"So…" Bruce mutters after they walk a few blocks in silence.
"Hmm?"
"How'd I do?" He asks curiously.
"What?" she snickers.
"How'd I do?" Bruce laughs with a bit of nervousness. "Come on Selina, tell me, how'd I do?" He pleads. "Don't leave me hanging."
"Oh I don't know…" Paulina replies slowly with a playful lilt. "You sure you want to know?"
"Selina." Bruce whines. "There's no need to milk it, just tell me." He says playfully bumping into her.
"Oh Fine." She pouts with a sigh. "In all honesty, I didn't know what to expect when I found out about all this. But this wasn't it."
"Is that a good thing?"
"Actually it's a great thing." Paulina admits softly. "I guess I kind of expected my friend to set me up with some sort of jock, or anything that I just can't stand. But instead, I got you."
"I… don't understand." Bruce mutters uncertainly.
"When we first met I didn't know what to think of you." Paulina replies honestly. "I mean at first it seemed like you were just a nervous dork with an odd sense of humor. But it turns out that you're a lot more than that."
"What do you mean?"
"Well to sum it all up…" Paulina answers. "You are an incredibly smart passionate gentlemen with a good natured yet sharp witty and sarcastically cynical sense of humor." She says before breaking out into a huge grin. "And most importantly, you are by far the best and most impressive dance partner I have ever had." She laughs.
"That's the nicest thing anyone has ever said to me." Bruce mutters slowly, sniffling a little. "You really mean it?" He questions, turning to look at Paulina.
"Course I do." Paulina states simply.
"Wow... I don't know what to say." Bruce almost whispers. "I mean, when we met I had NO expectations." He explains. "Well, that's not actually true. I honestly expected no one to show up or wait for me at all."
"Really?"
"Yeah. You see I don't have the best luck, especially with girls. So when I saw you waiting for me I couldn't really believe it."
"Is that why you're being such a gentlemen?" Paulina questions cutely causing Bruce to chuckle.
"No. Actually my parents are to blame." He says with a grin.
"Is that so?" Paulina replies thoughtfully. "Well they did a great job with you."
"Thanks." Bruce says gratefully.
"So…" Paulina coos after a few more blocks. "What about me? How did I do?" She asks, bumping her hip into Bruce.
"Oh? You sure you want to know?" Bruce teases.
"Please."
"You really want to know?"
"Come on." Paulina whines. "I told you when you asked."
"Alright, alright." Bruce chuckles lightly. "Honestly, I think you're pretty great too. More than that actually."
"Really?" Paulina chirps happily.
"Yeah. You're a geeky-nerdy gamer girl that just happens to be a cheerleader." He replies honestly. "A cheerleader that happens to be strong, independent, clever and intelligent. What's not to like?" He says, making Paulina smile.
"It's like you understand me." Paulina says, practically singing.
"And I bet you're really beautiful under that mask too." Bruce comments off handedly with a smile.
"Bruce!" Paulina coos bashfully, thankful once again for the mask hiding her blushing.
"Honestly it's like you're a dream come true."
"Stop." Paulina sings.
"You're practically perfect." Bruce chortles in honest glee causing Paulina to giggle uncontrollably.
"If that's true," She questions between fits of laughter. "What does that make you?"
"A cliché fantasy made real?" He offers.
"What?" Paulina snorts.
"The masked stranger that sweeps you off your feet in a night of mysterious, yet romantic, excitement." Bruce explains in an overly dramatic voice.
"Oh my god." Paulina says laughing hysterically. "How do you come up with this stuff?"
"Well, witty one-liners are kind of my thing."
"Clearly." Paulina retorts dismissively.
"Come on, you know you like it." Bruce counters. "Admit it."
"Fine." Paulina sighs, bumping into him. "But only because you're my kind of dork."
"If I'm your dork, then what are you?" Bruce questions comically.
"I guess…" Paulina says after a moment of thought. "That would make me the little thief that stole your heart." She says, giving her best Cheshire smile.
"Clever. But do you really think it's true?"
"Why not?" Paulina counters bashfully. "You be my dorky gentlemen that dances among the stars, and I'll be your cheerleading gamer girl that stole your heart." She says cutely, causing Bruce's jaw to drop.
