Almost Lover

[shygirl3]

Black finished his seminar and checked his watch. Perfect, the show will end in 15 minutes minutes. He had another plan to surprise her, Bradley was determined to be a good boyfriend. He had even looked up special things to do for her, since he seemed to be lacking in original ideas. He grabbed some take out and went and sat on the porch by her door. It wasn't a home cooked meal but at least she wouldn't have to eat alone.


As he was sitting there waiting a thought dawned on him that she may be going out with the cast after. Black thought about going to meet her at the theater, but thought that she could be on her way home and then if he left he may miss her. He decided to just wait it out and hoped she wouldn't go out. His stomach growled and he began doubting that she was coming. The show ended 30 minutes ago. Maybe she just got caught up in the fans, he thought hopefully.


He sighed and waited a little longer and began losing hope. At this point the food was getting cold, maybe my timing wasn't as good as I thought it was. Bradley said he'd wait another 15 minutes he'd just give up and try and be cute another day.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

After the show ends, Victoria changes out of her costume hurriedly. It was a decent show but she knew the understudy and her didn't have the same chemistry that she and Charles had. She sweeps up the roses and places them in her backseat, securing them into place. Hopping into the driver's seat, she starts up the car and picks up a pizza to leave at Charles's.


She enters his apartment quietly so as not to agitate him. She sets the pizza on his kitchen counter before heading back to his room. "Hey, you missed the show." He just groans in response. "Well, I told you not to drink so much. Here. Take these." He sits up slowly and she hands him a glass of water and some medication. "I left a pizza in the kitchen when you're feeling up to it." He gives her a tired and nauseated smile. "Victoria, you're the best." She laughs softly, ruffling his hair. "I know. Go back to sleep."


She leaves Charles's apartment and heads back to own. It was a hectic day and she looking forward to just being to sit around for a minimum of an hour. She was just starting to wonder what Bradley was up to as she parked in front of her apartment. She hops out and slides the roses out from the backseat.

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley sighed as he watched the time passed on slowly. There was a minute left on the time minute he gave himself and frowned, still nothing. He sighed and watched the second hand tick along on his watch, 20...19...18...17 the sound of a car broke his countdown as he looked up. A smile came across his face as he watched her get out of the car with the roses. Finally, he was starving and it was starting to get cold. "Hey you." he said as he stood up off one of the steps.


"How was your show?" he asked walking over towards her. Black smiled at her, "I got dinner, it's sort of cold now, but we can reheat it if you want" he said happily. Black leaned in a gave her a kiss on the cheek and smiled at the roses "I see you got the flowers, I wasn't sure if you were a rose girl but the internet...I mean my romantic side said roses were always a good go to flower."

 

[RealisticFantasy]

"Oh! You weren't waiting too long, were you? I stopped by Charles's to make sure he wasn't dying. Well, he wasn't. Just sick as a dog. I told him about drinking that much but he never listens. Anyway, you don't have to do all this, look things up on the internet... or channel your inner romantic. I love you for you, silly." She gives him a quick kiss, shifting the weight of the flowers to her left side as she digs through her pocket for her key. "Let's get inside, hm? You're probably starving." She unlocks the door and walks inside, leaving it open for him to follow.


Her apartment was a respectable one, though it wasn't absolutely gorgeous. She sets the roses on her the kitchen counter and picks up the clothes from last night, tossing them onto her bed. "I need to clean up," she says disapprovingly. She hadn't been expecting company, but he was her boyfriend. Boyfriend? Was that what he was? Had things changed that much in one night? She finds a smiles spreading across her smile. She hadn't smile this much in the last three years combined.

Spoiler

 

[shygirl3]

"I love you for you" He had never been told that, someone was always trying to tell him how different he could be and how he should be acting. He watched her straighten up "I don't care about the mess, I love you for you." he said with a slight chuckle. He placed the food on the counter and began heating them up in the microwave. As the food heated up he explored some cabinets trying to find plates and things to set the table with. This all felt so domestic. He definitely wasn't used to it.


