It wasn’t often people smiled at him. Cliff was used to the dirty looks and the sneers that came with being working class, even more so when they realized he bore the Hillicker name. Sure he’d had a reputation for stealing things, and he did a lot, but at twenty he felt like he had to do it to survive. Poppy Dashwood smiling at him was both one of the most beautiful and terrifying things he’d ever seen; he wanted her to open her mouth and insult him because he was expecting it. But instead she talked quietly and offered him more.

Cliff swallowed. Hard. “I uh. Thanks.” More idiotic words but at least this time he’d remembered his manners. He dragged the teacup over to sit in front of him, where he blinked down. Maybe it was poisoned. Maybe instead of tearing him down with words she’d take him out with poisoned teacup. He shrugged then. Fear or not, he was never one to turn down things that were free to him. So this time when he picked up the teacup, he took a longer sip. 

Then Poppy Dashwood was blushing and he blinked at her. What in the world? “So uh, you’re a student?” He carefully said to change the conversation.

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