“I can do it really good though…”

"No!" she said, tapping his nose with her forefinger and feigning a sternness that clearly didn't match her expression. Her lips were pouted slightly but she couldn't help the smile that came from her eyes. She'd had no idea that tonight would have been possibly the best night she'd spent with someone in a long time. How curious, that she met this man when she was in such distress at a hospital, had thought him a little conceited at first, and then her cousin had set them up. Not only that, it surprised her just how likeable he was. He was so easy to get along with - nothing was forced. It had been a very relaxed night, and she felt like she had known him for a long time. Perhaps not forever, but a long time.

“Probably better that way. Anymore and I’d have to worry about you being… too drunk.”

He reached out and pulled a pillow under his head. "You are so arrogant." she said shaking her head. "It's a shame, because you're a decent guy other than that." Her teasing was all in jest. He was far from arrogant, but it was obvious that the copious amounts of alcohol consumed had made them both let their guard down perhaps a little more than they had intended. Sam had done things that night that she had sworn in the past she would never do...at least not on a first date.

His hand touched her side and she felt his warm fingers glide across her skin. She looked down and closed her eyes, some of her hair falling into her face. Jason tried to move it back, though what he actually did was make it worse. He laughed at himself, and she joined in knowing that it was the fact that he was probably seeing triple by now that was making such a menial task so difficult.

He raised his body slightly intending on correcting the mess he had made of her hair, but as his face neared hers, a more serious expression spread across his face. What was wrong? Sam’s brow furrowed in confusion. I didn’t move, I swear! she heard her own voice screaming at him.

Then he moved in closer and she realised what was happening. There wasn’t even time for a smile to form on her lips before they had been hijacked by his own. He leaned back against the pillow slowly, pulling her down with him His hand that had originally found its way to her waist now moved round to her back.

Her right hand ran up his arm towards his shoulder slotting in easily between the sleeve of his shirt and his skin. He was so warm. There was a nagging in the back of her mind. Something or someone was telling her that she shouldn’t let it go too far. You’re drunk. You both are. He’ll regret it in the morning, and you’ll feel more lonely than ever before.

She pulled away suddenly. Her conscience had a funny way of turning good situations into bad ones. But it was right. It was the alcohol that was making him be like this. Beer-goggles. What other way to explain this situation was there? And she didn’t – she couldn’t - feel more lonely than she had recently. There was no way she would let herself feel like that again. And if that meant forsaking the man who was currently lying on her bed, then so be it. They owed each other nothing, so there would be no hard feelings.

She sat up at the edge of the bed. “I…” She what? She shook her head and stood up, deliberately not making eye contact with Jason. Merlin knew her sudden change in action would be confusing, but it would be better for him – for them both – in the long run. She took a sharp gasp of air. “Duvet and pillows!” she stated louder than she had intended, pointing at the door and making her way out without another glance at Jason, worried that if she saw him she would lose all inhibition regardless of what her conscience told her was right or wrong.

“No!”

He smirked from the tap on the nose, cross eyed trying to look at her finger, finally blinking and looking into her gaze. His smile grew when he saw the amusement in her eyes, considering playing a little more into the topic at hand just to watch her reaction. Jason would be embarrassed with himself later, when he had a small headache and was nursing it in the deep dark of his apartment. He didn’t often show off his break dancing ability, since it wasn’t something he had kept up with as much as he had as a younger guy.

After showing his skills off, though, and being a bit more drunk? He was more than willing to keep showing off. He wanted to impress her, wanted her to find him as amazing as he was finding her. To be honest, he was a little intimidated; he couldn’t read her. Sure, she was flirting and had kissed him a few times, but she also kept her distance to a degree.

And then she insulted him.

“You are so arrogant… It’s a shame, because you’re a decent guy other than that.”

He let out a clipped laugh, leaning his head back into the pillow and shaking it side to side in disagreement. “Are you sure you haven’t been drinking too much, Sam?” Decent guy? Then again, she didn’t know about his affair. Or what he’d almost done to Eddie… or any of the other things he’d been up to in the past few months. He nudged her with the side of his leg, tilting his head to watch her. For whatever reason, she made him want to go back and beat himself over the head for even thinking of getting with Miranda.

