Linger

Keys were jingling in the young lady's hand as she puffed out a frosty breath. Within the few seconds that she had taken off her mittens to find the metallic figures, frostbite was already settling over her dainty fingers and had almost made her lose her grip on them. When she had finally protruded them into the door knob, she sighed in relief and entered the small foyer.

Dolores, the young lady who was now removing her winter necessities, had just came back from a dinner with her family. She thought it was great to see them all again considering she had just moved in with her new boyfriend, John. Her older sister had especially missed her the most, but instead of casually showing it, the older sibling kept slapping Dolores in the arms. It was almost like receiving affectionate whacks from a kitten wanting to be pet.

Hearing a throat being cleared just inches behind her back, Dolores turned abruptly with a gasp. Then seeing that it was her boyfriend with an arrogant smirk uplifting his face, she couldn't help but giggle at her foolishness.

"John, you really shouldn't do that. You know how I am..." she picked the last article of winter clothing off, and made way around the lanky man. Although with her feeble attempt to avoid any questioning of her drowsiness and swaying body, he still followed like a pup to its owner.

"Are you feeling alright, babe?" he asked when he spotted her turn into the kitchen and the sound of cupboards opening-and-closing resonated in the air. When he walked in, she was pouring herself a cup of milk and humming delicately.

"I've been better," she began, turning to face him. "I'm just really tired."

Examining her splotted red cheeks, assuming they were from the cold, the way she staggered into the apartment, and the way her eyelids were drooping, he couldn't help but sympathize her. He had apologized for making her go out to see her family instead of just having them come here, but his family wanted to see the place and he knew his argument wouldn't have sufficed.

"Are you tired mentally or physically?" his voice cracked at the end of the question, making his girl smile softly with humor. That was probably one his favorite features about her- the way she smiled.

"Physically, I guess..." she turned back around to the counter to absently admire the marble. She had always appreciated when he asked of her well-being. It made her feel loved... and when he called her, 'babe', she always got butterflies in her stomach. She assumed they fluttered because when she was a toddler, she never wanted someone calling her that- it disgusted her once even- but when John said it, she felt it had a more pleasant sound to it, which she liked very much.

"I'm surprised you didn't say both."

"Well, I thought it was only a one-way answer, but I guess I could say with all the questioning I had to go through tonight, my brain feels like rotting cabbage..."

"Ew!"

Dolores turned to playfully slap her boyfriend, before turning briskly to place her empty cup in the sink. John just chuckles and mocked a hurtful face, before following her out of the room and into the bedroom. She was already jotting notes down for tomorrow's eventful day. He only figured she was nervous because not only was this the first time she had to prepare a Christmas dinner, but she had to somehow impress his friends who were coming over.

Sensing that he was watching her every move, she hesitantly looked up with a frown adoring her face. He stared back down with a worried expression when his eye caught hers.

"Are you nervous about tomorrow?"

"Well yeah, John, I am. This is the first time I ever had to do something like this. I feel like I'm going to mess everything up with... I don't know, being my awkward self, cooking food no one likes-" her rambling was cut off.

"- they don't need to like the food. Every man just likes to eat something, babe," his voice had turned more raspy than it was, which meant he was beginning to feel tired, as well. He then wandered to the floor space just beyond the bed, where Dolores sat, and kissed her bare knee that was just coming out of her dress. "I know they're gonna like you. I mean, hell, if I like you, then they will obviously like you because they are almost just like me"

His laugh filled her ears and the smile on his face was contagious for it was now transferred up to Dolores. She felt herself go shy for a moment and avert her eyes to her knees that were now covered by the big hands of her boyfriend. It was always a strange feeling when she felt herself cower bashfully because of her constant attempt at staying sociable most of the time around John.

The green eyes of the young man tried to get her utmost attention, but his tactic failed, so when he squeezed at her knees and she finally looked up, he felt confident.

"It's going to be alright, Dolores. I promise you that," he leaned up to kiss her forehead and then lips almost innocently, which wasn't very habitual of him. It surprised both of them whenever he acted to seriously careful around her.

When their lips departed, Dolores smiled again but bigger than before. He always had this effect on her.

"Thank you, John..."