Sohalia
Soh didn't really notice Jude's stare, so involved was she in fishing out her notebook without having to let go of his hand. She'd never been particularly comfortable with physical touch - and she still wasn't, for the most part - but for some reason, with Jude, things were different. She loved the feeling of having his hand in hers, of wrapping her arms around his waist, even of squishing their heads together to share a look at something interesting. It had gotten so that she reached for him without thinking about it, as though it was the most natural thing in the world.
But they were talking about earrings, and Soh smiled up at her best friend as he praised her work before immediately glancing away, blushing. "Thanks," she said shyly, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. Something giddy fluttered in her stomach - did he really think she was pretty? - and she leaned closer to bump her shoulder against his affectionately.
His idea intrigued her, and she nodded, shrugging off the sudden bubble of nervousness that had appeared in her chest. "That would be perfect," she agreed, bouncing a little with excitement as they walked. "Oh, look, I think we're almost there!" And then it was her turn to dart ahead, pulling him along with an infectious giggle until they were able to slip into the shop.
By this point in their relationship, it was typical for Soh to take the lead on social interactions, and so she marched them up to the counter to wait for the jeweler, who looked to be not entirely enthused to have such bright young people in their shop at this time of the morning. Still, they greeted their potential customers with a smile - especially when Soh produced the rubies from her purse. "We're looking to have some earrings made," she told the jeweler, who promptly looked them over, taking in their still-joined hands, and winked at Soh.
"You've come to the right place," they said. "We'll take care of you and your boyfriend."
But they were talking about earrings, and Soh smiled up at her best friend as he praised her work before immediately glancing away, blushing. "Thanks," she said shyly, peeking up at him from beneath her lashes. Something giddy fluttered in her stomach - did he really think she was pretty? - and she leaned closer to bump her shoulder against his affectionately.
His idea intrigued her, and she nodded, shrugging off the sudden bubble of nervousness that had appeared in her chest. "That would be perfect," she agreed, bouncing a little with excitement as they walked. "Oh, look, I think we're almost there!" And then it was her turn to dart ahead, pulling him along with an infectious giggle until they were able to slip into the shop.
By this point in their relationship, it was typical for Soh to take the lead on social interactions, and so she marched them up to the counter to wait for the jeweler, who looked to be not entirely enthused to have such bright young people in their shop at this time of the morning. Still, they greeted their potential customers with a smile - especially when Soh produced the rubies from her purse. "We're looking to have some earrings made," she told the jeweler, who promptly looked them over, taking in their still-joined hands, and winked at Soh.
"You've come to the right place," they said. "We'll take care of you and your boyfriend."
