Lesson 155- You can have the perfect plan, but that still doesn’t mean it’s going to work out.

**LAURA**
I watch Kyle fondly as he drives us back to his place. He’s just as tired and hungover as I am, and I offered to drive but he insisted on doing it himself. Actually, since I’ve been his houseguest, he’s barely let me help out with anything. He cooks for me, then he insists on cleaning the kitchen because he doesn’t want me meeting with it. I tried to offer him money for groceries and stuff, but he just rolled his eyes and called me stupid. It shouldn’t be endearing when someone calls me stupid, but I know Kyle means it affectionately. He’s not all that good at being nice to people, but I don’t think I know anyone who is more kind. He takes care of everyone, even though he acts like he doesn’t. Watching Rina and Torin the last day or so has made my heart ache. They’re so… Sweet together. I never thought I would be describing my terrifying demonic giant of a boss as sweet, but here I am. Sure, I’m still kind of frightened of him. But I think that’s more of a habit than anything else. I truly believe he would do anything to keep Rina happy, and he knows that she wants us safe and taken care of. So I believe he would take care of us too. He’s already proven that when he came and rescued me from my psycho mother. I don’t know if he actually cares about us individually. I wouldn’t blame him if he didn’t, I don’t think we’ve ever been especially nice to him. I’ve been feeling bad about that lately actually. He gave me a job, he pays me far more than I deserve and despite how wary I’ve been around him, all the assumptions I’ve made. I don’t think he’s ever actually threatened me or intentionally intimidated me in any way. I actually felt proud of myself for acting so ‘normal’ around the demon and being so ‘brave’ to work for him. It wasn’t until I saw Rina actually treating him like a normal person, treating him well that I realised how unkind I’ve been towards him. I’ve been trying to be better. It’s not easy for me, but I’m learning. I don’t want to judge people like that, not anymore. It was when I started to check myself and think about my assumptions that I realised I had never really considered everything Kyle does for us here either. So I started to pay attention, and once I started paying attention to him I found I couldn’t stop. From the way he makes sure we’re all eating to when he secretly feeds Crash when he thinks no one is looking, to the way he keeps my favourite snacks stocked in the kitchen at work, just in case I ever need them. Kyle might just be the most considerate man I’ve ever met and I can’t help but love it, love him. Now if I could just be brave long enough to actually tell him. 

But first, there’s the matter of moving out of his house. It wouldn’t be fair to make a move on him of any kind while I’m staying with him. Not only would it be horribly awkward if he rejects me, but it would be unfair to him because he’s far too good to ever tell me to leave, even if he wanted me gone. Honestly, I should have left days ago. I finished the wards on my house earlier this week. But I just kept making excuses. There’s too much going on at work, I’ll move back home tomorrow, I’ve had a long day, moving can wait another day. Or even, this is the first quiet day I’ve had in ages and I’m exhausted and I need to rest. I can just have this one day to myself and I’ll move tomorrow. It needs to stop. I take a deep breath. 
“I’m moving back home this afternoon.” I blurt out. Kyle frowns and glances at me then back to the road. 
“Today? That’s sudden.” He grumbles. I hurry to explain.
“I won’t go moving my stuff around while you’re asleep. I’ll just head home later this evening. I’ve been taking advantage of your hospitality for way too long.” I say apologetically. Kyle rolls his eyes. 
“I told you before it’s fine.” He responds gruffly and I nod.
“I know, but it really is time.” I tell him as we pull into the driveway at his place. I yawn widely which triggers him to do the same. 
“After I’ve had a nap.” I say tiredly and Kyle grins. 
“Definitely. You head inside and straight to bed. We can sort out your leaving when you wake up.” He says, a slight frown returning to his face. I don’t quite know what to make of that, but I don’t have the energy to figure it out and I don’t think he does either. So I do as I’m told and stumble my way into the guest room and pass out. 

When I wake up I’m tempted to put off leaving for another day. I’m exhausted, I’m hungover, my head is killing me and I feel vaguely nauseous. I roll over onto my side and see a large glass of water, a couple of painkillers and a folded piece of paper with my name on it propped up against the glass. I grab the paper and unfold it. It’s a note from Kyle of course.

*Laura,*
*Drink the water, take the pills.* 
*If you wake up before me just knock on my door and I’ll make us something to eat and we can figure out the rest of the day.* 
*I know you won’t actually wake me up. There are leftovers in the fridge you can reheat if you don’t want to wait for me.* 
*\-Kyle*

Okay yeah no. I have to actually move out today because I really don’t want to wait any longer to ask Kyle out. At this rate I’m going to just embarrass myself. He’s right too, I’m not going to wake him up. So instead I do as he told me in the note. I take the medication, I drink all the water he left me and then I force myself to start packing up my stuff. How do I even have so much stuff here? I came with one bag and for some reason I can’t seem to fit my stuff back into the bag I brought it here in. So I take everything out and pack it back in again. I’m just zipping the bag shut when Kyle speaks from behind me.
“So you’re really leaving then?” He asks bluntly and I force a smile onto my face before turning around to face him. 
“Yeah. Thanks for letting me stay.” I tell him for what is probably the hundredth time. 
“Come to the kitchen, I’ll make us something to eat.” Is all he says in response. 
“Uh… Right.” I follow him to the kitchen and watch as he starts making bacon and eggs. I can make bacon and eggs myself, but somehow when he cooks them it’s so much better. Actually, I really enjoy watching him cook, or just spending time with him in general. 
“Kyle, do you want to have dinner with me?” I blurt out. He glances over his shoulder with an eyebrow raised. 
“Isn’t that what we’re doing now?” He asks, confused. Damn it. I mixed up my plan. I wasn’t going to ask him to dinner, I ruled out movies too. Right, the theatre, I was going to ask him to go see a performance with me. Shit, I’m doing this all wrong. 
“No. I mean, yeah it is. But… Shit. Uhm… I mean… Do you want to go see uh Shit, I forgot what it was called.” I groan and collapse my head down on the bench. Kyle frowns, clearly baffled which makes complete sense because nothing I just said actually made any sense. I force myself to take a deep breath. 
“Okay, let me start over. Screw the details. This is me attempting to ask you out. I had a whole plan for it but apparently I can’t remember a single bit of it.” I admit. My face is probably as red as my hair. Kyle’s jaw drops and he stares at me. 
“You… What?” He asks, shocked. I cringe. Damn, he isn’t interested after all and I’m making a total fool of myself. 
“You… You had a plan… To ask me out?” Kyle clarifies and I slowly nod. 
“To a musical. You like musicals.” I mumble awkwardly. Kyle carefully turns off the stove, moves the frying pan off of the heat and then approaches me. I’m seriously considering running out the front door. I take a half step away until Kyle catches my hand. He’s frowning again.
“What’s wrong?” He asks, concerned. I sigh.
“You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.” I tell him sadly. Kyle’s eyes go wide. 
“Laura, I want to make something clear to you. I will go anywhere with you, anytime, to do anything you want. All you ever have to do is ask and I will be there.” Kyle says the words with utmost sincerity and this time I do start to cry, but I’m also smiling. Kyle pulls me into a hug and grumbles into my hair. 
“Did you have to wait until you were leaving to ask? I don’t want you to go.”