A whole week passed before the cut finally healed to a scar. A whole week passed and Erik hasn't shown up but once, on the day I wasn't working. To say I didn't wish for him to show up would be a lie. But I also didn't want him to react like he did before. It not only scared me, but practically pushed me to worry.
It was Friday again, only I was closing shop alone. I told Gabby and Kale to leave early and I would take care of closing up. I had to persuade them a bit, but finally, they left. I counted the cash, got it in the vault, then check the store before finally locking up.
It was silent, I only focused on the locking the door, the only sound was the key doing it's work. As I step away from the shop, snow began to fall, the small flakes draping themselves over me. It was night's like these that really made me enjoy living in Snow Peak. It was nights like these that I didn't want to waste inside.
Instead of heading home, I walked in the other direction, deciding to stop by my favorite breakfast diner for dinner before stopping at the local bakery. It wasn't a night to spend inside, I was going to enjoy the snow fall as much as I could before it turned into a blizzard.
As I walked, my mind began to wonder, before my thoughts landed on Erik. If I didn't keep my thoughts busy, it always went to him. I couldn't help but remember all that Gabby and Kale said about him.
"He came in when you weren't here Monday. The look on his face when we told him you weren't working that day... Your heart would have broke," Gabby told me, her grin wide.
"I guess he wanted to buy you something, cause he pointed out a necklace in the display case in the other room. You know, the one that gives you a heart attack cause you know how much it costs?" Kale said, grinning. "Don't worry, we told him you don't like flashy stuff like that. He left as soon as we told him that."
I shook my head at the thought and continue on, silently hoping he hasn't actually bought me anything too expensive.
I walked into The Emerald Blossom and basked in the warmth. The Emerald Blossom was one of the best restaurants in Snow Peak, if you asked me. It reminded me of Spring back home, which I've missed greatly. It reminded me more of home with it being one of the few family restaurants in Snow Peak.
Kelly, a tiny girl that was going through college, took me to a two person booth and handed me a menu.
"I would ask if you want your usual, but I know you want to hear our specials first, Sage," Kelly asked, smiling at me.
"Of course," I told her, smiling.
She grinned before clearing her throat. "Today specials are Grammy Sally's Stew, which is a beef stew with either noodles or rice; Papa Bears eggs and bacon, which is three eggs served the way you like and a whole plate of bacon; and our new special, a heaping serving of a blind date!"
"That sounds - wait, huh?" I look up to her and saw the same grin Gabby and Kale would wear when ever-
'He did not,' I thought before I look to the seat opposite of mine. Erik sat down and smiled up at me, a devious look in his life.
I look up at Kelly, trying so hard to surpress my smile, but failing. "I swear," I threaten, but my smile broke through.
"Your usual?" Kelly asked, grinning.
"Yes please," I told her, trying to hide my smile.
"And you, sir?" Kelly asked Erik.
"The Grammy Sally's Stew with rice sounds delicious," He said, smiling at her.
"Emerald Blossom tea?" She asked me.
"Yes," I said.
"And you?"
"I'll try the Emerald Blossom tea," He said.
"Alright, I'll go put this in and return with your drinks," Kelly said before walking off, grinning.
Erik looked over at me, his pale green eyes and soft smile affecting me.
"Surpised to see me?" He asked, his voice sending warm shivers down my spine.
"Yes, I really wasn't planning a date tonight," I admitted, grinning up at him.
"So, this is a date?" Erik asked, cocking an eyebrow.
"That's what Kelly called it, and you got help from Kelly, so..." I trailed off, gazing at him through my lashes.
Erik grinned before glancing down. "Yes, she did."
Speak of the devil, Kelly came by and gave us our tea before walking off, leaving us be.
"I guess Gabby or Kale told you I liked coming here?" I asked, stirring my tea.
"Yes, they did," He said, smiling softly, taking a sip of the Emerald Blossom Tea. "After I didn't see you Monday, I asked them if you liked going somewhere and they said here, so I asked Kelly for help."
"She told you I come here when it begins to snow?" I asked.
He nodded. "And when you treat yourself," He said.
I smile and look down. "This place reminds me of home, so." I sipped my tea and enjoy the taste, falling for the natural sweetness.
"Do you miss home?" He asked.
"I do and don't," I admit, looking up at him.
"Don't miss your family?" He asked, sipping his tea.
"I miss my mother, but not her Christian ranting," I told him.
"And your father?" He asked.
"I never met him," I admit.
"Did he... Leave your mother?" He asked.
"No," I smiled. "What my mom told me was that he had convinced her to get drunk and they had a one night stand. Though I wouldn't be shock that after he found out how crazy she was, he left and she found out later she was pregnant."
"She can't be that bad," He said.
I couldn't help but laugh. "You haven't met her." I told him.
"Well, I don't think any mother can be as bad as mine," He said.
I scuffed, "I'm sorry, has your mother sent you to a million different Christian private schools from elementary to high school?" I asked.
"Has yours constantly tried to set you up with people so she can have more grand kids?" He asked, grinning.
"Please, she wouldn't even let me have a boyfriend. I had to date in secret all though high school," I said, the memories flooding into my brain.
"Boyfriends?" Erik questioned. "Please tell."
I shook my head. "I only had two," I told him. "My first boyfriend, Damien, I dated just because I was rebelling against my mom. He was this punk rocker type, mother's nightmare. I felt bad for dating just for that until I found he was dating me to get in my pants."
As soon as those words left my mother, Erik's grip on the tea cup tightens, almost breaking the cup. "He what?"
"Don't worry," I couldn't help but giggle at the expression on his face. "I decked him and got expelled."
