The Taste Of Loneliness

Chapter 7

Negan couldn't remember the last time he felt this free and spontaneous. The wind whipping through his hair and Rachel's. Her arms around his abdomen gave him a jolt of excitement, the grin plastered on his lips as they sped down the roads going away from the school and past the town. Knowing having fun in their home town wouldn't work. So he hit the highway with her and headed up interstate 395 to Washington. Knowing there they could have fun, blending in with tourists.
As soon as she realized where they were going a squel of excitement emitted from her lips right in his ear.

He parked his bike on the curve of the downton area. The city was bustling with people walking, talking and tourists snapping pictures of everything. As he kicked the stand down he shoved the keys into his pocket and glanced at Rachel with a small smirk.

"Let's go fucking be tourists. Hell maybe we'll even meet the damned president." He teased letting her get off the bike first, noticing now she was looking around like a kid in a candy store.

"What? " He questioned her running a hand through his hair.

"I've always wanted to come here. See the sights..." She laughed softly, shrugging as she crossed her arms.

"Well here we are sweetheart.. " He moved over draping his arm around her shoulders, having a sense of protection over her now since they were in an unfamiliar place.

"What should we fucking do first? " He muttered looking around seeming lost now. Hell he'd probably reduce to getting a map from somewhere.

"I want to see the Smithsonian.. "

"Of course you do you fucking nerd." He rolled his eyes at her, making her instantly blush, but began walking down the sidewalk. Since most everything was within walking distance of another.  
Whistling lowly as he strolled down the sidewalk with her, this feeling incredibly normal for him. He clinging to the now.

"So what spurred this? " She finally asked glancing at him as they walked carefree down the sidewalk

"Life's too fucking short to follow rules and not be spontaneous once and a fucking while.. " He shrugged.

"Ah. Well.. I know this will be a very fun day. " She couldn't help but smile widely at him. Which made him grin in return.

Starting out at the Smithsonian per her request, he paying for their entrance fee despite her protests. She dragging him through each exhibit. Not really paying attention to them, rather he watched her.
The way her eyes lingered over items, they stretching out into wide saucers as she examined something that intrigued her. When she'd squeal in excitement seeing something really famous. When she'd grab his hand because he was zoned out and she was ready move on.

As they sat outside of one of the cafes eating lunch later on, he leaned back in the chair and sighed. They'd spent nearly five hours wandering through the museums and stuff. And he wasn't the least bit bored. Because she was with him.

"What? " She muttered sipping on her vanilla milkshake, dipping a fry into some ketchup.

"Today has been fucking amazing. " He muttered taking a sip from his coke. "I haven't had this much fucking fun in..months.. " He honestly couldn't remember the last time especially before Lucille had gotten sick.

"You had fun? " She laughed softly shaking her head. "You weren't paying attention to any of the exhibits..you wer-.."

"No because I was fucking watching you. " He blurted out causing her to instantly blush, and stopping mid sentence. "I've been watching you because you're a fucking beautiful woman who made, Vincent Bon whoever the fuck he was, his squiggly fucking art seemingly interesting. The way you acted so fucking happy over some old piece of pottery or some shit. That's what I had fun with. Seeing you...happy.. "
He cleared his throat at the end knowing he probably had said too much again. Glancing down at the plate of food before back to her.

He sighed, thinking she'd be looking at him with disgust or anger. But no, she looked at him with the most sincere expression. A small smile curling her pink lips.

"I.. I had alot of fun too Negan.. Really.. No ones ever done something like this with me.. Well for me.. " She muttered playing with the napkin beside her plate now to keep her hands busy.

"We'll whoever your last fucking boyfriend was, he was fucking stupid. You deserve shit like this. Hell everybody does at some point. " He shrugged not realizing he halfway intended he was her boyfriend.
"Shit I'm not you.. We're not.. fuck.. "
He grumbled standing and taking his plate to the trash bin outside the restaurant. Knowing she was probably ready to run for the hills.
He heard her clear her throat as she brought her plate over too.

"We should probably head back home now.. " She didn't want to have this conversation now. Because she'd had the best time with him and she couldn't deny the feelings she had now.

"Yeah.. Come on.. " He mutters shoving his hands in his pockets as he began walking down the sidewalk, she to his left. He looking straight ahead pushing all the thoughts from his mind until he heard tires screeching. A bright red mini cooper was coming down the street way too fast and was heading straight for the sidewalk where Rachel stood.
He grunted yanking her by her arm towards the buildings, she falling into him as his back hit the brick building.
The cooper bouncing over the sidewalk some where she had just stood, before speeding off again with two police cars trailing behind it.

It all happened so quickly but he knew she was probably freaking out some. After a few seconds he reached up putting his hands on her shoulders looking her over. Seeing her wide frightened eyes.

"Jesus fucking Christ are you okay? " He uttered glancing around at some onlookers who were just as stunned as he was.

"I.. I think so y-yeah.. " She muttered softly putting her hands on his chest to steady herself.

He nodded slowly glancing from her widened eyes to her lips, seeing how they trembled slightly from the shock of what had almost happened. He then made another spontaneous move. Leaning down as he carefully held her face in his hands, he brushed his lips over hers. His eyes closing as he tasted the vanilla on her lips.
She was even more shocked at this, but as soon as their lips met her eyes fluttered shut as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Having to stand on her tiptoes to give more into the kiss. Her heart racing down as she felt his tongue lapping over her bottom lip. Sending a shiver down her spine. He was the first to break away, after clearing his throat he looked her straight in the eyes.

"I've wanted to fucking do that all damned day. " He uttered gruffly. She just turned bright red, not saying anything for a moment before nodding slowly.

"Me too.. "