a/n:
WE HIT 1K !! i highkey did not expect this, considering i created this story during my winter break when i had too much time on my hands. thank yall sm for reading :,)
"salem." ciarán whined.
"i won't do it on one condition." salem said with a sinister smile on her face.
"and what's that?" ciarán asked curiously.
"we have to marathon all eight seasons together!" she said gleefully, knowing ciarán wouldn't turn down the offer.
"as long as i get to spend time with you, i'm down."
"this gives me an excuse to hang out with you and rewatch one of my favorite shows? hell yeah!" salem was visibly overjoyed.
"how about we think about that later and walk through this building instead?"
salem still kept a smile on her face as she pulled ciarán's flannel tighter around herself and gripped onto ciarán's arm.
the inside of the place was beautiful, like a mini jungle compacted into a building. they walked through a narrow pathway, observing the different greenery around them.
salem pointed at a sign, "this place is called the orchid observatory."
"orchids aren't the only thing i'm observing." ciarán said with a smirk on his face.
"oh, quit it!" salem lightly pushed him away from her.
"i love messing with you." ciarán chuckled.
"no, you just find any excuse to flirt with me." salem corrected, raising an eyebrow af him.
"you got me there."
they continued making their way through the observatory, stumbling across a waterfall with orchids surrounding it.
"wow." salem said breathlessly, completely astonished by the captivating beauty of the scene.
ciarán thought it was a good idea to take a photo of her staring at the waterfall, since she held a child-like gaze in her eyes.
"i don't know which view's more breath-taking." ciarán said as he took the photo, catching salem's attention.
at the remark, a rosy tint invaded her cheeks and she tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.
"ciarán whatever-the-hell-your-last-name-is, you will be the death of me."
"my last name's mcdonald, just so you know what your future last name will be."
ciarán said it so smoothly that not only was salem shocked, he was too. he couldn't even comprehend that those words had come out of his own mouth.
"you slick little bitch." salem said, her mouth still slightly agape. "you better calm down, though, it's still only the first date."
"you're right, i'll tone down on the flirting." ciarán said, only because he knew salem wouldn't like it.
"well," salem started, not really wanting him to stop the flirting, "you don't have to stop flirting. just don't bring up marriage on the first date, you heathen."
"i am in no way a heathen." ciarán said, which only caused salem to give him a look that said, 'really?'
"i'm serious!"
"okay cici, whatever you say, bud."
they finally exited the observatory, which allowed salem to partially take off ciarán's flannel, since the warm air practically hit them as they stepped out. half of the flannel pooled around the lower half of her torso, while the sleeves went all the way up to her elbows before pooling around them.
"can i have my flannel back?" ciarán asked.
"nope." salem responded, twirling around with the fabric loosely on her body.
ciarán stopped her, firmly grasping her waist, causing her to gasp. there was a tension between them as they stared at each other. ciarán, who seemingly already forgot about the deal that they had made, leaned in.
"slow down, sugar, i'm diabetic!" salem said in a country accent, putting a finger over ciarán's puckered lips.
this immediately broke the tension between them, as they laughed at salem's idiocy.
"why am i falling for you?" ciarán asked.
"i'm irresistible, baby." salem shrugged, a smug smirk plastered on her face.
"fuck yeah you are." ciarán said under his breath.
salem tried to hide her blush, covering her face with ciarán's flannel, like he does, by bringing the cloth up to cover her mouth.
"you look like me." ciarán said.
"but better-looking." salem added, satisfied with her answer.
"you think i'm gonna disagree?"
salem bit her lip, trying to contain the adoration that she felt for ciarán.
"how about we get outta here soon? it closes in fifteen minutes, cici." salem suggested.
"we've been here for an hour and a half already?"
"mhmm." she hummed, swinging their arms back and forth thanks to their connected hands.
"time goes by fast when you have fun."
"are you taking me home?" salem asked solemnly, not wanting the date to end, and not wanting to leave ciarán. she mentally scolded herself for reminding ciarán of the time, realizing she should have kept quiet.
"do you want that?" ciarán asked, his heart sinking a little.
salem quickly shook her head no.
"how about we get ice cream?" ciarán suggested.
salem's eyes brightened, much like a child, and she smiled. in an instant, both of their moods were lifted.
"hell yeah!"
"let's get our photos first, yeah?"
the two of them headed near the exit, where guest services was. they asked for their photos and got two prints, one for ciarán, and one for salem.
"you look good, and you know it too." salem said as she observed the photo.
"you know i look good all the time, baby." ciarán said confidently.
"i wouldn't be too bold, cici." salem laughed, only making ciarán frown.
"i guess i'm dropping you off at your place then."
salem quickly apologized, "no! i'm sorry cici, i was joking."
"stop joking or else."
"or else what?" salem raised an eyebrow.
"i'm going to have to punish you."
