Love the song on the side! Four Tet!

I enjoyed writing this chapter :P Don't be too disappointed ;)

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"John? What are you doing around here?"

He slowed to a walk and cursed under his breath before spinning around with a grin. "Nothing."

Michael's brow rose. "Really?"

"Yes."

"Who's that food for?"

John frowned down at the bag that contained a wrapped up fresh brownie and in his other hand a coffee with sugar and small cartons of milk.

"Um, you?"

Mike rolled his eyes at his answer. "Apologising are we?"

John was apologising but he didn't want Michael knowing about it hence why he was trying to sneak past his classroom. From the canteen, there wasn't any other way to get to the science building without having to circle all the way around and according to Evie her break was only forty-five minute so he didn't want to waste it.

"Maybe. I'll see you later." He started down the hall hastily, ignoring Michael's laughter.

He was hoping, almost to the point of praying, that she wasn't out to lunch with that Mikel or Micah kid yet. Yesterday, he was tempted just to call her and apologise over the phone but then he thought better of it. Saying it in person, he'd have the opportunity to see her reaction.

He made it to her office two minutes later and knocked. The window on her door was clouded glass so he couldn't see within but he heard her quiet voice yell for him to come in.

He poked his head into the office and spotted Amy standing by a small bookcase, her glasses pushed to the top of her head, locks of her brown hair that had obviously escaped from her large bun framed her face and a small book was held by her slender fingers. 

His eyes were then drawn to her tan long legs underneath her light grey skirt.

"Oh," 

He forced his gaze back to her face and smiled. She looked... Well, honestly she looked a bit panicked and flustered. He didn't know whether it was because something happened or he'd surprised her but the wild look in her eyes made him chuckle.

"Sorry to disturb you if you're busy." 

She exhaled sharply as she shook her head. "No, no. Please, come in. I'm just trying to complete an assignment I didn't really..." She stopped talking and sighed again. "Come in."

He stepped in hesitantly and shut the door. "I can go if you're-"

"No, I was just... Researching." The book dangled from her fingers as she faced him. Suddenly her cheeks tinted pink and her chocolate brown eyes darted to his throat. "Um... H-how're you?"

Ah, it begins. He could see her fidgeting in her spot already. "I'm fine thank you."

"Okay, good."

"I bought you a brownie and a coffee."

When her body relaxed he did as well. He hadn't realised he was as tense as her. "How thoughtful."

He held them up after a moment. "Evie said you had a break now so I thought..." Hell, he didn't know what to say. He was actually at a loss for words and the thought had him smiling wider at her.

"Thank you. Have a seat."

"I'm fine," He watched her move to a desk, which he assumed was hers, and placed the bag and the coffee beside a stack of paperwork.  "Is college okay?"

"Actually no. I'm behind on an assignment." She replied with a slight frown.

"Is that Lewis giving you a hard time?"

"He's not too bad; I mean he's giving me time to finish it for tomorrow."

"Well that's okay then."

"I suppose. But I don't think I'll finish it I've been so..." She trailed off as she tugged her glasses off.

"Distracted?" He finished for her. 

She caught his eye before turning away. "Meeting today?"

His gaze swept over his navy trousers and pin striped white shirt. "This morning."

John couldn't say the small talk wasn't awkward because it was but it was better than the silence.

He started walking around, glancing at the empty desk and then at her full one. Either she was really unorganised or she had a hell of a lot of work to do. As she sipped her drink and nibbled on the brownie, he started to think about how to approach his apology without making things too awkward, but each scenario in his mind ended the same.

In silence. So why not bite the bullet?

"Amy," Her throat bobbed up and down after she finished chewing and she looked up. "I suppose I should apologise for my... Ah..." Jesus, the words have literally escaped him. He'd memorised his apology four hundred times yesterday afternoon. 

Finally, after an awkward moment of her staring at him, she smiled. "It's alright."

Thank God, he sighed. 

Just as he smiled, it faltered when she said: "I mean you couldn't help it, right?"

Now to say that surprised him was an understatement. He reared back with a slight smirk. Interesting... "I couldn't help myself?"

Amy stood, throwing the bag and empty cup into the can beside her desk. "I suppose."

"Please, elaborate for me I'm completely intrigued." Something odd clicked within him as he watched her effortlessly move back toward the bookcase. He inhaled discreetly when she brushed past him. "Go ahead."

