Love Never Goes Out of Style/CH 4
Betty looked at Daniel as if he had antlers. She didn't seem to know what to say. "Daniel..."
They both turned at the sound of a knock on the door, Daniel stood up, "It's probably the food I ordered. I'll get it."
Betty nodded, as Daniel went to get their food. She pulled her legs up to her in the chair and hugged her knees, trying to wrap her head around what he had just told her.
His mother thought she and Daniel loved each other? Why would Claire think that? Had his mother noticed the recent changes in their relationship, too? Was it that obvious? So it wasn't all in her head? The stolen glances, the lingering looks, the feeling as if their easy, comfortable silences were becoming suddenly charged with electricity?
She had begun to feel like her long-time best friend was no longer someone she only wanted to be friends with. But the palpable chemistry between them couldn't be anything Daniel felt towards her, too, could it? She had assumed it was some crazy reaction only on her part, some intense feelings she was imagining because Matt had been gone so long that she was starting to get turned on by even her sweet, goofy friend now. There was no way Daniel felt as turned on by her, too, was there?
Although, she admitted, lately even their hugs had felt…different. The way he looked at her felt…different. Betty was full of questions, but she could see from Daniel's concerned face that he regretted letting slip what his mother had said, so she decided since he hadn't pushed her on her little dream earlier, maybe she should let this slide, as well. Fair was fair.
He gave her a small smile as he brought the food over, "So...are we eating here?"
She nodded enthusiastically, as she grabbed a DVD, "Of course! Fast and Furious or Resident Evil?"
"Resident Evil, of course. Wait, one or two or three or...how many are there?"
She smiled, "You're kidding, right? Only the first one's got the hot guy."
He set the food out on her coffee table and they sat down to watch for a while, seemingly forgetting all about their earlier conversation, eating and watching the movie comfortably, teasing one another and talking about anything and everything, just like they had done countless times.
As the closing credits rolled, Betty looked up, unaware of her head being in Daniel's lap.
She had evidently dozed off again. He was stroking her cheek with his finger, smiling down at her, "Hey, sleepy head."
She moaned, "Sorry. I guess I got tired after eating so much. I'm stuffed now."
He nodded, "Yeah. I know I uh...really messed up your sleep this morning waking you up. Sorry."
She rubbed her eyes, then stretched and yawned, "I'm okay. Daniel, can I ask you a question?"
"Sure."
"What was your mom talking about? I mean, you know; the thing you said earlier...about...us."
"Oh, that."
"Yes, that! Your mom...really said that? She thinks we...you and I...?"
He nodded, "Yep. She said that I'm so overprotective and jealous of all the men you go out with, and I call you all the time because I'm secretly trying to show your boyfriends that you'll come to me. And she said you always do, because you...uh have feelings for me, too."
"Oh."
"Yeah."
"Do you really think you do that?"
He shrugged, "I don't know. Maybe. I didn't realize I was, but...I guess it makes sense. I mean, you know, we're around each other all the time. We do know each other pretty well.
I guess I do sort of...get involved in your personal life too much. I know you get in mine and boss me around all the time." he teased.
She started to sit up, "Well, I'm sorry, Daniel. I won't bother if you don't..."
He pushed her head back down on his lap and smiled gently, shaking his head, "I didn't say I didn't like it, did I?"
"You do?"
He cracked a small smile, "Sure. You're sort of...you know, hard to ignore, Betty. I guess...I like you bossing me around, getting in my business. I'm sort of used to it now. I don't know what I'd do without you now that you're such a big part of my life."
He bit his lip and leaned back on his hands, her head now balancing on his legs. "Yeah, you know; you...complete me." he batted his eyelashes and grinned.
She rolled her eyes at him, then started to get up, and tried to shove him, "Very funny, Daniel! You're such a big goof!"
He laughed, "What? I thought you liked all those sappy movies you always make me watch."
"You know as well as I do, that I like action movies and comedies as much as you, Daniel.
And there have been some times when YOU were the one who wanted to watch that stupid Notebook, which I hate! You just like seeing Rachel McAdams all wet."
He grinned, helping her sit across from him, "So? Like you don't watch Triple X because you think Vin Diesel is hot and has a sexy voice? At least you finally let up on the Disney stuff! You are a grown woman, Betty!"
She laughed, "Are we...really arguing about which movies we like to watch?"
He rolled his eyes, "No, not really. I think...we're arguing because…well…it's like we don't know what else to do at this point. We're both afraid to do anything else besides hug and holds hand and argue. It's what we know."
She nodded, as they both sat on the floor, across from one another, looking at each other intensely. She stared down at her jeans. "I think you might be right. I sort of noticed lately...things, feel...different, I guess. Right? Or is it just me?" She slowly looked at him.
He met her gaze, shaking his head, "No, Betty. It's not just you. I feel something changing between us, too. I've been trying to tell myself I was nuts, it wasn't anything, but..."
She smiled, "Oh yeah? How's that working out for you?"
He shook his head, and shrugged, then grinned at her, "So far, not so good. To be perfectly honest, I had to turn my head earlier when you were reaching around for your glasses so I didn't grab your ass."
