A New Start

"You'll get ANYTHING you want! I promise!" Teanna exclaimed joyfully, looking up to him before his arms came around her. Her eyes widened in surprise, he hadn't... he hadn't ever truly embraced her. Her eyes sparkled and she felt her heart skip a beat. "Noah..." She whispered softly, the sound of his name echoing in her mind as her head leaned against his shoulder. No, she didn't want to let go. She didn't want him to let go. She was more than willing to be entrapped in his arms for the rest of time. He was so very warm, so comforting.

He made her feel safe, he made her feel as though she belonged, and he made her angrier than any other person she'd known, but also happy, so very happy. Happy to be with him. Three days with him in total. Days in which he had saved her life not once, but twice. And now he'd even bought her a place where she could work and live. "Incredible." She thought as her head lifted, looking at him. He was so very handsome, it was the first time she truly noticed. She never really cared for physical appearance much, well... she never really cared for men much. She'd usually been too busy with herself and her sister to notice any men. But he, oh she dared to say that he left her breathless.

He liked the way she said his name. He liked the way the word would slip from her parted lips, soothing and soft. Noah stared down at her, into the depths of her eyes, and he noticed the beautiful hue. Noah was leaning down, with his hands gliding through her hair to feel the fullness and texture of it. He wanted to kiss her. His lips were just about an inch from Teanna's, and he felt his own heart beating rapidly. He thought that she'd be able to hear it, considering how close they are. Noah paused, not knowing exactly what to do. ...He's never kissed a girl before.

Then a noise snapped Noah to attention. The door that was left open closed with a bang, most likely from the wind outside. Noah felt his sense of acute logic returning, and his arms would start to pull away from hers. He was leaning back, caught between conflicting emotions. Noah was angry at himself for having gotten so close, but a part of him wanted to touch her. His hands slid from her hair, and arms would pull away in a slightly more forceful manner. He has to go, before something happens, and he won't be able to turn back ever again.

Noah was stepping away from Teanna, eyes fixated on her delicate face. His hands were in tight fists, knuckles white. Emotions of all sorts spazzed across his features, first reluctant, anger, pain, and the cycle continued until alas, a blank composure was reached. Noah is once again, under the control of his own tight discipline.

-She didn't hear his heart, but she felt it against her chest, and she felt his warm breath pouring over her lips. So very close. She very much wanted to kiss him. Her hand stretched out, her fingers brushing against his cheek. Teanna leaned even closer, her lips almost touched his, in some manner they did touch, but just barely, before he leaned away.

Her whole face turned a light shade of pink and then her body felt cold. As soon as he moved away from her, she shivered, and looked down, embarrassed and sad. "I'm sorry." She whispered and took a step back, almost tripping over her own feet. No... She stopped and took a deep breath. "Actually...I'm not sorry." Teanna spoke as she looked up to him. "I'm not sorry for caring for you, certainly not sorry for embracing you, not sorry at all for wanting to kiss you, which I so very much do. I don't see anything wrong in it. If you want to walk away because you're scared, then please, go ahead and do so. But I'm not scared, nor am I pushing you away just because you told me to stay away. I care for you, Noah. And that is not wrong." If she wasn't going to speak up, it would all be left in silence, and that'd be the only thing between them. Silence.

Noah's arms fell back to his side, and his eyes were glued to the floor. He glanced up at her narrative, and listened in silence. He didn't know what to say. Noah started to step away, and he whispered softly, "I need .. time." Then he turned, and sped off. He didn't even bother to close the door. Noah was running down the street, feeling the eyes of the people on him as he rushed off. He needs time. He needs time to find out who he really is, and what to do. Then a thought occurred to him: I'm a coward.

Even so, Noah kept running. He would pay for the building. He would get the other shop owners of Nede to lend Teanna a hand. He helped many of them into their homes, so it shouldn't be a problem. But Noah would do all this in secret. Teanna would be fine for the time being. Noah, on the other hand, would need time. Glancing down at his palms, Noah thought once again: I have no future. Those with me will have no future. It was the fear that haunted him for so long, along with his inexperience and reluctance with intimacy. Another thought occurred to him: When will I see her again?

-Teanna watched him leave. She could say nothing more. Her expression went completely blank, and the light in her eyes died away. There were no tears, no. No room for any further weakness. Teanna cleared her throat and walked over to the door, closing and locking it. She took a deep breath and looked around. The place would be clean in no time. She knew exactly what to do. . . As soon as she'd find a way to get him out of her head.

Teanna walked into the kitchen and opened one of the small closets there. Brooms, and mops, cleaning tools of course. She grabbed a bucket and filled with water and a bit of detergent, then she began scrubbing the floors. Yes, it'd need a lot of work, but it'd be worth it, and it'd be grand. "I just hope he'll come and see..." She whispered to herself as she continued. The first few steps had been taken.It would all be done in no time.-