"You're quite forward at times, John."

"Only with you."

"How forward of you."

He blinked at her and grinned. She was flirting with him. He was surprised at her sudden spurt of confidence and he didn't know how to take it. But as he watched her walk back to her desk with a slight crooked smile he knew then exactly how to take it. He'd promised himself this morning that if there was any sign of flirtation or, hell, if she smiled, he'd tell her he was no good and walk out with his pride.

His itching palms said different. 

"Forward?" He said to her back. She didn't turn from her spot so he approached her, his eyes trained to her exposed neck. "Am I that exciting?"

"I'd say alarming. Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

I could still back out now, he thought. I could walk out of this office on the greatest of terms. She forgave him just like that.

Maybe she'd have the decency to forgive him again for what he was about to do? Because this was it for him. He'd had enough of trying to ignore the woman. Now, as he watched her fiddle with the pages of her book, he wanted all of her and he wasn't afraid of it anymore.

Well, he wasn't as afraid.

**

What's wrong with me? 

Obviously she was asking for some sort of death wish. Her heart was pacing a mile a minute as she stared blankly at the book she'd just picked up. She could feel him drawing closer behind her and she'd immediately regretted trying to be nice. Sure, she was flirting but barely! Harmless, if anything. But then again this was John Harris. Anything with John was never harmless.

"Ahead of ourselves? Now, where do you think this is going?"

She spun around and backed away from his slow pursuit until her thighs hit the desk. "Jonathan, you've literally just apologised for something like this, you're just going to have to apologise again." Amy warned hoping to shed some sort of sanity onto this situation.

"Would you forgive me?"

"What do you mean?"

"For 'doing something like this' again?"

She was suddenly very aware of their closeness. He placed his hands on the desk outside of her thighs and trapped her against it. He bent his head in front of her with a warm smile. 

"I don't think so. Maybe you should lea-"

"Do us both a favour," He interrupted standing to his full height and slowly, hesitantly, stepping forward. "Ask me."

She waited for him to continue but he didn't. He just searched her eyes as if he were waiting for her to say something. 

But what?

"Ask you?"

"Mhmm," He mumbled staring into her eyes. His body wasn't exactly touching hers but one little twitch and they would be. Her lips parted when his finger lifted to curl around that annoying loose lock of hair beside her cheek, his skin barely skimming the side of her neck as he did so. 

"Ask you what?" She stuttered leaning back bracing her hands on the desk. Her mind almost immediately went blank when his blatant gaze darted to her lips.

"I'm sure you could guess."

This was trouble. Inviting him into this office was the worst thing she could have done. He cast a spell whenever he was around her and she fell under it like the weakling she was.

She started to shake her head. "John..."

"Neither of us can deny this attraction we have for one and other anymore. I sure as hell can't. Tell me if you can."

Her hands lifted to press to his chest. "Stop being absurd." Amy blinked surprised and for some reason angry by his words. "Why would you be attracted to me and vice versa? We barely know each other for one-"

"Do I need to know you to be attracted to you? Explain the science of a male and female being sexually attracted to one and other by sight: do I need to know you?"

"Well, no but-"

"If I saw you from afar and found you beautiful, do I need to ask your permission to think so?"

Her cheeks warmed. "No, but-"

"Exactly."

"Why are you doing this?"

"Because," He stared into her eyes not moving any closer or further away from her. "There is so much to unravel with you. You're so... Kept. To yourself," He continued to finger the lock before skimming his finger along her cheek. Her body was vibrating almost. Her tongue darted out to wet her dry lips and he openly watched. "Beneath this, there must be passion I can see it in your eyes right now." His finger trailed down her neck, the pit of her stomach clenching as he did so. "Lust. It's making your skin come up in goose bumps. It's making your breaths come out short and laboured. It's keeping your hands pressed to my chest."

"Stop it." She whispered but didn't mean a word of it because he was right. That passion she'd read in many love stories, the passion between two lovers starved from pleasure in completely different ways was what she yearned for. They were pipedreams really. They're called fiction for a reason. But standing here, almost against him, changed the word pipedream to reality.

"Ask me." He repeated. "Put us both out of our misery. Allow me to kiss you and I'll make it count. I'll leave you alone afterwards if you wish me to, I can promise you that."

