((OMG! You love that movie too!? -wants to pimp-slap her for sucking at opera singing-))

"Yes...she was beautiful...and bright too. You know, she always tried to assure herself that the cancer was going to go away and that she was going to get better," he shook his head and looked at Eclair again. "You're so young and beautiful...why me?" he asked her.

He really didn't mean for this 'tutoring' session to be all about his sorrowed past. He wanted it to be about him and Eclair...that's all. Not about Rachel. He was past that.

((I know, right? They had to use a replacement for Minnie Driver in Carlotta's opera singing because apparently Minnie can't do it herself or she can't hit the high notes. Not sure, but I love Carlotta anyway!))

She rubbed her eyes, having brought herself back to reality and scooted herself back to her side of the couch. Crosslegged, she faced him. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up." She lowered her head, the sounds of the movie playing in the background, but her mind wasn't even paying attention to it. "I don't know why I chose you, or why you chose me. People are going to hate us if they find out," she laughed.

Shaking her head, she disagreed. "I'm not beautiful. And I don't wanna ruin your career either. So how are we gonna do this?"

"It's fine, you wanted to know," he said as he wiped his hand over his face as if to show stress. Rick sighed and looked down as he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. "All that I know is that I'm crazy for you," he said as he turned his head to look at Eclair. "And if we're meant to be," he started as he sat closer to Eclair and placed a hand on her cheek. "then it will work out," he assured her.

She chuckled, although it was more like letting out a huff of air when one was about to cry. "I guess we picked a wrong time to try and make things work out." Trying to smile, she coughed a bit, surprised by the chill of the ice cream. "Dunno what I was thinking. But I really...really like you. A lot." In all circumstances, she was still a child and a year underage from being legal to date as she pleased. However, she couldn't stop this one. Not when Rick was the one that set her heart racing every day she saw him.

"Hey," he said in a gentle and soothing voice as he noticed her eyes watering up and tears forming. "Look where you are now," he pointed out to the surroundings. "And if you're cold, there's a blanket behind you," he pointed out as he kept his hand on her cheek.

((forgot to add about tpoto that I'm so shocked that Girard Butler sang on his own. His voice took my breath away singing 'Angel of Music' and 'Phantom of the Opera'))

((Dude, I KNOW! And like, omfg, he's such a hottie!))

Eclair tried to smile, biting her lip. Truth to tell, she was fortunate that she had even gotten this far. "I'm sorry," she apologized, once again putting her head to his chest. Sniffling a bit, she turned around and got the said blanket, spreading it over her lap. "It's not that cold...but I'll keep it around anyway." Her attention turned back to the movie. "This thing's supposed to be funny. Why aren't we laughing?"

"Because we're focusing on other things," he pointed out as he wrapped an arm around her and brought her so that they were cuddling, hoping she wouldn't mind one bit.

Eclair reached over to put her cup of ice cream onto the coffee table and nestled herself into Rick's arm. "This isn't very romantic," she giggled, the comedy of the movie on TV distracting her from enjoying her off day with Rick. "Do you live with anyone else here?" she asked, leaning further into him. "I mean, this big of a house, you can't possibly really live here all by yourself."

"I'm sorry," he apologized. "Oh, I live alone." He sighed and kissed her forehead. "I'm happy you're here, thought," he then told her.

((What time ya goin to bed? It's late and& I think Imma pass out soon -- is on meds))

"Then I'm glad." Feeling satisfaction and something in between like and love, Eclair wrapped her arm over his waist, her legs still propped up on the couch, and the warmth from their body contact made her feel comfortable and even...safe.

((Now. You should go to bed too. nighty night ^^))

((Yeah I got another fever today but wasn't able to sleep it off because people kept yelling for me for some reason or another.))

((I'm sorry to hear that. :( Feel better! :D I are not yelling at yewz ;~; ))

Rick smiled as he felt Eclair cuddle up to him more. Trying to pay attention to his movie, he couldn't help but keep thinking about how happy he was feeling at the moment. He felt loved for once and the fact that Eclair was comfortable in his arms and he was comfortable with his arms wrapped around her, he just couldn't help but smile.

((Thx, I 'preciate it *cough, cough, wheeze* Robitussin does not agree with me.))

