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Post by Austin Hancock on Mar 18, 2010 20:39:14 GMT -5
The movie was rolling on the big screen in front of them. Only a handful of people were in the theatre. His eyes were on the screen but he kept having a feeling that Paige glanced to him again. He wished that he knew what was going on in her head. Austin also wished that there was a way he could eliminate whatever doubts she had.
Austin glanced back over to her while the movie was still going on in front of them. He gave her another smile. The smile asked if she was alright, but he wasn't sure if she could really see it in the darkened theater.
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Post by Paige Owen on Mar 19, 2010 13:43:14 GMT -5
But Paige didn’t see the smile. She was forcing her eyes to stay on the screen, even though she could feel him looking at her. It wasn’t easy to keep her mind focused on the movie, instead of her own problems, but she wanted to. She really needed to stop questioning the good things in her life. It was just so hard. Every time she submitted a completed article, she silently thought to herself that she could have done better. And she couldn’t stop herself from thinking that Austin didn’t really want her or that he’d get bored with her or something.
But maybe if she could at least lose herself in the moment, she could quiet these doubts. Just enjoy this moment… it was all that was really guaranteed, anyway.
On the screen, a woman was taking a shower, and suddenly, a person with a knife pulled the curtains back and began to stab her. Paige jumped at the sudden attack, then turned to Austin, leaning close to him so that he could hold her.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Mar 24, 2010 11:15:59 GMT -5
Seeing the movie several times already, Austin knew what part was coming up next. He didn't let his body language let anything go about what was about to happen. Without even looking directly at Paige, he knew she jumped. There was a light trace of a smile on his face as she turned toward him.
Remaining quiet, Austin slid down in his seat just slightly and allowed the arm that had been resting on the back of Paige's seat move to her shoulders. It was still an innocent gesture. His arm was loose around her shoulders since he didn't want her to feel like he was wanting to push for anything else.
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Post by Paige Owen on Mar 27, 2010 23:44:48 GMT -5
But Paige was restless and impatient. She was used to more than this. By this time on any other date, with any other guy, they probably would have already slept together. This was what she was used to, and she didn't understand waiting. If he wanted her, why was he being so... chaste?
So she did the only thing she could think of. She pressed forward, leaning across her seat until she was practically in his lap. Then she kissed him.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Mar 28, 2010 15:03:38 GMT -5
He should have expected it. He should have expected the fact that Paige was probably going to kiss him while they were in the movies. She still didn't quite understand the fact that he was wanting to move slow to show her that he didn't really want to take things too quickly. It would be almost hypocritical of him to say that he never slept with one woman before the first or second date. There had been once that there wasn't even a date at all. It was a one night stand. There had also been one woman who he had taken out for several dates before anything happened. That relationship didn't quite work out because she was wanting to travel the world, and well Austin wanted to deal with his music.
This time, however, Austin knew that he wanted to be committed to this person. Of course the marriage type of commitment wasn't in the picture at all since they were just starting off, it was just the commitment that he would make time for both of them. Paige was a girl that he found intriguing and she was one that he knew he could get along with. Now he wasn't always consumed with his music and she drew him in like no other girl had.
Feeling her movement, Austin knew he should have been able to predict what she was about to do but he wasn't thinking. Once her lips were on his, he allowed there to be a kiss but it was more of a chaste one. After a few seconds, Austin pulled away with his hands on her shoulders and looked at her with a raised eyebrow that would have been a little hard to see in the darkened theater but Paige was close enough to where she could probably notice the expression on his face.
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Post by Paige Owen on Mar 28, 2010 23:16:29 GMT -5
Paige didn't understand. Didn't he want her? What was all this about if he didn't want to sleep with her? She was disappointed by the chaste kiss, and when he pulled back and gave her that look... It sort of felt like a slap in the face to her. It felt like he was telling her that he didn't want the only thing she thought she had to give him.
She wanted to leave. If she was honest, she wanted to run out of that theater as fast as she could. She felt humiliated, embarrassed and hurt. And yet, it really wasn't his fault. She blamed herself. She wasn't pretty enough, she wasn't good enough, she did it wrong... you name the excuse, and it was going through her mind. But it was all blaming herself.
