You Make Me Happier Than Joy

Patrollin' and Strollin'

 I could hardly wait for the next morning, but at the same time I didn't want it to come at all. I had told Auntie May about my encounter with the tall gentleman after I went to the shop yesterday. She was beaming about how we'll get married one day, and if not him then maybe another Constable. The crazy old woman - I've been here for only a few days and she's already trying to marry me off. But this morning was like any other. I made breakfast for everyone, Uncle Tom teased me about my little rendezvous with Constable Constable before he left for work, and we carried out the day as normal until I had to leave to meet Constable Constable.

"Remember!" Auntie May said right before I was about the leave, "Make sure if he shows you his baton he doesn't hit you o' top o' the head with it girly"

"Auntie May!" I said as she laughed mischievously, "I'll see you in a bit Auntie - I don't know how long he'll want me to stick around"

"Oh! He'll wanna stick around you, girly" she laughed, "As long as you're here by nine o'clock for when I make lasagna - so go have fun! Live your life!"

"Alright, alright! Goodby Auntie!" I said, locking the door behind me after we said our goodbyes. Then I started making my way to the shop we were meeting at, and to say I'm not a teeny bit nervous would be a lie. People don't scare me, it's just talking to them in general kind of makes me feel really awkward. And if this is a date, then I don't know. And if it is then...I'm just going to pretend it's not before it's too late and start freaking out even more. I looked at my watch to see that it was eight minutes until one o'clock. And as I walked up to the corner I saw Constable Constable turn the corner like he did the other day. It's just this time we didn't run into each other, in a literal sense.

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*Constable Constable's POV*

I was walking my patrol with two of the lads, Constable Reynolds and Constable Bacon, not to long before I was to meet with Miss Kaiser. The lads were giving me a hard time, making fun of me and complaining.

"Well I don't see how you managed to get her to go with you on your patrol Constable" Reynolds complained.

"Wha'? Are you jealous Reynolds?" I asked as we walked past the gardens, "taken a likin' to her, have ya?"

"Well, to say she's not a looker is far from the truth! She's rather attractive, mate" Reynolds replied. "You would think she would wan' to be with someone just as attractive" Reynolds laughed.

"Well then she'd clearly be wi' me - and not any of you blokes" Constable Bacon chimed in. The lot of us continued bantering and poking at each other for a while before we had to fight a downer. It was a quick and simple fix, just knocked them out, slapped some cuffs on him, and head down to the constabulary to lock him up. I checked the clock to make sure I still had time before I met Miss Kaiser, letting out a sigh of relief when I saw I had enough time to make it to the shop. It wasn't that far of a walk, but dealing with that downer used up a lot of time, but very little energy. The bloke was small, and 'hardly had a ounce of muscle on him' I thought as I left the constabulary.

I made my way over to the shop, wanting to be a little early. 'I'm pretty eager to meet this girl, huh' I thought as I walked around the corner of where the shop is. I spotted her fairly quickly, she was wearing a red dress with white polka dots, black and white Oxfords, and some red lipstick that would make heads turn for sure. The color really brought a sexy look out, with the way she looked up to me through her eyelashes. 'Oh good God, keep yourself calm and collected Constable' I thought as I walked up to her. 'She looks absolutely stunning' I thought, before greeting her, "Good afternoon Miss Kaiser! You look beautiful, like always". I ended with a wink, making her blush a very bright shade of red. Even with her mask on, I could see it on the sides where the mask didn't cover and where here eyes were.

"O-oh! Why, uh, why thank you Constable" she smiled shyly, "Please, call me by my first name - Alexandretta, Alex, or Red for retta"

"Is it alright if I call you Red?" I ask permission, as I offered my arm for her to take.

"Of course!" she smiled, looping her arm around mine.

"Well, lovely Miss Red - then I would love for you to call me by my first name - Jack." I said looking down at her beautiful face, and deep down I was saddened to see the mask covering most of her true beauty.

"Alrighty Jack" the sound of her saying my name giving me a warm feeling as she smiled, "So how has your day been so far?"

And just like that we were in deep conversation, it feels like. Talking about different things: police work - which she surprisingly knows and cares a lot about compared to most women these days - her life in the States, my hobbies, her hobbies, and what seemed like everything you could get to know a person. We talked for hours, occasionally having to stop so I could do my job as a constable, but she waited patiently with no problem for me to get done with what I was doing. Most women would get pissy that I wasn't working quick enough - sometimes just outright disregarding my duty as a constable - just to get my attention back to them. Sometimes even cussing me out or storming off, both in some cases. But not her. She was just as patient each time, even encouraging me and telling me to not necessarily take my time, but make sure I do my job the way I usually do it. Making sure the job gets done right the first time. Which I found downright amazing and refreshing all in one.

The longer we talked, the more I wanted to see her again as each second passed. With each smile, laugh, and with her arm interlocked with mine. I had asked her earlier some point in our conversation if she had a curfew or time she needed to be going, and I remembered she said she had to be home by nine o'clock. I checked my pocket watch since it was getting a little dark outside and saw it was eight forty-six.

"It's getting pretty late, would you like to start headin' back tha' way?" I asked.

"Yeah, I would say it's about time to head that way. I wish there was more time in the day though..." she said with a slight sad tone on her voice.

"Why's that, love?"

"Because I enjoyed spending time with you so much!" she smiled, with both her eyes and lips, "I wish the day was longer so we could talk some more"

Although I didn't show it that much on the outside, on the inside I was thrilled! 'She wants to spend more time with me!? This is going well!' I thought. "Well, we can always meet again some more! How about tomorrow? Same time? Same place?" I said as we got into view of the O'Donoghue's residence.

"Oh! I'd love that Jack!" she said excitedly and with a little jump from the excitement as we were mere yards away from her house.

"Well it's settled then! Tomorrow at one o'clock, in front of the shop!" I smiled as she walked up the first two steps of their front porch. Now she was about my height, but still a few inches shorter than me. "Well" I smiled, "Have a good night Red! Today was very nice spending time with you on my patrol, and I very much so look forward to spending time with you tomorrow".

"Well it was a pleasure to accompany such a kind man such as yourself Jack" she smiled before a little pause. She reached out for a hug, and I had no problem with a little hug, but as we pulled apart she held onto me, bringing me back in for a split second. In that split second she gave me a kiss on the cheek, right where my mask didn't cover my face, closer to my jawline. I was taken by surprise and could feel my face heat up. 'Lad! Get yourself together! Don't say anything stupid now to make her think you're weird or stupid!' I thought as she let go and we went back to our normal postures.

She grabbed the doorknob, opening the door slightly. She looked at me, still speechless like the buffoon I am, and gave a smile and small laugh, "Goodnight Jack, stay safe the rest of your patrol."

"O-Oh, uh, yes! Yes! I - I will! Goodnight!" I said before she gave me one last smile before she walked inside and closed the door.

'Let's try not to mess tomorrow up, shall we?' I thought as I went on to do the remainder of my patrol, still thinking about the kiss she gave me like a giddy little school boy.