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Iris had noticed his tendency to rub the back of his neck, and knew she'd get an interesting answer. At his words she smiled nervously and her face reddened as she looked down. It was one thing to want to continue English lessons and another to say he couldn't live without her. She felt his gaze on her and shrunk even farther into herself, feeling the now all-familiar shiver of excitement and nervousness.
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"Feels good to get that out there," He remarked, cracking his knuckles as he gazed out the window.
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Iris nodded, mind somewhere else. Should she...? Yes, she had to know. She bit her lip and looked up at Caden. "Can I ask... Why? Why going on without me is like torture?" There. She'd done it. Now to see if the answer was what she thought it was or if it was something completely different. She just hoped she wasn't getting the wrong impression and reading him the completely wrong way.
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Caden chuckled awkwardly, not having an answer. "Don't really... know. I mean, you're just a fun person to be around and... I like that about you. You actually talk to me, don't leave me on read for weeks, are fine with me messing up on some words and you don't drill me about it, maybe just nicely correct it." He noted, glancing over at her. "Good to have somebody who seems to care," The man murmured. "For once."
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That answer wasn't what she had expected or feared, so Iris breathed an invisible sigh of relief. "Same. I mean, you don't even get mad when I try to correct you like some people, and you're actually nice. You don't try to take advantage of my skills in whatever, and it seems like you genuinely like me." She trailed off, lost in her thoughts and his gaze.
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Caden smiled a smidge, a genuine expression that finally reached his eyes. "I do like you, Iris. I really do. And I enjoy having you around, finally get to talk and have genuine conversations without it turning into a screaming match." He murmured, suddenly trapped in her gaze.
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She smiled back, stilling as she once again felt tethered to his icy eyes. It seemed like whenever this happened, bad things followed. Either she freaked out and left, he freaked out and left, or they just stayed there awkwardly forever. She didn't want any of those things to happen again, so Iris tugged her gaze away to his hair instead of his eyes. "I know. I like you, too." Was all she said, kicking herself a little as her eyes were drawn back to his.
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Caden smiled slightly, drawing his gaze away. "Yeah um... I kinda want to be more than friends if you know what i'm saying? Is... Is that alright with you?" He asked, bracing for the worst.
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Iris was taken aback at his sudden comment. "Oh-- um-- I guess? If you want to?" She mentally smacked her forehead. Of course he wanted to if he'd asked. Jeez, Iris, get a grip. "I mean, yeah, sure." Well that just sounded pathetic. Great job, Iris. Great job.
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"Really?" He asked, raising a brow. "Thought you'd say no so, glad to hear that." Caden mused, though the unsureness in her voice unsettled him. Had she truly meant it? Or did she just say so not to hurt him?
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