Carpe Diem, Part Five
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[Yes, another time jump. Three weeks later.]
Corr had gotten his—rather, Joey's—report back four days after he had turned it in with a hastily written "Excellent, you have real knowledge of the topic. Perfect!" scrawled at the top in blue ink. Corr was increasingly becoming more amazed at Joey. She was nothing like anything he had expected. Or, as Tom put it—
"You have a crush on her."
"No, I don't."
"Yes, you do. I don't blame you, though. She's an absolute—"
"Tom, you say one word and you are instantly decapitated."
"—ly annoying jerk?"
"Rather."
"You still have a crush on her."
Corr was trying to ignore this accusation—perhaps because he was afraid it was true—and that wasn't so hard, as he had another, more pressing problem:
"Four days."
Corr had walked in on Joey packing and asked her why.
"Four days 'til what?"
"'Til my probation ends. I suppose I won't get kicked out, since you haven't complained."
"You're leaving?"
"Rather obviously. Besides, I have to. It's not going to be easy to convince them to let me stay. Not that I especially want to."
"You don't like me?"
Joey stifled a short laugh:
"Let's see. You're an egotistical, self-driven, independent, annoying, stupid, idiotic, self-satisfied, empty-headed prig…"
"Am I really all that?"
"…Despite that, you do deserve a chance."
"Am I really all that?" repeated Corr.
"Yes," came Joey's short reply. "You are. Maybe you should start losing some of it."
"And end up as…?"
"A person with a servant. And a lover."
"My servant's going to be my lover?"
"Not in this lifetime. I meant that as two different people."
"Oh."
"Disappointed, are we?" Joey's tone was teasing. "Did you want me to be your lover?"
"Did you want me to not be?"
Corr took a tentative step towards Joey. She turned back to her packing.
"Don't, Corr. Please don't."
Corr stopped. She was right. Why
am I doing this? he asked himself. Why am I falling for
her?
"Do I have time to repent for my sins?" inquired Corr, a laughing tone in his voice. Joey smiled, spinning quickly on her heel to face him.
"Four days."
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"Joey?"
Joey jumped. It was only five in the morning. She didn't expect Corr to be awake for nearly an hour.
"Yeah?"
"I'm sorry," Corr said gently.
"For what?"
"For being such a jerk."
"You're not a jerk."
"I'm not?"
"You're just an idiot." Joey poured water into a kettle.
"Thanks," said Corr dryly. "And are you making tea again?"
"No," answered Joey absently. "I'm making a hot water bottle."
"For me?"
"No. For me."
"Oh. Okay. See ya."
"Go to sleep, Corr."
"I will."
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Ooch. That royally stank. Stunk. Whatever. The next one will be interesting. And romantic! In a way, at least. So long!
~FireLily