A bit late, though. He just had to work with what he had. If he hadn’t been with Miranda, he wouldn’t have been in the process of a divorce, and thus wouldn’t have gone on the date with Samia. So… it all worked out some way or another, he supposed. Still, he would have liked to like himself a little more. “Who’s fault is it for having comfortable bedding?”

He was enjoying the kiss, enjoying touching her, feeling her move against him, knowing she was responding. Maybe she did like him. Maybe it was more than just alcohol. Maybe—

And then she pulled away. At first, he thought perhaps she was just teasing him, and he laughed softly before leaning forward. But then she was really not there, and he opened his eyes. Then he saw her face and he stopped his advance. Leaning on his elbows, Jason tried to slow his breathing, his smile having fallen as he watched her.

“I…”

Oh no. He felt a tightening in his chest; she regretted it. Any hope, desire, thoughts of what her hand had been about to do flew right out the window, diving right into the ground. He slowly pushed himself up to sit on the edge of the bed, frowning in concentration (as much as one could have after that much firewhiskey and ale), slightly hurt. Scratching the back of his head before moving his hand to his forehead, he let out a breath, glancing down to the ground.

“Duvet and pillows!”

He raised an eyebrow at that, finally leaning his hands on his elbows, sitting forward. It took a few moments for his head to stop spinning. He picked up the discarded firewhiskey and tumblers, setting them aside. He wanted another drink though… Rubbing the back of his neck, he finally pushed himself up and started out of the room after her. Behind her, now, keeping a fair distance away, he leaned against a doorway. “I’m sorry, Sam.”

Mistakes were made, it seemed. She didn’t want him beyond a friend, and had realized her mistake a little late. He could forgive her, though. If she wanted a friend, he could be a friend. He’d want more… Merlin knew that. But he could, because he didn’t deserve a woman like her.

What the hell had she been thinking!? She had been so ready to just jump into bed with Jason on the first date! She shook her head, unable to understand what had been going through her mind all night. He was unbelievably good looking, had a great personality and was showering her with attention. That was what had been going through her head all night. Could she really be blamed for thinking the way she did?

But no matter how much she tried to reason with herself, that same nagging voice kept telling her that in the morning things would be different. Though she might feel the same way about him in the morning, he probably wouldn't. Could she deal with that? She would have to, if that situation presented itself but she didn't want to. So she wasn't going to let herself get in the situation where it could happen.

She opened the airing cupboard and sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly. The perfect night had just been ruined. Maybe he would want to go home afterall. When she asked him if he wanted to come back to hers, he'd have probably thought he'd be sharing the bed with her. Now that she was getting a duvet and pillows out for the couch, he was probably not interested anymore. And how could she blame him? She'd basically been leading him on all night.

Her brows knitted together in annoyance as she reached for the duvet. It was warm, at least. The airing cupboard housed a boiler, so anything kept in there was normally warm.

“I’m sorry, Sam.”

She jumped slightly at the sound of his voice. She swallowed and smiled slightly, though she was facing away from him and he wouldn't see it. It wasn't for his benefit. It was to try and fool herself into thinking nothing had changed. "It's ok." she piped up, her voice coming out slightly high pitched and the words mashing together. He was apologising. He was apologising for the fact that he had let this get so far. Apologising for the fact that he just wanted to be friends. Her conscience raised an eyebrow at her and mouthed 'I told you so', a smug look on its face.

Sam paused with the duvet and pillows in her arms, playing with the corner of the top pillow. Her heart was thumping against her chest and her stomach was twisting into knots. She had envisioned herself in many positions tonight, but not this one. She took a breath as though to say something, but stopped before she spoke. She held her breath for a few moments, then exhaled as quietly as she could.

She turned her body slightly, closing the cupboard door. Her head inched towards him, allowing her to survey him from the very corner of her eye. He was leaning against a door and looked deflated, defeated. She couldn't fault him for that. She had just led him to believe they were going to be spending the night together, and then she'd all of a sudden changed her mind. She couldn't imagine what that would have done to her, had the roles been reversed.

"The bathroom's down the hall on the left." She spoke quietly. It was a feeble attempt at something to say, but she was unsure of what else could be said.

“It’s ok.”

He frowned at that. So… she thought he needed to apologize? Why had he apologized in the first place? For whatever she perceived as him doing wrong, obviously. And it was rather obvious she had thought something wrong by her response to everything. Stopping his advance, leaving the room, not making eye contact and telling him ‘it’s ok’ to his apology. He glanced down momentarily to the ground, arms crossed over his chest as he considered that.

