Thursday, February the first

Hello Bob, I decided not to wait any longer to go and see Pierre, although we planned on seeing each other tomorrow. So I surprised him at the end of school, I was finishing early.

He didn't see me at first, as he appeared to be absorbed in a discussion with a girl, not that I minded, it was a funny thing to observe him without me, in his natural habitat one might say. 

After a few minutes of them talking around the corner, he noticed me, looked a bit surprised and smiled, waved a bit at me to make sure I saw, but he wasn't finished just yet, so I stayed away for a bit.

She was quite nice to look at, not that I minded. I didn't know what they were talking about, but it must have been really interesting as I waited a dozen minutes or so, not that I minded - Ok Bob, stop it right there! I can almost see the dubious frown on your pages, it's annoying. But I get your point, I'll stop pretending, I did mind, a bit - In the end he came to me, beaming, and I smiled to see him happier when facing me than he looked from afar.

Possible sentences ignited my brain but I bit down 'Well, she sure was pretty', 'Sure I'm not interrupting?' and a few other: his smile and the sparkle in his eyes was as reassuring as it could be and I just went for

« Hi, I just wanted to see you... » in an almost apologetic tone. He took me in his arms and kissed me with passion. I think I heard some cheers in the distance but paid no attention.

« Hi Aurelia, I'm glad you did! Sorry for the delay, we had a few details to sort out for the birthday of an acquaintance, wanna go for a stroll? » I nodded and took his hand as we started what would be about two hours of random turns and stops in town.

« I got your letter you know...» he said, without looking straight towards him.  I looked at him, noticing the light blush that was echoing mine, and looked too at the oh so fascinating red brick house in front of us.

« And? » I whispered,

« And it was... » - damn you for taking your time finding the right word! - « perfect, it was perfect » - ok, fine then, I smiled - « I've read one or two erotic books at home, stuff I happen to find while browsing our library, but this one was special. It felt like you, like making love on paper.

I could almost taste the fruits and feel them on my skin, and I most certainly could feel your touch, and that really was exhilarating. I have a few doubts about the fact that a raspberry would effectively pin me down though... » I took his hand in mine and told him, feeling more confident than my rosing weeks let out,

« It would if I asked you Little Lion. » His hand pressed mine as he acquiesced

« Sure, your opinion does have a real power over me. »

« What? You mean that the great Pierre, the free spirit, the wild animal would submit to me? » I meant it playfully but his answer wasn't:

« We are never really free, we are bound on all sides, if nothing else by the links that tie us to people. And my link to you is a really strong one Aurelia, but I wouldn't trade it for any other one. »

He was staring into my eyes while saying that and somehow it felt like he meant more than just that. It felt like a confession of some sort, but then he always had a tendency to say things that felt like an 'I love you' in roundabout ways.

I always fled, not that I didn't like him enough to respond, but I was scared and unwilling to even think about the idea of saying those words before hearing them myself, and probably processing them for a while. And so, then as now, I fled (verbally that is): pushing away any thought of romantic answer, I smiled and looked wryly at him

« I like it too when you tie me down you know. » He didn't look disappointed by my dodge, maybe he was just used to it, or maybe I had read too much in his sentence.

« That can be done too. » He gave my ass a light tap and we where on our way again. I held his hand tighter, hoping he'd get the message and that, somehow, it was enough.

« Will you be lenient if my written answer isn't as good? »

« I will Pierre, and if it isn't I'm sure you'll make it up to me with an even better real life performance... » He laughed and took me in his arms, swooping me off my feet, and he kissed me.

« Will do! ».

