front door, then sighed and reached to open it.
Upon doing so however, Kisa immediately sobered up and her eyes widened as she made note of who was standing on the other side.
"E-Enrique?" She stammered in surprise.
Enrique was leaning against the door frame with his usual suave smirk and a pair of brown designer sunglasses shielding his beautiful blue eyes.
"Morning Kisa."
Kisa blinked at him.
"Morning... Enrique it's... seven am... On a Saturday! What are you doing here?"
"I wanted to take you to breakfast." The blonde replied, straightening from the door frame and offering her a blinding smile now.
Feeling her heart flutter in her chest at the beautiful sight that was Enrique Giancarlo - on her front step first thing in the morning! - Kisa did her best to ignore her traitorous organ. She raised an eyebrow at him as she glanced down at her cute PJ shorts and tank top combo before looking up and giving him a lopsided, half-embarrassed smile.
"I'm... not ready?" She replied, genuinely surprised and a little confused.
Enrique pushed his sunglasses to the top of his head and looked her over with slight amusement. He didn't want to, but he couldn't help thinking she looked totally adorable in her PJ's and charmingly ruffled curls from the previous night. He wasn't used to seeing girls in their PJ's - the only times he'd woken up next to someone, they'd been wearing a considerable amount less. He tried to convince himself he was merely charmed by the sight he wasn't used to seeing, but his inner voice scoffed at him - a voice that sounded annoyingly like a certain Scottish redhead.
"Admit it; it's not the PJ's, it's her! You think she's cute! You've got a thing for the little dweeb! Heh, you're goin' soft Giancarlo!"
Resisting making a face of disgust, the blonde mentally shook his head; and as if to prove the annoying voice wrong, he forced the suave smirk back on his face again.
"I can wait." He said charmingly. "I'm sure you'll make it worth it."
Kisa blinked at Enrique again and the blonde was pleased to see a slight pinkish tinge stain her attractive face. However, she surprised him a little when she finally sighed and stepped aside, seemingly immune to his charms this time, and gestured him into her home.
"OK, fine." She sighed in defeat, admittedly a little annoyed by his sudden and unannounced early appearance. "Come in and wait and I'll be ready as soon as I can."
Momentarily stunned by her obvious complete brush-off of his normally irresistible charms, Enrique stared at her for a moment or two before eventually snapping out of his stupor and smiling at her again; this time a little more genuinely and admittedly a little amused. He walked past Kisa into the house, looking around curiously as he did, and took a seat on the settee close to the front door to wait patiently.
After roughly half an hour, Enrique's eyes glanced up absently from under his lashes as he heard the greenette re-enter the room. However, upon setting his gaze on her, he quickly abandoned the game he'd been playing on his cell, and his head lifted completely as his attention was completely drawn to the pretty girl before him.
Kisa had decided on a pair of ridiculously flattering dark blue jeans that hugged her just right, a black v-neck tank and a bright blue button-down over top. Draped over her arm was a stylish leather jacket. She'd obviously showered - if her fresh as a daisy look and scent were any indication, but Enrique was pleased again to see that her messy curls from the night before were still present, though they were now swept up off her shoulders and pulled into an adorable disarray atop her pretty head.
When she approached him, looking much more pleasant and alert now, Enrique caught the scent of what must have been her body wash and a spritz of something light and airy. She smelled of jasmine and rain with a hint of something girly he couldn't quite identify, and his own body shocked him when he felt his pulse quicken. It was all he could do not to lean into her like a total creep-o and bury his face in the crook of her neck to breathe her in. He didn't want it to be true, but Enrique knew that he was steadily becoming more and more drawn to this quirky, adorable and sweet girl.
"Very nice." He gently said eventually with a, for once, completely genuine smile.
Kisa returned the smile with a knock-out one of her own; which made the blonde's heartbeat quicken again and caused him to force a hard swallow against his suddenly dry throat. Enrique noted how she seemed much more at ease with him this time around; and being used to girls melting into ridiculous puddles of goo around him and falling all over him, this time he was forced to admit that her confidence was oddly attractive and extremely refreshing.
"Thank you." She said, brushing past him and grabbing her purse by the door. Opening said door, she turned to the playboy with another stellar smile as she held the door open for him. "Well, shall we?"
After taking a moment to observe her, the Italian eventually nodded and stood up to approach her, waited for her to shut and lock the door, and once again offered her an arm before leading her towards his shiny black car.
"So, tell me about yourself."
Kisa looked up and the blonde across from her as she sipped her breakfast smoothie through a straw.
"Well, not much to tell really." She said one she'd stopped. "My dad is a pilot and my mom is a stewardess, so they're both gone a lot. I used to live with my big sister but since I turned sixteen, my family agreed I was old enough to live on my own, so she went off to college."