"Are you mocking me?"

He blinked. "Mocking you? I'm giving you the choice. I don't want to force myself on you although you have made yourself perfectly clear that I tend to do so either way."

She couldn't help the twitch of her mouth.

"I am starving." John stepped forward again now his entire being was pressed to hers. Her hands were still on his chest but there was no force to it anymore. "Let me kiss you. Just a simple kiss and I'll leave you alone."

How tempting his proposition was. It was almost like Adam and Eve and the apple all over again. He cupped her cheeks, his eyes not even bothering to hide the fact he was staring at her mouth. Not only was she intoxicated by his scent but his touch, goodness, his touch. She didn't think she could ever be this...  this shaky, this needy. His odd scent drifted around her and she slowly inhaled. She felt dizzy with desire and she didn't know what to do. Her stomach was burning with a need she'd only ever experienced with him.

That damned desire that got them in trouble the first time.

Just one kiss he says. That's all. She'd dreamt of it a few times in the past. Dreamt of his full lips moulding so perfectly against hers. And the fact that he was asking instead of so easily leaning forward and taking initiative himself said something.

He'd leave you alone, a voice whispered in her head. Just do it. Be reckless for the first time in your life.

Amy leaned forward, the answer on the tip of her tongue... Just as she was about to quietly agree to just one kiss, there was an abrupt knock and the office door popped open. 

"Oh, my goodness," A shocked older woman's voice said. 

John's hands dropped from her face with a frustrated growl and Amy slowly blinked back into reality.

"Amy, I wasn't aware you were... Entertaining this lunch." Gerry said from the side but she was still watching John. He was angry, that was obvious. His pupils were oddly enlarged and his stance was almost strained. 

Finally, the embarrassment at being caught hit her and she flushed. "Um..."

Gerry looked almost happy to see her flustered and it took all of Amy's willpower not to snarl at the older woman. "I'll come back in a few-"

"It's fine."

John's voice ripped though the room and both women turned to him. She was still buzzing from the inside and out but he looked as calm as ever. "I'll leave." And with one brief glance that shone with heat and longing in her direction he left the office.

Just like that.

"Bravo." Gerry commented after shutting the door. "Quite a catch."

Amy was still staring at the door. She couldn't explain what just happened. But she knew one thing. This wasn't over. The last look he'd sent her confirmed that. He wanted her and he'd admitted it however not in those words. But in some ways he looked reluctant to admit it.

Gerry started blabbering on about why she was there but she was barely listening. So close, she thought. She could have just said yes. He'd promise just one kiss. Unless it was a ploy a part of her mumbled. Maybe he believed that after one kiss she'd want more. 

Cocky bastard. 

Since she's been in Canada she's been cussing like an army trooper. And it was because of him. Whenever she was around, her mind was just cuss words. 

Now, she wished she had said no. She wished she had the chance to say the words, "No, John" so he understood that that was that. No more touching, no more distractions AND no more propositions because that was what she was going to try and stick to.

The day went by quickly. Amy managed to finish her paper and hand it in. Lewis was smirking at her all afternoon so she had a feeling Geraldine opened her big mouth and told someone. She caught Harriet having a heated discussion with Gerry from afar and from the older woman's guilty looks; it seemed she was telling her off. 

"Thanks," She'd told Harri earlier.

"No problem. And Gerry says I'm the gossip. She said she told Lew as soon as she left your office. But don't blame the woman. This department never has any action." Harriet had patted her arm and walked off to class. 

"For goodness sake." She mumbled as she paced outside the science building. She was tired, frustrated and downright uncomfortable because of him. All she wanted to do was go home and go straight to bed. Maybe even a glass of wine or two. But Michael was late. It was almost five o'clock and it was completely empty.

"Finally," She mumbled when a car horn blared behind her. But when she turned around anger replaced her relief. "This is a joke."

"I'm afraid not," John said from his open window. "Michael's meeting will be running over until half six."

"I'll wait." She insisted making a move to the doors.

"Amy, stop being childish and get in the car."

"Childish?" She squeaked. "Alright I'll stop being childish. But I'm not getting in that car with you."

"Afraid?" He challenged and she mentally swore at him... Again.

"I'm not afraid."

"Then get in the car." 