He nodded and took as sip of his tea. "And the second?"
"Bryann," I told him. "We dated from our beginning of junior year to graduation. He was sweet, a good guy. But we started to drift after graduation. He called it off before either of us started college. It was for the best."
"And you haven't dated since?" He asked, sounding a bit shock.
"Nope," I shook my head and smiled. "Not for six years."
I look down at my tea and chuckle. "Six years, feels like yesterday I was going to college."
He smiled and sipped his tea, "Time flies now a days."
I smiled and looked up at Erik. "So? What about you?"
"Huh?" He looked at me shocked.
"I've told you a bit about me. What about you? Any girlfriends? Miss anything from high school or college?" I asked, smiling.
"Uh," His went pink, but I couldn't tell if it was from embarrassment or nervousness. "I've, um, never actually dated before."
"Huh?" Now I was confused.
He just shrugged. "I was never really attracted to anyone growing up and no one had ever showed interest in me."
I looked at him in disbelief. "I don't believe you."
"What?" He asked innocently.
"I just..." I trailed off. "I'm sorry, I can't believe you. You're just way too handsome not to have admirers or something."
He laughed, the blush growing on his cheeks. "Thank you for the complement, but really, no one ever showed interest or I never found interest in them."
I shook my head and grinned, "It's hard to believe."
Kelly came by, three platters balanced in her arm. She placed a plate of beef stew and rice in front of Erik and she placed a plate of scrambled eggs and toast and a plate of hashbrowns in front of me.
"Well, aren't you old fashion," Erik said, smirking.
"Shut it, I'm just not picky," I told him.
We ate our meal, and after paying Kelly, we got up and left.
"Are you heading home?" Erik asked as we stepped outside.
"I'm stopping by Mario's bakery, then home," I told him.
"May I join you?" He asked, smiling at me.
I smiled back at him, "Sure."
The snow slowly slipped its veil over us as we walked, the snow crunching under our shoes. The warmth of the bakery invited us in with the delicious aroma of bread and sweet pastries. The sweetness of freshly made Hawaiian bread invaded my mouth as Erik laughed at me, trying to calm himself.
"Wait, wait," He said, still laughing. "You did what? "
"I didn't like my 3rd grade teacher," I told him. "So, when it was time to leave the music room, I climbed on to these stands and climbed my way to the top of this eight foot tall book case."
He keeled over the table, laughing. "What were you thinking?"
"I don't know, I was nine," I told him. "I thought if I climbed up there, I wouldn't have to go back to the class. I technogly didn't, since I got kicked out of the school after the fire department got me down."
He tried to cover his face, but I still saw the dimples in his cheeks.
'Oh no, he has dimples!' I thought, trying to hide my blush.
He calmed down and looked up at me. A smirk played on his face as he cocked an eyebrow. I ducked my head down and he didn't say anything, but it was obvious that he saw my heated face.
"Sage?"
"Hm?" I looked up at him, still trying to hide my blush.
His pale green eyes pierced mine and my breath caught in my throat. Time seemed to slow down and at that moment, I felt vulnerable.
"It's getting late, I should get you home," He said, snapping me back to reality.
"Yeah," I said, getting up.
We walked out of the bakery and back out on to the snowy street. I watched as my breath became visible as we walked.
"Your childhood sounded interesting," Erik broke the silence, looking over at me.
"Yeah," I said, smiling. "It still shocks me that I'm 24 now. It feels like just yesterday I was going from to Christian school to Christian school."
He nodded and smiled, slowing his strides to match mine.
"...What about you?"
He stopped and looked back at me, confused.
"How was your childhood?" I continued, stopping as well.
"Oh!" He said. "Well, um..." He trailed off. I obviously stumped him, the look on his face obvious.
"Not that memorable?" I covered for him.
"Yeah," He said, smiling at me. "Not as memorable as yours."
"Okay then, can you at least tell me how old you are?" I ask. "You look like your in your twenties, but for all I know, you could be 42."
"Wow, shot in my pride," He laughed. "I'm 27, thank you very much."
I smiled back at him, but tried to keep it from faltering. "Oh, 1991?"
"Yeah," He said, smiling warmly at me.
I kept my smile, but I felt it fall a bit.
"Um, is your house close? Or are we just going to stand here the rest of the night?" He asked. "I don't mind, I'd love to spend the whole night with you, but I don't want you to get sick."
"Oh, yeah, um," I look around. "My house is a couple more down."
We walked for a bit more before we came to my door.
"Well, home sweet home," I said turning towards him.
He smiled down at me, his eyes warm. "I'm sorry for doing the surprise date thing. I'm realizing now that it was a bit rude."
"No, it's fine," I told him. "I actually really enjoyed tonight."
His smiled widened before his eyes glanced down from my eyes. "Um, is it okay if I, um..."
I cocked my eyebrow at him as his faced heated. He stuttered a bit more before he sighed and stepped closer to me. Anxiety filled my stomach as I looked up at him before he brushed my hair back and grazed his lips over my forehead.
He stepped back as the anxiety in my stomach faded and my face heated up again.
"I'll see you later?" He said, his statement worried about treading over thin ice.
"Yeah, I'll see you later," I told him, smiling up at him.
He visibly relaxed before say his goodbye. I walked inside and quickly closed the door, gripping my heart. It was thumping against my chest, practically hitting my hand.
I had two things on my mind, though I was paying attention more to one than the other.
"I don't think he was just going to kiss my forehead," I said to myself. My heart hammered faster, but I knew I was trying to distract myself.
'It was the wrong year,' I thought, just hoping that what else I was thinking was wrong.
"Please, anything but that," I whisper to myself before I went to my bedroom.