it's on the house [JUDE]

[jude whitby]

[cynthia montague]

"Thank you" Cynthia smiled, "But you really don't have to" She assured him, something told her that he wanted to, but she didn't want to be a burden or anything. It would be awful if he thought that he had to be a gentleman now because of those words earlier. She hadn't taken them as promises anyway, she'd never even wanted him to be a knight in shining armour, he shouldn't do anything he didn't want to, anything that wasn't him, because he was perfect. She stepped down on the floor and got her bag from behind the bar. Was it ending like this, just locking the doors and saying good night? That was odd, but only natural. Time passed and a night couldn't last for ever. But she wasn't afraid of it any more, because he'd said he was committed, she wasn't loosing him. Cynthia swung her bag over her shoulder and turned out the lights with a flick of her wand. It was so normal, it felt strange how there could be any routines of a night like this, but it was relieving in a way, knowing that it was still reality, that she wasn't asleep or dead, or in any other condition where she wouldn't bother to do as she was supposed to, on every real work night.

Cynthia stopped by the bar. He was beautiful, he really was, she'd never seen a beautiful man before. Just handsome and good looking, that kind of thing, but Jude really was... He was like a piece of art, a perfect piece, so exquisite. The lights in the pub were out, but he was still glorious in the dim glow from the street lights outside. She couldn't help but staring at him for a while. Thinking about that that boy liked her, she could have squeaked, skipped up to him and hugged him to never let go. But that would be off-putting. And she wasn't any less tired than she'd been a couple of minutes ago, so she decided that a smile would do, and stopped staring.

She walked to the door and opened it. She hadn't realized that the sky was clear now, her smile grew bigger as she turned around to Jude again, "It stopped raining" Cynthia exclaimed happily.

[jude whitby]

[cynthia montague]

His 'oh okay' had disappointed her a little, she'd subconsciously expected him to insist 'Please, It would be no problem at all', some part of her mind had already started trying to figure out an excuse to invite him over. Not that she'd be any good company. It would have been selfish, just asking him up and then fall asleep, but she had wanted him to be the last person she saw before she went to bed, not some lame old hall porter or neighbour. She hadn't come up with anything better than 'I need help carrying my bag, the elevator's broken', but she'd never say that, though, so she accepted that she'd asked for it, and couldn't just change her mind now.

He was really asking her out, wasn't he? That was awesome, her sleep would be easier to live through if she knew she'd see him soon again, even though she might dream about neighbours and hall porters instead of him.
'I'm not sure, let me check my calendar' would have been the correct answer to his question, but a clear "No" was everything she wanted to say, and said. She couldn't say anything else, even though she wasn't quite sure on if she had any plans or not. Well however, it couldn't be anything that she couldn't cancel for Jude, "Why?"

[jude whitby]

[cynthia montague]

His words were perfect. And even though he must be over-dramatic, Cynthia was sure about that he wasn't mocking her. He talked like he needed her, and that got her heart beating like crazy. And he wanted to walk her home. She took his hand and didn't even bother to say 'Me neither', her adoration for him must be radiating from her skin anyway. "I'd love that" She said.

She locked the door behind them and started walking towards her apartment, her hand still tightly clasped with his. Okay, her old problem again, trying to figure out a valid reason for him to follow her up. She couldn't just ask him to, let him in and fall asleep. How repulsive wouldn't that be? Cynthia usually was a creative person, it shouldn't be that hard for her to come up with something, but as if her slight exhaustion wasn't enough to blunt that creativity, Jude made her dizzy. His words, that he had to see her, they would be enough for any girl to faint of, and Cynthia happened to be in love with this boy. Her knees felt weak, but it didn't really matter, the night was almost as beautiful as the man next to her, and she wasn't going to rush her steps. "You really made my day" She smiled. Well more like week. Life. Why was she so afraid of letting him know exactly how much of her that was his, in other words every cell of her? This boy was too perfect to ever break her heart. But she was afraid.

[jude whitby]

[/i] Which was silly seeing that his hand was just as much a part of him as any other part of his body.