"W-wow… just wow." Bruce stammers in disbelief. "You're really trying to be like your namesake aren't you?"
"Why not?" Paulina chortles mirthfully. "Doesn't she almost always get what she wants?"
"Hmm… I guess." Bruce shrugs uncertainly. "But, not always in the ways she wanted." He explains. "At least at first."
"True." Paulina relents. "But she still makes it work somehow." She says playfully. "Now I wonder, are you anything like your namesake?"
"No." Bruce laughs. "I'm no billionaire playboy with guilt issues." He states simply. "In all honesty, I'm more of a Clark Kent or Peter Parker."
"You really are a dork."
"Yeah, but as you said, 'I'm your dork'." Bruce counters making Paulina smile.
"Come on, I can see my house from here." Paulina giggles as she picks up the pace, Bruce following right behind.
[I]
"This is your house?" Bruce mutters curiously as he stares at large home.
"Yup, home sweet home." Paulina answers happily as they stop to look at the house.
"Weird… feels like I've been here before." Bruce comments as they step off the sidewalk.
"What?"
"Nothing." Bruce says quickly as they head slowly for the door. "So…" He mutters softly. "I guess this is it huh?"
"Yeah… I guess it is." Paulina replies uncertainly.
"Did… did you have a good time… with me?" He asks nervously.
"Yeah." She giggles in delight. "This is the best night I've had in a long time. What about you?"
"Well, let's see…" Bruce sighs thoughtfully. "I was forced to go on a blind date, have dinner with the girl of my dreams, literally swept her off her feet, and flirt with her the whole way home." He states matter-of-factly. "Best night of my life." He says beaming brightly.
"Oh Bruce." Paulina coos. "That's so sweet."
"But…"
"What?"
"Were you serious back there?" Bruce asks nervously. "Or was that all just…" He trails off uncertainly. "Because I really need to know."
Paulina stopped and silently thought it over. Was it all just flirty banter, or was it something more? While she searched for the answer, she clenched her hand and felt something odd. Looking down Paulina found that her hand was holding Bruce's, and that their fingers were laced together. When did this happen? How did this happen? Paulina had no idea, but she did notice something… interesting. Even though she could see both of their hands, Paulina couldn't feel a difference. In fact their hands felt so natural together, that to her it felt almost like it was a part of her.
A moment later, she had her answer.
"Bruce..." Paulina murmurs softly, bringing up their hands between them. "I've never really been a nice person, at least publicly. In fact, most would say I'm 'a vain stuck-up bitch' and they'd right, for the most part. But being like that has cost a lot." She admits with painful honesty. "You asked me if I was happy living a lie. Well I'm not. I'm tired of lying, tired of acting. I want to change, I want to move on." She states, looking Bruce in the eyes. "To move on with someone like you, if-if you'll have me…"
"You really are trying to steal my heart." Bruce replies as a smile forms. "Lucky for you, you already have it." He says while lifting their hands above Paulina's head before bringing them down so that his arm is wrapped around her while still holding her hand.
Paulina, in response lets out a sigh while nuzzling into his side, before starting for the door again.
[I]
"So, this is real?" Bruce questions as they reach the steps. "We really are together? Like together-together?"
"Uh-huh." Paulina purrs taking the first step.
"Wow…" He whispers in awe. "I mean, doesn't this seem kind of sudden?"
"What do you mean?"
"I mean we still don't know who each other are under these masks." Bruce explains.
"I guess you're right." Paulina replies slowly in realization.
"I like you Selina." Bruce says as he takes the final step. "I really, really do."
"I like you too Bruce." Paulina states sweetly as she turns to face him, unwrapping herself in the process. "I like you a lot." She says stepping closer. "I know it feels like we're rushing things, but I'm serious about this. I'm serious about 'us'."
"I am too, but don't take this the wrong way." Bruce pleads, taking Paulina by the hand again. "I just want to be sure of what you want. The person you might think I am, or the real me." He says letting go of her hands before rising them to his neck, turning off the choker and undoing the clasp before putting it in his pocket. "That means… I can't hide behind this mask anymore." Bruce declares in his own voice. A voice so pleasant it sends a shiver down Paulina's spine. "I'm scared, but I just have to know… I have to know if you'll still want me after I show you who I am, or if this is just another heart break." He says with grim determination.
