_faithful (_faithful) wrote in light_of_may, @ 2010-02-20 00:07:00 |
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Entry tags: | 2009-07-04 |
always felt like I was outside...
Who: Aaron and Alanna
Where: Apartment --> Park
When: 9:00 p.m.
Nervous? Alanna? For a third date?
...yeah, yeah she was that. She was totally that. She was that ten times over because she had heard a lot of stories from her friends. The fact that she had gone out with Aaron twice, plus that little impromptu lunch at the church, and nothing had happened was apparently a big deal of some sort. She did not get it, what the big deal was. But then again she had also never gone on this many dates with one person in her entire life. She had never gone out with anyone other than Aaron. He had even taken her to the only dance she had a date for back in high school! Maybe that explained why all of her friends, even the ones who only just knew her, were so excited. Sometimes she thought that maybe they were more excited than she was.
Sighing, Alanna gave herself one last look in the mirror as the clock ticked towards nine. The only thing that had made it on her from the shopping trip were the cute sandals that everyone had said she needed. Everything else came right out of her closet. Was not like anyone was going to make note of it except Aaron and he liked everything she wore. Smiling at the thought, Alanna readjusted her hair and started down the stairs to wait outside for Aaron.
Equally as nervous, Aaron tried to calm his nerves as he went about showering and dressing for their date. He donned some black pants and a red polo shirt, making sure to tame his curly hair. For some reason, he had this feeling in the pit of his stomach that tonight was going to be different...it would somehow define their relationship. Afterall this was the third date and he'd heard all kinds of stories about the third date and certain expectations that are carried into the date. He was relatively sure he wouldn't have to worry about any of that with Alanna but that still didn't mean he wasn't nervous.
He glanced at his watch and yelped, knowing he was going to be late if he didn't get a move on. He ran to his car and hopped in, breaking every speed limit record getting to Alanna's apartment building. He let out an audible sigh when he saw her waiting outside. She was a stubborn little thing. He'd told her time and time again that he'd come up to get her. Smiling and waving, he pulled over and leaned over to open then door for her. "Hey you! You look amazing." She was wearing a skirt...holy crap she was wearing a skirt! And she looked fantastic in that skirt too.
Well that was convenient, Alanna noted as she slid into the car and pulled the door shut before buckling. Aaron had the same color shirt on, though hey, it was the Fourth and there were only those three colors that people liked to wear for it. "Amazing? Yeah, well, the sandals are because my friends drug me shopping and the rest is because... it's the Fourth and the color combination is good and I don't know." She was a little flustered at being told that she looked amazing. It was an old skirt and a silly shirt, what was so amazing about it? She had no idea. "Glad you like it though, you look good too. Your hair's all... tamed, I guess." Alanna knew herself and she was only a step away from babbling. "Having a good fourth?"
Well, she looked amazing because she was in a skirt. And she wasn't in a skirt very often. So yes, amazing. "I like the sandals," Aaron acknowledged. "I like the you in a skirt too." He was a guy...he was allowed to look, right?
"I'm having a good fourth! Had a lunch picnic for the youth to kind of celebrate things. A lot of the bitten weres in my group are nervous for the upcoming full moon. I've tried to comfort and reassure them as much as possible but it's hard because I don't exactly know what they're going through." He wasn't going to ask if she was anxious because he knew she was. He also knew that it probably wasn't a great topic of conversation to bring up around her. "What'd you do today?"
The you in a skirt. Alanna felt herself blushing as she remembered the comments Roxy had made about skirts, the third date thing, the fact that Aaron liked her skirt... she smoothed her hands over it nervously. Bare hands, no gloves. "Yeah, umm..." Oh wait, she had already said why she had them. Damn babbling. Although her mind changed topics easily at the subject of bitten weres being nervous. No, she was not nervous so much as resigned because she knew it was coming and there was nothing she could do. Almost a year of that would do that to a person. Not that she wanted to talk about it either. Bad enough to know it was coming. "I helped out with a friend who texted while I was on my run and straightened up my apartment again. There's so much in there! I don't even know where it all comes from, I swear, appears out of nowhere." Or she had a bit of a problem with hoarding, but she blamed the chipmunk thing for that completely. "You ever have that problem? I know Jamie does."
Aaron glanced over at her and noticed the blush, thinking it was so cute. Then her hands smoothed over her skirt and he blinked... no gloves! He was excited to see that, that she was loosening up around him. Laughing at the hoarding, he said, "Yes, I have the same problem, sadly. I have food, specifically packets of peanuts just stuffed everywhere!" His youth loved to tease him about it, coming into his office and trying to find all his stashes of peanuts. "I think it's a chipmunk thing. I'm even worse when I'm in chipmunk form."
Ah, that probably explained why the smell of nuts was so strong at his place. Not that it was much different from Alanna's own but still. It was good to know that he shared that particular little tic with her. "I can imagine, you must run around going crazy trying to find everything when you're all little and furry." Not something that she herself was all that often. Being a chipmunk was... difficult for her at times. Because that was what she would have liked to be on the full moon if she had to be anything that was not human. Like Aaron and Jamie were. Alanna sighed, leaning her forehead against the window. "Totally missed the fireworks last year since we were out camping. Do you usually go?" Small talk was good, keeping the topic of conversation on something she could handle easily.