"Daniel!" she blushed, but then laughed. "Really?"
He nodded, smirking. "Yeah, well...like I said, Betty, you're hard to ignore. So is your uh..."
"Are you saying I have a big butt? Thanks a lot!"
He grinned, "Actually, I hear lots of guys like that, Betty. Myself included. It can be an...asset, you know."
"Yes, I know it can in the real world. But, not at Mode."
"Believe it or not, just because I work there, it doesn't mean I live and breathe fashion personally, Betty. I don't just go for models all the time."
"Oh, really? I guess that explains all the fashion models who seem to fall into your bed."
He rolled his eyes, "Come on, Betty. Cut me some slack here. Not lately. Not since...Molly. Or even before. What about Sofia? Renee? Molly? I've never said I didn't appreciate a real woman's curves! You know better!"
"Right. You just weren't in a hurry to look at me as a real woman because you and Amanda had your little...arrangement."
"Yeah, about that. Look, Betty..."
She shrugged and waved her hand, as he stood up and reached his hand down to help her up as well.
"It's fine, Daniel. I get it. You're used to having sex on a regular basis. Besides, like you said, it's none of my business. I butt into your personal life too much. I'm sorry, I'll butt out."
He moved closer to her, and grabbed her arms, smiling at her, "Yeah, you know, if you can...with your big butt and all."
She shoved his chest, "So? What do you care about my butt? Besides, I thought you were a breast man? I caught you checking out my..."
"Big boobs? Yeah, so...maybe I was. You stuck them in my face! What was I supposed to do, not notice? They're huge! I am a man, Betty."
She blushed again, and shoved him even harder this time. "No kidding! Please don't start with your 'I am a man, I have a penis stuff, okay? I'm sorry! I can't help it. I was born that way. That's why I never wanted to…flaunt them."
He raised his eyebrows, "Yeah, well…nobody's complaining here. They're...you know, very nice, actually. Not that anybody would KNOW that! You really should let them out for some air once in a while. Let the girls see the light of day, or...night."
She rolled her eyes, turning crimson, "Daniel...you're being really..."
"What? Inappropriate? I'm sorry. Am I bothering you, being so…honest about how…you make me feel lately, Miss Suarez?"
"Well, yes!"
He leaned down, and picked up her chin with his crooked finger, "Do you mind?"
She shook her head, and whispered, "No."
He smiled, "Does that mean...yes?"
She nodded, smiling back at him, "I guess...mm hmm…yes."
"Okay." He took a deep breath, then grinned somewhat nervously as he leaned forward and kissed her softly. He couldn't help feeling like this wasn't really happening.
He was actually (finally) kissing Betty? His best friend? Why did it feel so...right? So...hot? Wow, she was a really good kisser!
After several minutes, Betty pulled away. He licked his lips, and had a moment of doubt, "Sorry. Should I not have done that? Did I just make things weird for us?"
She shook her head, "It's not that. Well, I mean, it might make things weird, yes. But, actually, I was thinking. Should we be doing this here?"
Daniel was clearly confused. He was used to Betty's 'signals' as far as seeing her with other guys and recognizing when she liked them, but had no experience trying to figure her out as anything but his sweet, slightly clumsy, but smart friend himself.
He looked hopeful, "What, you mean...we should, uh...take it into the bedroom?"
She rolled her eyes, "No, that is NOT what I meant, Daniel!"
He looked worried, "What then? I'm sorry, Betty. I don't know what you mean. What did you mean, not here? Where then? In the kitchen, the living room, the bathroom, just let me know where you're into it and I'm totally on board."
She smiled, somewhat hesitantly, "So...you mean, you liked it?"
"Yeah! Definitely! Oh, wait, you didn't?"
"No, I...did." she blushed slightly, and seemed somewhat breathless.
"You did?" He couldn't believe how freaking sexy she looked, staring up at him, right now.
She nodded, biting her lip, "Mmm hmmm. Oh, yeah!"
He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her waist, feeling like he must surely be having (another) one of his increasingly frequent fantasies about her. This couldn't be really happening, "Like...a lot? Or wait, what were you talking about then, when you said 'not here'? I'm confused.
Of course, I have been for a while now, I think. You...sort of make me forget who I am lately. Where I am, what my name is...stuff like that."
She smiled, her now unencumbered smile making him feel like his whole world had suddenly been filled with light and happiness, "Yeah? Me, too. I...didn't really mean anything when I said 'here'. At least, I wasn't talking about a place. I just meant...you know, because we're friends.
It feels...well, strange maybe. Different, like it's not real, since it's something new and different for us. But I liked it, too. A lot. I think you definitely make me forget who I am, where I am...you know, stuff like that, too."
He nodded, and whispered as he held her close, "So...what are we going to do about this, Betty?"
She shrugged, closing her eyes for a moment, to let his low, gruff, incredibly sexy voice wash over her.
"We could…um try to go back to being just friends, I guess. Forget it ever happened."
He looked slightly hurt. "Yeah. I suppose we could. Is that what you want, Betty?"
She saw his face; so sweet, so hopeful. She slowly shook her head, and whispered, "No. What I really want is to…I...want to...kiss you again. And again."