Aaron 7- Hints and hesitation
I manage to arrive a few minutes early for Penelope’s performance. I approach my usual seat only to
find that Penelope is already sitting there. I hesitate. She’s always the one to approach me, I’ve never
approached her before. Maybe she doesn’t want to talk. I resist the desire to turn and run. I’m being an
idiot. She talks to me all the time, and she’s sitting in the sent I always take at approximately the time I
always arrive. She wouldn’t be doing that if she didn’t want to talk right? Not to mention I dide here
with the intention of seeing her, maybe finding some way to ask if she would be willing to be my date
for the Alpha’s wedding. I’m not good at asking for things. It would be nice if she would conveniently
just bring up weddings and how much she loves to attend them. That would make my life a lot easier. I
approach her and pause standing in front of her, not wanting to crowd her. She pats the couch beside
her and I sit, relieved to have an invitation. I do my best to sit, leaving a simr amount of distance
between us as she usually leaves when she sits beside me. Something I have kept careful track of.
She originally left enough space for a whole person between us but now she leaves a noticeable gap
but not enough that anyone could sit there.
“I was waiting for you to get here.” Penelope says with a nervous smile, pushing her white hair back
behind her ears.
N?velDrama.Org holds ? this.
“I’m here.” I respond. See, I was right. She was waiting for me. The question is why. Sheughs and
elbows me in the side gently. I resist the desire to grab her arm and pull her
closer.
“Yes I see that.” She says jokingly. She falls silent and looks like she is struggling to find the right thing
to say which is very unlike her. Maybe I should help?
Khu were you
waiting?” I ask gently. Her eyes fly open and a smile crosses her face. Apparently she appreciated my
poor attempt to continue the conversation. Maybe this isn’t hard as I thought. Instead of worrying about
saying the right thing, maybe I should focus on just trying to talk at all, or encourage her to talk if I can’t
do it myself. She takes a deep breath then lets it out slowly.
“I was waiting because I wanted to talk to you and since you haven’t called me or event messaged me,
this is the only way I can do it. It’s not like I can stop by your work or anything.” She says in a rush. I
stare as I think over what she said. She wanted me to call. She’s been waiting for it and I didn’t. I feel
like a jerk. I’ve been making her do all the work
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Aaron 7- Hints and hesitation
approaching me, but at the same time I’ve made it nearly impossible for her to actually do anything.
She can only see me when I choose to show up at her work, I’ve given no chance for her to actually
approach me on her own. Yet somehow she has STILL been trying to talk to me. I’m starting to think
that I have severely misinterpreted her actions. I should probably apologise. Now that I think about it I
have been kind of an asshole.
I’m trying to figure out the best way to say I’m sorry when Penelope sighs and gets to her feet to leave.
Shit, I took too long again, she’s leaving and she looks upset. I panic and grab her hand to stop her
from leaving.
“Sorry.” I blurt out. She considers me with a sad look on her face before pulling her hand away from
me.
“It’s alright, I get it. You don’t have to talk to me if you don’t want to. I have been the one forcing my
company on you. I’ll let you be.” She promises firmly. Shit, shit SHIT. I have screwed up. She
completely misunderstood what I was apologising for. I was trying to say sorry for not making more of
an effort and she thought I was saying I’m not interested? I need to fix this and I need to be clear. She’s
alread
turning to leave…
“Wait.” I say, louder than I’ve said almost anything in a long time. Penelope freezes and half
turns back to face me.
“I… I do want to talk to you. Very much. I just don’t know what it is you want me to say.” I admit. To my
utter shock Penelope starts tough. I’mpletely embarrassed and want to hide but she just beams
at me and her smile is so beautiful that I find myself smiling back instead of running away. If this is my
reward for talking I’ll have to do it more often.
“You know, I’m starting to think that maybe you aren’t as good at listening as I thought. I thought I was
being obvious but I can wait for you to figure it out.” She winks at me before turning and heading to the
stage.
