Chapter 13:
{a/n: the song is Groove Theory's "Tell me if you want me to" (obviously lol)}
Meanwhile outside, Gwen and Hank were sitting down by the fountain, sharing a conversation.
~ I been doin' my own thing
Love has always had a way
of having bad timing
But to my great surprise
Ever since I looked into your eyes
I had one question for you ~
"So have you thought about applying for my company's job opening?" Gwen asked him casually. She wanted to talk about their kiss, heck she even wanted another one, but she didn't want to sound too forward. So she chose to discuss something else.
"I'm still thinking about it," he grinned at her. Hell, he would take that job in an instance if it fell into his lap, just so he could be closer to Gwen. But he had to play it cool. He knew that she wasn't completely over Ethan yet, and he didn't want to come off pressuring her in any way.
She smiled.
~ Tell me if you want me to
Give you all my time
I wanna make it good for you
Cuz you blow my mind
I promise boy, I'll be true
You're the perfect find
So tell me if you want me to ~
They continued to share small talk for a while longer, getting to know each other better. None of them was in the mood to go back to the party. They were having more fun here conversing with each other.
"What's it like being so far apart in age from your brother?" Gwen asked him.
"It's not so bad. He's like fifteen years older than me, and his kids are like ten years younger, so it doesn't feel like I'm a young brother, more like I'm the oldest sibling of Kay, Jessica and Noah, even though I'm their uncle."
"That's interesting," Gwen nodded.
~ Sweetheart, you thought I'd sleep on this
Boy you're wrong cuz all I dream about
Is our first kiss
And you're the first one to make me feel like this
And this is one opportunity that I can't miss
No no ~
"What about you?"
"Well I'm an only child," Gwen informed him. "Sometimes I wish I weren't. So then maybe my parents wouldn't focus so much on me. Maybe they would actually let me be who I wanted to be. Not some sissy socialite who has to impress people all the time. I want to be free to do what I want, any time I want, and be with whoever I want." The last part was said a bit longingly. Her parents wouldn't allow her to be with anyone who didn't scream money. They would never let her be with someone like Hank, for example.
"And just who do you want to be with, Miss Hotchkiss?" Hank flirted, putting his arm around her.
"Oh, I think you can take a guess," she flirted right back, turning around and settling her head down on his shoulder.
~ Boy you wanna know the deal
You are wondering if the words
I'm saying are for real
Cuz you got more appeal
Than any man in this whole world
And baby, I got to know how you feel
So ~
He breathed in the scent of her. She smelled like vanilla, which complimented her white dress in some obscure way. He wished he could stay in this moment forever.
Am I beginning to fall in love with her? he questioned his heart. Yes, it spoke back. He smoothly ran his fingers down her medium-length hair. Silky to the touch.
She turned around slowly to face him. The tears that had consumed her now made her cheeks look flushed. It made her look more beautiful, not the other way around.
"What are you thinking about?" he asked her absently.
~Tell me if you want me to
Give you all my time
I wanna make it good for you
Cuz you blow my mind
I promise boy I'll be true
You're the perfect find
So tell me if you want me to ~
A smile danced on her lips. "I'm thinking about how I want another kiss." Her eyes shone suggestively.
How could he refuse her? It was like she was handing him a ticket to happiness. "You can't resist me, eh?" he half-joked.
"More like I won't," she whispered, not giving him the chance to say something back. Her lips enveloped his in a sweet, soft kiss.
~ Sweetheart
Now it's time I let you know
I don't wanna rush
We should take it slow
Boy I can love you
Can you help me grow - oh
Give me a new beginning
And I'll give you a happy end ~
Hank kissed Gwen again, but this time it was more passionate. Everything just seemed so right. It was as if all of humanity paused as they experienced that one perfect kiss. Noises were erased from the sense of hearing, troubles and problems disappeared from memory and thoughts. All they did was focus on each other, and that moment. It was so right. They both knew it.
Sometime in between the kiss, Gwen realized something that startled her. But she continued to kiss Hank as her thoughts absorbed her new found realization. I love him! she thought to herself. I do. And this is true love. I can feel it deep down.
With Ethan, it was different. My parents forced me to start dating him, because of the business merger they had set up with his family. And growing up, I couldn't wait to fall in love one day. To find my prince charming, just like in all of those Disney movies I used to watch as a child. Ethan was the only man who could have been my prince charming. But he really wasn't. My heart got accustomed to him. I never loved him - I just got used to him.
Hank broke off their kiss. Gwen smiled. Those thoughts finally rested her inner turmoil, and she could definitely say to herself now that she was over Ethan. Completely and holistically.
"What are you -" he began to say as he stroked her hair softly, before he was interrupted by a loud voice that seemed to be directed at them.
"Hank!" they heard the shout.
Gwen and Hank turned to see Luis, Sheridan, Ethan and Theresa staring at them. Luis and Ethan were glaring.
{a/n: ok i know i keep pushing things off to the next chapter. geez it's pissing me off, i wonder how u all feel, but i can't do it any other way. next up, the REAL tension escalates, and there's confrontations and fights. in other words FUN STUFF. Read on!}