Aaron laughed, "Yes, yes I do." And he would have totally flushed a deep red if he'd known that his apartment had a peanut smell to it. How embarrassing is that? In some way he felt awful for Alanna and having to go into her hybrid form during a full moon. On the flip side though, if she wasn't a were, she'd still be a clairsentient and this whole dating thing would probably never have happened. "I did something with my youth last year. We all had a big picnic on the high school football field and played games until the fireworks started. It was really fun."
That sounded like a fun thing to do and Alanna wondered why he had not wanted to do it again. Because of her, maybe? That was a flattering thought for the most part, though she would feel a little bad if they had wanted to do something and she had taken him away. Though to be fair he had been the one to ask her out... "Sounds fun," Alanna agreed, noticing how many cars were at the park. Wow, looked like pretty much the whole town had turned out for this. "Hopefully I'll be able to be somewhat entertaining though I don't think I can hold a candle to a bunch of kids. One woman show." She laughed a little nervously, not intending on putting on any sort of show.
Sometimes it was so hard to tell what Alanna was thinking and this was one of those times. "It was fun. But it's also great having a break from them every so often. Besides, no one could tear me away from you tonight." He winked at her before pulling into a parking space and getting out. He dashed over to her door to open it for her like the gentleman that he was. He grabbed a blanket from the backseat and a cooler he'd packed with sparkling grape juice and some fruit. "You ready to find a good spot?"
He wanted to be with her so much that he said nothing could tear him away. Alanna did giggle then, a little nervously, and she was glad that they had arrived so that she could get out without saying anything back. Because she was drawing a blank on something to say. "Yeah, let's find a good spot. Not too far though because I've got work tomorrow so I don't want to get caught in the rush leaving, you know?" Plus the best spots were always full of people and being herself, she did not want that either. "Ooooh, so what's in the cooler?" Alanna peered at it curiously. "Something special? Please tell me not those cupcakes I gave you, which you best not have eaten by now either!" Bit of a conflict there.
Aaron shifted the blanket and cooler to one hand and grabbed onto hers with the other. He looked at her tentatively, "This okay?" He wanted to know that he'd understand if it was too much for her. At her question about the cupcakes, Aaron did have the good sense to blush and look a bit sheepish. "Well, um, about those... yeah, they're gone. They were delicious though!" Aaron led them to a spot not too far away, just under a big tree, however they could look up at the sky with no other trees blocking the view. Thankfully it wasn't crowded either, instead it being a kind of secluded spot. "This work for you?"
While she jumped at the contact, Alanna forced her heart to slow down. It was just Aaron. He was just touching her hand and he was not dead. Instead of speaking she just nodded and did not pull away. Alanna sighed. "They were supposed to last for awhile," she informed him. Because they were cupcakes and very sugary and that sort of thing did not need to be eaten fast. Or often. Apparently guys could not be trusted with these things. Maybe I shouldn't give those to Ian then he'd probably do the same... maybe Kiley'd like some... "Oh, yeah, this spot works just fine." Alanna was more than happy to stretch out on the blanket. The fireworks should be starting soon and it would be cool to see them this year. "Gonna show me what's in the cooler now?"
Feeling her jump slightly at the contact with him made Aaron wince just a little. He hated that he caused her to be uncomfortable, but was also glad that she didn't let go. He liked holding her hand...he liked it a lot. "Sorry...I've never really met a cupcake I haven't liked...a lot." He shrugged. Sweets just didn't last very long around him really. Aaron reluctantly let go of her hand and spread out the blanket before plopping down on it. "Fiiiiine, you get to see what's in the cooler now." He opened it and pulled out a bottle of sparkling apple juice, two clear plastic champagne flutes, a container with an assortment of nuts and a container with fruit salad. He popped open the bottle of sparkling apple juice and poured them both some before giving her one of the flutes. "Look good?" He hoped so...he didn't really have anything else. He hoped at least the nuts would go over well. As a chipmunk, he knew that nuts were his weakness.
She knew that he winced at her jumping and bit her lip, kicking herself mentally. This was one of those things that she hated about herself. Jumping and flinching away from simple little touches. What kind of girl did that? Alanna even managed to ignore the bits about the cupcake, brushing it off because dental hygeine just did not seem as important compared to this. Her attention did dart off when she watched him set out the little spread, eyes widening. "Delicious!" she exclaimed, accepting the drink and sipping at it. The nuts called her attention more than the fruits so she grabbed a few and popped them into her mouth, chewing as she tilted her head back to look up at the sky. "Now what I don't get is why fireworks are always so much more fun to see in person than on TV. They're the same every - oh look! First one!"
Aaron had a hard time focusing his attention away from Alanna. The fireworks splashed color on her face and the way she looked up to the sky, a mixture of awe, excitement and rapture, was just beautiful. Knowing she would blush and/or freak out if he told her she was beautiful, he just smiled and tried to avert his gaze if she looked at him. She really was something and he was oh so glad that they had reconnected after all these years. "Beautiful," he murmured, half under his breath. It was up to her to decide on how she wanted to take that - if the fireworks were beautiful or if she was. He meant both...more so she than the fireworks of course though.
