He pulled back further. "I do not need to explain my face to you," he replied. It was beginning to look like the night would end with a punch. "I do not ask what every smile means."
Sunny frowned and crossed her arms. "Don't get all offended Stasi," she gave him her biggest eyes. "Is it so bad that I want to know what's going through your head sometimes?"
She found his hand and snatched it up before he could get away. "I like your tee shirt."
"It is alarming that you want to know what is going through my head." He wasn't entirely sold by the big eyes and the pouting tone, but he wasn't about to ditch her in the woods either.
He looked down. He couldn't remember which shirt he'd put on before the party. He knew it was clean laundry. The only time of the year he was guaranteed clean clothing was the first two weeks. "Into Bad Religion?" he asked a bit amused.
"Yeah," she said brightly. "I especially like their earlier work. The Process of Belief is probably one of the best albums of all time ever," she said excitedly. Sunny's taste in music ranged from the absurd to the norm and everything in between.
"It smells good too," she said trying not to look shy.
He was both impressed and intrigued. "I would not have guessed that you liked them so much." He leaned closer again as if he could look beyond the cutesy, sunshine girl she presented. "Or that you liked punk music."
He leaned even closer, uncomfortably so. "I have good detergent at home," he offered. It might have something to do with the clove cigarettes he'd been smoking all night too. They left a heavy, purple scent on his clothes and in his hair. "Perhaps you would like to get closer and sniff again?"
She grinned. "I love it!" she said simply. "I like all kinds of music." He was close again, very, very close. "Punk is actually pretty good dancing music too."
She leaned in again, slowly, letting her head rest on his shoulder. There was a combination of smells on his shirt; laundry detergent, clove cigarettes, and that distinct Anastas smell. She couldn't believe she actually had ended up missing that over the summer. She wasn't sure what to say, not that she was ever sure what to say with him.
She wondered whether or not they were ever going to talk about the letter writing they had done over the summer or if they would ever talk about the things they had written about. She didn't want to bring it up though so she just sat by him enjoying the quiet.
His hands were in her hair again. Words were useless at the moment, failing him completely. He was more and more surprised at the girl Sunny was turning out to be. He didn't expect someone as bubbly and usually carefree as her to have so much depth. He didn't expect to start caring about her either, which was becoming more problematic the more he thought about it.
"You should come meet Lorelai tomorrow," he said lightly. "Bring Brutus."
Of course, it was partially an elaborate attempt to get her into his room, but it was another chance to connect and learn more about her. He wasn't going to admit it out loud, but he was pleased that this was becoming more than just kissing and punches.
She wondered how she could move in and out of comfort with him so quickly. She was happy that they could just sit together and be content. She had realized early in their routine that there was something about Anastas that made her want to stick around. She kept telling herself that she wasn't going to fall for him, but her want to be around him wasn't helping anything.
"I would like that," she said. "So would Brutus." She was sure that Brutus and Stasi would get along just well. And of course that would add another layer of complicated to their relationship.
She had to admit she was nervous going to Stasi's room. She knew his reputation and she had seen some of his unsavory behaviors but still... she wanted to take this chance.
Stas smirked at her only slightly. The irony of having a snake and a pussy cat out with them in his room didn't float over his head. "You will enjoy petting my snake," he teased with the grin of a predator.
As was the way with Anastas, things were going nice and then... that. It all would have completely gone over Sunny's head if Stasi hadn't said anything. "Anastas! You're nasty!" Sunny gave his arm a little punch.
"And you remember the terms of my visits?" she asked, completely flustered by his last comment. "Following rules. No cupcakes," she probably could have listed fifty more conditions of her visit but she stopped herself and looked at him sternly.
"No," she was blushing fiercely and trying to hide the fact. She had to admit, he was doing a pretty okay job of following the no cupcake rule tonight. "No cupcakes are fair game. Not mine, not yours, not anyones. None. None cupcakes. You sir... are... are you trying to get me to punch you?" she quirked her head to the side.
"And... just so we're clear... it's not you or your cupcakes, I'm sure they're just... lovely... but no. No cupcakes." She was growing more and more flustered by the second.
He was delighted to have her so flustered. "You have total control of your cupcakes," he replied, running his thumb over her brow before settling his hand behind her neck with firm, but gentle pressure. "But you cannot set the terms for mine. I am in control of my body. I invite you to do anything you like it. I will respect your wishes for your body."
It was as clear and plain as he could be about this, even more explicit than he'd been his letters. The joking and light atmosphere had gotten serious, but in this instance he felt that it was necessary to properly establish his intentions. He would push, surely he would push, but he would never break her or step over a line once she drew it. "If you wish to punch me I invite you," he added to lighten the mood again. "I can assure you my cupcakes are quite lovely and I think you would enjoy them."
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