"Wait!" Paulina nearly shouts as Bruce starts to reach behind his head. "You're right." She admits reaching for her own choker. "I can't hide behind this mask anymore." She says as she removes it and puts it in her pocket. "I don't want to. I want to be me, the real me. I'm done hiding." Paulina declares with fiery passion.
"Oh… So that's what you really sound like." Bruce sighs, stepping closer. "Are you Latina?" He asks with a coy grin.
"Yeah." Paulina retorts with confidence.
"You really are my dream come true." He says causing Paulina to whimper in embarrassment.
"Are we going to do this or not?" She scoffs reaching behind her head.
"Wait!" Bruce pleads as he grabs Paulina's hands. "I have a better idea." He says as he guides her hands to his mask.
"You sure?" Paulina questions as Bruce gently reaches for her mask, undoing just enough to make room for the braid.
"It's… better this way." Bruce answers with a small grin.
"Together?"
"On 3."
"Ready?" Paulina questions in excitement as she holds Bruce's mask.
"Ready." Bruce confirms as he grips Paulina's mask.
"1-2-3!" They say together as they slowly and gently remove each other's mask. Once Paulina felt her mask no longer covered her eyes, she opened them quickly hoping to sneak a peek before Bruce could. What she saw took her breath away.
The first thing Paulina noticed was the sculpt of his face: The familiar soft lines, the gentle curves, that cute nose, the ever-present roguish grin, and those cheeks that just begged to be held and kissed.
Next she noticed his hair: Long unruly raven hair that shines silver-grey.
And finally his eyes: Cobalt blue eyes that sparkle like diamonds and shine with hope, compassion, kindness, and twinkled with mischief. Eyes she knew and loved so much, she often dreamed of them.
"Y-you!?" Paulina squeaked in surprise as her mind processed and recognized what she saw. "D-d-Danny?!" It all made sense now; the dorky personality, the unique sense of humor, his eccentric family, and of course the fact that he was a socially awkward gentleman. It all made perfect sense.
"P-p-Paulina!?" Danny stammers as his face contorts from confusion to realization. "Uh….um" He mutters incoherently, shuffling from side to side before taking a small step back.
"Wait!" Paulina pleads desperately as she grabs hold of Danny's hand. "Danny… please… just…" She trails off, unsure of what to say.
"Paulina?" Danny shakenly questions as he stares with eyes full of worry and hesitation.
"That girl, the one you talked about during dinner," Paulina murmurs shyly as she lowers her gaze to their hands. "Was… was that me?" She questions softly, unable to look him in the eye.
"…Y-yeah…" Danny shudders in defeat.
"Then that means you learned Spanish and taught yourself to dance, all for me?" Paulina questions slowly, just above a whisper. "Just to impress me?"
"…Yeah…" Danny mutters back. "I-I know it's… it's kind of creepy—"
"No." Paulina cuts in, turning her head up to look him in the eyes. "No, I think it's really sweet of you. It's just… why though? I've been nothing but mean to you."
"Honestly?" Danny sighs causing Paulina to nod slightly. "It's like I said before." He states weakly. "I-I knew you could be nice, I just wanted you to be nice to me."
"Danny I—"
"S-so who were you talking about?" Danny cuts in shyly, looking down at his feet. "I can guess who one of them is, but who's the other?" He whispered dejectedly before a slight grin formed. "It's not Dash or tucker is it?"
"What!" Paulina squawks completely caught off guard. "Dash? Tucker? Are you serious?" She snorts, laughing in disbelief. "No! Not them, anyone but them! I can't stand Dash, the only reason I even put up with him is because I have to. And Tucker… well, he's… Tucker." Paulina defends as she tries to regain some composure.
"Is-is it someone I know?" Danny asks shyly.
"Oh yeah…" Paulina replies coyly. "He is someone you know. In fact, he's someone you know quite well." She says as she properly takes hold of Danny's hands. "He's the kindest, sweetest, and cutest boy I've ever known. And tonight I learned so much more about him."
"P-Paulina?"
