Clouds Cover the Sun Because they like the warmth

The Date

Manon placed the lash curler into its case before looking back in the mirror. Double checking that her makeup looked nice and in place. She hadn't gone all out as her outfit was rather casual. A beige colored dress, with a pair of brown boots that hid her socks. She once again ensured her ponytail was tightened, straightening her beige headband with a four leaf clover placed on the side. She looked over one more time before nodding and leaving the room. Her heart pounded as she grabbed her purse and walked to the living room. Patiently waiting for Norman. She knew this date was going to be more casual, but it still didn't stop the rushing thoughts in her brain. Was she even ready for a relationship? Especially after her last one had ended she didn't know if she was entirely ready for it. Yet she wanted this. A knock came on her door and she immediately shot up. Rushing over to the door and checking through the peephole before unlocking the door to see Norman. He was dressed in a gray polo shirt, black bell bottom jeans, and black shoes. "Hi." Norman looked down at her. His face was flushing gray. "Hi." He replied back as the two just stood there staring at each other for a few minutes. "Are you ready to head out?" Norman asked, breaking up the moment leaving a slightly awkward tension between the two. "Oh right, let me get my purse real quick." Manon said as she rushed inside, grabbed her purse before walking back out, locking the door before the two began walking away. The tension stuck between the two was rather thick. Both pretended that it wasn't there while sneaking small glances at each other. "So how has your morning been?" Manon asked, breaking the silence. "It's been good." Norman replied, looking back down at her. "How has yours been?" Stressful "It's been good." Manon replied as Norman gave her a smile. As the large buildings became shorter and streets less busy as the two eventually made it to a large fence covered in shrubs. Every now and again there was a parting in between the shrubs, leaving availability for iron gates to enter. Norman stopped at one of them, pulling a key out of his pocket and placing it in the lock the gate opened. Revealing a lush garden full of many different vegetables. Several people were already wandering around. They were dressed in more gardening clothes compared to the two of them. It was much larger than Manon expected. A few of them spared passing glances as they walked by, but neither of them paid attention or at least Norman didn't. Manon couldn't help but feel odd. Was this the first time Norman really brought somebody? How many of these people did he even really know? Nobody commented on them and if she was going to be honest. Most of the eyes were just the casual glances, but thought we were judgmental. Norman guided her further and Manon noticed that there was a greenhouse of some kind. They came pretty close to it, but they passed it into a corner of the garden. Several pieces of shrubs were starting to outline into more private sectors, and one of those there was clearly signs that this was Norman garden, the vegetables patches were outlined with gray boxes with several different vegetables growing in place tomatoes, carrots, potatoes, lettuce, but in particular, there was quite a few flower patches as well mostly tulips and roses unsurprisingly most of their colors were white or black she could get it that way makes sense. He was a man completely in grayscale, but there were a few colored flowers in there, some red lilies daffodil, but one thing in particular caught her eye. A rosebush had clearly grown quite a bit much taller than the other rose bushes nearby. Norman was rather proud of it. Nothing was red, not any other usual color roses, gray roses in fact, somewhere even blooming, buds starting to pop up as well now other areas and some of the roses were wilting, Manon was left flabbergasted. so it was true. He hadn't dyed the roses, they were naturally gray. "I'm surprised that they are actually gray," She said as she reached out to touch a delicate petal. "I wouldn't have given you them if they weren't. It still surprised me that you said some people would dye flowers. I mean they're already rather colorful. Why would you dye them colors?" "I've never seen roses like this before." She replied, Norman raised a brow. "You haven't?" She shook her head. "Are they only in America or something?" Norman shook his head. "I mean not that I know of. I've been to a few different states and I haven't seen flowers like these, but several of my family have flowers growing in their gardens that are all like the types you can get at the florist. Sure the florist doesn't always put them out. Well they don't always put these colors out on display. I can only imagine gray is more monochrome like black. Well, let's be honest. No one's really buying black flowers for anything, not even funerals." Norman explained as he looked at the bush longingly. Manon was quite confused. Did his family  have some magical garden powers as well as the ability to levitate? "So are all of your family members like all one shade of a certain color or something?" "Oh no, of course not if anything most of my relatives are monotone like me." Manon nodded her head well and that made sense. "How often do you come here?" Manon asked "On my days off" Norman mumbled. Manon knew the answer to that now. Only one usually though the vegetables were being surprisingly well kept in shape except for a few little wrong ones, but Norman didn't seem to pay much mind or rather he did. He just didn't do anything, probably because she was there and he really didn't look like he was dressed for gardening. Manon walked over to the tomatoes. "A few seem like some of them are missing love." Manon replied Norman sighed. "Yeah you caught me. I haven't been to the garden in quite a bit. I've been spending most of my days off with you." Manon felt a flush cover her face and then she kind of felt a bit guilty for the plants. "Perhaps you should take me here more often, maybe you can show off your gardening skills just like your cooking skills." Norman chuckled. "How about I do that right now." Manon looked surprised. "Are you sure?" He was dressed rather casually, but his clothes were nice and probably expensive. Norman, just smiled. He walked over to a shed area. "I don't mind." He replied, grabbing a hose and some garden clippers before walking back over to the tomatoes, turning on the hose water before placing the hose over there looking through his vegetables. Seeing what was rotten, and placing them in a bucket. "There's a compost pile over by the entrances." Manon nodded as she watched a move around making sure. The flowers were being watered, trimming some of the rose bushes down. It was almost rather impressive, mesmerizing even. It was as if he was doing some kind of little dance, but every touch he gave to the plants was caring and passionate with a gentle smile on his face. Sure he smiled a lot while he worked, but it wasn't as fake friendly as this one. It was more bright and genuine. Once he was done, he walked over to her as she admired the flowers. He walked back over to her. "What's your favorite flower?" Norman asked as Manon looked over at him. An odd question to ask but they were in a garden. "Lilies." Manon replied before Norman walked over to the lilies, grabbing a cream colored one. Gently cutting it stems from the roots before bringing it over to her "You didn't have to," Manon said as Norman placed it in her hair behind her ear. Her heart fluttered as she resisted the urge to take the flower and hold it closer to her chest. It nicely matched her outfits. "So do you have any plans for lunch? Norman asked. Manon stood there for a few seconds. Still shocked at the gesture, then she realized what Norman had asked her. "I saw this café down the street. I mean it's not entirely lunch." Norman raised a brow. "Does it serve anything other than breakfast foods?" "They do serve sandwiches." Manon replied. "Then let's go." He said as he held out his hand. Manon smiled brightly at him as she took his hand.