She paused and stuck the straw in her mouth again, taking the time to sip her drink for a moment or two as she looked up thoughtfully.
"Hmm... let's see... I like all kinds of music, except rap and super heavy metal - I guess so long as I can actually understand the lyrics; or at least that they're actual words! - I like it. Um... I love reading and writing, and you probably already know I'm on the debate team, student council and write for the school newspaper... I love baking and cooking and I'm pretty good with a sketchpad... oh, and I love games!"
She paused again before finally looking back at the blonde again and blushing slightly in embarrassment.
"Sorry for rambling..." She muttered around her straw. "Probably TMI, huh?"
The smile that crossed Enrique's face was, for a second time since meeting her, genuine.
"Not at all." He replied truthfully, slightly amused by her. Now so familiar, he blonde's smile widened as Kisa's blush deepened.
"I know gaming is kinda for kids, but... I can't help it. They're just so much fun."
Enrique's smile turned to a full-out grin at this.
"I agree. And I know what you mean; I like games too!"
Kisa looked astounded by this confession.
"Really?" She questioned in stunned appreciation. "You like games?"
Enrique nodded.
"Yes, I do." He once more replied truthfully. He reached an arm up then to rest his elbow on the table as he looked at the greenette across him with full interest this time. "So, what's you're favourite?"
A wide grin lit Kisa's face as she sat straight in her seat now. The blonde couldn't push back the wave of affection that washed over him, and he chuckled when his companion launched them into a full-blown conversation about his own guilty pleasure.
"Hang on. Would you mind waiting here for a minute while I pop in this store real quick? There's something I want to check out."
Kisa blinked at the blonde on her arm for a moment, then looked up at the store they were standing in front of. As it happened, the store was a hobby shop, and she couldn't help but wonder why she wasn't allowed to follow him inside. Suddenly getting an image of a gorgeous, voluptuous cashier leaning against a counter, she had to force the deep frown itching to appear from adorning her face, and instead forced a smile she hoped was charming and attractive.
"Of course, I don't mind!" She replied, admittedly a little too enthusiastically.
"Great, thanks!" The blonde exclaimed with a huge grin on his face. That said he unhooked his arm from hers and darted inside the store.
The smile dropping from her own face, Kisa released a heavy sigh and chewed the side of her lip as she looked down at the ground. Reaching behind her to slip her hands into her back pockets, she absently scuffed her shoe back and forth against the ground as her thoughts ran wild.
"Oh, grow up Kisa!" She scolded herself in her head. "You don't own him, it's just a date! Sheesh, not like he's asked you to marry him! Heck, after this weekend, he'll probably be moving on to the next girl anyway..."
Sweatdropping at her own morbidness, the greenette released another heavy sigh.
"Hey, what's with the face? You look like your dog died."
Kisa lifted her head to see that her gorgeous date had returned and he was giving her a playful expression, though there was a warmth in his stunning baby blues that took her breath away.
Giving him an authentic smile now, she turned to face him and laughed.
"Sorry... I was just thinking about something."
"You don't have to apologise." The blonde replied, taking a step closer to her. "I'm sorry I left you alone to such sad thoughts. Promise, that won't be happening again this day!"
Kisa's smile widened at this and her heart fluttered sickeningly at the heart-throbbing look he gave her. It was then she noticed that the blonde was carrying a large bag.
"Guess you found what you were looking for?"
Enrique grinned like the Cheshire cat and much to Kisa's disappointment, he switched the bag to his other hand as if to shield it further from her view.
"I did." He replied cryptically as he offered her his arm again. "So, shall we continue?"
Staring at him for a moment, Kisa eventually decided to put the contents of the bag (and the possibility of the blonde wanting to go see a much more attractive woman), out of her mind. So maybe he was just using her to cure his boredom for a weekend, and maybe this might be the only chance she got to hang with him, so what? If that was true, she figured she might as well stop wallowing in self pity over something she had absolutely no control over, and just enjoy the time she did have with the devastatingly handsome Italian. So, smiling again, Kisa nodded as she slipped her arm back through Enrique's and allowed him to once again lead her forward.
Kisa grinned as another swan floated over to her to take the bread she offered.
"They're so beautiful." She said admiringly.
Enrique grunted in response. He wasn't having much luck with the swans because they seemed to like him a whole lot less then they liked Kisa. Every time he held out a piece of bread, the swans would eye it hungrily, approach him, then decide better and swim away again.
Kisa laughed and gave Enrique a playful nudge.
"You've gotta relax." She said kindly. "They can sense your emotions. You need to show them your soft side... show them a little vulnerability. See, watch."
Kisa smiled at one of the swans and made a clicking sound with her mouth to beckon it. When it approached, she placed a hand over Enrique's and lifted it.
