The music playing over the speakers made Kalei's thoughts drift to Eve. This was the kind of music that the red head liked. Kalei sighed, her hand mindlessly sketching out her latest masterpiece- a surprise for her girlfriend. She did not like her job at the shipping company. Partly because she did not like being around people, but mostly because it separated her from Eve. Not that it bothered her too much. They always met up after Kalei's shift ended. They spoiled each other with lunch dates.
Today they were going to a new art store. Eve did not know that yet. Happy to spend every spare second with her girlfriend. They could not be any more different if they tried, but that was part of their unbreakable bond. Frustrated, Kalei flipped her pencil in her hand, erasing the construction lines from the notepad she was supposed to use for making note of special requests on deliveries.
The day crawled along. By the time she left, it was starting to cool down. She threw on a jacket over her poppy shirt. The same one she was wearing when she first bumped into Eve. Humming to herself, the blonde made her way to the music store. Eve had not arrived yet. She was running late.
To pass the time, Kalei unfolded the piece of paper from her pocket and smoothed it out on a music stand. She used her stub of a pencil to darken the lines she was happy with. Lost in the rhythm of her hand streaking up and down the paper, she did not hear the doorbell belt out a jingle. Nor did she see the red head until she was right behind her, rearing up on her toes.
Eve threw her arms around her girlfriend. Giving her a joyful squeeze. Kalei gasped, dropping her pencil. The lead snapping as it dug into the carpet. She rushed to hide the sketch, scrunching it into a ball in her hand. She turned in her girlfriend's embrace. One hand cupping Eve's cheek as the other crammed the sketch back into her pocket. She looked into those green eyes with a lovestruck grin.
"How are you?" Eve asked, nuzzling her girlfriend's nose.
"Better now that you're here." Kalei blushed.
Eve giggled.
"You're such a hopeless romantic. Where are we going today?"
"Nope, I'm not telling." Kalei shook her head, adjusting her snapback. "It's a surprise."
Eve started to rattle off all the places she could think of that they could both enjoy.
Kalei chuckled, closing her eyes.
Eve huffed and fiddled with her hair.
"You should wear it up like that more often. It looks…amazing."
"And I don't?" Eve teased playfully; her hand secure in her girlfriend's.
"More than usual. You know what I meant."
"I do. I just love the grumpy little look on your face. Do it again." Eve chuckled.
"I have a better idea."
Only Eve could make her feel this way. Only Eve made her think and behave so…romantically. Kalei loved it. They had only been together for a short time, but she knew every time that she looked at Eve- admired her- that she wanted to spend her life waking up beside her. Kalei stopped walking, sweeping the redhead into her embrace. Lips almost touching. Eve felt her cheeks heat up to almost the same colour of her hair. She looked into the blonde's eyes that shimmered like sapphires. The soft autumn sunshine haloed her head like an angel. Orange, red and yellow leaves pirouetted down like tiny dancers, catching in their hair as they shared a moment- the world fading around them. Kalei's palm twitched as she ran her fingers through Eve's fiery locks. Their bodies melded into one.
"Hmmn." Eve murmured happily as she breathed in and out, listening to Kalie's heavy breathing.
"This is nice."
"This is not all I have planned for today, Eve." Kalie whispered in her ear.
A shudder spread down Eve's spine as she revelled in how delicious her name sounded escaping the blonde's lips.
Leaves crunched and curled beneath their combat-boots and Converse as they separated.
The air between them warm. A bubble of the warm and fuzzies as the heat gave way to a brisk Autumn chill. Kalei kept her finger entwined with Eve's. She noticed Eve's shoulders trembling.
"You're cold. Here. Take my jacket."
"I couldn't-"
Kalei smiled, shrugging out of her jacket, draping it around the red head's shoulders.
"I insist."
"Thank you."
Kalei's knees suddenly felt like they were made of jelly.
"You're welcome." She turned her head, her lips brushing over the top of Eve's hair.
An awkward moment passed. Eve brushing her fringe behind one ear with her hand.
"So…Um…." She fidgeted under Kalei's jacket, comforted by her scent.
"Your next surprise is waiting over there. Across the park. Do you see it?"
"All I see is shops. Cute little shop fronts." Eve shook her head, squinting through the trees. She added the last part because she knew what Kalei was like. She knew Kalei better than anyone. More than she knew herself.
So much had changed.
For the better.
Kalei did not seem to notice the grin.
"Yes. Would you like a hint?"
Eve shook her head. Today was full of surprises, but she did not want their time together to end.
They arrived, stepping off the damp grass onto the pavement.
Eve looked up and down the street. Her girlfriend allowed her hand to slip free of her loving grasp.
Kalei could not hold back any longer, turning in the direction of a little arts and crafts store.
"I'll buy. You wanted some Markers, didn't you? Let's see if they have any. I need a few things myself."
"Ah!" Eve gasped as she felt a hand pat her on the backside before Kalei stepped past her.
That was when the redhead noticed a crumpled piece of sketching paper jutting from the pocket of her girlfriend's jeans. The paper was covered in blemishes indicative of a pencil smudges and eraser shavings.
"What's that in your pocket?" Eve asked innocently, pointing.
"Nothing." Kalei lied.
"It doesn't look like nothing to me. Did you draw something? Can I see it?"
"N-no."
"Aww. Why not?"
"Because...Uh…"
"Is it for me?"
"It's…" Kalei's brain scrambled trying to think of a response. "It's not finished yet."
"I'm only teasing. I love you." She smiled, bopping Kalei on the nose with her finger before throwing her arms around her. "Thank you for being such a hopeless romantic. Thank you for everything!"