"Mmm" he wanted to say something more, something more I don't know... elaborated? But he couldn't, he was far to happy to get any words out at the moment. He didn't care if he had only made her day, when she had made his life, he was just happy that she liked him enough, to think that he made anything. He looked at her again, see seemed even more tired, dizzy. He couldn't help but to smile, she was just so adorably beautiful. Softy he raised both their hands to his lips, only kissing hers naturally. "Where do you live?" It wasn't only out of interest, he also wanted to know in case she passed out and he had to carry her. Not that that thought was repulsive to him in any way. "You look so tired." He said it in a friendly and caring tone, more caring than his voice had ever been. Jude never really slept much, well mostly he stayed up insanely late and then got up in the afternoon. A bad habit of his, one out of many he thought to himself as they walked.
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[cynthia montague]

Cynthia could easily have passed out when he kissed her hand, it was just too... Too perfect, strange that that fact still surprised her. But fainting would have been even more embarrassing than falling asleep in his presence. "It's just around the corner really" She ensured him. Her parents had insisted on getting her a tasteful home, they probably wouldn't have been able live with themselves otherwise, and when she hadn't married any of the men they'd introduced her to, she needed a good apartment instead of any of the manors she'd been supposed to move into with her husband. Cynthia had given them one requirement, and that was that she wanted to live in the centre of London. They didn't want her surrounded by muggles, but the best they could do was getting her a flat not far from Diagon Alley. Even they had to admit that some of the muggle buildings were in better condition than the rooms that wizards in the alley rented.

"Well thanks" she said sarcastically, tired, that wasn't the most flattering compliment ever. But she was taunting him, she smiled, couldn't believe that he'd want to offend her. He made her feel so safe, not that she'd felt unsafe before, but he was there and held her and and talked to her in such a sweet voice, she just couldn't explain it in any other way than that he cares. Not even how her self-preserving tried to come up with an excuse it, hoping was bad, especially when you hoped for something that outrageous.

Eventually, they reached the building, and Cynthia stopped. She didn't want to walk in and close the door behind her, she couldn't. She still hadn't managed to let go of his hand. Tea maybe? No that would be stupid, she couldn't expect him to be that thirsty. And besides, she wasn't, why'd she want tea? Now she was that nervous again, she hated it, why couldn't she just accept that she'd be seeing him soon again, she didn't get why it was so important to her, a good night kiss in her own flat. "Would you like to... Come up and um, decide something for tomorrow?" She asked him hesitantly. Once she heard how stupid it sounded, she just wanted to die. Why would he want to? Could she really not come up with anything better? He could just say a time and place right there and she'd agree without a blink. Merlin. Please come up.

[jude whitby]

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[cynthia montague]

"Great" Cynthia said. He'd probably seen trough her stupid excuse, and that kind of embarrassed her, but nevertheless, she was glad that he wasn't leaving her quite yet. She led him to an elevator and then to her door, pulled up some keys from her bag and opened the door. She loved her place. It had been a graduation gift from her parents, no way that her job at the cauldron would pay for it. Originally, her mother had furnished it, and nothing wrong about Edna's decorating , but it had never really suited Cynthia, and she'd been quick to replace the furniture. Now it was more subtle, white walls, light brown floor, beige, brown, grey and black furniture. But even though she'd rejected her mum's extravagant choices, Cynthia was a Montague, after all, and just average wasn't good enough for her. She was used to luxury, so it had never really even been a question about anything else than leather sofas designer chairs.

She stepped into her apartment and placed her bag and keys on a small table. "Um, bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room" she said, motioning towards the rooms by the hallway. "Make yourself at home" Cynthia encouraged him, hoping he wouldn't mind waiting a couple of minutes while she changed, that he'd really do as she asked him to and make himself comfortable. Nothing was more annoying than overly polite and shy guests, not that she expected Jude to be one of those but... Gosh she'd give him keys to the place if he asked for it, she wouldn't want to find him just awkwardly standing at the same spot when she returned.

She walked to her bedroom, slipping out of her pumps on the way there.
Faith sounded so stupid, but luck was even more unreal, luck to this extreme point was just... sick, it couldn't be. It was a bloody Thursday! She caught herself hoping that it would start raining again, them maybe she'd have the guts to ask him to stay. Apparently it wasn't enough, just that he was there, any more, she wanted him there in the morning as well. She slipped out of her uniform and into a tank top and a pair of shorts, and left the room.