Black eventually found everything he needed to set the table and brought the warmed food over to the table "I hope you like Chinese food." he said with a small smile. He sat down and began scooping out the food onto his plate. Bradley began eating and glanced over at her "so how was the understudy since Charles was sick?" he asked curiously.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

She sits down, serving food to herself with her ever present smile. Chinese food wasn't her favorite but she wasn't going to spoil his sweet gesture. "His understudy is a sweet guy and all but him and I don't have the same chemistry as Charles and me. Charles is like a brother... that I'm okay with kissing. Yeah, that sounded less weird in my head."


This was so casual and so weird. Even though it had been three years since he was her professor, this was still a sight she'd never imagined she'd see and a feeling she'd never imagined she'd feel. She couldn't picture any student that had to deal with the two of them in class believing that fact that they were doing this voluntary and enjoying it. She almost laughs out loud at the thought of it. Where they used to be was definitely far different than where they were now. Or maybe it wasn't. Maybe it was all the same passion with no outlet but shouting and masked dances. After all, how could have this been possible if the feeling was never there in the first place?

 

[shygirl3]

He chuckled and continued eating. Black's mind was racing with all these thoughts. This feels nice, different but nice. What do you have to do tomorrow? Wait, are boyfriends supposed to see their girlfriends every day? Am I even her boyfriend? Bradley knew he had to ask at some point to clarify. He decided to just get it off with and ask her, "Uh Victoria-" he was cut off by his cellphone ringing. "Hold on, I have to take this. Sorry" he said standing up and walking to the door.


Black stood outside the apartment door and picked up the phone, it was Sophie. "Hey, Soph. I'm a little busy rig-" she cut him off. "I know, bu-" she was stubborn. Surprisingly she was more like him than his sister. Bradley impatiently looked at his watched and realized how late it was "Wait, Soph aren't you supposed to be asleep?" She answered "yeah, but mommy's not home. The babysitter is asleep on the couch." He frowned and snapped "Sophie, I'm coming over. Do you remember our little password?" She responded "yes, it's Princess Sophie." He walked back into the apartment "good girl. I'll be right there." He sighed and looked at Victoria "I'm sorry I have to cut this short, my sister thought it'd be a good idea not to go home to her 6 year old daughter leaving her alone with the babysitter." He grabbed his coat and walked back towards the door.


With his hand on the door, he paused and turned around and walked back to her. "Sorry." he said as he leaned in and kissed her "goodnight." he said softly, walking back towards the door. He walked out to his car.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Sophie? She missed her. A lot. Amazing how one short encounter left such an impact on Victoria. Sophie probably didn't even remember her. Three long year had separated the two of them but Victoria held onto every picture she was ever sent. "Don't worry about it. Family comes first. Tell Sophie thank you for the hearts." She stands and returns the kiss before turning to clean up the dishes. "Goodnight and thanks for dinner."


Maybe someday she'll be a mother. Maybe someday she'll be the mother of Bradley's kids. It was a strange thought, one she had had before. Always that pang of wanting and need every time she thought about it. She wasn't younger after all. Maybe it was time to start looking into settling down. Either way, it wasn't going to happen tonight and there was plenty of time to plan her - maybe their - future.

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley relieved the babysitter and packed a suitcase for Sophie, he was taking her for the night possibly longer. He left his sister a note and buckled her into the car. As he climbed in he remembered he was supposed to tell her something. " Victoria wanted me to thank you for the hearts you drew." Sophie smiled proudly "can we go see her? Please please please?" Black shook his head, "maybe tomorrow kiddo, it's wayyy past your bedtime" sophie crossed her arms and pouted.


He drove back to his apartment and when he looked back at Sophie she was fast asleep. He carried her in and tucked her into his bed. He stayed awake doing some work, but then decided it was late and fell asleep on the couch. The next morning Sophie woke up and walked out of his bedroom quietly, she wanted to see Victoria. Bradley's phone was on the coffee table by the couch. She grabbed the phone and walked back into the bedroom.


Sophie was pretty smart for a 6 year old, she went to his contacts and scrolled down to Victoria's name, he had never deleted it. Sophie smiled and called Victoria, hoping she would answer.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Victoria was up again bright and early. This version of The Rocky Horror Picture Show was a small budget one and tonight was closing night. Today was a much more leisurely paced day as it was a later show and Charles had fully recuperated. She was in the middle of preparing breakfast when her phone started to ring. She picks it up and answers. "Hello?"


