Strings of Fate

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 did come 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 similar 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.

“I’m here.” I respond. See, I was right. She was waiting for me. The question is why. She laughs 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…

louder than I’ve said almost anything in a long time. Penelope freezes and half

back to

want to hide but she just beams at me and her smile is so beautiful

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

a bout of laughter 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

say

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7- Hints

The realisation is enough for me to realise that I’ve been lying to myself. I’m not just interested

she’ll have me. Now I just

meet her at the edge of the stage. Instead of going round to the stairs she just slips down to sit on

like it?” She asks me excitedly. I nod quickly not wanting her to think

at

to answer then realise that every set of eyes in

but

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

arm,

her keys I take her hand in mine and she turns to face me

good at asking for what I want and I’m not great at communicating. But I want to try. If I work on talking to you, would you allow me to court you?” I practically choke out the last few words as I wait for her response. After her performance I believe

in her eyes. Before I have time to so much as smile she reaches out, grabs the collar of my shirt, yanks me down and presses her lips against mine in a brief k*ss. Just as fast she

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Hints and

be stunned into silence.” She jokes. I can’t help but laugh. My heart is racing, my hands itching to

Then unlocks her car and climbs in. I remember my manners and close the