A Safe Place to Stay (Sara)

[hafiz]

(continued from "We're not lost. . ." in Endless Forest)

"My apartment is up those stairs, and down the hall," Hafiz explained.

He gently slid his hand into Sara's. "C'mon, I'll take you there," he smiled as he led her up the stairs.

He stopped in front of his apartment door, and pulled a key from his pocket. He unlocked the door, and pushed it open.

"After you," he smiled warmly.

[Sara]

Sara smiled softly and slowly followed him with a smile her hand holding tight to his. Everything was going to be fine and she knew it now. As they approached the door and he opened it she hesitated for a moment then slowly let go of his hand and walked in.

"The last 'house' i was in was mine, almost four years ago" she said softly bitting her lip faintly unsure of where to go or what to do. The school had been so routine, get up go to class go to food go to class go to food go back to bed. Simiple, and to the point. This wasnew

[hafiz]

Hafiz's apartment wasn't anything spectacular. It had a bedroom, a bathroom, a living room, and a kitchen. The living room was the first room they walked into, which then connected to the kitchen, which connected to the bedroom, which connected to the bathroom.

He picked up Sara, and gently set her on his couch.
"What would you like for breakfast? I can make waffles, pancakes, eggs, toast. . .whatever your little heart desires," he said as he dashed off into the kitchen.

[Sara]

Sara studied the living room a moment, only to be picked up suddenly, an eep passed her lips and she giggled holding tightly to him. "hey!" she objected briefly with a giggle then smiled happily as she felt the couch. " I love waffles!" she exclaimed and laughed watching him dash off to the kitchen.

She hesitated a moment scanning the living room for a moment before standing and following after him "But I like eggs too..I don't know i'm not picky really" she said standing at the edge of the kitchen. She wasn't allowed to go into kitchens anywhere else, past her pyromania she had a bit of a temper. Silently she nibbled on her lip watching him.

[hafiz]

"Waffles and eggs it is, then!" Hafiz grinned. He opened the cabinet, and pulled out a waffle iron, when he realized something was. . .odd.

He glanced down to find he was still shirtless. He rushed into his room, pulled a button-down shirt off a hanger, and slipped it on. He rolled up the sleeves as he plugged in the waffle iron.

"While we wait for that to heat up, I can make the batter for the waffles," he spoke sort of to himself. He glanced over at Sara. "Unless, you want to help, of course."
A soft smile came across his face.

[Sara]

Sara watched him pull out the waffle iron. Then she giggled as he took off to the room. Her gaze shifted to the kitchen again curiously. She bit her lip faintly again and half started to walk in, only for Hafiz to come back. She smiled and watched as he plugged the waffle iron on.

As he spoke she nodded leaning against the door frame. When he smiled at her her heart melted and she blushed. " I..." she trailed off a moment. There was no need to point out the past. She would keep her temper, and her urge. She took a deep breath and slowly walked over to Hafiz. "I'm..not very good at cooking." she said softly.

[hafiz]

An odd little frown found itself on Hafiz's face when Sara said she wasn't very good at cooking. "It's okay. You don't to have if you're worried about ruining breakfast," he said as the odd little frown changed into a half-smile.

He opened up the refrigerator and pulled out a carton of eggs.

"How do you like your eggs?" he asked as he lifted a pan off the wall.

[Sara]

Sara bit her lip faintly, no that wasn't quite it but she wasn't going to correct him. She just smiled an watched him when asked about her eggs she tilted her head a little "There is more then one way?" she asked curiously slowly opening the carton that he had pulled out. Softly she took hold of one of the eggs and softly held it in her hands. Ever so softly cupping the frail egg in her hands. A light sigh passed her lips and she softly kissed it's cold shell.

Slowly her gaze shifted to the pan and she let out a soft sigh and slowly set the egg back down " sorry.. I don't know much." she said softly her gaze shifting back up to him and smiled. Obvious she didn't mind her lack of knowledge.