"Smile."
Enrique gave her an odd look.
"Smile?" He asked bluntly as if Kisa had just asked him to wear a tutu. "At the swan?"
"Just do it!" She scolded, trying not to laugh.
Enrique sighed heavily, then gave an awkward smile to the swan approaching him.
The swan eyed the blonde wearily, swimming cautiously towards him until it was directly before him. Slowly, it reached out its long neck towards him, and after only a slight hesitation, took the bread offered to it.
Enrique stared at the huge bird, astounded, while Kisa grinned wide.
"See!" She replied, thoroughly excited for the other teen. "I told you."
The swan nudged Enrique's hand for more bread and the blonde laughed. He checked his pockets but after finding nothing, he looked back at the bird with an apologetic expression.
"Sorry, there's none left."
The swan looked around him as if to see if he was telling the truth. Apparently seeing that he was, it rubbed his hand with its head again almost reassuringly before swimming off to find someone else to feed it.
Enrique blinked after the beautiful creature while Kisa laughed loudly beside him.
"They're very intelligent creatures." His companion said when she'd stopped. "Kinda reminds me of flowers; you have to be gentle with beautiful things."
Enrique turned his attention to her at this.
"I see what you mean." He said quietly, suddenly unable to take his eyes off of the girl's face.
Not getting the hidden meaning, Kisa smiled and stood up, offering her hand to Enrique as she looked down at him. He stared for a moment, then returned Kisa's smile and took her hand, though he stood on his own. To Kisa's surprise however, and secret delight, he didn't let go when he was on his feet.
"So, where to now?" The greenette asked, trying to sound casual as they walked away from the pond.
"Hmm... " Enrique pondered. "Well, we could always go see a movie?"
Kisa beamed and nodded excitedly.
"Oh, yes please! There's this one movie I've really been wanting to see!"
"What movie?" The blonde asked with a kind smile.
"It's called; 'For the love of Mandy', it's supposed to be a romantic comedy and I heard it's really good!"
Enrique made a face.
"A romantic comedy?" He repeated dully. Kisa nodded enthusiastically but when she saw her companion's face she frowned.
"But, of course, I could always see it another time. We don't have to watch it if you don't want to, it was just a suggestion... Sorry, most guys don't really like romantic comedies, do they?"
Enrique frowned too, a mix of emotions raging inside him. Indecision, reluctance, annoyance and displeasure. But he wasn't annoyed at Kisa, he was annoyed at himself; for being unhappy because Kisa was unhappy.
"Tell her no, damn it!" A voice inside told him irritably. "Tell her she can go watch it with her lame friends some other time! Tell her you're not on the whip! Tell her you're not watching some corny, lame-o chick flick on your day off! Tell her-"
But despite what the voice in his head urged him to say, the words that spilled out of Enrique's mouth were something completely different.
"Sounds good. We'll go see that one."
Kisa beamed again.
"Alright! You'll love it, I know you will!"
Enrique forced a smile, but inside he was groaning.
"Great... nice going Enrique. This is it, this is how you die; from extreme boredom and lack of laughable content in a really bad movie..."
Enrique forced yet another smile as Kisa looked at him, laughing considerably. He looked around at the people in the theatre and raised an eyebrow at them all. Every single face was split with laughter and some were even in tears from it. Enrique rolled his eyes. The movie was so not that funny... then again, he hadn't really been paying much attention to it.
He shook his head.
Of course it was stupid, all romantic comedies were stupid. Why should he waste his time actually paying attention to this one?
Instead of giving in, Enrique decided to take the chance to ponder his thoughts and actions lately.
"How is it this nerdy little thing can just toss me one look and I loose all my resolve? I have one thing in my head, one thing I've decided to do and say, and she looks at me and it all goes out the window!"
'Enrique, you like me right?'
'No.'
-Look-
'Of course I do! I love you!'
'Enrique, smile at the prettyful swans!'
'That's stupid.'
-Look-
'OK! Here, pretty, pretty birdies.'
'Enrique, lets go watch a really corny, lame, ridiculously stupid chick flick together.'
'Hell no! Did I somehow give you the impression I actually cared about you or something? Because-'
-Intense puppy-dog eyes -
'Because you're absolutely right! You're the earth, moon and sun to me Kisa Murai!'"
Enrique nodded his head once. Yep, that was about right, that's exactly how it happened... OK, maybe not exactly.
Sighing irritably, he looked out the corner of his eye at Kisa to see that the silly girl was grinning widely as she stared at the big screen.
Looking forward again, Enrique sighed lightly. What was wrong with him? Why was he suddenly feeling this way? He'd never felt so weird and so... unusual in his life. Though, admittedly, the feeling wasn't entirely unpleasant. Maddeningly, he found himself putting the pretty little oddball before his own thoughts and needs. He found himself thinking before he spoke so as to not hurt his companion or somehow say the wrong thing. And why had he even gone to see Kisa that morning anyway?