It’s ok that you’re a dumbass. He pursed his lips to the side and lifted a hand up to rub his cheek, resting his head in his palm. Jason was suddenly very exhausted. Maybe it had been a bad idea, thinking of her invitation to stay at her place for the night as anything other than a friendly offer that she hadn’t meant for him to actually take her up on. Did he leave, then? Or stay? She was going to some trouble, getting out the duvet…

Maybe she'd gotten a good enough idea of him before, had decided she didn't like him like that, and had just had fun for the evenings sake. Why waste a fun night, even if the company wasn't what she wanted, right? He clenched his fist momentarily, sighing softly, almost inaudibly. It was just odd, though--he hadn't felt quite so strongly about someone so quickly in a while. Not someone he'd [really] just met.

“The bathroom’s-”

Realizing he had been starring off into space, his mind racing and over thinking, Jason compensated by startling up, staring where she was and trying to look as if he’d been paying attention the entire time. Down the hall, on the left. Nodding slowly, he bit his lower lip and finally stepped forward, an unsteady (and not very straight) foot after the other. Finally reaching where she was, he frowned momentarily before forcing a small smile on his lips.

“Thank you for letting me stay over, Sam… but if-” He paused as he considered the best course of action. “If you’d prefer, you don’t have to go to all this trouble.” The alcohol was still making him do things he normally might not do in similar situations, and his hand reached out, gently rubbing her shoulder as he rested it there. She was quite the gracious host, but she didn't have to be.

He stepped forward and she closed her eyes momentarily, willing him not to come near her. She didn't want to have to feel like a charity case. Just because he didn't like her in that way didn't mean she needed his sympathy.

Opening them again she saw he was forcing a smile. She tried to reciprocate it though she knew it wasn't reflected in the rest of her face. She hugged the duvet to her body a little tighter, using it as protection against whatever blow she was going to receive.

“If you’d prefer, you don’t have to go to all this trouble.”

Her eyes snapped up to his as his hand rested on her shoulder and squeezed. It felt like his was burning a hole through her skin. It was excruciating in the best possible way. But it shouldn't have been happening. She moved away from him and towards the sofa. "Don't be silly." she said as she put the pillows at the top of the sofa and lay the duvet along the length. "You're not going home now." She fluffed up the pillows and sighed, heaving a smile across her face.

"Sleep well, Jason." she stood up straight, allowing herself one last lingering glance at him before making her way to the bedroom and closing the door behind her.

Ever wondered what a knife through the chest might feel like? Jason was fairly certain he had an idea as she moved away from her hand; he could almost feel her slide away from it as if it were some sort of toxin. Or as if he were infected with dragon pox. Either way, he pulled his hand back and tried not to feel the sting. Now his hand didn’t know what to do, so he finally settled for stuffing it in his pocket, feeling awkward as he moved from weight on one foot to the other.

“Don’t be silly.”

Clearly she thought his offer to go home was silly, but then she was suddenly shouldering him off and not wanting him to touch her. He frowned slightly as he watched her, unsure of anything at that moment. He watched her making up the sofa, slowly moving closer. He knew what would happen if he were to touch her again, though, and didn’t feel like receiving constant rejection.

“You’re not going home now.”

Frowning slightly, he glanced to her face; she didn’t seem too happy with the situation. He thought he should just walk to the fireplace, save some face, and deal with the rest of the evening by himself. However… he didn’t want to leave. As much as he knew he was just setting himself up to fail, he really enjoyed his time with her, and really didn’t want it to end. Even though he felt as if he’d screwed it all up somehow. Jason was still not sure how he’d managed that… and just like that too!

“Sleep well, Jason.”

Finally he blinked and looked up, nodding slowly. Then he realized he should respond to that and he smiled softly at her. “Thanks… Sweet dreams, Sam.”  After she left, he stood there a few more moments, hands on his hips as he surveyed the room. Then he sat on the edge of the couch, taking his shoes off, before finally rolling back on to the little bed she made for him. He stared up at the ceiling for a while, listening to the sounds of her apartment, wishing he had taken it slower in the bedroom if only so he could have just passed out while holding her.

Finally he moved over on to his side, curling up under the blanket, and quickly fading into the welcoming, neutral darkness.