"I'd rather walk if I'm being honest." She said starting down the road. He drove alongside her.

"If you walk, you'll have to go down that long and narrow road surrounded by trees."

"That's fine."

"There are animals."

"I'll take my chances."

"They'll bite you."

"I'm sure the pain will go away." 

"Stop being stupid and get in the car." He said speeding up a little. 

She finally stopped and stepped toward his window. "Jonathan, I want you to promise me not to do anything rash."

His lips pursed before he gave a slight nod but she wasn't sure whether it was an agreement or not. She stared for a few more moments before strolling to the other side of the car to slide in. Just as he put the truck in drive he said, "I can't promise that." 

She thought so. 

"Here's something you should know about me, Amy," He said in a low voice as he drove down the road. "I like control sometimes."

She could see that. "Then why ask me..." 

"Because if anything more were to ever happen with us, this is the only control I'll be giving you."

Now she was afraid to be alone in this car with him. It was obvious John had... Demons. The sheltered look in his eyes said that. But control? Sure it had her excited but... "You said earlier you'd leave me alone."

Something flashed within his eyes and his hands tightened on the steering wheel. "Unfortunately for you, I don't know if I can do that anymore."

"Why is that?" 

"You know why." He glanced at her. 

"Humour me, please." She quipped as she slipped her glasses off and placed them on her lap.

"Amy, you are a woman. I am a man. What more could I possibly humour you with?" He stopped at a traffic light and turned to her with burning hazel eyes. See, now he looked angry. "I have bent over backwards to stay the hell away from you but I can't do it because your best friend is my best friend's girlfriend. Whether we like it or not we will be seeing a lot of each other in these coming months and I don't think I can do that without wanting you."

Her nose flared at his confession. "Which is exactly why we should remain as we are. We would only complicate things between us. Lest you have forgotten, I am here until February and this proposition you have made will make everything worse."

The light flashed green ahead of them and he turned back to the road. The drive to her house was filled with heavy silence. She was still fuming but inside she had registered his verbal confession. He did want her. But it said nothing about liking her. Wanting someone and liking someone is completely different in a man's eyes. She hasn't admitted the same to herself and she wasn't planning on it because she was here for a job and a job only.

He parked outside of her house and unlocked the doors quicker than he did when he dropped her off last week. 

She opened the door without a word but paused when he finally replied. "You're right." 

Her hand then tightened on the door handle when he said, "But I still want you. And whether you like it or not Amy, I will carry on wanting you. For me these next few months are an opportunity. My proposition still stands but if I find that opportunity I will take it."

"You're deluding yourself." She said shakily without looking at him. 

"No, I'm not you are. You're running away from me."

"If anything," She said as she turned her head toward him. "You're running away from me."

Her words hit home it seemed because he leaned back in his chair and glared at her.

So she carried on, shutting the door in the process. "I wasn't the one who ran away earlier you did. And on that court you dropped your hands before I stepped away. So think about that for a moment before you make wild accusations. And fine, if the proposition still stands then it does but I won't be acting upon it. Goodbye Jonathan."

And with those parting words she stepped out of the car and swiftly moved to the house. She didn't glance back once not even as she slammed the front door shut. She stalked straight upstairs into her bedroom, shut the door and collapsed onto the bed with a shaky sigh. She was furious. Furious and somehow just a little, tiny bit excited. He won't give up.

Her cousin shouted her name from downstairs but she ignored it.

 Ignoring John proved to be impossible; she'd given up with trying to do that. So what more could she do?

Give in...

She scowled the thought away. Although it proved to have many more pros than cons, each pro mainly for her personal gain and, um, maybe for his too, the few cons that did exist made her rethink. He was difficult, he was too reserved at times, he was downright annoying and she didn't know that much about him. The memory of his touch had her rolling onto her side with a groan, pressing the heel of her hands to her eyes.

But then she gasped and sat up.

"Shit!" Her glasses. She left them in his car.

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So now its oooonnnnnnnn!!!!!! I'm so excited for after this chapter, seriously, I'm writing ahead!!!! BUT that doesn't mean I'm uploading any earlier... unless I get it done by Friday :P

So John has finally snapped. When will Amy snap?

For you SIM fans, you know how Mikes and Evies relationship developed? Yeah, this is so not going to be the same ;)