Redhawk Caldera If the whole wide world stops spinning

He shouldn't be apologizing.  She wanted to immediately argue that, but what could she say?  Don't apologize, I just don't know how to deal with you looking at me.  That sounded terrible, and even worse if she went farther and explained it was because she was sure he wouldn't like what he saw.  He couldn't like what he saw.  No one did.

Her self-improvement exercises and affirmations had been working out alright, but it was amazing how fast all of that went out the window when being faced by the insecurity of sitting in front of the man she liked.  Loved, apparently.

I like you.  What?  Maia was surprised enough by this to look back at Eljay questioningly.  That could mean a wide range of things, but the way he said it made it sound like he meant it.  I mean, meant it meant it.  She felt the weirdest clash of dread and pure delight then, happiness because she'd never wanted to hear anything more and dread because there was no way she'd managed to luck out like this.  She knew how she wanted to respond, how she should respond.  I like you too at the very least, though that even was a partial lie.  Instead her traitor mouth opened before she could stop it.  Are you sure?

Wow, really?  She flinched when she heard the insecurity in her own voice, and looked down again.  Even if he was, he certainly wouldn't be after that.

WC: 245