The perfect boyfriend

Anthony realized that he had made a mistake and he grabbed Rebecca by her shoulders in order to get her attention and when she looked up at him with clear hurt in her eyes, Anthony uttered just two simple words, "I'm sorry", before he pulled her into his arms and began to say the words to attempt to calm her down and ease her worries. "I'm so sorry I made you feel uncomfortable. I didn't mean to. I just wanted our date to be perfect. For the past two years I have been watching all the romance movies I could find, and I studied them because I didn't want to mess things up if I ever got the chance to be with you. So, I decided to copy them. Be the perfect boyfriend from every girl's dreams. Hoping it would fit the mould of your idea of a perfect boyfriend as well." After giving her words of explanation over the soft sounds of her sobbing, Anthony attempted to soothe her. As he stroked the back of her head slowly and gently, he said, "But I didn't think about how it might make you feel. How it might confuse you if I suddenly changed my behaviour. So, if you tell me you don't like it, I'll stop. If you feel like I am moving too fast, we can slow down and go at your pace. If I confuse you with my actions, I'll explain. So, please stop crying. Please."

Through small sobs Rebecca started to respond to Anthony's words. "Why would you ever think that would be what I want?? I wanted to be with you! Not just some character you made up based on movies. This is not an act. This is our real life."

Anthony felt Rebecca's words and the small pounding of her fists against his chest. He created a bit of distance between their bodies in order to look into her eyes and he began wiping away her tears as he said in a soft, warm voice, "I know. I know. I'm sorry."

Rebecca was clearly still upset and with a glare in her eyes she said, "If you know and you are sorry, don't ever do this to me again! I have enough trouble trusting men as it is. I can't have you of all people becoming someone I can't trust either." Then the look in her eyes softened as she said, "So, just be you and I'll be me, and like that let's see if we can make this thing work. Okay?" Anthony smiled and as he wiped the last remnants of Rebecca's tears he responded with a single, "Okay".

Once all their words were said, Anthony slapped his hands on his legs and said, "So, should we finish watching the movie? Although I guess we never really started, or did we?" This made Rebecca laugh as his words came so out of left field that it completely took her off guard but at the same time, saying words like this after such a serious conversation, was so typically Anthony that she couldn't help but laugh. This. This was the real Anthony. Clueless. Not smooth at all. This was the Anthony she fell in love with and had learned to trust. As a creature so clueless, couldn't possibly pose any harm.

After she had finished laughing Rebecca answered Anthony. "Yeah, let's do that. I think we should restart the movie as I wasn't able to focus at all the first time around. After all, I was in the arms of some strange man. A player beyond compare. Making it hard for me to feel at ease and actually pay attention to the movie." Anthony nodded before he played along with Rebecca's joke as he said, "I can imagine. I wouldn't be able to focus either if a strange man was holding me. Good thing he left. Now you can watch it with me instead."

Rebecca chuckled and leaned back against the soft couch as she waited for Anthony to restart the movie. Anthony then surprised Rebecca again as he took the seat next to her, before putting his arm around her. Rebecca glanced in his direction sideways, using her eyes to ask him what he is doing, which Anthony responded to by meeting her eyes and saying, "What? This much at least should be okay. I am simply sitting next to you. I won't do anything more. If I do, you can hit me." He then turned his eyes towards the movie as the opening titles were running over the screen for a second time.

Rebecca continued her stare in Anthony's direction for a few more seconds before she turned her eyes away, back to the screen. He clearly didn't seem impressed with her stare, and she too had to admit that this situation somehow felt more comfortable than how they were sitting with each other before. He had taken the seat next to her, instead of asking her to come sit next to him. She wasn't half lying down on top of him. They were just sitting side by side. The only thing touching being his arm on her shoulder. He had even left a small gap between their bodies so they wouldn't be touching. Leaving nothing more to expect from him, only room for her to become more accepting of their evolving relationship.