"Tell you what to wear?"

She nods. "So? Which one?"

I've decided I'm obviously reading too much into this. I tell her red. We go out, take the town car head to the theater.

We stand in front of the ticket booth, and she holds onto my arm. I ask her, what movie she wants to see.

She tells me to choose. So I pick Meet the Parents and she lights up, because it's something she would actually like. She doesn't want to see American Psycho was hoping I wouldn't pick that movie, but it seems she would've suffered it in silence.

But today is an off day, that's what I'm going with, so we head to the concession stand. She looks at me. I ask her, what she wants to eat.

She tells me, whatever I want her to eat. I tell her, that's not how it works. She says nothing.

I get popcorn. Salt is good no matter what, even to vampires. We sit at our seats. I put the popcorn between us. The previews roll. She doesn't move to eat.

"Do you want any?" I ask her.

She looks at it, and you at me and nods with a smile.

I've never been so...uneasy in my life.

Who is this? And where is my Eleanor?

We watch the movie. She contains her expressions. I don't enjoy the movie. I'm decoding what matter of monster has taken over my beloved and how to rescue her.

The movie soon ends without an answer, and we're back home again. She takes off her dress, lays down, opens her legs and arms, and waits.

This is the last straw.

"Did you get into my drug stash? You're not meant to mix those things, Eleanor. What did you take?"

She chuckle. "I didn't take any drugs. Come...let's...let's make love."

I shudder, slipping away from her. "All night you've been...possessed. If you don't want to be together—"

She gets on her knees. "No! Alastair what's wrong? I don't understand why you're upset at me?" She frowns, looking down. "I...I'm trying to show you affection. Am I doing it wrong?"

I scoff. Her small hands grip my shirt desperately. It dawns on me, that my Eleanor has never happened upon love, real love, true love.

Even in the stories she reads, I suppose love is not represented well.

I cup her face. "No...I just mean...you haven't been yourself dearest. Is everything alright?"

Her hands ball up further in frustration. "Yes. Yes everything is fine. I want to show you my feelings for you."

I nod. "Okay. I love that. I love that you have affection for me I just don't understand your change of behavior, Eleanor. It's...a bit unsettling. Not like you."

Her eyes glisten. She clenched her jaw, blinking. "Don't you like it?"

Her eyes meet mine. They shine with tears she refuses to let drop. Pure frustration. I don't know understand what she's saying, and she's not giving me anything to work with other than she wants to show affection.

I don't understand the correlation.

She doesn't seem to have the words to explain it to me, either.

"I like you," I smile. "I love you, Eleanor."

"I just wanted to show you I love you. Wasn't I? If I let you...take control of me, and what I wear, and I do, when and what I eat. If I never complain, if I'm always ready that's how I show affection," she looks away.

Well. It's no wonder she fears love so. What a horrific way to love.

"No," I whisper. And the I laugh. Because I thought I was lacking. I thought it was me or maybe that I had made up this spark between us.

Why wouldn't she let me in, why did she deny me so why did she refuse me and every turn?

I see. Because this is what she thinks love is. Abandoning yourself to the mercy of another, allowing them to control you.

She lets go if me, turning around. I pull her in, shaking my head.

"No, oh my dearest Eleanor. No. All I want is you. Just how you are. I don't want to control you. I don't want to make you someone else. I want you to be you. Just beside me."

Eleanor looks down. "I don't understand. How will you know I love you?"

I kiss her shoulder. "I will know. Do not worry, my love, I will know. Come,"

I lay down, patting the space next to me. She sniffled, slipping under the comforter. I smile, looking over her face.

"Did you like the movie?" I ask.

She nods. "It was funny and cute. Thank you for picking it. I would've hated that other one."

I chuckle. "I know."

She takes my hand under the comforter. "But we can see it anyway. Let's see it tomorrow. You like it, don't you?"

I nod. "Yes, I like it."

She leans in, burying her face in my chest. "This is love? Me being me, beside you?"

I kiss her head. "Yes. This is love."

She brings her self as close as she can, her arms around my neck. "I like it then. I'm not afraid of this."

I hug her back. "You don't have to be."