Owen knew he was about to have the best day of his life. It didn't matter how it went, what they did, or even if it rained. He knew it couldn't get better than this; the peculiar sound of her laugh and the way her freckles sparkled in his eyes. He felt he owned it to her to give her that kind of day back.
The only thing he planned out for their day was that he wouldn't plan anything at all. Not only because he didn't have time; the walk out of the subway station up to the streets only took a minute after all, but because he believed himself to be spontaneous and planning things ahead of time was not his thing.
He never thought he would be lucky enough to have it like this, so he had made out of that subway trip the best he could, find every detail on how her ordinary day looked like.
He was going to be the one to let her forget about all that, and have an extraordinary day out with him. They had an entire city to explore and forget about everything else.
Claire was about to step into an extinct world with him, one without cellphones and other distractions. One where there was nothing around them but real and genuine human interaction. He was going to gift her with a day that would break that boring routine she had, Owen knew she was taking a risk and stepping out of her comfort zone for him and he was determined to make it worth it — maybe if he impressed her, even have a second round at it.
He thought back to more simple times, what did people do to have fun and just a good time all around before they got sucked onto spending their time looking at a screen? He had never let himself get imprisoned by all this, he only used his cellphone for the necessary; call or text someone for an emergency, his cellphone plan didn't even include data usage at all. He didn't need it, what for? What was the gain in sitting there iMessaging someone when you could call them, suggest meet up for a cup of coffee or tea and talk face to face instead? Sure life got busy, but that didn't stop previous generations to keep it real.
Owen's mind traveled back to his childhood and the first half of his adolescence; back to the nineties. She sure remembered how it was like to live in that era. Claire had confessed to have a CD of trashy pop music from back then, after all.
He had made up his mind, he was going to imprint his existence, the memory of having met him old-schooled. He hoped he would see her again and even more than once, but if he didn't ...at least he wanted to make sure she would never forget that one guy who had given her the kind of day no one seemed to be able to afford anymore. He didn't have the money for an expensive gem or a luxury dinner, but he had the time to make a lasting impression and he was going to use every second to dig a deep one.
Before he could give her the most precious gift there was, he needed two things from her; the first one was for her to agree turn her cellphone off and keep it in her purse. He had done the same with his and put it in there with hers.
Claire was surprised at how easy it had been for him to be able to convince her to do this, but she figured she was already going to skip work to be with him. She should also disconnect herself from it, if she was going to miss a day of work she should do it properly.
The second thing was those heels she was wearing. He hadn't asked her to get off the subway with him so they could spend the day stuck in traffic while taking a cab or an Uber from one place to the next. Besides, even if he didn't know how the day would turn out, he knew heels just wouldn't do.
That's how they ended up at a small shoe store just around the corner from the subway station. To his relief, she hadn't questioned him and had agreed to get some comfortable shoes for their day out in town.
Owen had learned she was a size nine and a half while insisting to be he who would go search for the perfect pair. He requested for Claire to wait for him sat on a shoe bench nearby.
The redhead did as told, she took that time to take her heels off and place them one next to the other, perfectly aligned, near her seat. She looked around wondering what was taking Owen so long, but he truly was making sure he found the perfect pair of shoes for her to wear.
It was until she heard what sounded like a trumpet come from behind her, that she turned around — and so did everyone else in that isle and nearby.
He had a spot on mouth trumpet sound. Owen had truly fooled her there, making her think he had gotten one with him. He was playing the universal trumpet announcement while he carried a shoebox in his hands and took cautious steps, almost marching his way over to her.
The redhead was curious, her head tilted to the side and her lips pursed offering him her entire attention. Her green eyes followed him, she was giggling as he kept producing that trumpet sound through his teeth and lips. What was he up to this time?
"By the Duke's command," He cleared his throat and slowly kneeled down on one knee by her side. "Every lady in the kingdom must try this pair of sneakers." He started to recite, his hands opening the shoebox he had set down on the floor. "And only if they fit!" He exclaimed with determination, "shall the dame be worth of a lovely day out in the city with this handsome gentleman." He purposely overdid a cheeky grin for her.
Claire was giggling at his entire little sketch. It was the most adorable thing she had ever seen. She bit on her lower lip and watched him unwrap the black funky casual slip-ons he had picked for her.
"So milady, if I may?" He gently asked before taking her right foot in his hands and tenderly rested it on his lap.
Green eyes asked for a second of contact with his hazel ones, a soft smile curved in her lovely lips. This was how fairy tales felt like, and it was impossible not to fall for them.
Owen took the shoe out of the box and slowly slipped it on, "the perfect fit." He murmured before looking up, his fingers caressing the instep of her foot.
"The perfect fit." She echoed with a light murmur.
Owen and Claire had rented a couple of bicycles so they could move around town. Hers had a cute little basket on the front. She had her purse, blazer, and the shoebox with her heels in it.
The redhead had also insisted to wear a helmet, it was a busy city after all. She might have left her itinerary and her predictable routine back at the subway station, but she was still herself and couldn't help go by the book. A helmet was mandatory and it didn't cost anything to be extra cautious about these things.
"I haven't ridden one of these in like eighteen years." She laughed while shifting on the seat, getting used to it and comfortable. "So if I fall on my ass, don't laugh." She smiled wide.
He leaned over and fixed the helmet on her head. "You won't fall." He promised, his hand caressing her shoulder gently. "Are you ready, pretty lady?"
"Mhmm.." She nodded and slowly set her right foot on the pedal for impulse before she started riding the bike. She laughed fighting with the handlebar as she slowly gained control of it and managed to keep her balance.