She had deleted Bradley's contact not long after the drunken phone call. She didn't remember how they exchanged numbers in the first place and that incident solidified, for the time being, the idea of never seeing him again. She pins the phone between her ear and her shoulder as she cracks a couple of eggs on the edge of a glass bowl, waiting for the response of whoever was on the other end.

 

[shygirl3]

Sophie smiled hearing Victoria's voice "Hi! It's Sophie!" she exclaimed happily. "What are you doing? you should come over." she spoke quickly, then rattled off his address. "I can't wait to see you! Okay, I'll let you go so you'll be here faster! Bye!" she said excited not giving her a chance to answer, hanging up the phone. She placed the phone down on the bed and walked back out to the living room. She pulled a chair over to near the door so she could stand on it to look out the peephole to see who was at the door. Sophie sat down patiently awaiting Victoria's arrival.


Bradley was still fast asleep on the couch, he had stayed up late the prior night working on lesson plans and grades. He laid on the couch using his coat as a blanket, his tie draped across the back off the couch and his shoes on the ground beside the couch. Sophie decided she was going to make breakfast for Victoria's arrival. She hopped down from the chair and walked over to the kitchen. The only thing Sophie was able to grab was a box of cereal and the milk. She couldn't reach the bowls, but was able to reach the mugs, so she grabbed three and set them on the table. She opened the box of cereal and sloppily poured it into the mugs, then went back over and stared out the peephole waiting for Victoria.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

"Sophie?" The only response was the tone notifying her that the other line had hung up. Bradley must be asleep if she was allowed to call her with no interruption. She hangs up the call, dumps the uncooked eggs into the sink, and grabs her coat. She mumbles the address to herself as she exits her apartment and hops into her car. Sophie was not going to burn down his house on her watch. She types the address into her car's navigation system, hurrying off at the fastest legal limit. Toddlers and free time were not a good combination.


She slows to a stop in front of the address given to her, pausing to examine the neighborhood before hopping out of the car. She tried to tell herself she was only here to keep Sophie from making a huge mess in the time it takes her to wake him up, but honestly she was here just to see her. It was like Sophie were her own child that had been taken away for far too long. She jogs up to the door, knocking softly.

 

[shygirl3]

Sophie hears the knock and hops down from the chair and opens the door. "Victoria!" she yells wrapping her arms around her. Hearing the door open Bradley woke up in his still half asleep state "Sophie?" He snapped sitting up immediately. Sophie turned around hearing her uncle "Relax, it's just Victoria." Black stood up from the couch and walked over to the door. "Hey what are you doing here?" he asked, running his hand through his hair trying to fix his bed head. "I called her." Sophie answered. He sighed "and how ex-" he paused patting his pants pockets and glancing over at the table, then back down at Sophie. "You took my phone." Sophie smiled grabbing Victoria's hand and pulling her into the apartment.


Black shook his head and closed the door. "I'm sorry if she disturbed you or something." he said with a slight yawn. "Oh relax, Uncle Bradley." Sophie said "I made breakfast for everyone. I'm 6, I can do that." she said proudly. His eyes widened "you what?" he snapped. "I made cereal." she said with a smile as she climbed into a chair by the table. Bradley scratched the back of his neck, "No offense Soph, but how about I make a real breakfast?" She pouted "what's wrong with my breakfast?" He ruffled her hair, walking to the fridge. "Oh nothing, I just thought you'd want pancakes or something." he said casually. Her pout disappeared instantly and she pushed the mug of cereal away "Pancakes!" she yelled. He chuckled and looked over at Victoria, "I'm guessing you'll be joining us?" he said as he pulled out the ingredients.


Sophie hopped down from the chair and ran into his bedroom. Bradley put the bowl down on the counter and walked over and pulled her into a kiss. Sophie walked back out with coloring books and some crayons, "ewww". Black pulled away and rolled his eyes. Sophie put the things on the ground "Come on Victoria come color with me!" Bradley smiled and began making breakfast.

