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She cringed inwardly. It was pretty clear her words had hurt him. She hadn't meant to do that. Damn her mouth. She wasn't sure what she'd said wrong, and her brain was working furiously to try and reason it out when he started to stand. She was still working on her problem when he apologized again, and turned to leave.

"No. Wait," she said, sliding off the bed. Three quick strides and she was reaching for his arm. "I don't want you to go." Her hand wrapped around his right wrist. "I am confused. I don't know what I'm getting into here."

She decided to speak quickly, for fear he was going to pull away and leave. "You said you liked me, you want to be with me. Do you... Do you mean that way I hope you do? And not just because of the past few weeks, because you need someone near with Chester gone? I still like you, Jake. Like like you. If I kiss you again, will you push me away?" That was how it had happened before. Kisses led to heartache. She had to know what this might be.

She actually sighed in relief at his words. They were sensible and reassuring, which was apparently what she needed to hear. She'd almost forgotten her tears, and she smiled when he turned to look at her. It was possible that his blushing caused her to blush, or maybe his words did. Either way, she was a bit redder than a moment before by the time she spoke again.

"Do you want to try? This, I mean." Her hand let go of his wrist and slid down to his hand, her fingers lightly pressing in to his palm. "If I'm allowed to like you, to be more than a friend, I'd like to try that. If it doesn't work then it doesn't work, but I'd still like a chance at it." Both of her hands were holding onto his right now, gentle but firm.

Her gaze stayed centered on his face, watching his reaction. She almost tried to kiss him then, but... nerves were silly things. She wanted an answer to her question first.

She smiled again, and as she blinked she was reminded of the fact that she'd been crying moments before. "I should say the same to you." She'd been stupid and selfish and stubborn in the past. She'd made him miserable, and she hated her past self for it. She would try not to let it happen again. "I just want you to be happy, too."

She squeezed his hand and leaned in a little closer. For the third time, her lips met his. Soft, chaste, and quick. She stepped back a moment later, her eyes locked on his.

Sherry was terrified. He'd said it was okay this time, but some part of her was still worried he'd wake up tomorrow and decide that this wasn't what he wanted.

You could color her surprised when he moved his hands. Surprised or red. Jake had never intentionally touched her like that before, or been so close. His words touched her even more though. So she kissed him once more, because otherwise she might start to cry again. A little longer this time, a little more sure.

Sherry blinked, almost caught off guard when he pulled her in, hugging her. Jake had never been particularly of the touching sort, he'd even flinched away from a friendly pat on the back before. She wasn't about to complain. Unexpected as it was, she also found it comforting and pleasant. Warm and safe. "Thank you," she said, wrapping her arms around his torso, "for wanting one. I'll try not mess it up, either."

She squeezed him and sighed. She was content like that, in his arms and in that silence. Until she realized she had no idea what to do next. She didn't want him to leave, but asking him stay could imply certain things she didn't want to imply. She could ask him to sit and talk, perhaps. Should she even do anything? Say anything? She didn't feel uneasy with the silence (or so she thought), but what if he did? That thought made her nervous.

Straightening, she leaned back to look at him. "How are you healing?"

There was nothing but concern on her still blushing face as she listened to his response. She'd kept up with most of his progress, but she didn't know how things had been since the cruise. Heck, she still felt guilty about what she'd done to him on the cruise.

"Continue to take it easy, then. They were pretty massive wounds," she said, her tone a faint bit sad. "And don't go getting stabbed like that again." She moved her hand, letting her fingers land lightly on the front of his left shoulder. "I'm sorry about what I did the other day."

She stared at him, a light tingle running down her spine when he kissed her hand. "You didn't deserve it," she began. Even if it wouldn't kill him, he hadn't deserved it. If he truly thought that--

Even her thoughts froze when his hand brushed her cheek. She could feel the warmth rising on her face, and she only got redder at his comment. Surely she wasn't cute. Blushing was almost as embarrassing as crying. As for her worrying?
"You were barely alive for a little while there." Her tone was disapproving, but her fingers gently brushed the side of his face. She sighed. "Just, don't make a habit of it."

She sighed again. She didn't want this moment to go down some terrible or sad or depressing path. Not tonight. "For now, though," she smiled at him as she spoke, "would you mind sitting with me? We could chat? Maybe?"

She did want to ask about Chester (even if that might be sad), and a million other things, too.

"I do say so," she began. Again, she froze as he made contact with her, her blood running hotter as he kissed her cheek. This was... She must be dreaming or something.

That thought didn't stop her from hugging him. Between the playful look in his eye and the words he'd said, flustered or not, made her happy. She wanted nothing more than time with him. If he wanted the same thing... surely she was dreaming this all up. She knew she wasn't, but at the same time, so much of this was unexpected. So she was very glad when he accepted her invite to stay a while.

"Good. Me too," she said softly, stepping back and taking his hand in hers. She turned towards the bed. Besides the floor, it was the only place where two people could properly sit together for talking. She didn't want him in the chair again; she wanted him closer, on the same level.

Of course, sitting down on the bed with your feet on the floor and pulling someone down to sit likewise next to you turned out to be far more awkward than Sherry had imagined it to be. It would be hard to look at him in that position, and though he was next to her, something about it felt very stiff and almost uncomfortable. Would it be considered appropriate to scoot back on the bed, so they could be comfortable and pull their feet up? Lean against the wall maybe? Or turn to face each other? Was that too casual, or too intimate? How many times had she done the same thing in his room, on his bed? A dozen? ...That had been different. He hadn't been on the bed with her, usually. And he certainly hadn't been in pajamas.

A slight hint of annoyance rolled over Sherry's mind and feelings. Armagnac had a point. It was silly, wasn't it? Worries such as these. It was just... even if she had tried shamelessly to flirt with him before, she didn't want to imply certain things. She really did just want to sit close and chat. He would...understand that.

So, after a pause, Sherry did push herself back, away from the edge of her bed. She leaned against the wall, getting comfortable. Jake could...sit where he wanted.

"So, um, how's Chester? Any news?" Again, perhaps not the most pleasant of conversation topics for him, but she really wanted to know.