Sincerely Yours

TWELVE: OLIVER

Oliver reached out grabbing Clara's hand as they continued to walk down the street.

"So how's work going?"

Clara shrugged, "Work is work but I really enjoy it."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, it's oddly rewarding knowing that if I sell the perfect card to someone or they find the perfect gift for someone else that it completely makes their day."

"Interesting." Oliver mulled over the thought, "It suits you."

"Yeah?"

Oliver nodded, "Yeah, you seem to have a habit for brightening people's day."

Blushing Clara looked away from him and focused on one of the shop windows. Mentally Oliver gave himself another point for causing her to blush and smiled widely.

Bumping his shoulder into her's to get her attention again he continued, "So I finished the book this morning."

"Already?" She looked at him like he was crazy and he was tempted to push the strand of hair that had escaped from under her ear warmer away from her face.

"Yep, you finished both books I recommended in less than three days. I had to return the favor. It was the least I could do."

"You're insane."

"Hello pot, I'm kettle." Oliver smiled down at her as he bumped into her again. When she laughed he added another point to his score. "But really it was exactly what I needed. I've been stuck at this impasse trying to figure out how I wanted to present all the research and this was the bridge that carried me over."

"So you don't just have a weird fascination with zombies?"

"No I definitely do," Oliver laughed, "But I'm actually presenting a paper over them for a research festival next month."

This time it was Clara who bumped into him, "Over what?"

"The official title is The Walking Dead Are Taking Over: An In-depth Analysis on Zombies and the Media. But really I just wanted to approach the fact that zombies have become something of a media sensation and identify why western culture is so obsessed with the living dead. It's been two semesters in the making."

"Sounds exciting."

Oliver held the door open for Clara and followed in after her, "To be completely honest I was almost ready to just throw the whole thing out the window."

"It was going that bad?" Clara looked around the bistro, waving at a girl who was serving a table before standing in line to order.

"Needless to say I hadn't had a fresh idea in over a week."

"Sounds rough."

"It was, but I think you're book changed it. I have a few fresh ideas that I'm excited about."

Clara smiled brightly and Oliver could feel something akin to butterflies in his stomach. "I'm really glad you liked it."

He waited patiently for her to order before sliding in front of her to hand his card to the person behind the register and ordering himself. "I liked it so much that lunch is on me."

"You really don't-"

Oliver cut her off, "I want to." He winked, "Let's just say this is another step of me trying to woo you if it makes you feel any better."

She laughed, "Woo me, huh?"

"Yep, it's all part of the secret plan of mine."

"I think I might like this secret plan."