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 Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 10:11 pm
Casia looked surprised at his response and the first thing her mind did was jump into a paranoid review of their conversation. What had she let slip about herself that could possibly benefit him so much that he'd make an offer like that?
She shook her head, vaguely horrified that her mind had jumped right to those thoughts. He was just a nice guy who liked waltz and had a big glowing thing on his head. He didn't seem like the kind of person who would try to use her for anything or grody stuff like that. So he suspiciously invited her over to his house so soon after meeting her, so what? The siren reminded herself that some people were just naturally friendly.
Still, it bothered Casia and she thought furiously, trying to stop herself from dwelling on it as Carlisle led her across the gym floor. Jolting, she blinked rapidly for a moment as she felt her hand drop to her side. How long had he been holding it? She had let him when they were waltzing, but she'd have to make it more clear that she'd be wanting it back afterwards next time. Blushing, the siren rubbed the offending limb on her skirt absentmindedly. Holding hands for no reason was something you did with someone you like liked, not your gym partner. "Huh?" she asked sharply as he spoke again. "Oh!" Her blush got deeper, but they had gotten this far and turning back now would be like deciding to jump ship on the way to save Pepperland. "...Sure! Sure, that's fine, totally cherry, yes." she blurted out quickly. She had to keep her mind on the dancing.
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Posted: Sat Apr 11, 2009 11:05 pm
What was that look on her face? Had he said something strange again? Carlisle went over his comment and bit his lower lip, uncertain if he'd done something odd or embarrassing, embarrassing anymore than what they'd already done, anyway. Not like dancing was up there with, well, other things that he'd been lectured about at great length before escorting Erinne. (that would be really terrifying and he lived in fear of Ms. Lindy and health class because you never knew what was coming).
He looked away for a second, apparently waiting for a response. When he got one, he smiled and took Casia's hand again. This time, though, he pulled her close enough that she was standing on his toes. Weirdly, he didn't lose balance; in fact, he seemed just as steady as before. Bright red, Carlisle stood for a moment (a half-formed notion of waiting for his partner to get used to being that close) before taking a step to the left, and then further: spinning slowly counterclockwise, like figurines in a music box, while moving in a clockwise circle. This close, he could be plainly heard to be counting, steadily, up to three in 3/4 time.
"See," he explained, interrupting the count in waltz time, "This way, you learn the rhythm and where your feet go, and I only come off as a jerk, right?" He smiled, looked a little bit ashamed. Apparently he was worried about seeming like an a**, but hadn't managed to actually articulate it before.
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 11:28 am
Casia breathed in sharply as Carlisle pulled her so close to him she was practically standing on him, nerves jangling. Too close, too close, she'd like to get off the ride now, please! Trying to force herself not to struggle, she mentally clung to the soft counting coming from Carlisle's mouth, opening her own to sing in a desperate bid to stop herself from pulling away. He was doing her a favour, the siren reminded herself, she wasn't going to let her Greystone thoughts make her do something rude. The steady rhythm helped, pulse slowing down, the siren mouthed words to go along with the beat.
"No one I think is in my tree,
I mean, it must be high or low.
That is you can't, you know, tune in,
but it's all right.
That is I think it's not too bad...
Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields.
Nothing is real,
And nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry fields forever...
Always know sometimes think it's me,
But you know I know when it's a dream.
I think I know I mean, ah yes,
But it's all wrong.
That is I think I disagree.
Let me take you down,
'Cause I'm going to strawberry fields.
Nothing is real,
And nothing to get hung about.
Strawberry fields forever,
Strawberry fields forever,
Strawberry fields forever."
It helped to sing the stammering song instead of just stammering, and the siren stopped, relaxing a bit. Focusing more on what they were doing, she tried to get everything right in her mind the first time. She didn't want to have to stand on his feet more than once if she could possibly help it. She kept humming the melody as Carlisle moved, helping the siren distance herself from the awkward situation, but he interrupted count and she trailed off, coming back into the here and now with a faintly awkward stumbling note. "Hm?" Looking at his smile, she frowned in return. What kind of person actually called themselves a jerk? The same kind of person who invited strange girls over to their houses and gave waltzing lessons, apparently. Casia's suspicion was still there, but Carlisle was a difficult person to dislike when he was trying so hard to be nice. Really, she didn't think many other people would have done all this. He was practically teaching the lesson when he could have just let the substitute bumble along and waste time, and since Casia wasn't quite old enough to understand the term 'cop a feel', her siren thoughts were running out of reasons to be suspicious. "Uh, yeah," she replied at last, "You're an okay guy, you know that?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:11 pm
She was afraid. Of what? Him? It scraped on his nerves, made him grit his teeth, but she was a girl and if he expressed that then he'd be... Well, he wouldn't be the person he thought he was, even though he didn't have a very well-formed idea of exactly the person he was. He focused on something else, settling on the words by could hear by his ear. It was that dazzling song again, quite soft and faltering but it was the same voice.
The soft song ended. Carlisle stopped, stuttering to stillness all at once; he shook his head, once, twice, paused. Suddenly he was a few feet away, though he certainly hadn't pushed her. In fact, the entire time he'd been acting as if Casia were made of glass. More clearly, it was like he was there one second, happily (or at least contently) demonstrating the whisk, and then he was gone, standing apart from her with a guarded look in the clear gray eyes, a tense wariness in the set of his shoulders. But the moment passed; he relaxed, dropping his hands back into his sides. "Are you okay," he asked, legitimately concerned; she'd frowned, and she'd been frightened before. What had he done?
Then she continued. He was an okay guy? Wha-- Carlisle seemed confused, but he smiled uncertainly anyway. "If you say so, I believe you," he said.
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Posted: Sun Apr 12, 2009 7:25 pm
Casia opened her mouth to reply, but the bell to signify the end of class rang. It was weird to think he could trust someone so easily, the siren knew she couldn't. She didn't think she could understand Carlisle, but she could understand the dancing and the counting, and the music. He really was an okay guy- at least until he did something that proved otherwise.
She had to repay him anyway, he had used up an entire class teaching her. Looking over as students started to leave, she bit her lip. If she didn't think of something soon, she was going to be late. "Look, why don't you meet me after school on Friday?" she decided quickly. "You taught me, I can teach you about the Beatles or something?" He was musically deprived after all, it was the least she could do. Flashing him a brief smile, she added "I'll be there whether you want to or not, so it's not a hassle or anything." And before he could respond, because pretty soon the siren really was going to be late, she left the gymnasium, waving behind her.
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