Wow, I'm updating again!
I think I may die if Collingwood win.
The part in italics is in the past.
Enjoy!
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Stopping just outside her letterbox and leaning against it, Tempe turned Booth to face her and took his other hand in hers.
"Will I see you tomorrow?" she asked, quietly as if embarrassed.
"Only if you want to," Booth replied, squeezing her hands.
"I do," she said, looking up at him as he smiled down at her.
"Then you will," Booth said simply, leaning in to press a soft kiss upon her cheek, and walking away.
Tempe watched his figure until it disappeared around the corner, before retreating into the house.
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For the rest of the week, except on Wednesday when he had to take his brother to soccer, Booth met Tempe outside school at the end of the day.
When the bell rang at the end of her last period on Friday, Tempe gathered her books into her bag quickly as she left the room. Seeing Booth across the yard, she smiled unknowingly, reaching her hand out to take his as she approached him. His warm hand encased hers as they began to walk, Tempe leaning into his side as he dropped a kiss to her temple.
"Tempe, is that ruggedly handsome guy you walk home with your boyfriend?" Ange asked randomly during English on Friday morning.
"Pardon?" Tempe asked, only tuning in when the word 'boyfriend' was said.
"That guy, the one you walk home with, is he your boyfriend?" she stated again.
"No. We're just friends," she replied, honestly baffled by what to say.
Ange cocked an eyebrow at her and said, "well, I heard from Jackson, who heard from Teghan, who got told by Patrick that when he was at his Uncle's house the other day after school, he saw you and your 'not-boyfriend' making out against a tree." When Tempe didn't reply , Ange offered, "so, did you?"
"No, I did not make out with Booth against a tree," she said honestly.
"Booth? So that's his name, huh? So, if you weren't making out, what were you doing against the tree?" Angela leant in closer, waiting to hear the gossip.
Feeling a blush creeping up her neck at the memory, she stumbled over her words as she tried to come up with a quick excuse, "I – uh – I simply tripped and – uh – fell back against a tree." Knowing it sounded as stupid as she thought, she left it at that.
"Bullshit, Tempe. I'll let you pass on this one, but next time, you're giving me my fair share of the gossip."
"Uh, Booth?" Tempe began nervously.
"Yeah, Temperance," he replied, the sound of her name rolling off his tongue sending a shiver down her spine.
"Well, I was just wondering. This conversation I had with Ange at school today got me wondering and I was just wondering if – well, um – am I your girlfriend?" she spluttered, feeling like an absolute idiot and having a sudden urge to hide her face from him.
"The way I see it, I don't want you going out and seeing other people, and I'm sure not going to see anyone but you. If we were to label it, then I guess, yeah, you're my girlfriend," he said, smiling at the idea, then adding, "if that's okay with you, I mean."
Sighing with relief, she let her mouth grow into a grin as she said, "that's fine with me."
Reaching her house and feeling a little more confident, Tempe asked, "do you want to come in?"
"Are you sure?" he asked, not wanting to push her too far.
"Yeah. Mum's at work, and Dad and Russ will be doing their own thing. Come on, it's cold out here," she said, tugging on his hand impatiently.
As she opened the door, she let go of his hand, and let him go in before her. Looking around, he took in the house. The entrance hall had picture frames covering one wall; a wedding photo, a young Russ and Temperance playing at some beach, a few random school portraits, and photos of the kids blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. She led him down the hall and turned left into the living area. The two small couches were faded from wear and the same with the dining table chairs. A man with slightly graying hair sat on the couch watching the afternoon news; two fatalities from a bus and car collision; and Russ was making a toasted sandwich in the kitchen to his right.
"Dad, Russ," Tempe said, successfully getting their attention. "This is my friend, Seeley. Booth, this is my brother, Russ, and my dad, Max."
"Hey, Seeley," they both replied in unison, Max's brow slightly furrowed, and returned to what they were previously doing.
Making her way up the stairs, Tempe searched for Booth's hand with hers, entwining their fingers together, hiding it from the view of her father and brother until they made it to the second floor.
Entering the second room on the left, she dumped her bag next the door and kicked off her shoes.
Feeling slightly uncomfortable, Booth sat against the edge of her bed. When Tempe sat on her desk chair and moved it over to her bed and leant against the end of the bed head, Booth relaxed a little and found himself leaning back on the bed. Resting her head on her hands, she began light conversation, picking up where they'd finished before they'd come inside.
"Tempe," Max called from downstairs."
Getting to her feet and leaning against the doorframe, she called back, "yeah?"
"I'm just going to the shops, I'll be back soon."
"Okay," she said, reentering her room again.
Walking past her bed, Tempe's breath rushed out of her when an arm snaked around her waist and pulled her to the bed next to Booth.
Rolling over to face him, Tempe couldn't help but smile at Booth.
"Hey, I was wondering," she began, her breath catching when his hand reached out the brush her hair out of her face and then grab hold of her hand. "Are you still a tease?"
"When was I a tease in the first place?" he said, playing dumb.
All she did was raise an eyebrow at him and he said, "oh, I remember now. Why do you ask?"
"Because," she sighed, "the waiting is really getting on my nerves."
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That's the end of this chapter.
GO SAINTS!
Please review and let me know what you thought. If you do, I might update sooner.
Em xXxXxxx