She didn't know whether she was too warm, or too comfortable, but eventually, Eclair's eyelids had drooped. At one point, she was listening to the movie, the familiar sounds of guns, action, and stand-up comedic spiels of Jackie Chan and Chris Tucker playing out the movie in her head that she didn't even need to watch the movie to know what was going on. She couldn't tell which point it was that her body slipped close enough to Rick's, in his arms, that she could hear his heartbeat. Whether it matched hers or not, wasn't also in her control.

Eventually, it was when the blackness consumed her, that she had lulled herself into a deep sleep.

((Eww I hate that medicine! :gonk:))

After the movie had finally ended, Rick glanced down and found Eclair fast asleep. She looked so peaceful. He smiled at how beautiful she was. But when he saw it was getting close to seven o' clock, he tried to shake her awake. "Eclair, you should go home, it's getting late," he told her in a soft and gentle voice as he grabbed each remote and turned off the stereo, the tv, and then the dvd player.

((I know. I think it made my congestion even worse so I had to sniff up some Vicks. Not pleasant.))

Her eyes fluttered open as Rick's voice brought her back to reality. There was hardly any daylight outside the windows. "Hnn? Late already?" Finding herself leaning on Rick a little too comfortably, she sprung herself up. "Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to fall asleep on you." Rubbing her eyes for the second time that night, she was trying to get herself awake. "I didn't miss the bus, did I?" she asked - which is how she got to that neighborhood in the first place.

((I can imagine :gonk:))

"It's fine. I enjoyed it," he assured her. "Oh, you still have time to get to the bus," he assured her as he then got up and quickly kissed her forehead as he grabbed the empty bowl full of kernels and grabbed the two half-eaten root beer floats as he set things in the kitchen and then hurried back to the living room where Eclair still was.

Smiling, she stood up and put on her sweater. Heading towards the house's entrance, she slipped her shoes on as she waited for Rick to give her a goodbye kiss. "Aww, all the ice cream melted," she pouted.

"You can have more the next time," he promised her as he wrapped a hand around her waist and bent down to kiss her.

He couldn't help himself, but he went really deep into the kiss, opening up her mouth to kiss her with tongue as he stepped closer so that their bodies were touching.

Eclair loved how Rick put his hand around her waist and kissed her. But he especially took her by surprise when he tongued her, a skill she hadn't yet properly learned. Wanting more of him, she looped her arms around his neck, her tongue shyly meeting with his, a delicious feeling she never expected.

Rick tried not to smile in between their make-out session, but his arms wrapped around her more passionately as he brought her closer to him. He loved this. He then slowly moved his kisses, tracing her jawline and then lightly kissed her before he unwrapped his arms from around her and took a step back.

"We should get going to the bus stop," he then said, trying to fight his way through the thick haze of lust that was sparking so suddenly.

Blinking herself back to reality, Eclair turned slightly and smiled, her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry. Hey, no worries. I can make it to the bus stop by myself. It's not that far," she assured him. "Anyway...I should go before anything...you know," she said, fully turning her back to him to leave. She walked down the porch steps with a grin on her face.

Rick just sighed as he leaned against the door post, watching her walk away. He loved her. He watched her hips sway and her hair bounce. Once she had gone, he closed up his door, got his shower, and went straight to bed, aware of how tired he really was from a long week.

Eclair didn't go to either of her friends' houses that night. She headed straight home where Alec started grilling her about her day. He still had no clue that his little sister was even dating his former English teacher, let alone hanging out with him at his house. If he found out, Eclair knew Alec would be furious. He'd tell their parents, who would tell the superintendent, who would tell the principal, and Rick would get fired!

Awakening with a start, Eclair gasped, sat up in her bed, under the blankets, sweaty from the nightmare. "Oh my god, what was I thinking?!" she said, holding the sides of her face.

The weekend had passed by so quickly, and she spent most of it catching up on her homework as planned. Everything was done, and she shut herself out from the world the entire Sunday. Except for when her parents came back from their vacation. They treated Alec and Eclair to a local restaurant, and nobody asked why she had been so quiet the entire time when usually she'd be so talkative.

In school the following Monday, she remained quiet. Having switched seats with whoever sat with her in the back (thankfully there were no assigned seating charts), she just watched Rick the entire time. The entire weekend with him played back in her head. Truthfully, she was still underage, and couldn't wait to turn eighteen so she might feel a little better about their relationship. Still, she couldn't tell anyone else about it.

Another sheet of paper was ripped out of her binder. No words of heartfelt obsessive love, or anything of gossip. No stories. Just blandness. That morning was just like walking through a haze. It wasn't a very good one, but she felt listless.