« So, how was your girl night Friday? »

« Nice, really nice. We talked about Pauline and John, I think you know him actually. »

« Yup, he's the acquaintance whose birthday we were planing when you arrived. »

« Really? So you do know him enough... Would you mind talking to him, to try and see what he thinks about her? »

« Sure, I'll probe him and make sure he's serious about her. I don't know him that much, but he sure doesn't look like a lady's man. We'll see. I might try and push him too if you want, and it might be possible to invite Pauline to the birthday party. »

« You're a dream. » I meant it in every possible way but he didn't seem as surprised or setback as I was earlier, he just answered:

« You're my dream too. » Damn him and his grand declarations! And damn me for liking it so much! I thought about laughing it off with something like 'Well you should dream bigger boy' but I felt that he'd probably just say something even more embarrassing afterwards, and a small part of me feared that he'd approve. Finally I went for a safer answer, completely unrelated.

« It might be good indeed. Talking about Pauline, according to Marie, her nose is better to kiss than mine, I said, pretending to feel sad. »

« Nonsense, he dismissed it with a wave and, slightly frowning, asked me whether I had tried too. » Was he jealous? Even only slightly?

« No, I didn't! You're the only one whose nose I'd kiss, you know how I felt about the idea of you kissing another girl like that. It's our thing... » his frown disappeared and he kissed my nose

« Yes it is, I wouldn't like that either, not at all.  Actually I wouldn't like you kissing anyone but me on anything but the cheeks! » he paused a bit and continued, « I do sound a bit jealous now don't I? »

« Yeah, maybe a bit, but I'll let it slide. » how nice of me - but who was I kidding, I wouldn't have been in a position to make a comment on that, I'd probably hate the idea even more.

« You don't have any reason to be afraid Pierre, you know, I wouldn't kiss anyone else, and I wouldn't let myself be kissed either. » Pierre smiled but didn't say the same directly, so I asked. He looked utterly puzzled

« Of course! How could it be otherwise, you know you are the only one there is for me Aurelia. » I sighted in relief before he added « However... if your breast were individual entities... »

It felt good to laugh, I really liked the clown in him too, and we laughed our fears away, before changing the subject.

« I talked with my sister.»

« The one with big breasts? » I narrowed my eyes and tried to keep a straight and bothered face as he held back the laughter I could see in his eyes.

« Well, unless I gained another sister overnight, yes. Anyway, you pervert, I talked to her and she'd really like to meet you, we could do that tomorrow if you want to, is a restaurant fine? »

« Sure, what's the dress code? Do I bring a resume? » I giggled

« Anything you usually wear is fine but a resume is a good idea actually. »

« Do I have to mention girls in the 'professional experience' chapter? » I tried not to wince, I really tried, but sounded more cold than I wanted to when I answered.

« No. Don't. » Reading the mood, he didn't push the joke and simply said that he'd hope to make a good impression on my family. « Don't sweat it, it's just my sister, and she's a fairly decent girl, all things considered... Ok ok, don't look at me like that ! She's nice, I hope you like each other, I'd hate to have to get another sister if you didn't. »

I had meant the last one as a joke but his smile was radiant, for once he was the one flustered by my words and I just relished the moment. There was no need for him to know I was joking and wouldn't really abandon my sister to please him - I was obviously joking... I think

« Ok so it's settled, Friday, restaurant, normal clothing and my resume... Any thoughts on the type of restaurant? »

« I'll check with my sister but a Chinese sounds good to me. »

« Fine by me, but please do take care when eating with chopsticks, I'd hate to have your sister think I can't help mocking you... Ouch ! That might have hurt, your elbows are sharp ! » I frowned and stuck my tongue out at him and he just smiled with bemused exasperation.

« Jean is having some issues with girls again... » muttered Pierre looking up from his phone after checking why it was buzzing so furiously.

« Do you need to go? - don't show you are disappointed Aurelia, just don't ! - I mean he is one of your closest friends.»

« Yeah, I think I should, I'm sorry, I'd love to stay with you but I've got to go. I'll call and tell you about it if I'm allowed to ! Bye love. » He kissed my lips goodbye and, with a final kiss on my nose, he disappeared in the subway.

I spent the evening reading and waited for him to call but only received a late night text: 'Sorry, long story, we're still talking about it, I'll see you tomorrow at the restaurant. Good night dear.'

Well at least I could see him and walk with him. Good night Bob!