Spoiler

(minus the storm trooper in the corner...and barney stinson lol)

 

[RealisticFantasy]

"I'm sorry if she disturbed you or something." Victoria laughs, "No, it wasn't exactly what I was expecting at eight in the morning but I wasn't preoccupied." She returns the kiss happily, chuckling at Sophie's disgust. "Oh, hush you." She says teasingly. "And, I'll color with you after I clean up your mess. There is no way I'd let your Uncle Bradley's kitchen stay like this, messy girl." She smirks as she sets to work wiping up spilled milk and brushing cereal into the garbage.


It was strange how familial the situation felt to her, as if this was the way it had been for a long time or was meant to be. Is this what Bradley was looking for? He certainly was pushing her away like he had in the past. Maybe he did that because he thought the two of them could never have something like this. There was definitely a lot between the two of them that they decided to discuss. Even the fact that these thoughts came to mind was something worthy of discussion. Either way, the presence of Sophie deterred her from bringing up anything along the lines of having children.


After the kitchen is to her liking and a few 'accidental' brushes with Bradley - she thought it would be fun to get him embarrassed and flustered in front of Sophie for... science, of course -, she sits down next to the little girl. "I'll have you know I'm a master color-er, Soph. What is our object of interest, Sophie Van Gogh?" She chuckles softly at her own joke despite Sophie probably not understanding it. She takes a fistful of crayons and coloring book. Opening the book to a random page, she says, "Ah! How about some pigs in the mud for our pièce de résistance? Or a rocket ship among the stars?" She turns to face Bradley with a smile. "What do you recommend, Uncle Bradley?"

 

[shygirl3]

Black felt her brush up against him a couple of times, and he tried to keep his cool since it was probably just accidents. He finished a batch of pancakes, putting them on their plates, "come here, you two can finish coloring later." With that, there was a knock on the door, "start without me, I'll be right back." He said as he walked towards the door.


Upon opening it, he found his sister there. She smiled and went to walk in, but Bradley held his hand up refusing to let her in. She looked at him confused "But, Bradley..." he shook his head, "leave." Her facial features harden "give me my daughter." He laughed in spite and went off on her, "oh, now that it's convenient for you to be a mother you're going to be mother of the year?! Where the hell were you last night that it was soooo much more important than taking care of your goddamn child!!" Hearing the fighting Sophie sighed and kept eating her pancakes. Bradley and his sister continued their yelling match. Sophie let out a sniffle and then put her fork down and ran into his bedroom where she started to cry.


Black was madder than ever and he wasn't holding back. "lizzie get out." she frowned "you can't keep my child from me, I'll call the cops." he was furious "go ahead and would you like to explain to them why i received a call at 11 o'clock last night from your fucking daughter to read her a bedtime story because the babysitter was asleep and you decided it was more fun to go out with your friends drinking the night away then to be a mother to your goddamn daughter." Sophie ran out with tears streaming down her face clutching her stuffed rabbit, "just stop fighting! Both of you!" she yelled as the tears continued,"if neither of you want me just tell me to leave!" Bradley turned around hearing he voice. He wanted to go comfort her but he couldn't handle the tears, "soph..." he said softly looking at her. His sister pushed passed him "this is why you could never be a parent." she spatted scooping Sophie up into her arms and comforting her. Liz grabbed Sophie's backpack that Bradley had packed and walked out carrying Sophie.


Black had forgotten that Victoria was there and muttered profanity as he stormed into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him. He was furious and was trying everything in his power not to start throwing and punching everything.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Victoria watches the scene with a sigh. That poor girl. Judging by the way the argument went, this wasn't the first time this or something similar had happened. She starts to clean up the kitchen, giving Bradley a few minutes to cool off. She pauses a moment to look at the half-colored pages of the coloring books before shutting them and setting them aside with the crayons. Victoria, his student, would have left him to cool off alone. But, she wasn't Victoria, his student, anymore. She was Victoria, his girlfriend... or something close to that.


She walks over to the bedroom, leaning on the door frame. She hesitates a moment before knocking softly on the door. Maybe it wasn't her place. Maybe she should have left. After all, their relationship had only been two days long so far. What did they really know about each other? She pushes these thoughts from her mind. Whether he would admit it or not, he needed comforting right now. She bites her lip, rocking back and forth on her heels before finding her voice. "Bradley...?"