Something struck her, a fear of that he'd already gone home, such paranoia. "Of course he hasn't" She thought, almost laughing at herself. It was odd to her though, the intensity and pain of that mere second of worry. She couldn't make sense of what the worst part would be, him being gone or realizing that he didn't like her all that much.
Did he matter that much? Yes, duh!
"So what are we doing tomorrow?" She asked him as she let her hair down from the ponytail she'd been wearing all night.

[jude whitby]

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[cynthia montague]

"You can't say that" Cynthia whined when he answered her, she would have said that. She didn't care at all as long as they weren't cliff diving, that'd mean she wouldn't get to touch him, but she had never really thought that he would suggest that anyway. Being at her home made her feel a little more secure though, and she wasn't afraid of scaring him away any more either. He'd already lost his last chance to run, that had been on the street outside, and he'd decided to follow her up. So he had to really like her, her tired mind could figure that much out. She yawned slightly, sat down on the sofa and patted on it next to her, a gesture to make him join her.

"Coffee?" She suggested. She did want to spend more time than so with him, but something very delighted and happy inside her told her that if they just met, none of them would say bye until they really had to.
Damn, he was stunning. She wasn't saying good night before she really had to, she was definitely not opening that door for him tonight. She knew that she wouldn't be able to voluntarily let him leave. Of course she wasn't going to stand in the way when he went and opened the door himself, but she had this urge to just hold onto him until he fell asleep, until she could be sure he'd stay there. "That'd learn him not to follow strangers home" Cynthia thought, smirking to herself. Gorgeous boy held prisoner by obsessive fan girl.
She yawned once more, realizing she probably wouldn't be able to stay awake long enough to keep him there.

[jude whitby]

[/i] He thought to himself, but the idiotic smile wouldn't go away.

Coffee? It might drag out the goodbye scene. "Yes please." The word please had never been in Jude's top ten over most used words, but he had never meant them more than now. He wanted whatever would mean that he get to stay at Cynthia's. He looked at her face again, she looked so tired. She would probably fall a sleep soon, would it be creepy if he stayed anyway? At this point he didn't care much, someone would have to throw him out with extreme magic or muscle, he was not about to leave out of free will. Okay, maybe if she asked him too, but he didn't think she would. He hoped not. "Do you want me to go make it though?" He offered, stroking a hand through his hair. "You still look a bit tired." He teased "and I'd hate to have you pass out on your way to the kitchen." He now turned his hand to grab a lock of her hair instead of his, and placed it behind her ear. "You look adorable though." No, she looked beyond adorable.
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[cynthia montague]

"It's in the cupboard next to the fridge" Cynthia smiled. Usually, she wouldn't have let a guest do something for her, but Jude was just being to sweet to resist, and she was awfully tired. And his last sentence had gotten her heart racing, blood rushing, she was blushing again and didn't want him to watch. She hadn't blushed for ages before tonight, how did he do it? There must some manual on Cynthia Montague that she'd missed, it didn't make sense that he was just so painfully perfect. How could he know exactly what to do to make her heart flutter like that? It was freaking dangerous.

It was almost morning and Jude was making coffee for them. What had she done to deserve that? When did the world become good?
She needed to tell him that she loved him. Sudden realisation, strong urge, it felt like the most important words ever. She needed to know that he knew and still was there. Strange feeling, she'd thought that love would make everything else, including words meaningless. Getting a little too tired are we?. Cynthia sunk down deeper in the sofa, half-laying half sitting, leaning her head on an armrest. She closed her eyes, but intensively focused on any noise Jude made in the kitchen, to keep herself from falling asleep without kissing him goodnight. That would be a disaster.

[jude whitby]

[/i] he'd hate to have to go back, and wake her if she was a sleep, just because he wouldn't have remembered her directions properly. Normally he had quite a good memory, but he had been feeling like there weren't room for much else than images of her, for the last couple of hours.

He found the coffee on the cupboard, and found his wand within his pocket. And with whatever house magic he was able to do, he had made the coffee within five minutes. Some, well actually a lot would be able to do it faster, but normally never made coffee this way, he normally used the muggle way, but he wanted to be back with her in a hurry. He started searching the kitchen until he found two mugs, in which he pured the coffee. With the coffee in his hand he started walking back into the living room, and stopped at the sofa. "Did you want anything in it" he asked again, placing the two mugs on the coffee table, ready to run back to the kitchen to get anything she would want.
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