Pawnshops and Carousels

AvalonReeseFanFics

A/N: Are you ready for a cute chapter cause this one is super cute. This is where things sort of start to look up for our star crossed lovers. I'd love to hear what you guys think so far so don't forget to leave a review and I'll see you guys next Sunday.

Chapter 10


Today was the day. Today was also her birthday, but today was the day that could make or break us. I had thought long and hard about how I was going to do this. At first, I wanted to give it to her myself, but we've been awkward and unsure of ourselves since she was hospitalized… or at least… I felt awkward and unsure. I felt like something had happened between us, even if it was just because of her concussion, but I didn't know if she felt the same way. And because of that I had started second guessing everything. What if she didn't like the gift? What if she got mad at me for tricking her? Maybe I was just worried for no reason, maybe I was paranoid but I went with the coward's way out.

I wrapped up her carousel, signed a card that my dad and sister forced me to let them sign as well and then left the box waiting for her on her desk. That way when she gets it, it's not coming just from me, and I can hide in my office while she opens it. Which leaves me waiting impatiently for her to come in and see it where I left it on her desk.

Though she only comes in ten minutes after I left the box on her desk it might as well have been a lifetime. I was on pins and needles watching as she walked in.

"Morning," I say to her. Ashley's good morning is paired with a happy birthday. But my happy birthday is written on the card, so I say none of that to her.

She says good morning to both of us, thanks Ashley for her happy birthday and then stares at me carefully waiting for me to say it too which I don't and then I don't have to worry about being looking like I'm being polite because her eyes are on the box waiting for her.

I'm practically hyperventilating as she peels the wrapping paper off. But she doesn't open the box, she stops to read the card. The happy birthday from all the Golds with the added note from me.

My heart races as I watch her mouth along with the words.

You're not the only one who remembers our first kiss.

And then she's opened up the box and the musical carousel is on her desk. She stares at it, winds it up quickly and then just sits there as the soft sounds of the Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy floats through the office. She's smiling, this big huge misty grin. I've made her cry. Happy tears, I think… I hope.

And I'm grinning ear to ear. Ear to bloody ear. Until I notice that Ashley is also sitting at her desk but instead of watching Sabrina open her gift she's been watching me. Ashley had just seen all of that and was smiling at me like I had just handed her the rights to my office.

I slam my door shut before she can say anything. Damn I wish she hadn't seen that.


Seth: I mean, on one hand I'm pissed because Ashley's winning. I'm constantly distracted, I've been fucking up easy tasks and even easier negotiations because my mind is always on Sabrina, and I'm always watching out for her out of the corner of my eye. But damn, did you see that smile though? I swear that won me MAJOR brownie points. I may finally have made up for cheating on her. Okay that's going a little far, but maybe she'll consider forgiving me for it now. Or at least letting me call her Reenie again.


I don't care that Seth's door is shut. I don't care if he's possibly busy, I don't even care that he has a girlfriend. This music box, that note, it all means so much to me and I'm so terribly overwhelmed by it.

I open the door and find him just standing in front of his own desk, leaning against it, looking down to his crossed feet. He looks distraught about something but it's not in my mind to ask him about it. He looks up to me, he starts to ask me why I'm in his office but it's too late.

I've crossed to him and thrown my arms around him, practically jumping him to kiss him. Seth is momentarily surprised for all of two seconds before his arms wrap around me and he starts kissing me back. It's just like our first kiss on that carousel, all these stars and fireworks are going off and Seth is holding me both tightly and gently like he's afraid I'll break while I've grappled onto him like an octopus. I've missed this. So much so. So much that it hurts. God, how I have lived so long without this, without his arms around me? How could I have forgotten what this felt like?

I suddenly realize what I'm doing and throw myself off of him. I had only meant to thank you, but instead I've practically attacked him. What the hell is wrong with me?

I back away wildly and he just stares at me with a look on his face I almost recognize. It's a look of shock and unabashed desire. This was not a good idea, this was bad, the was bad for my heart which couldn't take another shattering at the hands of Seth Gold. This was a terrible, terrible mistake.