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley was pacing back and forth in his room. he heard the knock and ran his hand through his hair. He heard Victoria's voice and walked over to the door. Black opened the door and looked at her, his facial features softening slightly. "What?" he asked as he exhaled. He shook his head and looked at her, "Look if you're expecting me to sit down and cry into your lap, it's never going to happen. I'm fine." He said as he grabbed his tie from the dresser and draped in over his neck.


He was tying his tie as he walked past her and over to his messenger bag that was sitting in the arm chair in the living room. Black slid some folders into the bag and glanced over at her, "I should be in my office today, I have a lot of work to do." He said draping the bag over his shoulder. He kissed her forehead, "You have my number now since Sophie decided to call you." He said as he sat down to put his shoes on.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

"No, I don't expect you to do that. But, I do expect you to be honest with me and talk to me about how you're feeling. I want to be someone you can trust. Nobody says that they're fine and actually means it. Ever. I know you're upset." She sighs and crosses her arms over her chest as he kisses her forehead. "But, if you want to continue bottling up your emotions, then fine. That's your choice. Have fun at work." She looks over to him and shakes her head slightly before heading out the door. He was impossible sometimes.


She wasn't mad at him, but she was definitely upset. How were they supposed to have a working relationship if he continues to put on that dumb show where nothing ever hurts him? But, that was the kind of guy he was and it wasn't going to change overnight. It might not change ever. She lets out another sigh at the thought. She didn't want to be just another person he shut off. She wanted this relationship to go somewhere and for that to happen you needed trust. This wasn't trust.

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley looked up and watched her shaker her head and walk towards the door. Shit, Bradley, she's using short sentences. Those are never good. He stood up and followed her. "Victoria..." he said catching up to her. "I trust you. It's just....I have a lot of..." he paused trying to find the right word to use. "stuff...or baggage I guess." He sighed and stepped in front of her, looking down at her. "How about I cook you dinner tonight? Just the two of us." He said softly.


Black adjusted his bag and glanced at his watch "shit..." he muttered. "I have to get to work, think about it and let me know." He leaned in and kissed her cheek, then quickly walked off to his car. He started the car and drove off. As he drove to work he couldn't think about anything else beside what had just happened. Bradley knew if Victoria and him were going to work then he'd have to at least show he was trying to open up to her. He parked his car and began walking across campus.


"Hey Professor!" a voice called behind him, he glanced back and saw one of his students jogging up behind him. "Did I see you at the theater in town the other night?" Black thought for a minute and nodded slowly wondering why his student was asking him. "I was there briefly so you may have saw me." The student smirked "with a bouquet of flowers? For a Mrs. Black? I don't see a ring so it must be just a girlfriend." Bradley wasn't one for prying students "maybe you should be a detective" he said sarcastically. "So you do have a girlfriend?" Black rolled his eyes, "No. I don't. I was running them there for a friend. It was for his girlfriend." The student shrugged "alright just curious. I'm sure you'll find someone." Bradley sighed and continued walking towards his office again. Shit, Bradley you do have a girlfriend...wait do I? He groaned to himself and was tired analyzing their situation.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

Victoria leans against her car with a huff. He had hurried off before she could respond. "So, you trust me, hm?" She mumbles to herself as a small smirk begins to spread across her face. She whips out her phone and calls Charles. "Charlie boy. Change of plans. Tell my understudy that I'm..." She fakes a cough as she pulls open her car door. "Ahem, sick. Oh, and you are, too. We have things to do, people to talk to..." She starts up her car, pulling away from the curb with her phone pinned between her ear and her shoulder. "...and a lot to discuss."




Victoria sits in her idling car in the parking lot of Whitehill, tapping her fingers on the steering wheel. She's shaken from her thoughts when Charles reaches over and pats her knee. "You sure you want to do this?" She looks over to him. "Yeah, I kind of already committed to it." There's a moment of silence where neither moves nor speaks. Then, Charles speaks up again. "Well, you gotta move then." She sighs, unbuckling her seat beat. "Easier said than done. My life isn't a romantic comedy, Charles." He smirks, opening his door. "Today it is." The two of them finally get out of the car, leaving it running. Victoria looks around, her voice becoming a little panicky. "Is she here? I don't see her."


