Like the Red Rose blooms in the Oxford Garden

Chapter 8: Lavender haze creeping on you

"The windows in your room are much bigger than in ours," Nina sat down on Gastón's bed in the guys' dorm room.

The clock was striking noon. It was more than fair to say that they had slept in... getting to wake up in his arms still somehow felt so surreal, but eventually, Gastón had to go to his own room to change. He had asked Nina to come to their room after she had finished dressing.

"Yeah, they are." Gastón turned away from his wardrobe. "I think Jacob said that that there was some kind of renovation with the windows when he was a freshman."

"Really?"

"Yes, I think so," Gastón nodded, "You brought a jacket, right?"

"Of course, I did," Nina got up from the bed picking up the white windbreaker she had with her. "But where are we going?"

"Not going to tell you," Gastón grinned at her before placing his arm around her waist pulling her closer. Nina loved the fact that every barrier, that had been previously between them, were now completely non-existent. He didn't shy away from touching her at all, and everything just seemed to fall into place automatically.

"Tell me," Nina gave him the most annoyed look she was able to.

"Okay..." Gastón only laughed at her, "All I am gonna say is that I think I owe you that I take you out, like properly." Gastón looked up to the ceiling for a moment, "Probably should have started with that..." He leaned down so his lips were on her ear, pulling her ever closer. "Not that I mind how last night went down."

Nina felt her heart speed up as she felt Gastón's breath next to her ear. She momentarily considered suggesting of just scrapping whatever he had planned to favor some other activities. She wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him.

It had been quite... a night... Nina had been able to count at least three hickeys around her neck and her shoulders in the morning. She had forgotten how easily she bruised on that area. It had definitely been a while, but everything still had gone like it had been the most natural thing in the world... and with Gastón it really was.

"I think we should get going." Gastón said after they separated.

Nina pulled her jacket on while Gastón went to grab his own from the closet. She had looked at the weather forecast after Gastón had told her to bring a jacket, it was still early spring and quite chilly outside.

"Is that—?" Gastón walked back to up to her as she had been wrapping a scarf around her neck... Well, it was not just any scarf. It was the green scarf, that had originally been Luna's, that Gaston had used as a blindfold at Ambar's 17th birthday party. Luna had given it to Nina right after, and she had kept it in her nightstand at Buenos Aires ever since. It was a bit of her anti-nerves charm.

"Yeah, it is." Nina nodded, "Luna gave it to me. It would be a bit weird if she had kept using it."

"I know that," Gastón traced his fingers on the fabric, "I just didn't think that you'd have it with you, especially here. It would have been completely fair if you had thrown it out, I would have deserved it."

"I didn't throw anything out," Nina admitted, looking down with a shy smile, "I, I couldn't..."

"If you keep smiling like that, were never getting out of here." Gastón leaned down and gave her a quick peck.

"If you told me where we are going..."

***

"How long are we gonna keep walking?"

"Just a little longer."

"Where are we going?"

"Still not telling you." Gastón laughed as he led Nina forward on the street they were walking. They had spent most of the mid-day strolling around a older part of town after having gone for lunch in a small cafe he knew.