My dear friend James seemed never to be appealed by my curvaceous figure, even in my favourite blue summer dress; he never once indicated an attraction. He always seemed wrapped up in his studies, which was so saddening when I consistently thought of him in a less studious context. It was this thought that drew my gaze to the other side of the room; to assess this man, who didn't seem to desire what lay between my thighs.
He seemed to be assiduously typing away on his laptop, snuggled back into his couch, with his feet propped upon the table. I smiled now to see his geeky, long, brown socks warming his feet. He was far too practical compared to me, who wore stockings, simply to get a smoother look from my legs.
His shirt displayed some kind of intellectual, sarcastic message, which had gone right over my head when I first scanned it. I was too afraid to ask him what the symbols meant, in case he thought I was stupid, or lacking in proper education. So of course I laughed hoping it was a funny science pun or something. He didn't say anything, so I took that as a good sign.
I knew he was only my friend, but something about him made me wish he and I were more. Perhaps it was his confidence? The way he always seemed to know what to say? Then again, my attraction could have been purely based on the fact that he didn't want me back. Everyone seems to want what they cannot have.
"You're staring at me," he looked up at me with raised eyebrows. I looked away quickly, back at my books where I should have been focusing, and made a small sound to indicate I had heard him. When I looked up again he was back to his studying like nothing had occurred.
James had been kind enough to invite me over to his home, for coffee, and to study for final exams. I spent roughly an hour preparing for this day; combing my hair and donning several different outfits before I settled on my dress. It wasn't long sitting here before I reminded myself that I needn't have bothered dressing up.
My hair was blonde and combed neatly into two cute pony-tales. His hair was an adorably unkempt pile of brown strands, which he never would've neatened, for my mere presence. I adored the brown of his eyes, so perfectly framed by his messy locks. I think though that I mostly loved the depth of his eyes, how they revealed to me the obvious intelligence beneath the surface.
"You keep staring at me," he laughed this time. He didn't care that I was staring at him, wasn't bothered by anything I chose- or didn't choose- to do. "Aria, do you need my help with the work? You
can
ask if you do." He placed his laptop down casually and sat down right next to me.
"Oh, pfft, no... I'm fine," I played because I wanted to look smart and easy going. I flung myself back against the couch and propped my feet on the table as he had done himself previously. "I'm just amusing myself with the weird faces you pull when you concentrate," I mocked.
James seemed pleased by the opportunity to banter, then he responded, "Oh you're just jealous you don't have a face like mine," he used this thumb to point towards himself. I giggled and turned back to my book, realising that I was a little disheartened by the jab at my appearance. I knew he was playing around, but I couldn't help but wonder if he was partly being honest as well.
I knew it wasn't obvious to him, but his opinion of my physical attributes really meant a great deal to me. I respected this man, and I secretly had hopes that he might one day find me as attractive and desirable as I found him. Yet I knew this was impossible! He was not one to spend time idling on thoughts of attraction and romance. He was friendly for certain, but his eyes were always set on his own freedoms and successes. I knew it was a hopeless case.
James was now studying by my side, something which I found mildly distracting because I could feel everything about him. I could feel every movement emanating from his body and I could smell the light scent of his aftershave. I could hear his fingers tapping on his keyboard and every part of me wanted to touch the things tantalizing my other senses.
I leaned forward to grab my cup of coffee from the table. I hadn't noticed at this time that James's dog had found her way into the room, so she made her company known by jumping onto my lap.
Suddenly, my coffee cup was no longer in my hands.
"Oh my god," I pushed the dog off of my lap, "James I'm so sorry!"
James gave a chuckle as he stood up in a now coffee stained shirt. He pulled the bottom of the shirt away from his skin, and looked down at the damp mess. "Well that changes what I was planning to wear at dinner tonight," he said amusedly, then suddenly removed his shirt.
James- Shirt-less- In front of me...
"Uuuh, dinner," I gazed up at him as though I had been star struck. He scrunched the shirt up and walked out into the laundry room. I gulped at the beauty of what I had just seen; such a hot torso. God help me I sounded like a dumb blonde with a stupid crush.
He walked back into the room, still shirtless, but with a towel to clean up the rest of the mess. "Aria, do you mind picking up the mug for me?" He asked as he bent over to soak up the coffee from the couch.
"Sure, the mug..." I repeated blankly, still gazing at him, not really listening to what he had asked of me.
Now perhaps my eyes had drifted towards his belt buckle for too long at a time, or perhaps my lack of movement had made me look curious, but soon James was staring back at me. His eyebrows were raised and a small grin had found his lips.
"Aria," James began curiously, "Are you staring at my crotch?" My eyes darted up towards his fascinated expression. At this point there was not much I could say to save myself from what was obviously my own flustered embarrassment. But heck, I tried.
"What crotch?" Of course I knew the moment these words left my lips that somehow I had managed to make myself look even more idiotic. I stood up quickly from the couch and awkwardly became near face-to-face with James. I gasped and stepped aside, then looked down at my feet in order to avoid his gaze.
James laughed at me then, for a moment, unable to control how humorous he found the entire situation. He then said, "Shit, you're totally hot for me, aren't you?" I could hear the amusement in his tone, but felt nothing more than the intense blush that ran over my entire body. It felt forever that he spent staring at me deep in though, whilst I stared at my own feet trying to will myself to shrink into nothingness.
James stepped in closer to me and, placing his fingers underneath my chin, guided my face back up to his. He moved in slowly and left a warm kiss against my cheek, so perfect that I never wanted it to stop. However, suddenly, I felt his fingernails scurry up my spine and over my neck. This caused me to recoil and giggle uncontrollably.
I pushed him away, "what are you doing?" I looked at him bewildered.
"I don't know," he pulled me in closer, tugging me forward by my shirt, and wriggled his fingers against my side. "Are you ticklish Aria?" He asked as I squirmed beneath his touch.
"I..." for a moment I paused in thought; was this his way of taking advantage of me? Did he find me attractive? "Why are you asking me that?" He slid his hands upon my ribs and firmly pressed his fingertips in, just enough to cause a nervous unease that he may try to tickle again.
