The following days were back to usual, no sign of Phillip ,to Alastor's happiness, and things became normal again.
Charlie went with him to the office, they spent time together and Charlie proceeded with her art.
Saturday finally arrived and Alastor and Charlie were already out. It was a warm sunny day and Charlie had a beige sun hat and a light pink dress on with a pattern of white and red small flowers.
Alastor had a white shirt and black trousers on.
They were in the city and stopped for dessert. The store caught Charlie's attention with how cute the decorations were. There were all pastels and a bunch of candies and desserts that looked dreamy to her.
"Choose what you desire." Alastor pulled Charlie by her shoulders, bringing her to stand in front of him. She faced a glass layer that protects a bunch of mini cakes, muffins and cake slices.
"But there's so many options!" Charlie glued her nose against the glass with her eyes shining. "And they are so pretty."
Alastor chuckled as he found it quite adorable.
"Well, you can take your time, dear, or I can ask for recommendations."
"Oh please do! I don't know what to choose." She looked at him with a pleading expression.
Alastor chuckled and raised his hand slightly..
The attendant behind the counter nodded to Alastor. The brunette asked which ones are the most purchased from the display and the attendant pointed to a few.
Charlie chose a white slice of cake with Marshmallow and strawberries. Alastor nodded to the attendant to get it for them.
"Can you serve it to our table?" Alastor asked while offering his arm to Charlie.
"Sure!"
"Also, do you want something to drink, dear?" He smiled at Charlie who slowly hugged his arm tighter.
"I want a soda! Coca-Cola, if that's fine."
Alastor smiled and turned to the attendant.
"One Coca-Cola and one Pepsi-Cola, please." Alastor gave a little nod and proceeded to walk towards a small table at the corner of the store. He pulled the chair out for Charlie, as usual, and adjusted it for her as she sat down.
He sat in front of her and crossed his legs underneath the table.
"Won't you get anything for you?" She tilted her head.
"I got something, a Pepsi-Cola." He smiled.
"I mean, to eat..." she giggled.
"I'm not a big fan of desserts or sugary things." He shook his head slightly.
"No? But what about the cookie the other day, and the Pepsi?" She was confused. He was just asking and consuming those things to please her?
"Those are the only sugary things that I love to enjoy." He admitted and chuckled.
"Oh! I didn't know that." She leaned over the table extremely curious. She enjoyed learning new things about Alastor.
"My beloved mother made the best cookies you can imagine." He smiled and crossed his arms over the table. "Maybe I can make some for you."
"I would love that!" She seemed excited and happy with the idea.
The time passed and they finished their orders and Alastor called the attendant to bring the bill.
Charlie remembered the day with Phillip. That he called her an independent woman. Maybe... What would Alastor do if she said she wanted to pay?
"I want to split with him, please." She smiled while getting her purse.
Alastor looked at her and placed his hand over hers that was opening her purse.
"No no, dear. I mean, I invited you here, it's only fair if I pay for us." He explained with a smile.
"I- I want to pay this time. Would it be bad?" She tilted her head.
"Of course not, dear. If you feel like it, we can split. I'm just saying that there's no problem for me to pay for us both. It was my invite, after all." He kept his smile and released her hand.
This wasn't normal for the era, usually men should always pay for women, so the attendant was a little bit confused.
Alastor looked at Charlie with a smile, but the smile was different this time.
"What?" She asked as they finished paying the bill and Alastor gave a tip for the attendant.
"Your spunk."
"What about it?" He was bothered about it? Charlie frowned a bit.
"It reminds me of my mother, actually." He chuckled. "Which is a wonderful thing." He stood up and then offered his hand to her.
"Why so?" She blinked in confusion.
"Because she insisted on paying her own and some establishments didn't quite accept that. You know, because she was a woman." He shook his head and chuckled again.
"Is that so?" She hugged his arm as she got up and walked with him to leave the store.
"Yes, it's not common here." He crossed the street with her.
"Well, thank you for not making a big deal of it then." She placed her cheek against his arm.
"No problem, but I will insist on paying next time I invite you somewhere." He chuckled and looked at her.
"I will let you do that." She squeezed her cheek to his arm, looking up at him with a smile.
They were walking when Charlie felt a heavy aura. She slowed down, looking around. Alastor noticed the change in the pace and looked at Charlie. She seemed concerned and it looked like she was searching for something.
