Embarrasment

James sat awkwardly as Joanna stared intently at him. He didn't know what to do with himself, but Joanna had specifically told him not to move. He could feel his face blaring up, and he wanted to turn away and hide himself, but he knew perfectly well that if he did so Joanna would slap him and make him keep sitting there.

"Joanna?" he asked quietly. "What are you doing? Why do I have to sit here like this?"

"I'm looking at your eyes," Joanna said flatly. "Now be quiet. This is important."

"But why the hell are you staring at my eyes?" he asked, desperate now. He could feel his cheeks blazing harder at her words. He felt even shier about himself now that he knew exactly what she was doing. He didn't want to admit it, but he had liked her for a long time. He never said anything about it, though, because he was afraid of how she might respond. He didn't want to have to face her rejection.

"Would you just be quiet?" she retorted. "Is it not enough of an answer for you that this is important to me? You always help me out when things are important."

"Yeah, but this is so weird. Staring into people's eyes isn't something that you just... do. That's a thing that, like... couples do." James could feel his face burning even hotter at his own words. He had to imagine that his face was as red as a tomato. He didn't think that he could blush any harder, but knowing Joanna, she would find a way to do it.

"Because they're pretty," she stated matter of factly. "When I look into them, they make me feel like I'm flying through space, and seeing wonders that no one else has ever seen. And they're making me think about things I want to do, and things I want to say, and I want to experience that. So be quiet and let me focus on them."

James could hear an inexplicable noise escaping his lips as she spoke, and he felt like his entire head was on fire. Before he could think about what he was doing, he pulled his head away violently and covered his face with his hands. Almost immediately, he could feel Joanna's hand making contact with the side of his head.

"James!" she cried out. "What are you doing? I told you this was important to me!"

"Yeah, but..." James replied pathetically. "It's so embarassing and..."

Joanna pulled his head back to face her, and pulled his hands away from her face. Before he could say anything, her lips were pressed hard against his in a kiss. His eyes flew wide open, but in only a moment he had melted into it and practically fallen against her. Slowly she pulled away from him, and he looked into her eyes, both confused and joyful.

Joanna smiled at him. "Good. Now stay that way."

"Yes, ma'am," he replied quietly.