Owen was pedaling just a few inches away from her, making sure she got it. So far it looked like she was enjoying this, and he was relieved. It wasn't like he had any doubt that she wouldn't, but she truly didn't look like the kind of woman to get on a bike and start riding it through town.
Claire Dearing was full of surprises and he couldn't wait discover them all.
They both rode their bikes down the street, it seemed to be a calmed morning for traffic too which was something to be grateful for. They were going without a set destination, just two people following the road in front of them while enjoying the fresh air hit their faces.
They both stopped at a red light, this gave Owen time to look up and study their surrounding and figure out where exactly in town they were standing, "there's a park three blocks down to our left and then straight end." He smiled.
She turned to look at him, her feet resting on the ground while she fixed her red hair under that helmet.
"I'll race you there." He challenged her.
"Wait What?" She didn't have time to ask more, their light had turned green and apparently that was the unspoken signal for them to go. Claire was still getting used to the bike, so she needed a moment to gain the impulse to start pedaling again.
Owen had a few seconds advantage ahead of her now, but if he had learned something on the subway was not to underestimate that beautiful redhead.
Claire was very competitive so it wasn't that easy to beat her. She pedaled that bike the fastest she could, her legs feeling the unusual and extra effort she was putting on them. She was glad for the helmet she was wearing because for one, it kept her long hair from flying all over her face, and two, she felt like at any given moment she could fly over the handlebar and land on the floor, either head or butt first.
Exactly three blocks down she turned to her left, following the directions he had given. It was on that curve where she got him and passed him by. Now she just had to keep her distance opened from him straight on that street until reaching the park at the end.
She was close to the sidewalk, not wanting to get in the way of any vehicle driving by or people walking close by. There was a moment in their bike race when they kept fighting to stay ahead of the other.
She was laughing, he could hear her which said a lot about that charming laugh of hers. How livid it was, it made his heart feel like it could fly.
At the last second, she managed to get an inch ahead of him and beat him to the park. She stopped by the sidewalk and placed her hand on her stomach, trying to take some much needed air.
Both of them were panting, resting their arms on their respective handlebar trying to catch their breath. They could feel their hearts threatening to beat themselves out of their chests.
"So—" She sighed gasping for some air, "Do you get beaten by a girl twice in a morning everyday, or that's just today?" Claire teased him, watching him step off his bike and securing it with the side stand.
"Don't get used to it, babe. This doesn't happen thrice in a day." He chuckled, walking over and reaching out to take that helmet off her.
"Hmm..." She pursed her lips, fixing her eyes on his while he took the helmet off.
She could do it herself, but she was liking having him this close and she was also a fan of how he brushed his fingers through her hair, fixing it to his liking after the helmet had messed it up a bit.
She needed a moment before stepping off the bike too, Claire felt like her legs were shaking and she'd fall if she tried to move.
Owen was an opportunist when it came to taking advantage of some moments, get to show some affection here and there. He let his fingers brush her bangs which he found adorable, specially because it made her look up and blush.
He leaned close, resting against her leg, his hands were now taking the liberty to braid her hair. He had divided it in two and made one on each half, his fingers playing with the ends of her hair and resting one braid on each shoulder.
He didn't bother to restrain his thoughts from being voiced out, "you are perfect~"
They had found an empty wooden double swing in the playground. Claire and Owen sitting each on one. Owen had gotten a rainforest volcano cake for them to share. They sold them across the street.
The volcano was made of brownie filled with vanilla ice cream and a ball of it on top, chocolate syrup spread all over. He had gotten little dinosaur-shaped gummies to decorate their explosive snack.
He had the container on his lap, both their swings twirled to the side so they could face each other.
Claire opened her mouth so he could feed her a spoon of the vanilla ice-cream. She chuckled while waiting for him to take the spoon to her lips.
He smiled watching her close her mouth taking the bite and nibbling on her lips. He had been wanting to kiss them since that night he saw her asleep on the subway, but he knew patience would eventually reward him — at least he hoped it would be that way.
The redhead took the spoon from him and leaning close, she dug some ice-cream from the volcano's crater and drove it up to his lips. She laughed lightly watching him take it and leaving some on the side of his lip. "Come here." She motioned for him to lean closer.
He did as told and could feel his heart beating loud at the touch of her index finger wiping the corner of his lips. He almost dropped their dessert at the view of her gently sucking her finger after it had cleaned ice-cream from him.
"Careful with our dinosaurs." She teased watching his reflexes save their brownie volcano from falling.
"I think Mount Sibo just exploded all over them." He wrinkled his nose apologetically, his eyes down noticing how the ice-cream ball had fallen down over the gummies.
"Don't tease." She played along with a soft pout, "I'll make you go there with me and save them." She laughed.
"Maybe we can." He smiled and broke a piece of the foam container's lid. He set it by the brownie and started pulling all the dinosaur gummies out of the melted ice-cream.
"You are so silly." She rolled her eyes playfully but that didn't stop her from pulling her swing closer and helping him. "Where did you get Mount Sibo?" She wondered about the name.
He shrugged, "is being this silly a good or a bad thing?" He wondered with a curious smile.
"It's a very good thing." She slowly brought her eyes up to meet his, pinching a little blue gummy raptor with her finger out of the ice-cream.
She slowly fed it to him, Owen not only taking it but also finding the way to kiss her cold finger pads. His hands reached out to keep hers captive in his, both of them forgetting there was a world out there turning.
In that moment, it was just the the two of them lost in each other's eyes.
