Haven't Had Enough → Chenry

As it was, my passion for writing came with quite a few side effects. Besides the fact that I often used far too many big words and had a penchant for caffeine, it mostly meant that I happened to be a bit of a hopeless romantic.

For as long as I could remember, I was always a sucker for a good love story. With that said, being around Lyah and Jasper was quickly proving itself to be an unrelenting test of my admiration for romance.

     I found myself sitting next to the smitten pair on the couch the next day while I was particularly engrossed in a television show – or, at least, I was trying to be. Despite my efforts, the sound of their laughter and whispering was growing harder for me to ignore.

     I groaned for the umpteenth time and turned up the volume in a useless attempt to drown out the giggles from beside me. The feeling of irritation began to pent up inside of me and threatened to boil over, until finally, I burst.

     "Can you two please take this elsewhere?" I blurted out in frustration. The whispering and laughter immediately turned into silence. I looked over and winced when I saw the shocked expressions that were staring back at me.

     "Sorry," I apologized, pinching the bridge of my nose. "I didn't mean to explode like that."

     "No, you're right," Jasper agreed after a moment of silence, untangling himself from my cousin and stretching when he stood up. "I should get going. I've been away from the front desk for long enough."

     "Do you really have to go?" Lyah whined with a pout, soliciting an eye-roll from me. She reached out for his hand, to which he did the same.

     "I'll see you tonight," Jasper reminded her with a smile. "For our date." He leaned down to press a soft kiss on her lips before leaving at last.

     I waved at his retreating frame and sighed contentedly, more than ready to fix my attention back on the show at hand. Before I could do so, though, Lyah startled me by grabbing hold of my shoulders and squeezing me tightly.

     "You have to come tonight," Lyah demanded with desperation in her eyes. When I stared at her quizzically, she continued, "Come on, Char, it's Saturday. Wouldn't you rather go out instead of sitting in tonight?"

     I shook my head, unreceptive to her attempts at persuasion. "If you knew me at all, you'd know that the answer to that is a hard no."

Lyah nodded in reluctant agreement.

"Either way," I went on, "Would you mind explaining why I would agree to going with you on your date at all?"

     She released me from her iron grip and clasped her hands together. "Because I need you! Ever since Jasper and I started seeing each other, we just can't be left alone. It's too awkward."

     I laughed at her statement in utter disbelief. "Are you sure? From what I've seen, the two of you seem more than comfortable with each other."

     "That's because you're always there!" Lyah shot back. She grabbed the remote and shut off the television, much to my dismay. "Please come with me, Char. I can't be alone with him, not yet."

     "I'm not third-wheeling on your date," I asserted. "When it comes to my love life, I only have so much dignity. I'd like to preserve what little I have."

     "Make it a double date, then!" She cried out, grabbing my arm. "You can bring someone. Anyone! Just, please, tag along."

     I scoffed at the suggestion, lifting my eyebrows dubiously as I spoke. "I've been in this city for all of a week now. I can probably count everyone I know on one hand. Who do you suggest I bring?"