Chapter 9
AN: I don't own the Twilight characters, but I do own the ones that I made up.
My mouth pulled into satisfied grin as Veronica took in her surroundings with wide eyes.
"How, how did you know I've always wanted to go to the zoo?" she asked in awe.
"I didn't, but I'm glad you like it," I tell her as I climb out of the car and run to the other side to open the door for her.
I take her hand and help her out of the car, smiling at the excitement coming off of her in waves.
"This date looks promising already," she said as she laced her fingers through mine.
"Where do you want to go first?" I asked her after paying the entrance fee.
"Hmm, I don't know," she said, looking down at the map in her hand. "How about we go see the penguins first, and then go from there?"
"Sounds good," I tell her, pulling her into my side.
-o0o-
"Awe, Paul, they're so cute," Veronica cooed as she looked at the penguins through the glass.
"Yeah, I love they're bad ass tuxedoes. Penguins are like the James Bond of the animal world." I say, grinning as she tried to hide her giggle behind her hand.
"So where to next?" I ask her as she steps back from the penguin habitat and straight into my arms.
"I don't know," she says as she snuggles deeper into my side. "Why don't you pick?"
"I down for anywhere you want to go."
Veronica sighed and looked up at me, shaking her head with her lips pursed.
"That's great and all, but why don't we go where you want to go?" she insisted, making my heart melt at her big green eyes looking up at me.
"Okay," I sigh, "but after that you're choosing again."
Veronica frowned as she thought it over for a second.
"Deal," she said, pulling away from me holding out her hand. "I pick then you pick."
I help back a groan as she pulled away, leaving an empty feeling in my chest.
"Deal," I said, shaking her hand once before pulling her back into my side, instantly relaxing at her touch.
"So where to?" she asked.
"Let's go to the African Savanna thing," I said, already pulling her into that direction. "I've always wanted to see lions."
"Great! Let's get moving then."
I laughed as Veronica walked in front of me, pulling me behind her.
-o0o-
"Ooh, look at the hippo," Veronica squealed, pointing in the direction of the hippo before turning around to look at the other animals. "And the giraffe. Ooh, and look, there's a donkey wearing pj's."
I turned to the 'donkey' and couldn't help but laugh.
"That's a zebra," I told her, still chuckling as she rolled her eyes at me.
"I know that, silly," she said after her girly squeal fest at all of the animals.
I shook my head and wrapped my arm around her waist as she pointed out more animals.
I stared at the excitement on her face as she took in everything around us, jumping slightly as she spoke to me again.
"Oh, Paul, look at the lion cubs," she said, already trying to pull me in their direction. "Do you think they'll let us pet them?"
"I don't know, babe," I said with a shrug. "Let's go ask them."
I grabbed her hand and laced my fingers through hers before walking to the nearest zookeeper's station.
After a long and tedious discussion, and a few growls on my part, the zookeeper finally agreed to let us into the habitat with the cubs.
"What was that back there?" Veronica asked once we were in the habitat and out of hearing range. "Did you seriously growl at him?"
"He was checking you out," I said with a huff. "I just wanted to make sure that we were on the same page."
"Oh, really, and which page would that be?" she asked, raising her eyebrows expectantly.
"The page that this is a date and if he kept up his ogling he would regret it," I said as I glared over my shoulder, raising my voice enough for the idiot to hear me and visibly shrink back.
I gave a satisfied smile as I turned back to Veronica, who was in a happy mood again as she chatted with girl holding a struggling cub.
"Awe, he's so cute," she purred as she stroked the cub's fur.
I had to bite back another growl of jealousy as she took the baby lion into her arms and cooed at him.
It'sagoodthingI'mfluffytoo, I thought as I glared at the cub.
"Paul, come feel him. He's so fluffy."
Reluctantly I made my way toward the overgrown cat and patted him lightly on his head.
"Isn't he cute?" Veronica asked, smiling up at me.
"Yeah, adorable," I grumbled, wrapping my arm firmly around her waist.
Veronica rolled her eyes at my possessiveness, but leaned into my side as she continued cuddling the lion.
After a while she pulled away slowly and held him out to me.
"Here, you hold him while I take your picture," she said, searching for her camera.
I huffed and took him, trying to hold him away from my chest as inconspicuously as possible.
"Can you at least try to look like you like him?" Veronica asked exasperatedly.
An annoyed sigh and a few minor threats from Veronica later and the cub was nestled firmly in the crook of my neck. I tried my best to smile as the little fur bag licked the side of my face, making me flinch away in disgust.
"Awe, he likes you," Veronica cooed as she snapped picture after picture.
"Well, he should like me a little less, 'cause that's just nasty," I grumbled, pushing his face down as he tried to go in for another lick.
"It's not nasty," Veronica said as she finally took the fur ball away from me, nuzzling his neck. "He was giving you kisses."
I pulled a face as the cub licked her face causing her to giggle.
"Sorry to burst his bubble, but he's not my type," I said as she put the cub down and took my hand.
"Alright, Mr Grumpy, let's go see the snakes."
-o0o-
"Thanks for today, Paul," Veronica said as I walked her to her door. "I had a great time."
"I had a really great time too," I told her and took both of her hands in mine.
Okay,here'syourchance,I told myself. Don'tscrewitup.
I took a deep breath and gazed into her eyes, leaning down slightly.
"So, uhm, my friends and I are going to a Halloween party tonight," I said slowly. "Would you, uh, would you like to go with me?"
Veronica bit into her lower lip and it took every ounce of willpower I had not to kiss her before I got her answer.
"Su-sure, I'd love to," she said with a nervous smile.
"Great," I said, relieved that she wanted to spend more time with me. "I'll, uh, pick you up in two hours?" I asked, unsure of how much time she would need to get ready.
"Yeah, okay," she said firmly, reluctantly letting go of my hands.
As she turned to open the door, I grabbed her arm lightly and pulled her back to me, placing my lips gently on hers. After one, two, three soft kissesI pressed my lips more firmly to hers, begging for entrance which she happily granted. I groaned into her mouth as I took my first taste of her, pushing her against the door for more stability.
Just as the kiss deepened, someone wrenched the door open and I had to grab to frame to keep us from toppling over. After making sure that Veronica was okay I glared at her blonde Alice-like friend, cursing her to the fiery pits of hell for interrupting the best kiss of my life.
Instead of cowering in fear, all she did was roll her eyes and pull Veronica into the apartment.
"Alright, you can go now," she told me. "We have a lot to do and only two hours to do it in."
Veronica giggled as her friend spun me around and placed her hand on my back.
"Don't worry, lover boy, you'll see her again soon," she said as she pushed me out of the apartment and shut the door in my face.
I shook my head and climbed the stairs to our apartment to get ready as well, grumbling under my breath the entire way up.
AN: So what did you think of the date? The Halloween party will be in the next chapter.
Thank you for your reviews, alerts and favourites, you guys are awesome.
If you like Jasper and Alice (and who doesn't) go read my one-shot Best Night of My Life. I also wrote 25 drabbled for the Twilight 25 challenge and it would be awesome if you could go and check it out.