"Is everything okay?" He asked in a whisper.
Charlie didn't reply, she was tense, she was looking around until her eyes laid on the mysterious man. He had another look, and the aura was stronger than the last one.
He was looking around in the crowd and her heart was pounding fast. If they discover where she was she wouldn't be able to stay with Alastor. If they caught her, they would bring her back home. She didn't want that.
The guy was getting closer to them and Charlie froze. She turned abruptly to Alastor and held his face. She slowly pulled him against her body that was against the wall of a store.
"It's him again?" The way she pulled Alastor against her body, at first made him feel confused but then he remembered when it happened before.
"Yes, if he finds me, I will have to return home, and... I don't want to." She was getting so tense that she felt her eyes wanting to start watering. She was having the time of her life.
"I can talk to him, who's the guy?" Alastor had his hands over the wall keeping a certain distance from Charlie. He was about to look away to see who the guy was but Charlie held his face.
"No please, you don't understand, he won't listen to you, and they can hurt you, Al." She was shaking and her eyes were shining in desperation and tears that insisted to fill her eyes.
"Okay, okay, what do you want me to do?" He adjusted his glasses and slowly touched her arm.
"I- I don't know, just stay close, please." Her hand went to his collar and she pulled him even closer.
"Okay, do you want me to pretend?" He knew she would know what he meant.
She nodded in desperation. Truth be told she was waiting for him to get closer to change her hair once again so the guy wouldn't recognize her.
Alastor leaned against Charlie gluing his body against hers just like the first time they did it. Charlie changed her hair when she was sure he was close enough not to see it. Her hair was black and shorter now.
Alastor's hand went to Charlie's waist, caressing it and rubbing his hand against the side of her was looking to the sides even though his face was extremely close to hers.
The thought of the first time came back to his mind, now with the fact that he felt her lips against hers a few days ago. His chest was starting to pound fast as his body was getting warm slowly. Should he? Should he try?
Alastor looked down to Charlie's lips. His lips were starting to get warm as well. He got closer, touching his nose with hers, which finally caught her attention. She was paying so much attention to their surroundings that she didn't pay attention to how close they were.
When she noticed it, her heart stopped and she felt her cheeks getting warm. She could feel his breath against her lips. Her hand was holding his collar and she slid it slowly to his chest. She was caressing it as she felt her own muscles tense.
Alastor was approaching her all so slowly. Charlie semi opened her lips wanting to pull him to her but... She couldn't. Alastor's mind was rushing. He felt the urge to try, he never felt that before.
Alastor closed his eyes and touched her lips with his. His heart was jumping inside his chest, why was he feeling this? Why were her lips so soft?
At first Charlie widened her eyes, but after she closed her eyes and slid her hand to his neck pulling him even closer and making more pressure against their lips.
Alastor slowly slid his other hand to her waist too, both were holding it and gluing the blondie against him.
He had no idea what he was doing, he just kept his lips against hers and shivered at her touch.
As he was experimenting with this rush of new feelings he "woke up" from what he was doing.
He separated their lips and it made a low but shivering sound.
"I'm sorry, I shouldn't have done that." He whispered, it wasn't right.
Charlie was feeling so many emotions that she didn't quite understand why he was apologizing.
"Sh," she pulled him closer to her again and connected their lips once more.
Alastor widened his eyes and his heart jumped again against his chest. He was nervous, he was liking it but this rush of adrenaline reminds him of a specific moment.
He separated their lips again and Charlie frowned.
"I'm sorry Charlie, but this isn't right."
'Why not?' She shouted in her mind. It felt so right for her, why isn't it right for him?
Charlie held his face and caressed it, cleaning his lips of her lipstick.
"Okay, I'm sorry." She apologized and looked up at him.
When his eyes went to her hair, Charlie froze and changed it to blonde again. He frowned, he was imagining things? He had to back off a bit to be sure. Her hair looked black for a second. Maybe it was the hat? Maybe it was the rush of adrenaline inside his chest?
"I think we are safe." She tried to change his attention before he asked about her hair.
"Okay, hm." He looked a bit confused with everything. "Want to go home?"
She nodded. Actually she wanted to kiss him even more, just stay there and enjoy him.
Alastor offered his arm and was visibly flustered. She hugged his arm and felt her chest growing warmer.