"Easy there, tiger. Everything's gonna work out. Look, there's her car." They both wave to a silver SUV that pulls into the parking lot next to them. A tall, thin blonde woman in a pantsuit hops out. She walks over to Charles and Victoria and kisses both on them on their cheeks. "You look great, Nicole." Nicole groans, pulling her hair back into a ponytail. "I hate business cas, but anything for you, boo. Especially when it comes to something like this." Nicole grins at Victoria who chuckles awkwardly, scratching the back of her neck. "Yeah, I don't know how well he's going to take to it so we need to get him out of there as soon as possible." Nicole bounces with excitement. "Well, come on. Let's get a move on! We have some acting to do." The trio walks off to the main office, murmuring with excitement.


About halfway through Bradley's second class of the day, Nicole bursts into the room, disheveled and out of breath. "Professor Black, sorry I'm late. First, my car broke down. Then, I got lost. It's such a big school. Well, go on. Get out of here. You're going to be late for that thing." Nicole sets a pile of papers and books and pushes him out of the room, shutting the door behind him before he could even mutter a word. Charles meets him outside of his room, swinging an arm around his shoulder and leading him down the hall. "Brad, old friend, old pal! How are you doing? Good? Great. While we have a few moments alone, I just want to talk about Victoria. She's a special gal and I hope to high heaven that you recognize that because she doesn't. A lot of people care a whole lot about her, me being one of them, and a whole lot of the people that should or should have, don't or didn't and that led to some issues. Anyway, I just want you to keep that in mind. Great talk. Buh-bye." Charles opens the passenger door to Victoria's car, giving him a gentle push inside and shutting the door.


Victoria looks over to Bradley with a slightly nervous smile, unsure how he was going to respond now that he had a moment to react. "Surprise..?" She says weakly, scrambling to explain. "You offered dinner and I thought maybe we should do something a bit more... unique. So, I called in a couple of favors. And, uh, don't be mad?" She winces slightly, bracing for the bombardment of shouting.

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley heard the door to his classroom open and muttered "what the fuck?" seeing the blonde walk in. He stared at her as she spoke, and as he went to protest he was pushed out the door. Black spun around to walk back into his classroom but an arm had wrapped around his shoulder and began leading him down the hallway. He tried to say something but was pushed into a car. He glanced over and saw Victoria, he was about to blow his lid and saw her weak smile and listened to what she said. He gave a sigh and ran his hand through his hair, "Victoria..." he said calmly. "I appreciate the thought, but I have a real job and I can't just leave."


Realizing that he may have indirectly insulted her, he grabbed her hand "that came out wrong...I just can't leave. I have to teach." He glanced out the window "it's just I have responsibilities." He opened the door and glanced back at her "my house 6:30ish?" he asked her. Black remembered what Charles had said to him. "I would really like to enjoy dinner with this special fucking snowflake." he said giving her a slight smirk. Bradley had managed to keep his anger under control, the truth is he found it incredibly hard to be mad at her. He glanced at his watch, "I do need to go back to work, love. I'll make dinner for two, if you decide you'd like to join me, food will be waiting for you." Black leaned in and kissed her before stepping from the car.


Black gave her a small smile and began to walk back across campus. He stopped and turned back to look at her. Bradley began walking back to her car as he was typing something on his phone. He opened the door again, sitting down. He buckled his seat belt and glanced over at her "What are you doing to me? I just cancelled my classes. I'm all yours." he said sitting back in the seat.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

She shrinks back into her seat at the phrase 'real job.' He had a real job. A real job. The rest of his words blur into the background as she begins to fiddle with whatever in reach to keep her mind off of the thought. She returns his kiss absentmindedly and watches him walk away. "Yeah, it was stupid..." She mutters to herself with a soft sigh. As she reaches to turn up the radio, Bradley reenters the car. "What are you doing to me? I just cancelled my classes. I'm all yours."