Biting down on her lower lip, she avoided his eyes. "I'm sorry," she whispered, and slunk down into her seat, trying to make herself as small as possible.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Mar 29, 2010 10:24:03 GMT -5
Austin wished there was a quick way he could make Paige see that he didn't just want her for the only thing that she thought she had to give. Paige had much more to give than what she thought. He wanted to erase any excuse that was running through her head.
Turning to Paige, he put a hand on her cheek and turned her face to him gently. The movie was being forgotten as he turned his full attention to her. "Don't apologize," he said whispering. He didn't want her to blame herself. It wasn't fully her fault that that was pretty much the only lifestyle she knew. Austin was determined to show her that everyone was different.
"It's okay," he said trying to comfort her. He wasn't exactly sure what to do. Austin didn't want her to run off, he wanted her to stay around and then after the movie and once he took her for ice cream (which he hadn't let her know about that), he would walk her home. After that, he would wait then go see her at work and ask her out on another date.
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Post by Paige Owen on Mar 30, 2010 16:02:21 GMT -5
Paige nodded, but didn't look at him, instead fixing her eyes on the movie screen. She just didn't understand what he was doing. Did he want her or not? Was he trying to make her want him even more by denying her? If so, it was working. That chaste kiss made her hungry for more. But she couldn't quite escape the fear that she wasn't good enough for him somehow.
Finally, she took a shaky breath and looked over at him to see him watching her. There was such a look of warmth and honesty in his eyes, and it both thrilled and terrified her. She was tempted to run out of the theater again, but she also realized with a pang that if she did, she would miss him.
Biting down on her bottom lip, she reached for his hand. For now, she could play things his way. At the very least, she was interested to see where it would go.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Mar 31, 2010 10:34:14 GMT -5
When Paige didn't shy away completely nor run out from the theater, it gave Austin a little more hope that she would start to understand what he wanted. Once she reached for his hand, Austin turned his hand palm up to hold onto her hand. He squeezed it and smiled at her.
Maybe just maybe things wouldn't be extremely difficult to attempt to make Paige see that he didn't want to just sleep with her and then that be it. She drew him in and Austin couldn't fully explain why. It wasn't just some physical attraction. Paige was confident, bold, even if she wasn't as confident and bold as she used to be when he first met her, he would still argue that she was.
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Post by Paige Owen on Mar 31, 2010 15:44:57 GMT -5
It was just in the area of relationships where she lacked confidence. She had been with far too many men who had been bad for her; men who had treated her like trash, men who had cheated on her, men who were using her for one thing or another. Relationships had never involved love for her, and now that she had the potential for something good, it terrified her. Who could blame her, really? She'd got her hopes up in the past, and having them dashed over and over again left her feeling jaded and skeptical. She'd seen fool's gold so many times that she didn't even really recognize the real thing when it was sitting next to her.
It wasn't going to be an easy battle for Austin. Paige wasn't going to give up her heart so easily. But at least for now, she wasn't going to run away. That was a start.
Soon, the incident was forgotten, and Paige relaxed into the movie. She even sat with her head leaning against his shoulder and it all felt so sweet and innocent.
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Post by Austin Hancock on Apr 4, 2010 22:06:15 GMT -5
That was what Austin was going to do. He was going to fight for her. After all he didn't start carrying on with the conversation she started in Hot Panini if he didn't see something to fight for.
With her head on his shoulder, Austin had his arms around her shoulders and soon he rested his cheek on the top of her head. It was really peaceful and Austin found himself wanting more of this. Maybe Paige would want to do this again.
The movie was really enjoyable. Paige didn't run away from him and they could both sit through a movie and have an actual date. She could make it.
Once the movie was over, Austin moved slowly to sit up. "There's somewhere else I want to take you, that is if you're not in a hurry to get home," he said in a quite voice.
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Post by Paige Owen on Apr 4, 2010 22:28:00 GMT -5
Of course, Paige immediately thought that this was what she'd been waiting for. Was he going to take her back to his place now, so they could finally seal the deal?
Moving with deliberate slowness, she pulled away from him and stretched languidly. Of course she would go with him. But she had to play coy. It was just one of the necessary games that she thought she had to play.
"Well, I don't know," she teased. "I might have to wash my hair..."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Apr 4, 2010 22:39:38 GMT -5
Austin laughed. "I don't think you're going to have to wash your hair," he replied teasingly. He was unaware what was on Paige's mind. "I have a feeling that you're going to like it." He gave her a wink and took her hand.