Oh, that's right; he wanted to get to know her, to spend time with her, and to apologise for the night before.
Enrique smiled at this thought, thinking about how much fun he'd had that day and how much he'd enjoyed spending time with Kisa. Of course, that's why he'd gone to see her that morning.
"No!"
Enrique's eyes suddenly widened in horror.
"That's not why I went to see her! I went to see her to win a bet! I am not, NOT falling for Kisa Murai. This is a physical attraction that will disappear as soon as I accomplish my goal! Kisa Murai is a Sacrificial Lamb!"
But as soon as this thought came to him, a viciously sickly feeling twisted his stomach enough to make him wonder if he was going to be physically sick right there on the floor. Looking over at Kisa the blonde was instantly overcome with guilt and the sickly feeling in his gut intensified.
That sweet, adorable, innocent face. How could he even consider doing such a horrid thing to her? How could he have let his so-called friends talk him into-
"Ack! Stop it!"
Enrique grabbed his head and squeezed his eyes shut.
"They did not talk me into it! I willingly agreed, and Kisa Murai is just like any other sacrifice; she's a nobody, a loser! And come Monday, she'll have to suffer the walk of shame just like all the other cheap floozies I've ever taken!"
Enrique jolted in surprise as he felt something touch his arm. Opening his eyes, he looked to his left to see Kisa looking at him with a worried expression.
"Are you alright?" She whispered in concern. "You look like you're in pain..."
Enrique swallowed hard, the savage whirl of emotions and feelings inside him instantly ceasing upon looking into that sweet face.
"I'm fine." He replied softly, offering a small, lopsided smile. "Just... a headache. But I'll be alright, don't worry."
The deep frown remained on the greenette's face for some time, and as her captivating silvery eyes stared at Enrique, he got the unnerving impression that she was looking right through him. Eventually however, his companion smiled and took he blonde's hand, giving it a gentle squeeze.
"If you're sure." She said kindly. She then turned back to the big screen but kept a hold of his hand, which made another sickly hot wave wash over him.
Enrique sighed heavily and looked at the big screen too with a deep frown. If his thoughts were going to pester him and drive him so insane, then the only thing left to do was to actually consume himself in the unpleasant movie.
Whoopie!
"I know you don't really love me, but could you please pretend, just for one second? I've always prayed Michelle Pfeiffer would love, me; and while you're not the real thing, I happen to believe in giving everyone a fair and equal chance to full-fill my fantasies... plus the costume is pretty convincing."
Many people in the theatre laughed again and Enrique gave a small chuckle.
"OK so, stupidly lame as that was... It was sort of funny." He thought in surprise. "Just a bit...Maybe this movie isn't quite as big a waste of my time as I thought. Too bad I've missed the beginning."
So, a little more willingly this time, Enrique watched the rest of the movie and discovered it was far better then allowing himself to be consumed by his own madness.
"So, what did you think?"
Enrique smiled at Kisa as they walked away from the theatre.
"I have to admit; I was surprised, but it was kinda funny, at least a little more than I expected. Nice choice."
Kisa grinned wide before taking a big lick of the towering ice cream Enrique had bought her.
"Glad you liked it." She said with a mouthful of the flavoured sweetness.
"I did." He replied honestly, before licking his frozen treat as well.
The two walked for a while, talking enjoyably as they went, until they eventually arrived at the beach.
Disposing of their garbage in a near-by trash can, they headed down onto the long stretch of sand and walked along the surf while they watched the sun sink low in the sky. Eventually, Kisa glanced down at the bag the blonde was still holding before looking up at him curiously.
"So are you gonna tell me what's in the bag?" She teased playfully. This made Enrique grin again as he looked at her with a mischievous expression.
"Oh, you mean this bag?" He replied, lifting and waving it teasingly. Kisa grinned.
"Yea, that bag!" She said with a laugh.
Enrique stopped walking and turned to face the greenette, causing her to stop and face him as well.
"How bad do ya wanna know?" He asked with a sly grin now as he leaned down into her face.
Kisa's cheeks stained pink once again and Enrique felt another pang of affection for her tug at his heart. Smiling, the greenette leaned up a little to meet him, and the blonde's breath hitched as she gazed up at him with slightly lidded eyes, her lips a mere hair's breadth from his own. He was completely transfixed and unable to tear his gaze from her as she placed a hand delicately on his chest and closed the distance between them, so close he could once again smell her deliciously captivating scent. The blonde's lips parted slightly as he gazed down at Kisa, and his own eyes lidded heavily as he anticipated the kiss he was sure was imminent. Just as his eyes finally closed, Enrique felt her lips brush his and a small smile graced them.