Her attention was wholly on the fireworks. Well, and on the nuts that she occasionally popped into her mouth and the juice she sipped at. But Alanna could have forgotten that she was sitting on a blanket with a guy who she was dating. Because seriously? She was so many levels of not used to it and not thinking about it meant that she was not going to worry. Not worrying meant a calm Alanna, and everyone preferred her calm. Though she did heard him remark about something being beautiful. He means the fireworks, she assured herself. "You like them too?" Alanna asked, turning her attention away from them for a moment. "So very pretty."
Sighing lightly at her obliviousness, he smiled, "Yes, they're very pretty." He turned his face back to the colorful bursts in the sky. As he dipped his hand in the container of nuts, his fingers brushed against hers. He didn't jerk away, instead he lightly squeezed her fingers before pulling away. He liked touching her, though he completely understood that it was going to take her some time to get used to it. After watching the the fireworks for a while, the grand finale started and it was one loud boom after the other. "Wow, that was a great finale, huh?"
Alanna was terribly oblivious and would not have wanted herself any other way. Though she did manage to fight through the urge to pull away when Aaron touched and squeezed her fingers. Just a light, little thing that there was nothing wrong with. Before she could dwell on it for too very long the display suddenly swelled and all of her attention was on watching explosion after explosion. "It was awesome," Alanna agreed eagerly, bouncing right to her feet with a bright grin. It was not that she wanted to leave or anything because it was quite enjoyable, but as she had said... there were things that she had to do tomorrow and the last thing she wanted to do was try explaining why she was so tired. "Gonna take me home like a good gentleman?"
Blinking, Aaron hadn't expected her to hop up and want to leave so fast. He was definitely disappointed, not wanting their time to end so fast. He understood having to work and all, but it wasn't even 9:30. But, clearly she wanted to go, so he packed up the nuts, fruit and juice before rolling up the blanket. "But of course," he answered, shooting her a small smile. They walked back to the car and Aaron tried to shake off his disappointment but was having a hard time doing so. Like the gentleman that he was, he opened the door for her, waiting until she slid in before closing the door. "I'm glad you came with me," he commented once he settled himself in the car. "It was a nice evening." Even if it had ended far too soon for his liking.
Oh... had she done something wrong again? Alanna looked away while Aaron packed up the picnic and tried to figure out what it was. Had he been expecting more? Because it was a third date and you know what people say. But really, who said that? Roxy had never said anything to that effect, nor Ariana or Adelle or Kiley... huh, so maybe it was something she had heard from the girls at school and just registered as true. Only maybe it was not and that was a nice thing to realize. He still was expecting something he didn't get, that's obvious. Not wanting to ask what it was, Alanna settled into the car and buckled up after Aaron closed the door behind her. "It was a lot of fun, yeah, the fireworks were pretty and I really liked the little spread that you brought! That was really thoughtful of you, Aaron." Turning in her seat a little she offered him a friendly smile. Even though her hands were bare he had not once made her genuinely uncomfortable and that was something to be grateful for in her book.
It wasn't that he hadn't gotten something he wanted...at least not in that respect. He wanted more time with her, that was all. But, nothing he could do about it now, instead, smiling over at Alanna, her smile damn near taking his breath away. "It was fun," he agreed. "And you're welcome." He pulled out of the parking lot and headed to her apartment. The drive was relatively quiet but he didn't mind really. Once he pulled up to her apartment, he got out and went to open her door. "Thanks again for coming with me. I enjoyed it." He faced her and took both of her hands, swinging their arms a bit, a light smile on his face. "I'm going to kiss you now," he murmured, wanting her to be prepared. Letting go of her hands, he cupped her face, angling it up to face him. Then he bent forward slowly, lighting touching her lips with his. It was a brief kiss because he didn't want to push his luck, but the feelings he got from that brief contact made goosebumps appear on his arms. He pulled back and touched the end of her nose with his finger. "Bye, Alanna."
When they reached her apartment Alanna behaved herself and waited until he came around to open her door, figuring that he would want to do that. Since he respected her space she decided to let him do these little things he so enjoyed. "I had fun too!" she informed him, smiling up at him when he took her hands. Not even a sliver of anxiety went through her and that was impressive. She was about to remark on it, pointing out to him that look, she could be normal! when he said he was going to kiss her. Alanna completely froze, like a chipmunk that had spotted a hawk swooping down on it, not even blinking because suddenly Aaron was touching her face and then his lips were on hers. There was nothing there but a soft sort of warmth and her body rejected that before she could even think about it. When Aaron pulled away, Alanna stepped back, not even hearing him say goodbye. "You..." Part of her was really glad he had done her but the biggest, loudest part could not believe that he did. "Shouldn't..." Then she was whirling and running, right through the door and up the stairs to her apartment. Locked the door, tossed her bag on the other side of the apartment and sunk down onto the floor, arms wrapped around her knees.
There had not even been anything wrong with it except her body had rebelled against it and her mind had not argued and now? "Oh god he's going to hate me." So much for acting normal.