Strings Attached

Part 2.3: Tangled in Love

"Moment of truth," he said, handing Belle a fork.

"This is incredible, Edmund! It's so flavorful and the texture is perfect." She says as she takes a bite, her eyes widening in delight.

"I'm glad you like it. It's one of my favourite ways to reinvent leftovers." Edmund smiled, clearly pleased with her reaction.

They sat down at the small kitchen table, savouring the frittata and each other's company. As they ate, the candlelight cast a warm, romantic glow over the room, and the soft strains of classical music played in the background. Belle couldn't help but feel a deep sense of contentment and connection.

"You know," Belle said after a while, "I think we make a pretty great team – both on the tennis court and in the kitchen."

Edmund reached across the table, taking her hand in his.

"I think so too, Belle. Here's to more creative dinners and fun times together."

Belle smiled, her heart swelling with affection.

"I'm looking forward to it, Edmund."

After dinner, they moved to the sofa, where they shared more laughter and stories. The afternoon felt magical, each moment bringing them closer together. As the day wore on, Belle found herself leaning against Edmund, her head resting on his shoulder.

"This is nice," she murmured, feeling his warmth against her.

"Very nice," Edmund agreed softly, his arm wrapping around her shoulders. "I'm really happy we met, Belle."

"Me too, Edmund. Me too." She looked up at him, their faces inches apart.

They sat in comfortable silence, the world outside fading away. The soft hum of the city, the gentle flicker of the candle, and the steady beat of their hearts created a symphony of intimacy and promise.

As the sun began to dip below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue over Belle's cosy loft, the time came for Edmund to leave. They had spent the day engrossed in each other's company, filled with laughter and shared moments. As they prepared to say their goodbyes, neither wanted the evening to end. They walked to the door, their hands lingering together.

"Well, I guess I should get going," Edmund said, his voice tinged with hesitation.

"Yeah," Belle replied softly, her eyes meeting his with a mixture of gratitude and unspoken longing. "Thank you for today, Edmund. It was wonderful."

"It really was," he agreed, smiling warmly. There was a brief pause, each of them feeling the weight of something unspoken hanging in the air.

Belle opened her mouth to say something, her heart pounding, but then closed it, unsure of how to bridge the gap between them. She wanted to suggest another day together, perhaps a dinner or a movie, but the fear of rejection held her back.

Edmund, on the other hand, was grappling with his own thoughts. He wanted to ask Belle out, to spend more time with her outside of their lessons, but he feared she might see him only as a friend or student.

"Well," he said finally, breaking the silence, "I had a really great time. Maybe we can do it again sometime?"

Belle's heart fluttered, and she nodded.

"I'd like that," she said, her voice a little more breathless than she intended. "Goodnight, Edmund."

"Goodnight, Belle," he replied, his eyes lingering on hers for a moment longer before he turned and walked to his.

As she closed the door, Belle leaned against it, her heart full and her mind racing with thoughts of Edmund. She changed into her pyjamas, her thoughts never straying far from their evening together. The feel of his hand in hers, the warmth of his embrace, and the sincerity in his eyes played over and over in her mind.

Later that night, as Belle prepared for bed, her thoughts kept drifting back to Edmund. She changed into her pyjamas and went through her nightly routine, but her mind was elsewhere. She couldn't stop replaying the day's events – his laugh, his smile, the way he looked at her when he thought she wasn't noticing. She climbed into bed, pulling the covers up and staring at the ceiling.

"Why didn't I just ask him out?" she muttered to herself, frustrated by her own shyness. "He might have said yes... or maybe he was waiting for me to ask."

Belle turned onto her side, hugging her pillow. The loft felt a little emptier without Edmund's presence. She wondered if he was thinking about her too, if he was regretting not asking her out as well. The thought brought a small, hopeful smile to her face.

"Maybe next time," she whispered, closing her eyes. "Next time, I'll be braver."

With that resolve, Belle drifted off to sleep, her dreams filled with the laughter and warmth of the day she had spent with Edmund, and the sweet anticipation of what the future might hold.