"Eh, it's just a mild curiosity." Kisa suddenly said quietly.
Enrique's eyes blinked open and he stared in a stunned stupor as Kisa stepped away from him with an uncaring expression on her face but a mischievous glint in her eye. He watched as she took a few measured steps back, gave him a playful grin, then casually stuck her hands in her back pockets and turned away from him to saunter down the beach. After staring after her in disbelief for a few moments, the blonde laughed heartily and jogged after her.
Falling into step beside her again he looked down at her with an amused smile.
"That was a cruel trick." He said, feigning a hurt look and a pout. Kisa looked up at him and her grin returned.
"Awe, poor playboy!" She teased. "Not used to girls resisting your obvious charms and overwhelming sex appeal are ya?"
Oddly enough, that comment stung the blonde and he had to scoff at himself for it.
"What are you offended about?" He asked himself ruefully. "Like she didn't know your reputation!"
Still, for some reason, hearing it from this particular girl evidently bothered him more than he wanted to admit.
Shaking his thoughts aside, the blonde stopped again and tilted his head slightly to one side as his companion stopped again as well and blinked curiously up at him.
"No, I'm not." He replied honestly with a grin. "And there's one girl in particular who's been driving me crazy all day with her blatant disregard for my obvious charms and overwhelming sex appeal!"
This made Kisa laugh and Enrique found the sound absolutely charming.
"Is that so?" She replied. "Well, imagine that; the infamous Enrique Giancarlo, all out of sorts over some silly little nobody! Le gasp! Surely such a scandal has never occurred before!"
Enrique's expression softened at that and he pinned the greenette with an intense stare as he closed the distance between them again.
"You're right; I am out of sorts, but not over some nobody." He leaned down again, this time to press his cheek to hers and whisper softly in her ear. "She's actually the most amazing girl I've ever met, and I think I might be starting to fall for her..."
Kisa gasped lightly and her eyes widened like two over-sized shiny silver coins.
Enrique pulled back slightly and gazed into those bright orbs with a tender and warm expression.
"In fact..." He continued softly . "I like her so much, I wanted to buy her a present; something that would always remind her of me every time she used it."
Kisa's eyes darted down towards the bag in his hand before looking back up at the blonde again. Biting her lip adorably in a way that made his heart flutter sickeningly, she hesitated a moment before finally speaking.
"You bought that for me..?" She asked, her voice also a whisper now. When all she received was a smile of confirmation, she glanced back to the bag again, then at him once more before smiling shyly. "Can I see it?"
Laughing lightly, Enrique pulled away from her and Kisa followed him with her eyes as he walked a short distance up the beach, away from the incoming tide, and sat down before looking back to her and patting the spot beside him.
Kisa stared at the blonde for a moment, once again hesitating, before eventually approaching him and lowering herself beside him. Enrique lifted the bag towards her and Kisa's hands wrapped around it but he didn't release it as he spoke again.
"You can have it on one condition." He said, causing her to give him a curious and inquiring look. "If you promise to use it right now."
Now thoroughly intrigued, Kisa instantly pulled the bag towards her when the blonde released it and opened it to peer inside. Enrique was ecstatic when a small gasp escaped her once she saw what it contained.
"Enrique..." She whispered breathlessly, her voice thick with emotion now. "These are... these are really high quality..."
"I remember you saying earlier that you're pretty good with a sketch pad. Well, I wanna see some proof, missy!"
The gift he'd bought for her was a thick sketchpad and an artist's quality set of sketch and drawing tools.
Kisa gave him a slightly surprised look.
"You remembered that?" She asked in awe, a slight flush coming to her cheeks again.
"Of course." The blonde replied softly. "I remember everything you told me."
Setting the objects in her lap, Kisa stared at them for a long time, completely speechless. Eventually she blinked back the wetness in her eyes and finally looked up at the blonde through still-glassy orbs. The look she gave him took his breath away all over again.
"This is the nicest gift, Enrique..." She whispered softly still, her voice cracking slightly this time. "But I... this is too much! This set is way too expensive, I can't except this!"
She lifted the set to hand back to him, but the blonde placed a hand over hers and gently pushed it back towards her.
"Trust me, my artistic skills are truly mortifying." He replied playfully. "So those things are utterly useless to me, to say the least."
His expression softened again then as he continued.
"Don't worry about the price, Kisa, I'm not exactly short on cash... I meant what I said; my motives for buying them for you were kinda selfish; I want them to remind you of me when you use them."
A playful and teasing grin lit his face then.
"Besides, it's not a free gift, remember? You've gotta pay for it." When the greenette stared at him with a doe-in-headlights expression, he laughed heartily. "I told you you could only have it if you used it right now."
