“It's fine.” She mumbled.
“So how was rehearsals today?” He asked.
“Great.” She said simply.
The silence behind them was too loud to explain except for their impulsive breathing. She was battling for some form of certainly and there he was, battling to concentrate.
“So__” He broke the silence. “What chased you out here at this time?” 
“Bad dream.” 
“You slept at Madina's?” 
“I didn't plan to.” 
“Oh yeah I get, then again, you must have found it comfortable.” He said as she stared at him abruptly. 
“I mean, more comfortable than going home.” 
She bit her lip. “Yeah _ it just feels safe here and back home feels _” 
“Uncomfortable?” He said as she nodded a bit.
“Yeah.” 
“It happens.” He sighed as his gaze pierced hers. 
Her lips curved into a smile and it surprised him to see her smile. He was amused.
“Cathera would be so mad at me for not coming home.” It amused her that she felt rebellious for once.
“Cathera? You mean your mother?” Dave asked with a raised brow.
She nodded. “Actually, it's Cathera Mordrid Duncan and yes, she's my short tempered mother.” 
Dave nodded in confirmation that Madina is her aunt. Harnik had earlier told him about marriage documents and the thought that her mother was secretly plotting her marriage, was obviously a dirty business.
“Oh_ so you're going to be grounded?” He asked playfully.
“No, I'm an adult. I'm not a freaking ten year old.” She scoffed and they both chuckled.
Silence crept in again between them. They both stared into the vast fields. She was starting to love the quietness between them and he was overly curious about her relationship with Frederick.
“Are you getting married?” He blurted without further hesitation. Then he realized he must have made a mistake being so direct.
“What?” 
“You two _ you and Fred, you both are getting married?” He swallowed the lump in his throat as if he was dreading her response, of which he was.
“No, where did you get that from?” She eyed him. “We haven't even talked about marriage yet.” 
Dave was beyond surprised. Fred was up to something, he was sure of it.
“And you, are you married?” She asked.
He chuckled. “Am I that old?” He said jokingly. 
It made her laugh so hard. “That was funny.” 
He smiled. “It's good to see you laugh like that.” 
She suddenly frowned. She remembered when Isabelle said the same thing when they first met, they were inseparable. But lately, it didn't feel that way. She even had a stupid dream about her.
“Sorry, did I say something wrong?” He asked worriedly. 
He just barely got to make her laugh and it wasn't his intention to ruin it.
“No, it's not what you said. It just reminds me of Isabelle, I think I'm losing her friendship.” Natanie mumbled.
“What happened?” 
“We were inseparable before but it's not the same now and I miss how we were.” Natanie said and despite the state of things with her, she decided to play matchmaker.
“Just give it time, I believe she would come around.” He said to her. 
“I'm not so sure of that anymore.”
“What do you mean?” 
Natanie decided to change the subject. “Isabelle likes you.” 
“What?” 
She nodded. “I was thinking that maybe _”
“Pretend like I feel the same?” He said feeling dejected.
“I had no idea you'd have to pretend to reciprocate her feelings.” 
“Isn't it obvious I don't feel the same for her?” He asked as she looked away.
“Thought you did.” She pressed her lips into a thin line. 
“And you thought of setting me up with her?” He felt rejected as she avoided his eyes.
“How would you feel if_” He paused and bit his lip. She was clearly driving him nuts.
His lips parted to say something and even Natanie stared at him in expectation but he was speechless.
What was he going to say? That it wasn't fair for her to push him around and dictate who he should and shouldn't be with. She was clearly pushing him away and he knows this. 
“What, what were you going to say?” She asked as she drew closer to him a bit. Her body clearly has a mind of its own. 
He shook his head. “Nothing.” Despite the fact that she was clearly pushing him away, he drew closer to her.
What's with this woman that's so alluring? He thought to himself. 
When he was closer, his gaze pierced hers and the impulsive little space between them made it easy for their breaths to flush their faces. 
He was too close to her and she was supposed to pull away but she hated herself for being trapped on the same spot. 
He leaned in, towering his frame over her. She felt her heart race and thump wildly behind her chest. His cologne was crippling her.
“Just promise me one thing, promise me you won't get married to him.” His voice was husky and it almost made her drool and his proximity sent shivers down her spine.
She didn't concentrate on what he said, because how could she? When his voice sounded like music and his breath tickling her face like undefined smooches. She just blamed the impulsive space that separated her body from his. 
She yearned for a touch, his touch. Then she berated herself for thinking so wildly, obviously something she hadn't done with Fred. 
But she could swear that he was intentionally messing with her brain but a part of her did not care. Then again, his blue eyes were to die for. 
Being under his gaze caused her to make that promise in her head. He was doing things to her insides, and it was clearly a destructive mission. But she waved it off and pushed all the possible thoughts of him behind her.
“I don't have to promise you anything.” She muttered under her breath as her gaze fell on his lips.