The Art of Wooing (closed)

[Moonshine]

Once again, Moonshine responded with a shrug. "Sorry, Sugar. Just can't imagine why any man who had you after 'im would need ta be thinkin' about havin' any other girl, let alone several." He darted his eyes at her before looking back over the water. "Seems ta me any man'd be lucky ta have ya."

[Kathryn]

Kathryn cleared her throat, glancing at him. "Yes, well... I'd have to agree with you. And I'm sure Blink feels the same. Not that he really has me. Yet. Like I said. We like to be around each other."

[Moonshine]

"Yeah. Well. I like ta be around you, too." He looked over at her, letting his fingers play with a piece of her hair. "If that's the only criteria, then seems like I got just as good a chance as he does."

[Kathryn]

Before she could stop herself, she retorted "I said we like to be around each other. Not just he likes to be around me." She realized then that was kind of mean, implying she didn't like to be around Tyler, or Moonshine, or whatever. But he seemed like a tough guy. He could take it.

[Moonshine]

He arched a slow brow at her, lips set in a thin line. After a beat of silence: "Well. So that's that, then." He slid off the bench and turned to walk away, hand going for his pocket for another cigarette. His back to her, he said, "Good luck, Sugar. Have fun in yer harem. If yet lucky, the other gals'll be nice."

[Kathryn]

Kathryn sighed and stood up, walking toward him. "Tyler, I... I didn't mean it like that." She wasn't sure why she was apologizing; he was being very rude toward Blink, and she didn't like it. But she also didn't like hurting his feelings. "Come on...'

[Moonshine]

He paused, glancing back at her. There was a second of amusement at how much shorter she was than him, but he suppressed the urge to smirk. Instead, he turned to her, face casual. "Sugar, listen. I get it. You wanna be all kinds a' hung up on some kid who may or may not even like ya, that's yer business. It ain't my fault I think yer somethin' special enough ta deserve better."

[Kathryn]

As much as she didn't want to, Kathryn couldn't help but feel flattered by his compliment. She suppressed the feeling, however, and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Blink likes me! He does," she said with a definitive node.

[Moonshine]

He arched his brow at her, mirroring her stance by folding his arms over his own chest. "Who you tryin' ta convince, Sugar? Me...or you?"

[Kathryn]

"No, that's not going to work on me," she replied, shaking her head. "He does like me. And I like him. And that's that."

[Moonshine]

Moonshine put his hands up. If it was in defeat, he'd never admit it. "Whatever ya say, Sugar." He looked down at her a moment, then took a step closer, crossing the distance between them. He lowered his head towards her, lowering his voice as well. "But just so we're clear...I ain't givin' up on you..."

[Kathryn]

Despite herself, Kathryn found it a bit hard to breathe. She gazed up into his eyes, searching them.

"Well," she began, her voice soft and somewhat breathless. "You...you should."

[Moonshine]

They were toe to toe, his head tilted down so their noses nearly touched, eyes locked on hers. "Maybe I should. But I won't." He brought a hand up slowly to tuck a piece of hair behind her ear, letting his thumb brush across her cheek.

[Kathryn]

Her cheek tingled where he touched it. Still, she took a deep breath and a step back.

"You seem like a nice boy, Tyler. You do. But let's be honest here... When we kissed in Irving Hall that night... There was nothing there."

[Moonshine]

Something flashed across his eyes, but he only smirked at her. "I know. It's hard for somethin' ta be there when yer mind was on some other guy the whole time. Ya only kissed me ta put on a show, Sugar. Ya never gave me a fair shot."