Kisa stared at him for a few moments before finally laughing as well and rapidly blinking away her tears.
"I can do that." She said with a grin.
She placed the objects reverently in the sand beside her, and got up on her knees before turning towards the blonde and wrapping her arms around his neck to hug him tightly.
"Thank you so much, Enrique." She whispered softly. "I'll definitely think of you when I use them... every time."
Enrique closed his eyes and wrapped his arms around her as he pulled her close. His pulse was racing now as her sweet scent once again overwhelmed him. Unable to stop himself, he buried his face into the crook of her neck like he'd wanted so badly to do earlier that morning and breathed in deeply. It took everything in him not to press his lips to the soft flesh so dangerously close to them, and the effort made him sigh longingly.
"Welcome..." He mumbled against her skin.
All too soon, Kisa pulled away from him and sat back in the sand again with a thoroughly pleased expression as she retrieved her new presents.
"So!" She said enthusiastically. "What do you want me to draw?"
Forcing himself to wrangle in his emotions, Enrique took a deep, calming breath and leaned back on his hands as he lifted a shoulder for a casual shrug.
"I duno... whatever comes to your mind, Ms. Michelangelo."
Kisa laughed and moved to open the set. Taking a moment to select a pencil, she lifted it to tap thoughtfully against her lips as she looked up and considered.
"Hmmm..." She hummed aloud, thinking. After a few moments, she glanced at the blonde out the corner of her eye and grinned wide.
"Okay, I've got something." She informed him.
Enrique watched her flip open the sketchbook and lift her knees to rest it atop them. Getting comfortable, she didn't look at him again as her hand began to glide across the page. He leaned over to watch her work but she tilted the pad away from him with a smile.
"Uh-uh! It's a surprise!" She said teasingly, still not looking at him. "This might take a little while; why don't you get comfortable while you wait?"
Enrique smiled and did as she said, stretching his legs out in front of him and staring out over the water to watch the sun getting low in the sky while she drew.
There was a comfortable silence between them for a long time, and Enrique let his thoughts wander while he waited. Eventually however, Kisa broke the silence, though she still didn't look at him.
"So, I've told you all about me..." She said absently, her hand still gliding across the page. She laughed lightly before continuing. "In maybe a little too much detail. How about you tell me something about you?"
Enrique frowned as his hands clenched and unclenched in the sand behind him. He didn't want to tell Kisa about himself, not when they were enjoying each other's company so thoroughly. So, he did what any other teen who wanted to impress someone would do.
He lied.
"Well, like you said earlier, there's not much to say. My mother died when I was young and my father... doesn't really spend much time at home. I basically raised myself until I was able to make it on my own, then I moved out of my parent's stupidly huge mansion and got the apartment I have now. And... that's basically my story."
Kisa finally looked up at Enrique and blinked at him for a moment, then laughed.
"Well, that seems pretty normal." She said playfully. "If not short and pathetically void of any real detail."
Enrique forced a small half-smile. If only she knew just how much he'd left out and just how un-normal his family really was... she'd be running for the hills in a heartbeat.
"Yea... normal..." He said, frowning again and hurrying to change the subject "So, how's your drawing coming?"
Kisa stopped drawing and leaned back slightly, tipping her head to one side as she observed the page thoughtfully.
"Not bad actually!" She replied proudly. "I'm almost finished."
She looked up at him then with a ridiculously cheesy grin.
"And when I'm done we can sit and watch the sunset like a total cliche!"
Enrique felt a little uneasy at this thought, even though his companion laughed playfully at her own comment before once again turning back to her drawing. He wanted nothing more then to do just that, but... he had a job to do.
"Yea, that'll be nice..." He said softly.
There was silence again for a long time, and Enrique felt himself steadily growing more and more restless and uneasy as his thoughts ran wild in his head. The longer he was left alone to them, the more he felt like they were someone else's rather than his own.
Enrique could feel his insides twisting sickeningly again, just like they had at the theatre. He wanted to be closer to Kisa, wanted to make her happy, and he could no longer deny that there was a definite attraction between them; but it made him sick to think of the bet he had agreed to. Looking at the greenette now, her face bathed in the last rays of the day's sunshine, a positively stunning and serene expression on her face while she worked on something she obviously took a lot of joy in, he wasn't so sure he could go through with it.
"There! Done!"
Snapping out of his morbid mangle of thoughts now, Enrique blinked at Kisa when she spoke, and realised that she was staring at him with a one-hundred grin and looking like a kid at Christmas.
"Not bad, right? I think it turned out pretty good."
Only now realising she had turned the pad towards him, the blonde lowered his gaze from her beautiful face to stare at it. What he saw stunned him speechless.
