The Honorary Ball

[Stella]

"Okay, Dad, I won't drink anymore" she said sarcastically with a roll of her eyes as she turned away from him leaning on the balcony again. All she was doing was trying to have a little fun, its not like she was going to start table dancing at any moment.

"I'll just stand here and be prim and proper and have no fun at all" her voice was flat as she avoided looking at him all together. What a party pooper.

"You don't have to watch over me you know, I'm a big girl I can take care of myself"

[raydensharpola]

His eyebrows clashed at her sarcastic rant.

"Fine, if you treat concern for you as dampening your fun..." He was getting riled up. He hadn't cared for someone for so long, and now it wasn't getting appreciated. Maybe he shouldn't even try. "Go ahead...I won't bother anymore. Big girl." He frowned at her, entirely too upset to keep on a cordial face. "And don't come yelling at me for abandoning you out here, cos it's what you want isn't it?"

He stalked out of the balcony muttering under his breath, making the bar his destination.

[Stella]

"Aww come on Rayden, don't be like that" she called after him upset at his angry tone. She sighed taking a few steps after him but not entering the ball room.

"Come back, please?" Stella called as he started to head through the doors toward the bar.

[raydensharpola]

Rayden stopped immediately when she called out. He couldn't understand her. First she called him a Dad, and when he left her alone to her "fun" she wanted him back. Maybe she was drunk afterall. He couldn't just leave her knowing she was drunk.

He turned around, walked towards her dejectedly.

"Tell me what you want me to do Stella." He sighed. "Because I really don't know. Maybe we can both get drunk then I'll have an excuse to let you drink however much you want."

[Stella]

Stella reached out and took his strong hand into her dainty one pulling him back out onto the balcony with her. She felt like crying, which was most certainly from the booze because Stella Artos did not cry. But when drunk she most certainly did open her mouth and say things she shouldn't. She could tell she was about to have one of those moments right now.

"Here's my secret Rayden... I was in love once... and he broke me. He tore me up and I went back for more... again and again... " She sighed looking away from him her profile looking gorgeous against the moonlit sky.

"Until he didn't want me anymore..." There was a moment of awkward silence between them. She smiled sadly.

"So now when I feel someone get close... when I feel myself starting to get comfortable with someone... I get scared.. so I push them away..." her words trailed off. She really didn't know what she was telling him all this...

[raydensharpola]

Rayden gazed silently at Stella. She was having one of those fragile moments right now. And telling him something that she normally would not have done.

"You're afraid of getting hurt again?" He looked questioningly at her. "Pushing people away when they're too close for comfort..." He brought her closer to him, using the hand she was holding to pull her in, running his thumb over her knuckles. "I used to do that. It's how I got my reputation." He sighed, letting his hand drop still holding on to hers. "But I did it to punish myself. Cos I let someone I loved down. Felt like I didn't deserve to be in love anymore. But you don't have to worry..." His smile was gentle, yet sad like hers. "I won't hurt you, I've already promised you that."

[Stella]

It felt so nice to be close to him. His caring touch put her at ease, the alcohol pumping through her blood. The words he said were soft and gentle and she wanted to take them to heart. To believe them all but it was just so hard to trust anyone.

"But what happens if I hurt you?" she asked finally turning her head to look up into his eyes. His smile practically both broke their heart. Perhaps neither of them were in a position to have a relationship at all.

[raydensharpola]

"Would you? Hurt me intentionally?" He asked, his smile fading a little. "I suppose I'll only know the answer until you do." His gaze drifted away towards a spot on the floor, not wanting her to see his uneasiness. "But at least I can tell myself I've given it a try. If it doesn't work out...maybe I'm just not destined to be in a relationship."

[Stella]

For a few moments she just stood there looking at him at a complete loss for words. Why was it now that her clever wit and sarcasm had escaped her. So she did the only thing that seems right.

Letting go of his hands she carefully wrapped her arms around his waist and pulled him into a tight embrace. Closing her eyes she rested her head against his chest with a little sigh.

"Let's not worry about it for now... after all.. right now all we are doing is getting to know each other better, right?" she murmured softly not moving away at all as she spoke.

[raydensharpola]

His gaze snapped back to Stella when she pulled him into a tight embrace. She was one unpredictable creature. He dallied around with enough women to know it was a unique trait of theirs but she managed to surprise him at every turn. He smiled softly, drawing his arm around her shoulders. She seemed to belong naturally in his embrace; she looked so comfortable in it, and he felt comfortable holding her in his arms.

"Let's not worry about it for now... after all.. right now all we are doing is getting to know each other better, right?" she murmured softly not moving away at all as she spoke.

"Uhh yeah." He laughed. She definitely knew how to put things in an unconventional way. "Although I'd think it's a huge leap forward. I've never known someone so much better within the space of one night."

[Stella]

She giggled not moving from his arms. It felt so right being there, like she belonged. This was one of those perfect moments that you normally only see in movies or whatever. Standing on a romantic balcony in a guys arms. It was just too good to be true.

"Just wait until we have our first date, imagine the things you will learn then" she said drawing little patterns on his back with her fingers.

[raydensharpola]

He stiffened, then suddenly laughed out.

"Haha...you might want...to stopdoingthat..." He was ticklish, but he didn't want her to know that. She would know his weak spot right away and use it to her heart's content, he was sure of it. He grabbed the hand that was drawing the patterns. It was starting to wreak havoc somewhere else. He had to stop it, even if he didn't want to. "Now...is that first date happening soon or what?"

[Stella]

Was he squirming around at her touch? Could it be possible that he was ticklish? She looked up at him with a grin. A date might actually be nice. She brought the hand he was holding to her lips and gave it a little kiss.

"I don't know... depends on when you ask me" then her other hand shot out scrambling up along his side to see his reaction wanting to know if he was ticklish.

[raydensharpola]

He twisted away from her disobedient hand, catching it with his other hand and brought it behind him, pulling her closer to him, but not violently.

"Uh uhhh naughty naughty." He smirked at her. "We haven't even had the first date yet and you're getting touchy feely?"

[Stella]

She bumped up against his chest as he pulled her closer in a rather manly manor. Oh did she like that move too, it made her grin wickedly up at him.

"Well if thats the case" she setting getting up on her tip toes and letting her lips linger close to his, "you better let me go then, wouldn't want to get all touchy feely before our first date"