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For one beautiful, timeless moment, Axel returned the kiss. Her heart soared. Her fingers trembled beneath his hand. She'd wanted to talk to him for the longest time. She'd wanted to approach him while he did back-breaking work at the bookstore. She'd watched him wipe sweat from his brow during his breaks, she'd watched his shirt hike up in the back when he had to reach up high, she'd watched the way the muscles in his forearms corded and flexed as he worked, and she'd admired his dedication. These were all small things, but they were pieces of him she'd collected and gone over in her mind before returning home to her empty, miniscule apartment she could hardly afford. When her days were at their bleakest, she only had to think of those bright eyes and that white smile to feel just a little better - and it had always been a little foolish and very romantic of her, but Harper had always been a foolish, romantic girl.

When he broke the kiss, Harper gave a breathless little giggle.

He thought she was wonderful. Her smile grew in wattage.

He wanted to be her friend. Harper's smile dimmed a little. Friends were good.

He didn't think he could date anyone right now. Harper's expression faltered. Hurt crept into her violet eyes, and her brows creased. It was a lot to process. He didn't think he could date anyone right now. Harper pulled her hands free from Axel and cleared her throat. She felt foolish. Utterly foolish. This had been a mistake. She was so stupid. To think that someone like Axel could like someone like her. She was clumsy and idiotic, and she was so incredibly upset with herself. She felt sick.

"I, ah." Her voice trembled. Everything around her was blurring, and it was impossible to see anything. She'd kissed him. Her first kiss ever had been with a man who thought she was wonderful, wanted to be her friend, but didn't want to date her.

"I have to go."

She rose to her feet, stumbled around the edge of the table, scrambled towards the front door. Harper tripped on the edge of the couch, which caused her to sob softly, and then she struggled to open the front door of the home. She needed air, she needed to breathe, to escape, to be alone - but her hands were trembling just enough so that it was impossible to get the door open.

"No, no, no, hahaha, no, Axel that's fine you just," she grunted and tried to get the dang door open, but the knob was -- ah, there it went, "you just go on back to dinner and please tell your mother I just got sick or something, I'm just. I didn't even think about finding a place to stay and I don't even know why I told you that I'm sure there's an inn in town that has a vacancy," it didn't matter that she'd spent nearly all of her money on the flowers, she'd been so dang stupid, and then the tears came - and they came hard, streaming down her cheeks.

"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I ruined dinner and I'm sorry about lunch, and I'm sorry if - if, if, you know, thanks for inviting me to dinner, and I'll just, I'm sorry, I have to go."

She didn't look at him, couldn't look at him. He pitied her, she knew he did and that's why he'd been so nice to her this whole time. She just started walking, and didn't stop.