She didn't feel the other guy's aura so she believed it was fine.
He finally kissed her back, even if he backed away, it meant... There was hope for them?
—
As they arrived home, the silence filled the house, which bothered the blondie. But she knew it could be Alastor not happy with what happened between them. Or thinking they crossed his boundaries too. But wait, this time he approached her, not otherwise right?
She... Couldn't quite remember. For second she was sure, and on the other, she wasn't anymore.
As they had their meal she tried to ask if he wanted to pose for her again. He politely answered that it was okay, but didn't show any excitement. She really fucked up with him this time.
They've spent the rest of the day, talking just the necessary and it really bugged Charlie, since well. She had liked what happened.
All she wanted was that day to end.
—
Sunday morning, the birds were singing outside and the sunlight was touching her cheek through the window.
She woke up with a gentle knock on her door.
"Charlie?" Alastor called.
"Yes?" She replied sleepy, turning her body to the other side in a lazy way.
"Would you like to join me on a picnic today?" He didn't open the door and his voice was soothing.
"Yes, I would." She was stretching slowly and then rubbed the back of her hand against her eyes.
"Great! I have everything set up, when you are ready, let me know!" He walked away and Charlie sat up. She was feeling extremely lazy that specific day, maybe because of all the things that happened yesterday. But it brightened her a little bit more when she noticed Alastor's voice didn't sound bad. Actually he sounded happier.
She changed her clothes and went to the bathroom to put on a bit of makeup on.
She had a white short sleeve shirt and a long black skirt on with the same hat she wore yesterday.
As she showed up, Alastor was waiting for her at the dining table with a picnic basket.
The brunette wore a newsboy's cap, a dark red shirt with black trousers and a grey pair of pants. His sleeves were folded because that day was particularly warm.
"I'm ready." She smiled as soon as she stopped by the table.
"Wonderful!" He looked at her and got up.
"You look pretty, dear." He took off his hat to mesmerize the blonde.
"Thank you, you do too." She pulled the sides of her skirt making a little bow and crossing her legs.
Alastor got the basket and offered his free arm to her. As always Charlie hugged his arm, it was already a personal thing between them two.
They walked to the same park they danced in, it was very quiet. It worried Charlie because her mind couldn't stop from connecting today with yesterday.
He was disappointed with her, wasn't he? She made him want to avoid talking to her, again, just like the first time. How stupid she was?
As she was getting more and more worried, the tighter she hugged his arm and squeezed her cheeks against it.
Alastor found a place under a big tree where the wind was refreshing and they could see the park very well. A huge lake was there, shining with the sun rays and a few ducks were swimming.
He placed the basket on the grass and got a picnic towel. He placed it by the basket before standing up.
He offered his hand to Charlie so she could sit on the blanket. She kindly accepted and sat by the basket.
Alastor kneeled and started to set the picnic food.
There were a few fruits like bananas, apples, grapes... A bottle with fresh juice, sandwiches over plastic plates, and some small containers that Charlie couldn't see what they had inside.
He placed two plastic cups, one for her and the other for him onto the blanket.
Charlie eyed everything and smiled.
"It looks so pretty." She meant not just the picnic, but the view, the day, everything was pretty.
"Thank you dear, I was hoping you would enjoy it." He placed her plate with a sandwich and served the juice into the cups.
"I really do..." She kindly smiled, taking a lock of her hair and placing it behind her ear.
Alastor's face was facing the plate, but his eyes went up. A smirk grew on his face and Charlie unconsciously bit her lips.
Why did he have to look so handsome?
She looked at her plate and carefully took her sandwich, taking the first bite. It has cheese and ham, nothing very fancy, but delightful for a breakfast.
The silence was there again, she could hear the birds singing.
As they finished their sandwiches she looked at Alastor. He was tapping his leg with the tip of his finger. Even though he looked calm this little behavior was off for him.
"Is everything okay, Al?" She looked around to be sure no one was nearby so she could call him Alastor.
"Oh yes, I was just meaning to ask... How was it with Phillip?" He looked up at her with a kind smile.
"I told you already, it was fine." She sounded confused.
"No, I know, but - it didn't quite sound how it was, and I know Phillip's fame." He chuckled, crossing his legs.
'His fame? Fame of being rude or fame of talking about himself?' She thought, pursing her lips.
