Evangeline In Borderland: Book 1

ZOO ARC

Previously: And with that, she pulls him through the entrance to the zoo.

We Continue...

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She walks to the near middle where a nice patch of grass sat. And put down the basket. "Do you wanna help me put down the blanket?" She asks. He nods and, since he has the blanket, he sets it up. 

As Atokaru finishes, she starts setting up the food and water. She could see the monkeys from here, they seemed to be doing fine. It had been so long since she had been to the zoo. She pushed some hair behind her ear as she finished setting the things up. "Do you wanna eat or explore first?"

 She couldn't make up her mind on her own this time. Both things were equally astonishing. "Perhaps we should eat first." He sits down near the blanket. She smooths out her skirt and sits down on the blanket, taking off her converse to keep dirt off.

 Wearing her socks still. She looks at him and smiles. "Thanks for making the food." She chuckled as she was reminded of her struggles cooking the day before and begins to eat neatly. It was pretty good she thought.

 Her infatuation with Atokaru began to grow. He nods and takes off his own shoes, keeping his socks on. "Of course. I've learned how to cook from my experience as a caretaker, so I don't mind making food." He smiles back at Evan- unaware of how much it gets to her. The blush had finally faded before then.

 And it was cool. But then she saw it again and for lack of air, an uncontrollable little gasp had escaped from her. The blush instantly came back. Making her lose the ability to keep eye contact. So her eyes darted downwards.

 "O-oh, are you okay?" He moves a little closer to her, seeming concerned. "I'm great actually." She said genuinely. But her eyes were still staring at the floor. 

"Ahh, that's good." He also looks down at the ground, seeming a little nervous. He couldn't help but feel like he was doing something wrong... She took a deep breath finally looking up, her blush becoming lighter now. She sees Atokaru staring at the ground. 

 She reaches and pokes his cheek with her finger. "What's wrong?" She was completely oblivious as to why he seemed sad suddenly. "It's... nothing. Just that... I don't know..." 

He puts a hand on his cheek where he was poked. He seems more uncertain than anything... "It's ok Tantan if you have something to say I'll be here to listen. All the stuff I have said, I have meant it. You don't have to tell me now. But if you ever want to tell me why you are feeling a certain way, please say it. I'm not really the best at guessing." She gave him that adoring look again but it was mixed with another emotion unable to pinpoint. "I.. don't really know how I'm feeling..."

 He looks back up at Evan, his expression.. more saddened and uncertain than usual. Her eyebrows crinkled as concern took over her eyes. "Did I do something wrong?" She asked more seriously than she had ever been around him. "Actually... I was about to ask the same thing... Sorry..."

 "No need to apologize, you didn't do anything wrong I promise." "Okay... You haven't done anything wrong, either." He smiles reassuringly at her, seeming relieved. Now she was a bit confused. "What made you think you did something wrong."