Etched on the page like a real-life black and white photograph was an image of himself, leaning back in the sand with a completely contented and serene look on his face. His profile was cast into an array of light and shadows from the setting sun, and the him in the sketch looked a whole lot more relaxed and totally at peace then he felt right then. The image was nothing short of awe-inspiring and Enrique couldn't help being seriously impressed as he stared at it indeed in awe.
"Wow..." He said softly, still staring at the picture in amazement. "Do I really look that good?"
Kisa laughed now and turned the page back towards herself to stare fondly down at the guy on it.
"Of course not, you look way better." She teased playfully. "But that's the best I can do."
She looked up at him again with a smile and soft expression.
"Actually, that's more or less what you did look like earlier... but now you kinda look sad and lost."
That comment surprised the blonde and he stared at her for a moment before forcing a smile.
"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about something."
"Well, since you're stealing my line, I'm gonna steal yours." She cleared her throat before lowering her voice in a teasing attempt to imitate the blonde's. "You don't have to apologise. I'm sorry I left you alone to such sad thoughts. Promise, that won't be happening again this day!"
Enrique gawked at her yet again in stunned disbelief for a few moments before bursting into laughter.
"I so do not sound like that!" He said with a huge grin of his own. Kisa stuck her tongue out at him.
"You so do!"
The blonde laughed again and reached out to give her a playful push, causing her to topple over onto the sand and laugh heartily as well. When she righted herself she turned a smile on the blonde.
"Feel better now?" She asked softly. He returned her smile and scooted over closer to her, giving her shoulder a playful nudge with his.
"Much." He replied softly in return. "Thank you."
"Welcome." The greenette replied, returning his playful nudge.
There was a long comfortable silence this time as the two stared out over the waves and watched the sun finally sink below the horizon. Both were lost in their own thoughts for a while until, once again, Kisa broke the silence.
"So, Enrique, are you... glad you asked me on a date yesterday?"
The blonde looked at Kisa in surprise, blinking at her as she fidgeted nervously. Eventually he laughed.
"Of course I am." He replied honestly. "I can't remember the last time I enjoyed myself so much."
Another one hundred watt grin lit Kisa's face at that.
"Good! Cause I'm glad you asked me!"
She fidgeted again as she looked back out over the ocean.
"I had fun too, Enrique. I... really like you. You're nothing like what I imagined, or what people say about you. I'm really glad to know you're actually a good person after all, and that they're all wrong about you."
Enrique's world came to a screeching halt at that and his heart followed suit as he eyed the girl beside him with slightly wide eyes. Suddenly it was hard to breathe and impossible to swallow against his suddenly parched throat.
Before Kisa could say anything more, she found herself flat on her back, lips locked with Enrique and staring up at the gorgeous blonde with wide eyes.
Enrique pressed his lips more firmly and Kisa's eyes slid shut with a small sigh. Good thing too since at that very moment, the playboy's emotions finally over-powered him and tears leaked from under his closed eye lids, streaming down his face like thick, salty rivers.
"I have to do this!" He thought miserably. "It's who I am... I've done it before... I can do it again... she's just another girl, just another nobody... she doesn't mean anything to me!"
Kisa moaned softly as Enrique's experienced fingers trailed over her body. He had to keep up his inner pep-talk in order to fight the sickening repulsion coursing through him at the thought of what he was doing.
"This is all just for a bet, she'll get over it. I'm just drawn to her because I know she's untouched-"
This fact was proven as Kisa momentarily broke away from him to release a loud, pleasured moan. Enrique choked painfully and recaptured her lips, forcing himself to continue.
"She needs to grow up, needs to learn that life isn't all rainbows and butterflies! She needs to learn-"
"I'm really glad to know you're actually a good person after all, and that they're all wrong about you."
Enrique choked as Kisa's words rang out in his head like a voice screamed over a loudspeaker. In that moment, he knew; he didn't want to be the one to teach Kisa that lesson, he didn't want to be the one to prove to her that everyone was right about him, he really was as bad as everyone said.
Instead, for the first time in his life, he'd finally found someone he actually wanted to be with, someone he could see himself falling for, loving in that sort of fairy tale way that had always seemed to ridiculous and unattainable to him. He wanted to not only hold her and make her smile, he also had the ludicrous desire to be the only person to be able to do so.
"I can't do this!"
Enrique pulled away from Kisa, his eyes squeezed shut, as tears continued to stream down his face. He had Kisa right where he wanted her, could have his way with her any way he wanted and for however long he wanted it. But he couldn't go through with it.
Kisa's eyes fluttered slowly open as she blinked up at the blonde in confusion.
"What's wrong...?" She mumbled through her seemingly intoxicated haze. Once her vision had finally cleared however, she immediately sobered up.
