Her Father's Task

Her room is in a small extra building separated from the main house. She unlocks the door and lets me in. It is pretty big, it has its own kitchen, a bathroom, and a large room with a walk-in closet. I put our things down and look around.

"This is amazing, is this your room?"

"Yeah, it is, it normally serves as a guest house, but during the past couple years, the guest stay in the main house, so I took over this place, you like?"

"I do, where do I put these things?"

"Oh, in there, just put your stuff in there, I just brought the things you brought me, that is why I have so little," She smiles at me, "I'll put them away later."

"I am going to change out of these, so I'll be in there for a little."

"You can change here."

"Nope."

"Why not?"

"Because, without a shirt, I look fat, so I don't change in front of people."

"I disagree, you have a strong core, my dad said that most of the strongest men in the world have some gut."

"It isn't your point of view, it would be mine," I laugh as I start changing, "What type of thing would make a man worthy for you father?"

"Why?"

"Just tell me will you."

"I don't know, respect, strength?"

"Okay, well, that should be fine then," I say leaving the closet with a sleeveless shirt and sports pants, "What do you do with this place?"

"I cook when I don't want to go to the main house with my parents so I make breakfast here."

"Do you cook well?"

"I think so, maybe I could cook breakfast for you, if you want."

"That would be great, but then I would have to do something for you."

"Relationships don't work like that, Aristide, do you want my gift?"

"Sure, why n-?!" She pulls me over her and pulls me into a kiss, holding my head, my eyes are open, before I realize the same thing that I did to her and so I accept it and roll onto my back bringing her above me as she continues to kiss me. I push her back and inhale deeply, "You have to not be so passionate about that."

"Sorry," She licks her lips, "Did you like it?"

"We finally kissed, well, twice."

"Yeah, I know, I brought it up some time ago."

"I remember, I was saving that moment for today," I smile as she lies down next to me, "You look amazing, I noticed you have twintails, you never have hair like that, it's cute."

"You know what they are called? I didn't think any guy would know that."

"You look cute like that, I like it," I say as she hugs me, "What is your favorite food? I never asked."

"I don't know," She smiles at me and kisses my cheek, "I want to kiss you more since you made me wait so long."

"What team does your dad support?"

"In football? The Philadelphia Eagles, he is from Philadelphia."

"Oh, okay, I probably did the right thing to say I don't watch."

"Yup, he would've hated you more."

"Why does he hate me?"

"He is weird like that, but what did he tell you in the gym?"

"Nothing."

We were sat at the table, all four of us, her mom had been cooking all afternoon, apparently her favorite dish was duck breast lasagna, 'pretty specific, Cassandra,' I look at my plate studying the food in front of me.

"Is something wrong Aristide?"

"No, no, I am just looking at the food, never had this before," I say as they begin to eat, I do the same, 'This is really good, wow,' Her father readies himself to talk.

"So, Aristide, come talk to me, after dinner, I want to talk to you about something."

"Dad, what is this about?"

"It isn't your business, Cassandra, it's fine," I reply to her, "Okay, I'm fine with that."

"No, don't just shrug my question off," She got mad at me, "Tell me what is going on, my dad wasn't happy to even have you in his home, now he wants to talk to you."

"Cassandra, please."

"Mom, don't, tell me what this is about, Aristide, don't hide things from me like this," She was standing up from her seat, nearly shouting at me.

"A task to show that I am worthy," I say quickly. She breaks into tears and storms out of the house, "I'll be there, sorry, I have to go talk to her," I get up and walk after her.

I find her sitting down, some distance from the house, sobbing, not saying anything. I sit down next to her put my left arm around her, "Hey, I'm sorry, I really am," She doesn't respond, "I wish I could've changed your father's idea but I can't, I am sorry," She sighs and rests her head on my shoulder, "This place is pretty, the small river is calming, making this place almost as pretty as you."

"Don't try to make me happy like that."

"Sorry, sorry, is there something I can do to make you happy, or happier?"

"Show my father that you are worthy for me, and if you kiss me, maybe I won't be mad at you, maybe I'll forgive you."

"Um, o-okay," She looks up at me and pulls my head down towards her, forcing me into a kiss. I push myself off of her and sit back up, "I am sorry, I don't know why your father doesn't like me, I'll try my best, how about we go finish the meal, like, it is your birthday meal, isn't it?" She nods, "Let's go then."

"Can you carry me, like you did that other day?"

"Yeah, sure, I can do that," I say as she gets up and hugs me, "I love you."

"I love you too."