“You wouldn’t need to pay me, I’ll say whatever you want me to,” he smiled and dipped his hands into his pockets, resisting the urge to reach out and fiddle with any of Maggie’s belongings. He was curious by nature and by species, he wanted to ask a million questions and snuggle himself up right at the center of her heart and soul, but it didn’t seem the time. There was a tension in the air he hadn’t really felt to this level before, like there was something on the precipice of coming undone.
Before he could reply to her question, a bundle of dark fur caught Elijah’s attention and he peered down at the cat padding towards them. While he had no pets of his own, always too busy to give them the love they deserved, he looked after a few of the stray cats that lived around his home. He waited patiently for the cat to make herself at home propped up against his leg before he crouched down and began stroking her softly. He wanted to say that he would never leave, not until she grew tired of him which was something he worried about on occasion, until that day though, all he wanted was to be by her side and to make her happy.
Elijah looked back up at Maggie upon hearing her shaky breath and he immediately frowned, he’d never seen her look quite so nervous, like the weight of the world was sitting on her shoulders. He stood back up and as much as he wanted to interrupt and calm whatever nerves were eating her alive, his own had kicked into gear. The thought of not being friends made his heart sink in his chest, his stomach twist with confusion and he knew that it was painted all across his face. Then, it finally hit him.
“Oh.” He exhaled. His instinct was to tell himself he was wrong, that he’d misread the whole situation and was heading straight towards a disaster zone. The whole reason he’d kept his feelings to himself was to save Maggie the trauma of breaking off their friendship when she inevitably told him she didn’t feel the same. Being friends had been more than enough, but now on the edge of being something more, Elijah felt a giddy mixture of terror and excitement.
He reached out for Maggie’s hand, curling tentatively around it while trying to steady the trembling. With a gentle pull, he brought her even closer, closing off whatever awkward space lingered between them before speaking: “Can you say it, please?”
With the air thick with tension, Maggie could sense a shift in dynamic between the two of them. Elijah had entered her home as her best friend, but she could tell that when he left it would be never be the same. The blood rushing through her veins throbbed and all she could hear was the sound of her own breathing and heartbeat. It was deafening, as she felt overwhelmed by the situation at hand.
"I--" She desperately wanted to speak, though the words refused to come out. There were so many things dancing on the tip of her tongue. The lightly touch of his hand sent shivers down her spine, bringing goosebumps to her soft skin. The world felt as though it was spinning around the two of them as time itself stood still. Maggie simply sat in front of Elijah for what felt like an eternity, staring into his eyes. How would he react to any of this? Her first thought was rejection. Surely he wouldn't want anything to do with a tattoo covered stripper. She could barely stomach the look of herself, she couldn't imagine what others might think to see the two of them together. He might have been an eccentric man, but he was good and he was kind. She was none of that.
Drawing a ragged breath, Maggie lifted her free hand to Elijah's face and cupped his cheek. Her thumb gently rubbed at the skin, grazing over his bottom lip once or twice. God, he's so beautiful, she thought. It had to be now or never. She was already acting bizarre enough, she couldn't keep stalling.
She might not have been able to tell him what was on her mind, or how she was feeling, but she could show him. Closing her eyes, Maggie leaned in towards Elijah and brushed her nose against his. Taking a deep breath, she leaned in even closer and pressed her lips to his. What she had planned to be a chaste kiss lasted a few seconds longer as she pressed further against him. The hand that rested in his clenched around his fingers as she pulled away. "I can't be your friend anymore," she said with a nervous smile. At this point, she wanted more.