"Enrique!" She exclaimed in alarm. "Wh-what's wrong?!"
"Nothing..." Enrique choked, sitting up now and turning away from her to hide his face.
"Don't tell me it's nothing!" Kisa scolded, following him up. She moved in front of the blonde and pulled him tight to her chest, wrapping him almost protectively in her arms.
Enrique broke down.
"I'm so sorry Kisa..!" He choked. Unable to help himself, his arms wrapped tightly around her, pulling her as close as their bodies would allow and clutching the back of her shirt for dear life. His face he buried in her shoulder, both ashamed of himself and still too proud to let anyone see him cry. "I'm so sorry!"
"For what?" The greenette asked, slightly alarmed. She was staring down at the crown of his blonde locks with wide eyes.
Enrique's throat tightened and a shiver ran down his spine when he felt her fingers bury themselves into his hair and begin to soothingly comb through it, brushing his scalp as she did.
"This is wrong... this is all a huge mistake..."
When Kisa remained silent, Enrique hesitated a moment before forcing himself to look up into her face. Seeing the pained expression above him, his insides wrenched all over again.
"It's not you, Kisa!" He hurried to add. "You deserve better, so much better! Don't waste your time, and especially yourself, on someone like me..."
A deep frown etched itself across the beautiful peaches and cream face, and its owner reached up to gently wipe the tears from the Italian playboy's cheeks.
"It's my choice whom I do, or do not, waste my time... or myself... on." Kisa whispered. She cupped Enrique's face then and leaned down to kiss him, but the blonde pulled away.
Kisa sighed heavily and Enrique's frown deepened.
"I'm sorry... " He whispered again. Kisa have him a lop-sided smile.
"It's alright. Maybe we should go home ... sleep on this?"
Enrique nodded in agreement, but he knew he'd have the same thoughts in the morning. He then stood up, roughly scrubbed his face with the back of his hand, and reached down to offer both to his companion. After a slight hesitation, the greenette placed her hands in his and allowed him to pull her to her feet.
"I can't believe-!" He began a little angrily. "I'm so sorry you had to see that... humiliating display, Kisa."
Kisa smiled up at him and gave his hand a gentle squeeze.
"It's OK to cry when you're hurting, Enrique." She said softly.
Enrique gave her a small, half-smile and had to force back another onslaught of emotion as he looked into her sweet, innocent face.
"Let's get you home." He whispered.
Enrique walked Kisa up to her front door and waited while she unlocked it. She turned to him once she'd done so with a bright smile.
"Thank you again for today Enrique, I had a lot of fun."
Enrique offered her a genuinely warm smile.
"So did I Kisa." He agreed honestly. "Thank you... so much. Goodnight."
He turned and descended the steps but Kisa stopped him on the second.
"Enrique?"
He paused and only half turned back towards her as he offered her another smile.
"Yes?"
She looked at him somewhat shyly and walked to the edge of the steps. Reaching out, she wrapped her arms tightly around the blonde's waist, surprising him slightly. After a moments hesitation, he turned fully around in her arms and closed his eyes as he returned the embrace, choosing to savour the little exchange as long as he could, and unable to resist thinking that it felt so right to have her in his arms - and damn it if she didn't fit there so perfectly!
When finally Kisa pulled away, her hands moved up to cup the gorgeous Italian's face again as she stared into his bright blue eyes with a warm smile.
"I don't mind spending my time on someone like you, Enrique." She whispered softly. "And I don't consider it a waste."
Baby blues slid shut as Kisa slowly leaned down and pressed a soft, tender and lingering kiss to his lips. Right then, he realised that despite what he thought, he figured he must have a heart, because at once he felt it shatter inside him like a delicate piece of glass.
Enrique's arms wrapped around Kisa's waist as he forced any and all thought from his mind. He didn't care about some stupid bet, he didn't care about his reputation, and he didn't care what people thought; all he cared about was the sweet girl now nestled so perfectly and naturally in his arms.
When finally Kisa broke the kiss, the Italian playboy blinked up at her through glossy eyes.
"Goodnight, Enrique." She said softly. Her thumb lightly caressed Enrique's jawbone before giving him yet another smile and turning to enter her house.
Enrique blinked at the closed door long after Kisa was gone. After a few deep, laboured breaths, he heaved a heavy sigh, turned around again, and closed his eyes.
"Is this what all those girls felt like after I was finished with them..?" He whispered softly. "I know I deserve it and I've had it coming to me for a while, but if I've got to pay for it all at once... God help me."
Feeling lower then he'd ever felt in his life, and sure that his body had suddenly transformed from flesh and bone to solid lead, the blonde frowned so deep he thought his face would crack and forced himself down the stairs and towards what he would knew would be a long, sleepless and torturous night alone.