[hafiz]

Hafiz chuckled slightly at her question. He watched as she tenderly touched the egg. She apologized for not knowing much.

"It's okay. I'll just make scrambled eggs, then," he replied with a smile. He started up the stove, readied the pan, and broke a couple eggs into it.

It only took him a few minutes to make a big plate-ful of scrambled eggs. He set it on the kitchen table, turned off the stove and set to work on the waffle batter.

The batter was ready in almost no time at all, and after several minutes, four rather large waffles were made, two on Hafiz's plate and two on Sara's.

He placed her plate, along with a knife, fork, napkin, and a glass at her seat, and the same at his. He pulled a gallon of milk and a carton of orange juice from the refrigerator as he put away the eggs. From a shelf near the refrigerator he pulled out a bottle of maple syrup.

He pulled out Sara's chair, and swiftly sat her in it. He unplugged the waffle iron and sat at his seat.

Just as he was about to start eating, he looked over at Sara, wondering what her reaction would be.

[Sara]

Sara was amazed, he was speedy and good at cooking. Not to mention so gentle with her, she hardly even noticed she was sitting until he sat down across from her. She giggled and let her gaze shift along the food before her. She giggled again " It looks amazing" she said and slowly picked up her fork glancing up at him only to blush darkly as her eyes met his. " but is it worth the dime?" she teased and slowly took a bite of the eggs. the were amazing!

She didn't let her face show it though, she chewed it for a moment then swallowed nodding softly "Not a bad touch." she teased with a warm smile "It's really good, a lot better then anything at the school that is for sure!" she said and took another bite enjoying ever last second of the taste. Slowly, she lifted the maple syrup and poured it on the waffle trying that next. " Mmm it's all so good!" she exclaimed as she ate happily.

[hafiz]

A smiled lit up Hafiz's face when Sara said she liked it. "I'm glad I'm not the only one who enjoys my cooking," he replied.

He set to eating his own food, pouring maple syrup on his waffles as well. He opened the milk, and poured himself a glass.

He wasn't used to having someone eating with him, so he really didn't now what to do or say.

[Sara]

Sara smiled as she ate. Blushing faintly. " Your house.. is very lovely" she said with a soft smile taking another bite, she was quite for a moment then she smiled again. " thank you.. again for saving me" she said with a giggle though it was nervous.

As she finished up her food she stood slowly and put her dishes in the sink then glanced at Hafiz unsure what she was supposed to do exactly. She let out a soft giggle and leaned against the counter her hands resting on it as well. Her gaze studied him again but only for a moment before she looked elsewhere, studying the walls.

[hafiz]

As he ate his breakfast, Sara commented on how lovely his house was.
"I wouldn't exactly use lovely to describe it, but it does have it's own charm, in a way," he replied before stuffing the last bit of waffle in his mouth.

All plates cleared of food, he took the dishes and set them in the sink.

She thanked him for saving her.

He looked over at her, noticing she had turned her gaze to elsewhere. He gently pulled her into his arms.

"You're very welcome, sweetheart," he said softly. The urge to kiss her arose in his mind, but he quickly discarded it.

[Sara]

He was right, it did have it's own charm. She liked it though, regardless of if it was 'lovely' or just had a charm. She smiled.


A soft gasp passed her lips as she was suddenly pulled into his arms. A soft smile played on her lips as she returned the embrace holding him tightly and closely to her. She stood a moment her head against his chest. Slowly though she lifted her head and looked up at him a soft coloured blush played on her cheeks. Slightly she pushed up onto her toes her lips only a few inches away from his. The blush darkened as she waited for a cue from him. She longed to feel his lips against hers. A soft breath passed her lips as her gaze shifted up to his.

[hafiz]

Hafiz panicked when he realized Sara wanted to kiss him. This made him want to kiss her, but he knew the consequences would be fatal.

"I'm sorry," he whispered before pulling away. "You have no idea how much I would love to kiss you."

He found himself on the verge of tears.
"But if I do, I'd. . ."

He couldn't bring himself to say it.