“So I know I don’t usually do this, I’ll be dedicating this performance to a guy who needs to learn to take
a hint. Aaron, just to make myself clear, this is for you.” Penelope announces into the microphone with
a cheeky grin and a bout ofughter runs through the room. I’m stunned and I can’t look away as she
begins to sing. I’ve always loved her performances, but for the first time, I take the chance to listen to
exactly what she’s singing. I’m embarrassed to that since I’ve slept through so many of them I haven’t
really paid much attention to the
say
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Aaron 7- Hints and hesitation
specific songs. I’ve just been enjoying her voice. With each new song it bes increasingly clear to
me that there is a definite theme to the songs that Penelope is singing tonight. They’re all ‘girl meets
boy‘, ‘notice me already‘, love songs… and she’s dedicated them to me. The realisation is enough for
me to realise that I’ve been lying to myself. I’m not just interested in Penelope, I’m damn near
obsessed with her. I could ask Alpha Ryann to be sure but I think she’s my mate… and if she isn’t?
Well I don’t care. I’ll make her mine anyway,
assuming she’ll have me. Now I just have to figure out HOW.
Penelope finishes her set and Iunch myself out of my seat and meet her at the edge of the stage.
Instead of going round to the stairs she just slips down to sit on the edge and without hesitation I take
her gently by the waist and lift her down. Penelope stands in front of me, flushed and a little sweaty
from her performance but looking absolutely beautiful.
“Did. you like it?” She asks me excitedly. I nod quickly not wanting her to think otherwise.
She beams at me.
“Do you have anything else you want to tell me now?” She asks with a pointed look. I open. my mouth
to answer then realise that every set of eyes in this club are watching. I’m not shy, but I am not sure
that I want to do this in front of so many people. Penelope might be used
to the stage, but I’m not.
‘Can I walk you out?” I ask awkwardly. Her face falls a little but she doesn’t turn me down. It offer her
my arm and she links hers through it and lets me lead her to the exit, collecting her bag from behind the
bar on the way. I feel everyone’s eyes on us as we leave and the protective part of me wants to shield
her from view and run out of here, or maybe fight them off. When we make it outside I let out a sigh of
relief. We reach her car and she lets go of my
arm,
but before she can start digging through her bag for her keys I take her hand in mine and she turns to
face me with a wary expression.
“I’m not very good at asking for what I want and I’m not great atmunicating. But I want to try. If I
work on talking to you, would you allow me to court you?” I practically choke out thest few words as I
wait for her response. After her performance I believe she will say yes, but there’s always that little bit
of fear.
“I thought you would never ask.” Penelope beams at me, joy shining in her eyes. Before I have time to
so much as smile she reaches out, grabs the cor of my shirt, yanks me down and presses her lips
against mine in a brief k*ss. Just as fast she lets me go and steps back.
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Aaron 7- Hints and hesitation
“Now that’s a reason for you to be stunned into silence.” She jokes. I can’t help butugh. My heart is
racing, my hands itching to touch her and my mind is pretty much nk.
“That was a yes, in case it wasn’t obvious enough.” Penelope jokes. Then unlocks her car and climbs
in. I remember my manners and close the door behind her. She winds down her
window.
“Call me, or text if it’s easier. I’ll be waiting.” She grins at me and drives away.
Ryann
Monday morning I wait eagerly for Aaron to arrive for work. As usual he turns up perfectly on time. His
expression is as neutral as ever, but there’s a bounce to his step that is new and asionally out of the
corner of my eye I see a hint of a smile. He’s also checked his phone. more today than he has in the
entire time I’ve known him. I knew he was acting strangelytely, I was getting worried right up until I
saw his red thread the other night and realised what was going on. It seems like my pep talk worked
because I haven’t ever seen him so happy. I’m just sorting through my schedule and confirming what
we have on for the day. when Aaron clears his throat behind me. Interesting. I turn and smile at him
encouragingly.
“Yes?” I ask. He holds out a hand with a familiar card. I take the R.S.V.P. card for my, wedding
and take a look.
“Attending and bringing a plus one.” I confirm out loud. Aaron’s nk expression slips again and a
small smile escapes him. He nods firmly.
“I’m so happy for you. I can’t wait to meet her.” I gush and he just nods again.
“And I’m going to remind you again that you can totally take time off when you need it, and if you have
ns or a date or anything just tell me and I can add it to my schedule to make sure that I don’t ask
you to work. Okay?” He nods again and it seems like that smile is here to stay. Just a small hint of
pleasure, something that I doubt anyone would even notice if they didn’t spend all day with him like I
often do. He goes to leave the office, probably to get a coffee or something.
“Oh, onest thing. I’ll need her name, you know, for the cecards.” I tell him. Aaron pauses. and
without turning back to me answers. I’ve never heard anyone speak a single word with as
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Aaron 7- Hints and hesitation
much emotion as he does when he responds.
“Penelope.”