His hands reach out for me again and it takes all my power to not throw myself into the warmth of his embrace. I need to fix this now. "Oh gosh, oh geeze. Seth… you gotta stop letting me do that, you have a girlfriend," I hiss to him and he just sighs and rolls his eyes.

Seth looks hurt for all of two seconds before he just sighs and shakes his head. "No. it's okay. I mean… I should have… it doesn't matter… I mean… who wouldn't want to… uh… yeah… I'm just glad you uh… you like the music box."

"I love it… course I love it…" I tell him again. "I hope you didn't have to pay for it."

"Yeah… good… great… what? No… pay for it… no… dad… uh… he let me out of the bet when I told him it was for you… so long as he got to sign the card… so yeah… no… we didn't… yeah…"

"Again, I'm sorry. I don't know what came over me. I hope this doesn't affect things with your girlfriend," I blush and look away so I miss whatever look comes over Seth's face.

But I don't miss the whisper of: "I don't have a girlfriend anymore."

I look up at him surprised. "You don't? When did you… why did you?"

"After the warehouse… you know… I just figured that… since I had no self-control it would be better to… I don't know. It's stupid. She's gone."

Wait he dumped his girlfriend before the first kiss? And then it dawns on me. His pale cheeks but bright red ears. The way his eyes are lowered to the floor and his hands are so deep in his pockets I can barely see his wrists. It's me. He left his girlfriend because of me. Because I entered his life again and he couldn't resist me. Seth isn't over me. Maybe he never got over me. That doesn't matter. Because right now, I have Seth Gold in front of me, admitting in his own way that he still likes me.

"Oh. Cool. Okay," I whisper. And then without a second thought I launched myself at him again kissing him again over and over again. He holds me tightly to himself groaning into each and every kiss.

He pulls away slightly and I take that as he wants me to stop. But when I try to push off his chest his grip tightens.

He's breathless and shaking, his eyes half closed. "You uh… you mentioned a boyfriend."

"Yep."

I wait to see if there's anything else but then he's swooped in to kiss me. For a while we just keep kissing one another until he stops us again. "He needs to go Reenie."

I don't have the ability to talk right. My knees have gone week but all I can think about is his kisses and how I need more from him. "Yep."

He slants his mouth across mine again before breathlessly whispering: "I mean like right now."

"Yeah. Seth. I know. I'll get rid of him. Tonight. Promise."

And then we're kissing again. He pivots, shuffling us towards his desk. And once he has me against it, he's straining to get between my legs. And there was nothing more I want at that moment then to be with Seth. To have everything I lost back.

But not in his dad's pawn shop. Not in his office against a desk. I am not that kind of girl. He knows that.

"Nu-uh," I whisper to him. He growls lowly, his hands pivoting from my hips to my back to press us closer together. "No… Seth."

"Reenie…" he growls against my lips. "Don't do this to me."

"You know I'm not that kind of girl," I whisper to him. "I don't fuck on the first date and you know that."

"This isn't our first date, far from it."

He has a point. But it doesn't matter what he said I wasn't ready to go that far with him yet.

"That doesn't matter Seth. Not here. Not now. Not yet," I whisper against his lips and he groans but relents. "Friday at seven?"

"Thursday at six."

"It is Thursday."

"Tonight at Six, Reenie."

"Okay, firstly, it's Sabrina," I say and his eyes flash with pain and I quickly scramble to explain. "The musical carousel won you a few freebies, but you haven't earned it… yet. And secondly, no negotiating. It's tomorrow. Friday. At Seven."

I finally manage to push him away from me. I straighten myself out and walk towards the door. Leaving Seth braced against his desk trying to reign in his emotions and desire.

"Fine. Tomorrow. Seven," he concedes and I almost do a little dance of joy.

I smile wide at him. "Can't wait." and then I shut the door behind me


Seth: Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes! Yes! YES! YES!