"I learned that he's not just a dorky goofball." Paulina continues, ignoring Danny. "He's also a polite and attentive gentlemen that learned Spanish and taught himself how do dance just for me." She says looking into Danny's eyes, cracking just a little. "Me! Someone who has been nothing but a torment to him, nothing but… I don't know." Paulina sniffles. "But I do know one thing. He stole my heart tonight by sweeping me off my feet and showing me who he really is. And if he—if you can forgive me Danny, I promise I—" Paulina confesses as she throws herself at Danny with teary eyes, wrapping her arms around him. "I'm so sorry. I'm so, so, sorry."
For what felt like an eternity Paulina stood there clinging to Danny, sniffling on his shoulder pitifully, trying to express the depth of her sorrow.
"You really mean it? You still really want to be with me?" Danny whispers softly in a stunned daze. "Even after… 'everything'?" Paulina's only response was a long slow nod and a whimper. "Okay…" Danny sighs as he awkwardly returns the hug, holding Paulina gently yet close. "I forgive you." He says weakly.
"Really?!" Paulina squeaks as she moves to look Danny in the eyes.
"Just promise me something."
"Anything." Paulina replies.
"Come Monday, we go public and become official." Danny says as a warm grin. "No more hiding, no more games ok? I want you to be honest. Honest with yourself, with me, and everyone else." He says as he gently cups Paulina's cheek and wipes away her tears. "Can you do that for me?"
"Oh Danny." Paulina sniffles. "Of course I can." She confirms with a warm smile of her own.
"That's all I ask."
"So…" Paulina coos with a twinkle in her eye. "Does this mean…?"
"Yeah." Danny smirks. "We're—Mmph!"
Paulina, hearing the confirmation, expressed her happiness the only way she knew how; by giving Danny a kiss.
The kiss was meant to be quick, chaste, and spur of the moment. However just at the moment Paulina separated from Danny; Danny leaned in and returned the kiss. His free hand moving to the small of Paulina's back. Paulina, in response, placed her hand holding Danny's mask between his shoulders while running her free hand through his hair. As Paulina ran her fingers through Danny hair both shuddered and smiled at the sensation, deepening the kiss; loosing themselves to their passions.
"Wow." Danny sighs softly as he rest his forehead against Paulina's. "That was… you have no idea how long I wanted to do that."
"Yes I do." Paulina counters, stealing a kiss. "The day we met." She states with a triumphant smile.
"True." Danny replies stealing a kiss. "Very true." He says with a grin, only for it to slowly fade.
"What's wrong?"
"I just… I don't want to let you go." Danny groans sadly.
"I know." Paulina sighs, equally sad. "But you have to go home some time."
"I know." Danny relents, slowly unwrapping his arms from around Paulina. "But—"
"We have the whole weekend." Paulina coos gently. "Why don't we spend it together? You know, getting to know each other a little better."
"That sounds great." Danny replies. "Well, I better get going." He says before pulling out his phone. "Call me… you know, whenever."
"How about you text me after you get home." Paulina says after exchanging numbers and giving Danny back his phone.
"Sounds good to me." Danny says as his puts his phone away. "What about these?" He asks, lifting Paulina's mask.
"Keep them." Paulina replies after a moment. "You keep mine, I'll keep yours."
"Souvenir?"
"Yeah, and here's something else to remember me by." Paulina coos as she gives Danny one last deep passionate kiss.
[I]
Hearing the click of the door Paulina quickly turned around and peeked out the door window and watched Danny slowly walk away. Once he was out of sight she quickly spun around and slumped against the door, letting loose a sigh of delight. Pushing herself off the, Paulina quickly took off her shoes from her aching feet and walked to the living room.
Once in the living room, Paulina plopped down on the couch and started to think over the events of the night. Although the night had started out poorly, along with a few bumps here and there, but in the end Paulina had gained the one thing she had always wanted. However her musings were cut short as Paulina heard the voice the mastermind of her night.
"So," Star spoke in a sing-song voice as she entered from the kitchen. A large tub of ice-cream held in one hand, two spoons in the other. "How did it go?" She sang as she walked into the living room, sat down next to Paulina, placing the tub and spoons on the coffee table between them.