The walk was rather long and by the end of it, she was quite thirsty and rather thankful she had worn short sleeves more flow through clothing. Norman was a bit on the contrary, starting to sweat a bit, but he also didn't seem bothered. She had only really ever seen him in longer sleeves, so it was safe to say he was used to it. The café was rather cute looking with an area outside, seated for patio and waiters, roaming around. They walked over to a table made for two outside with a little parasol. The waiter approached, and they gave their drink orders before looking at the menus for the food and awkwardness was left down. As the two slowly made their way to small talk waiting for their food to arrive. Everything was rather nice. This was going a bit better than Manon had expected. She was still slightly scared, though there was a little voice in the back of her mind telling her that he might ask her to go home with him at the end of the date and she wasn't sure if she wanted that. Especially after the last one. She didn't want to focus on that right now, especially when everything is going so good right now. After all Norman was nothing but sweet to her. He made it easy for her to say no. He would stop if she told him to. He would even wait for her to make the first step. Manon couldn't help but extend her hand out to his. Their fingertips brushing against each other as Norman looked down at their hands before looking back up at her with a flustered face. Manon giggled at his shyness as he interlocked their hands. Before looking back in her eyes. She was hypnotized by them as they just stared at each other. But then of course disaster struck because nothing could be safe for once. "Marianne?" Both froze as Manon felt a chill go down her spine. Looking over at her partner Norman's face showed annoyance, anger even. His black eyes, turning a lighter gray. Manon was fearful to turn around. She just wanted to ignore her hoping she would go away, but with Norman's facial expression not changing. Manon felt as if there was barely no choice. Slowly she turned around. Her body shaking as she was met face to face with Rebecca.