Althea finally gathered enough willpower to break the eye contact and pull out the chair for Jade. The two of them spent the first few minutes in silence, stealing glances and exchanging small smiles until one of them finally opened a conversation that broke the ice. They started to relax and spent the next few hours at the coffee shop exchanging jokes and random stories.
By the time they left, it was half past five in the afternoon. They maintained the proximity as they made their way to the nearby beach to watch the sunset, a spur of the moment decision brought about by their desire to not let the other go just yet.
They sat on one of the benches near the coast. Althea clasped her hands together to fight off the urge to hold Jade's hand.
They shared dreams and memories. Jade told her of how she developed her fondness for flowers. She watched how her eyes shone when she talked about the little garden they had back home, how they glimmered when she fondly talked about her grandmother and the orchids the old woman loves so much. She could look at those eyes all day.
She told her of her dreams of having her own flower farm and helping build more urban gardens.
Jade kept her eyes on the sunset as she talked. Althea listened and kept her eyes on Jade.
She had hoped the late afternoon light did its job of hiding her blush when the brunette turned to her and caught her staring. Perhaps it did because Jade just gave her smile before turning her attention back to the sea.
They stayed until the stars came out.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
"Here we are", Althea said as she parked in front of Jade's apartment.
"Yep. Here we are."
They looked at each other and smiled. They had grown more comfortable around other from the few hours they spent together. It had been a good day, a good date. At least Althea would like to think it was a date.
Jade removed her her seat belt and reached for the door handle.
"Wait, stay right there". Althea got out of the car. She made her way to the passenger side and opened the door for Jade.
The brunette laughed as she got out when the raven-haired woman did a curtsy and said, "Welcome home, my lady".
"Wow, special treatment", she remarked lightly. "Thank you."
"Y-you're welcome." Althea smiled shyly and scratched her eyebrow.
She held her hands behind her back as they to the porch. Jade turned to her when they got to the door.
"So..." Althea bounced on the balls of her feet, hands still behind her back.
"So..." Jade fiddled with the keys in her hand. "I had fun today."
"Me too."
"Usual delivery on Monday?"
"I'll be waiting."
Jade looked down and bit her lip.
She should really stop doing that. I might just...
"Oh wait, before I forget." Jade took off the denim jacket Althea put around her when the sun had disappeared and the evening breeze blew. "Thank you for this."
Althea smiled as she took it and held it to her chest. From now on, this was her favorite jacket.
"I should get going. You'd better go in. It's getting cold. And you need to rest. You have classes tomorrow, right?"
