Chapter 5
The next few days their friendship is a bit strained, she avoids him and misses a few meals.
She trying to prevent the rumors from growing cause all eyes will be on them right now.
Tom knows why her behavior has changed he got insight from Mattheo who explained why she's staying away.
He still hates that he's cause this so he does what he always does when he doesn't understand something well enough, research.
He finds some romance books and a gentleman's guide to courting from the 1900s.
He figures he uses old fashioned manners why not old fashioned advice on this.
Reading the romance stories is almost painful for him but he endures for her. Reading them enlightens him to a few things.
- Wow these are poorly written, the grammar.
- Some Guesters have romantic conductations and shouldn't be done without romantic intent.
- They way they describe how their feelings are building for the other is offline similar To things he's started to notice himself feel about her when she's around or in her absence.
That third fact worries him,
can he really be having romantic feelings for her,
would she ever even except him if he did pursue things.
Hes made notes on his findings and learned what not to do when your just friends.
But he also made notes on what to do when you are romantic but he's tucked this away for if it's very needed which he finds very unlikely
It's been a week of this and he found himself missing her.
Even though they don't talk much just having the silent company is nice and he misses that.
He misses her presence next to him at meals, misses their lessons even though she died really need practice anymore,
misses just sitting near her as he reads.
He notices a pattern though, this pattern of him missing her correlates with the pattern in the romance books.
He realizes he does have feelings for her, he can't definitively say its love or romantic feelings
but he knows for sure that her staying away is not what he wants, he wants her at his side and so he sets off to get that.
This has been a horrible week, I miss him so much but it will only cause trouble if I'm seen with him.
Trouble for both of us and he doesn't deserve that, he didn't know so I'll stay away and hopefully this will die out.
She sits in her room looking out the window with her earbuds in, trying to fight her feelings and the urge to go find him.
She scratches at her arm, this stage of healing is so annoying when the cuts get all itchy.
Theres a knock at her door but she can't hear it, when the door opens she doesn't hear it,
but she does notice the motion behind her and jumps into a blast as her instincts take her.
This results with her blasting Tom against the wall, she's mortified and embarrassed but he's just smiling at her.
He doesn't smile often, oh how I missed seeing that, why's he here, was he seen.
Tom- “Well hello to you to”
Meeri- “Tom I'm so sorry my earbuds were in and I I just reacted are you okay”
Tom- “I'm unharmed, it's alright”
Meeri- “Why are you here, you shouldn't be here, were you seen?”
Tom goes to her now standing just arms length away.
Tom- “I don't care if I was seen, and I should be here Meeri.
This time apart has made me realize some things. Can we Sit”.
She nods and they sit on the foot of her bed.
He's nervous expressing his feelings is his weakness and it's so important he gets this right,
that's why he's prepared. He pulls out his speech.
Tom- “This time apart has made me realize something Meeri, I like having you at my side even if we don't speak.
I enjoy your presence. During this separation I have missed It, missed you,
I have realized your place is by my side and I hope you feel the same way. So that we can go back to that,
I know it will feed the rumors but I don't care what they say and I don't want them to take away from us.
Meeri, will you join me, be by my side?”
Meeri- “Oh Tom, I missed you too. But are you sure about this people can be cruel.”
Tom- “Yes I'm sure, and whoever is cruel give me their names they won't dare be again.”
Meeri-” Deal, yes I want this to be how we were again. C can I hug you?”
Tom- “Yes”
Tom doesn't actually hate physical touch, he just hates it in public, so in private like this is perfectly acceptable.
The hug feels nice, she's pressed against his chest with her arms around him,
her hold on him almost desperate. He hugs her back of course his hold a bit gentler though.
He's glad she'll join him by his side again but part of her wording did provoke thought.
She said for things to go back to how they were, which he's good with but
he's curious about having more but that can be for later this is enough progress for today.
The hug ends and he sees she is crying a little,
he carefully wipes the tears away
Tom- “Come now, this isn't a time for tears”
Meeri- “Sorry I cry to easily”
Tom- “It's alright just settle yourself can't go into dinner being all teary-eyed.”
She gets up, wipes her tears puts a lil makeup on and tucks in her shirt and sweater.
Once she is presentable Tom joins her and they head to dinner together. Ignoring the stares, and whispers, well trying to.
Tom- [Whispers] “Dont mind them”
She nods to him and does her best to block them out and just focuses on Tom.
She's happy to be back at his side again. She usually keeps her eyes down as she walks but now shes looking up, looking up at Tom.