the Power of a Kiss

"It's not bad."

He withdrew, leaving Sofia in place with great anticipation and her mouth still open.

"Huh?"

"You're lip is totally alright."

He gave a reassuring smile and turned back to watch the distant pair, leaving Sofia with growing disappointment.

Maybe I should just take the lead... I mean... I sort of... No - I want to smooch him... I really do...

"Uh Luke..."

Sofia took some time to speak up again, but apparently too long.

"Yeah, quick lets go... they're leaving."

True the others had already left their own seats, as Luke subtly stood and proceeded to follow them.

Aw... darn it...!

Sofia had organised for Boa to next take a walk with her date, and the taller Oni was following the plan well, while her 'minders' dallied along at a distance, while keeping them in view.

With a bit of a height difference, as Boacizi could tuck Rafael totally under her arm, the odd pair casually walked the street, aimlessly, but Boa obviously wasn't as concerned about the other pedestrians about anymore, with her attentions drawn to her close date.

They do look rather 'couplely'... already...

Meanwhile Sofia was still awkwardly trailing with Luke, who was acting normal, as she felt warm just being near Luke again, Sofia was also distracted, a little jittery and had lost her words again.

At some point along their walk, they'd happened upon the walkway along the small river, quite the romantic part of town, as the small path wandered alongside the curving waters, under the hanging trees and brightly blooming flowers all around.

All that grown atmosphere had brought the observed pair even closer, as they occasionally bumped sides as they talked and walked - until they actually started hand holding.

I wish I had the nerve to do that...

Sofia, having seen their development, actually felt slightly jealous.

She looked over to Luke, who still casually walked beside her; also quiet like her and dared to dream about taking his slightly bigger hand with her own.

Her distraction suddenly found her stumbling on an out of place stone, but she steadied quickly with her next sudden step, but still found her slim shoulder softly aided by Luke's kind hand.

"Careful there, you alright?"

"Well I um..."

He ran his hand down her arm and gently took her open hand with his.

"For safely..."

He warmly smiled her way again while she stared with slight surprise.

"...unless you don't want to?"

"No- I mean yes...?"

She gripped his hand a little more - and it remained there.

I feel all warm and comfortable...

All too absorbed with her own situation, she started to disregard the rest of the world then, like nothing else was as important, so wasn't paying attention to or listening at all to the others and was surprised by Luke's next question.

"What are they talking about now?"

Uh...

She turned from her unfocused state to ahead of them again, finding Boa and Rafael apparently even closer than before.

Sofia stayed silent as she listened in again.

"...such a noble and kind Human, aren't you...?"

The pair made it to the simple bridge that crossed the river, now exceptionally close to one another.

"I always try to be..."

Then their lips briefly met.

Oh gosh...!

Sofia had earlier told Boa that a kiss would signal the end of a date - if it was going well, and so Boa reluctantly back-stepped away, holding her hands behind her flowing red dress.

"I had a very nice day today..."

"Me too!"

Rafael said with enthusiasm as he remained by the ledge.

"Let's do this again... tomorrow?"

"I would like that a lot. Meet up at the inn then?"

Boa had made it over the whole bridge then.

"See you there, good sir."

She finally turned and walked away, while Sofia and Luke waited for the Knight-in-training to eventually head back the other way toward the town and out of sight before moving themselves.

"And they're done for the day."

Luke turned Sofia's way a little more with a grin.

"Well that seemed to go off well."

"Yes..."

Sofia spoke softly and tentatively, still thinking about their action just before they'd parted.

Things have gone along so romantically this evening... makes me want to do the same with... Luke...

Sofia looked up slightly at Luke and wondered if the same situation would work on him, before getting caught up with all her wildly sprinting thoughts about it.

Would it be right... fit this mood...? Would I be seen as coming on to strongly... or would he expect it...? If I do... how strong should I...? And where...? And how long too...?

He stepped away, letting his hand finally slip from hers, after watching her relaxed state descend into confliction and slight fret, and the chance of re-enacting what she'd witnessed ended too.

"Well... best be off too. And if Bozcizi is still staying at your place, you'd better not keep her waiting."

"Of course..."

Sofia's mood dipped as he moved off, but before he'd gone, she willed herself to say more.

"We... we'd better check on them again ... tomorrow right?"

"Yeah... sounds like a plan then."

He said as he kept looking cheerfully her way.

"I'll be waiting... in town again..."

She didn't feel so bad then, with plans for the next day secured with him.

"Sure."

She was left by the calm and beautiful scene for a moment, before something dawned on her.

We would have been going the same way... I missed a golden opportunity to spend that walk with him too... Oh well...