Maybe... She could tell him the truth...
"It was... Well, it was something." She pursed her lips once more.
"Something?" He tilted his head with a smile.
"Yes, I mean, I- " She should tell the truth. She took a breath and sighed. "It was one of the worst meetings I had."
"Date." - He said.
"What?" Now she was confused.
"It was a date, wasn't it?" He blinked, confused.
"No, I wouldn't call it a date." She giggled. "And if it was, it was terrible."
"Oh? So he didn't try anything?" He adjusted his glasses.
"What do you mean?" Charlie adjusted her posture, not quite understanding why Alastor was talking about it.
"It's because Phillip is known for - always having successful dates with women. Especially from the women in the office." He chuckled. "And he is probably bragging about your "date" to everyone." Alastor shrugged.
"Well—" Charlie filled her cheeks with air and frowned. "It was terrible. I felt he was bragging about himself the whole time and urg." Now she got pissed. How could he brag about something that didn't happen?
Alastor chuckled and looked at Charlie with a half smile. Charlie was looking to the side, while crossing her arms.
"And, about your fiancé- Did you end up with him, right?" Alastor's voice paused more than usual.
"Yes... I am not with him anymore, I told you." She adjusted her hat and sighed.
"I'm sorry." Alastor got up which caught Charlie's attention. He walked and sat right by her side. At first she felt her heart racing, but then he was quiet again, just drinking his cup.
She looked to the sky for a moment, even if he didn't want anything with her, being able to spend time with him was good. It was delightful.
"I was thinking..." Alastor started to speak while looking to the sky with her.
"Huh?" She froze. Would he say how bothered he was about the attempts when she tried to kiss him? Or that maybe she should return to the hotel?
"My parents used to bring me here to have a family picnic at least twice per month." He started talking without even looking at her. He was just facing the blue sky.
"I had very good memories from here. And I remember how happy they looked." He chuckled. "Such a silly couple." He stretched his legs over the towel and crossed them.
"That's sweet, Al." She admitted with a sweet smile.
"That's why I brought you here."
"Because it makes you happy?"
"Yes-" he said, still facing the sky.
"But not only that."
He adjusted his posture, straightening his back.
"I figured this would be a good place to do things right." He said as he slowly turned his face to her.
"Things right?" She turned her head to him just to notice how close he was.
"Yes, what I did yesterday wasn't right…" He started to speak. So it was him who tried to kiss her after all… Not her as she doubted.
"No, don't worry, Al, it was-" Before she could continue he interrupted her.
"That's why I wanted to bring you here and ask you properly-" His hand went to her hat, removing it.
"-Can I kiss you?" He whispered, placing his hand over hers.
Her heart stopped and her throat had a knot.
She wasn't expecting this, she wasn't expecting such a polite gesture.
Usually people just went for it with her, but here was Alastor. Holding her hand and asking.
"Y-yes." She blushed and her voice was trembling.
His hand went to her cheek, where he caressed and slowly moved closer to her.
'If it is a dream I will kill someone' Charlie thought but his hand was cold, as always. Her heart was pounding extremely fast and she was leaning for him.
It seemed like slow motion, and she could feel butterflies in her stomach.
Alastor's lips touched hers very slightly and carefully. He was afraid, wasn't him? He was nervous, she could feel it in his touch.
Charlie's hand went directly to his neck, where she tried to pull him closer to press their lips more which made Alastor's cheeks become even more warm and red.
As he separated his lips from hers she could see how deep a blush was spread across his cheeks.
He sighed as he was trying to regain air.
"Did you like it?" She bit her lips looking at him and caressing.
"I- " he wasn't quite sure. He felt his chest pounding fast and his lips burning as his hands were shaking. Even his legs felt weaker. The hand shaking bugged him, but the adrenaline made him wonder a few things.
"Sh." Charlie shushed him as he was taking a while to reply. She pushed him slowly against the ground, making his back lay against the ground.
"What- What are you doing?" He was extremely flustered.
"Kissing you, silly." She giggled and slowly leaned against his lips once again.
Alastor widened his eyes for a moment. But feeling Charlie's hand over his chest and her warm lips against him, brought him a cozy feeling, even though he was nervous.
He slowly closed his eyes, letting her kiss him.
Beta Reader:
Angel: angie_bun