xp_logs | After the dance...

Having arrived home from the dance, Angelo was walking Paige back to her room for no better reason, really, than to spend as much time with her as possible. They walked in comfortable silence for the most part, hand in hand.

Paige had taken off her shoes -- tiny, white strappy things that she never wanted to see again -- at the door and was carrying them on two fingers, swinging slightly as they walked. The curls in her hair were coming loose, but she still managed to look the part of a snow angel in her white dress. It was a great disappointment when she realized they were almost at her door.

As they arrived at her dorm, Angelo seemed unwilling to let go of her hand, pushing the door open with his own free hand instead. "Guess this is goodnight, then".

"Thank you," was her reply, figuring 'wish it wasn't' could be taken too far. "I had an amazing time. Who knew you were such a good dancer, huh?"

Angelo grinned. "Thanks. I'm glad you enjoyed it - so did I."

Tossing her shoes into her room, Paige took his other hand, swinging them back and forth playfully as she had her shooes. "Good."

Angelo let her swing his hands about, twining their fingers together almost by habit. "Should be getting back. Curfew." But he made no move to pull away or leave.

"Yeah. Right. Curfew." Paige made no move away from him either, in fact, she did quite the opposite, coming a little closer.

Angelo followed her lead, stepping in closer and looking seriously into her eyes. "Paige..." he began, then trailed off.

"Mhm?" she replied, past being able to form actual words, nevermind sentences.

Not really knowing what he'd intended to say, Angelo just murmured, "Nothing", lifting a hand to rest his fingers, still curled around hers, on her cheek, and took another step closer - then leaned in to kiss her.

Paige closed her eyes as they met, lips curled slightly with a smile in the kiss. It's a warm, content smile, much like the kiss itself is, and she moves into him, placing their other hand on her hip.

Angelo stepped one bit closer, neither of his hands free to gather her to him, but content as it was. He continued the kiss, gently, taking her lead since he didn't want to make her uncomfortable in any way.

Barely resisting the urge to pull him into her room, Paige let her eyes close. Her guard was down and she knew it, she didn't especially care who came across them right then. Releasing one of his hands, she ran a line up his arm to rest behind his neck, pulling him to her.

Angelo slid his now-free arm around her waist, allowing himself to be drawn closer. Pulling away a little for air, he whispered in her ear, "I love you", before kissing her again, himself not caring who might see.

It was a long moment before Paige slowed the kiss, that moment seeming like forever where only the two of them existed and yet never long enough. "I love you, too," she answered quietly, broken up by her inability to resist his mouth again. "Never forget that." Her hand had twisted itself in his hair, a firm grasp keeping him close, although he never tried to pull away.

The thought of pulling away from her had, in fact, never even occurred to him. "Paige..." he said softly. "I... I won't forget it. But... don't stop saying it, either..."

"I promise." Paige rested her forehead against his, his breath stirring her hair away from her face. She was quite positive Tokyo would be calling to ask what the pounding noise that was her heart was in the morning. "I love you."

Angelo didn't move, smiling softly. "Love you too", he answered quietly, leaning forward to press a quick kiss to her mouth.

Paige let the kiss go on for as long as she dared before pulling away with a slight gasp. "This is making goodbye very hard."

"I know", Angelo said softly. "Guess I should just... go, but I don't want to..."

"I know. Me either. But, I think your roommate would miss you. Which would probably involve a post to the public journals as opposed to actually searching which would then involve the entire student body making up very rude speculations." Paige smiled, brushing his hair back with a hand.

Angelo smiled back, catching her hand in his when it dropped from his hair. "I should really care more what they think, shouldn't I?"

Paige laughed at that, kissing his nose. "Probably. I can't really say as I don't care much myself. Goodnight, Angel."

"Goodnight", he answered, leaning in once more to kiss her, this time making sure to pull away - reluctantly - before it went on very long.

"Sweet dreams..." she said, the undertone of her voice suggesting she would be just fine in that area.

"And the same to you", he returned, unwillingly pulling his hands away from hers and turning to head back to his own room.

Paige stepped into her room and nearly closed the door before poking out her head to call out one more time, "Love you!"

Angelo turned back on his way down the corridor to reply, "Love you too. Always. Goodnight." He watched the door close before going on his way.