She is unable to hide her excitement and she didn't really want to. "You didn't have to cancel them. Nicole actually has a degree in education and in film studies. She just didn't follow through because she hates the clothing." She giggles. It was a funny thought, someone not going into the career that they put years of work into simply because the clothing didn't appeal to them. Then again, Nicole was a funny person. She shifts the car into reverse, pulling out of the parking space and onto the street. "It's a bit of a drive, but it's worth it... Well, I hope it is."


They get on a road that heads out of the city which they continue on for a small while. Then, road itself continues but she turns onto a beaten path that serves as a sort of dirt road. "You trust me, right?" She rolls down her window, resting her arm in the gap. "Because if you do, this will be really fun. If you don't, you're going to hate it." She eventually pulls off into the grass and shuts off the car. She grins, glancing over to him. "Don't talk, just trust." She unbuckles and hops out of the car. She walks over to the trunk, pulling out a picnic basket and a blanket. She throws the blanket over her shoulder and locks the car after Bradley gets out.


She begins to jog up the nearby hill, shouting back at Bradley. "Come on, come on!" At the crest of the hill sits a large tree and Victoria's grin deepens at the sight of it. There is a heart carved into one side of it, containing '+ V' in it in strangely familiar handwriting. The first letter is scratched out and indistinguishable. But, Victoria sets the blanket down on the exact opposite side of the tree, sitting down on it with the basket at her side. "It's a little cliche even for me so I put a small twist on it." She laughs, patting the ground beside her for Bradley to sit.

Spoiler: Because Outfits... xD

 

[shygirl3]

He gave a slight chuckle seeing her excitement. "If me cancelling classes made you this happy, it was definitely worth it." Black hated surprises so this drive was killing him. He wanted to keep asking until she told him, but he had a feeling she wouldn't budge. He watched the city pass them by as the world around them become more and more rural. Then he felt a bump and they were on a dirt road. Bradley glanced over at Victoria, curious of her plan, and saw how happy she looked. Just trust her Bradley. He sighed and got out of the car as she began running up the hill.





"I'm Coming, I'm Coming." He says back to her, following her up the hill. Black sits down next to her on the blanket. "So this is your plan? Picnic on a hill in the middle of nowhere?" He asked. Black wrapped his arm around her and pulled her into him, kissing the side of her head. "So shall we eat the lovely picnic that you packed for us?" he asked sitting closely to her. For the first time in a while, Black had felt relaxed. He didn't have to worry about class, work, or responsibilities. The only thing he had to worry about was the girl sitting next to him.

 

[RealisticFantasy]

She chuckles at him, unpacking the basket to reveal a variety of foods - some spicy, some sweet, some sour - but nothing of an actual meal. "Didn't I say unique?" She tilts her head in mock confusion. "Oh, that's right!" She pulls out two blindfolds and hands him one. "Welcome to 'Blind Date' where you see food with your hand and feed it to your date." She says in her best game show host voice. She manages to keep a straight face for only a moment before breaking down in laughter, getting the words "God, I'm such a loser" out only in between laughs.


Truth be told, she was embarrassed that she let so much of her... quirkiness show this early in a relationship. Most people didn't want surprise escapes from work and a blindfolded meal on a hill outside of town. Most people wanted sophisticated dinners and meeting the parents and arguing about whether or not to ask for directions. But, that wasn't the kind of person Victoria was. She was weird and funny and spontaneous and with Bradley, she felt like she could actually be that without feeling like an outcast. But, maybe that feeling was wrong. Maybe she was forever destined to be the comic relief in a bad situation.

 

[shygirl3]

Bradley raised an eyebrow at her as she laughing. He gave a slight chuckle and a shake of his head "you're so weird, but if that's what you want to do." He grabbed the blind fold. Bradley took a hand full of hair and gently placed it out of the way so it wouldn't get caught in the blindfold. "You can go first then" he whispered in her ear as he tied it around her head. Black surveyed the food and was trying to decide what to treat her with first. He grabbed a Twizzler and smiled at her blindfolded face.


He held the Twizzler up to her lips and placed it in her mouth. Black took the other end of the twizzler and placed it in his mouth. He stared into her blindfolded eyes waiting for the space between their lips to diminish. He had a feeling that this was super cheesy and too much like a movie, but that's where he got so called moves from.