forum “I can’t love you...” Reposting this here (O/O|Romance|Closed|)

Started August 10, 2019 by @Toxic_Persephone group

tune

He smirked lightly. "Alright then." He said, eating more of his soup. He liked playing with her like this. This light, friendly teasing.

She liked it too. She was overjoyed by his teasing. She winked at him over her soup and leaned back.

He smiled, and ate more soup, looking down at the table for a moment.

She tilted her head and watched him carefully, trying to figure out what he was thinking. “Are you alright?”

He looked up. "I am fine, Arabella." He replied with a small smile. "Really." Eating some more soup, he stretched a little. "Did you finish your soup?"

“I’m just making sure.” She glanced at him curiously before she shook her head. “I’m almost done. Are you finished?”

He nodded. "Yeah, I am. Would you like dessert? They have a pretty good selection here." He said with a smile.

“Oh they do?” She asked, her eyes widening. She finished off her soup and smiled gently. “Desert sounds wonderful.”

He smiled. "Alright. They have ice cream, uhm…cake I think, I don't know what else."

(Sorry my internet is being weird)

She leaned back to thing for a moment, her eyes wide. "I'd love some ice cream. That sounds wonderful." She hadn't had ice cream in awhile. She was hoping it would be just as good as she remembered.

(it's totally fine)

"Alright. Tell the waiter when he comes back, then." Asher replied with a smile.

Arabella beamed, offering her hand for him to take. "Are you going to get something?" She asked him sweetly.

He took her hand, and nodded. "Yeah, most likely." He replied slowly.

"Oh good! If not I was going to share mine." She grinned at him and kissed his hand softly, as it was the only thing she could reach.

Asher blinked, and smiled back. "Oh. Alright." He replied, eyes glancing from her to his hand.

Arabella linked their fingers together and looked off out the window, still smiling like a dork. She was happy with him she realized. Even if it seemed he would be emotionally distant she could still find a way to be his friend, or even continue with this happy and careless flirting.

Asher watched her for a long moment, a soft smile on his face. As far as he could tell, she seemed happy, which made him happy. He wanted her to be happy, not miserable.

She glanced over at him and blushed when she caught him watching her. "There was a kid that caught my interest…" She admitted, nodding towards the window. "I like people watching. It used to be the closest I could get to people. Now I can actually go out and talk with them, be one of them. It's strange." She fell silent for a moment. "Asher? Do you think I was mistreated by my father?"

He nodded, listening, then hesitated for a long moment, thinking. "I…yes. I do." He replied slowly. "I mean…I don't know much about your life with him, admittedly, but…" He shook his head a little.

(Gonna go to bed soon)

(Ah Sorry I did fall asleep ahaha)

She sighed sadly and nodded. “I’m starting to think I was too. I know he was doing what he thought was best for the family and company but… I just can’t help but to feel upset and a little angry.”

(lol it's fine)

Asher nodded. "You have every right to feel upset and angry." He replied quietly. "Okay? He used you to further himself, instead of helping you with what you wanted to do with your life."

She bit her lip, staring down at her empty bowl of soup. “I know he did that… and yet it still hurts to think he just gave me away like it was nothing.” She sighed deeply and leaned her elbows on the table, rubbing at her face. “I still loved him like a father even if he was strict. I can’t believe he didn’t love me enough back to help me.”

Asher reached over and gently brushed his fingers against her cheek. "I know." He said simply. "And I'm sorry."

Arabella gave him a tired smile, her posture greatly slumped and quite forlorn. "It's alright, Asher. I'm with you now. You treat me much better." She murmured half-heartedly.

Asher sighed softly. "Yeah, but…you stull shouldn't be stuck with me like this…" He replied slowly.