If he had known what Paige was somewhat expecting, he would have told her that he wasn't going to take her back to his place. Of course he wanted to surprise her by taking her for ice cream.
"Where I'm taking you is not too far from here."
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Post by Paige Owen on Apr 7, 2010 22:52:10 GMT -5
Well, that was odd. His apartment was no where near here, unless he planned to apparate. That probably wouldn't be the best idea, since they were in muggle territory. So clearly, she had misread him again. Why didn't he want her?
She bit her lip and tried to push these thoughts from her mind. After all, she couldn't have any idea what he had planned for the evening. She was just going to have to learn to go with the flow.
"As long as it's not a creepy motel in the middle of no where," she teased, referencing the movie they had just watched. "I mean, ew. I never really liked motels, but now I don't think I'll ever stay in one. And I'm not too sure about showers, either, come to think of it. Maybe I'll stick to bubble baths."
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Post by Austin Hancock on Apr 8, 2010 10:30:39 GMT -5
"I wouldn't do that to you," Austin said looking at her teasingly. "Can't say I ever had a bubble bath, but the first time I ever saw this movie, it freaked me out enough not to take a shower for a few days. However, after a couple of days without showering, I couldn't stand it any longer." He gave a laugh.
Austin led them back out into the street and in the direction of the ice cream shop he had in mind. It was only two blocks away from the movie theater, so it was in view from where they were.
The ice cream shoppe came faster than he expected. As they reached it, Austin turned to Paige and smiled. "This is probably my favorite place to go in London," he said as he reached for the door.
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Post by Paige Owen on Apr 8, 2010 22:29:11 GMT -5
Oddly enough, this was a first for her. Men didn't take her out for ice cream. Drinks, yes; coffee, of course. But something as simple and innocent as going for ice cream... No guy ever thought to do that for her. And, in spite of her issues with eating, Paige loved ice cream more than just about any other food. She just rarely ever allowed herself to have it. And there was a good chance she would try to purge when she got home, but for now... it was hard to resist a guy offering ice cream.
"This is sweet," she said, smiling shyly. "How did you know I love ice cream?"
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Post by Austin Hancock on Apr 9, 2010 16:20:11 GMT -5
That shy smile of hers was one of the things that inspired Austin to do different things for her. When she smiled that smile, he knew that she was being honest.
"A little birdy told me," he said smiling. "I observed that you like milkshakes and since milkshakes pretty much ice cream, I figured that you would like ice cream itself. Besides, I happen to like ice cream too and thought that this would end up being a win-win situation." Austin gave a laugh.
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Post by Paige Owen on Apr 14, 2010 16:06:30 GMT -5
At that moment, Paige wished she was a very different girl. She wished she was Chloe. Her twin sister probably never had a crippling fear of food (even her favorite foods) and she probably had her cute werewolf boyfriend (since, of course, Chloe’s boyfriend would have to be cute) take her out for ice cream all the time. Paige wished she could be more like that… that she wouldn’t feel the need to justify a small amount of ice cream with a cute boy.
But she did. In the back of her mind, she was making a deal with herself. She knew purging wasn’t a good idea; the doctor had told her not to get in that habit. But maybe if she skipped breakfast and lunch tomorrow, that would make up the calories, right? She could even add in a little extra exercise. Yes, that would work.
She found herself smiling. “If I could, I would eat nothing else but ice cream for the rest of my life,” she replied. “What’s your favorite flavor?”
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Post by Austin Hancock on Apr 14, 2010 22:07:21 GMT -5
"I think cookies and cream is my favorite flavor." Austin was glad to see the smile on Paige's face. It was one of those that just automatically appeared. Those types of smiles let him know that she was having a good time.
There were several people in the store but Austin didn't pay them any attention as he led her up to the counter. "What is your favorite flavor?
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Post by Paige Owen on Apr 15, 2010 22:38:21 GMT -5
Paige hesitated. She actually liked pretty much all flavors of ice cream, and the average guy who asked her that question would usually get an answer that wasn't entirely true. Just as she expected men to only like girls who ate salads and skipped the desserts, she usually thought that guys expected girls to like vanilla ice cream. And while she did like vanilla ice cream, there was one flavor she would choose to eat when no one else was around and she was having a binge.
And while she was used to lying, she found that she really wanted to tell him the truth. It suddenly seemed stupid to lie about such things as ice cream flavors.
"Rocky road, actually," she said. "The more messy and gooey, the better."
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