One Day Like This - Elbow
This is dedicated to Heathar03 for all of the votes. Thank you!!!
We strolled around London for a while, mindlessly chatting about all sorts of things. Xavier was always holding onto me in some way, either with his arm looped with mine, his hands linked with mine or an arm around my waist. I was starting to get used to the contact. Currently, he is holding my hand in a comfortable but tough grip.
Roughly every ten minutes, I'd annoy Xavier by asking where we were going or if it was much further. Xavier would only give me his famous smirk and shrug.
"Ugh, why won't you tell me?" I whine, moving an inch closer to him as a person walks past me.
"Because, its a surprise." He nonchalantly says and continues to show me the way. I must admit, wandering around London at this time is eye-opening. I get to witness everything at night. I'm shocked that a lot of shops and stores are still open and busy. There are still people rushing either from work or to go and meet people.
Its fascinating to see everybody; how different all of their lives are. I think Xavier notices it too but he doesn't say anything.
"Shall we play a get to know each other game?" I ask.
"Sure, you first."
Okay, that's something I want to ask him? Thinking about it, I hardly do know Xavier. Getting to know him better might make me respect him. Where do I start though? I don't know much about his family so I could always start there.
"Family? You never mentioned your family." I tell him and I feel his body slightly tense beside me. Did I say the wrong thing?
"Uh...well." He starts, nervously rubbing the back of his neck with his other hand. "I live with my parents and my older brother, Jake. He's going off to college soon though so he won't be living with us for much longer. Honestly and between me and you – I've never told anybody else this – I don't have the best relationship with my parents. My dad is always working and my mom would rather be doing anything other than spending time with her family. So we hardly see each other. The only time we really talk as a family is at family meals which only happens at Christmas or when one of my dad's clients comes round for tea. I have a good relationship with Jake though, even if he mostly spends his time with Chloe, his girlfriend."
Wow, I didn't expect that coming. I guess that's why he never told me much about himself.
"Xavier—" He interrupts me by hushing me. "I don't want to ruin this night okay? Talk about it another time."
Closing my mouth, I nod.
"Great, well, my turn. What's your favorite movie?" He asks.
Pausing, I ponder. In all honesty, I have no idea what my favorite film is. I've watched a few and liked them a lot.
"I have no idea," I answer and he whips his head to look at me.
"Really? Not one film stands out for you?" I shake my head."What about...um...how about a romantic film? The Notebook? Titanic? The Fault In Our— "
I cut him off with a glare. "Did you just assume I like romance films? Are you stereotyping?"
Okay, so I do like romance films including The Notebook and The Fault In Our Stars but the point is he just assumed I liked romantic films because I'm a teenage girl. Like, what the hell?
"Wait, what? No? No! I was just..." He rambles, looking quite adorable with his pink lips unconsciously pouting.
I burst out laughing. How can I fight him when he's acting so cute? How can I be mad when he looks like a confused and cute puppy.
"I'm kidding." I giggle. "But don't assume I like stereotypical things just because I'm a girl," I warn once sobering up.
"Okay, okay." He holds an arm up in mock surrender. "Noted."
"Right, if you could live anywhere, where would it be?" I question him.
"Uh, somewhere remote I think. Big cities are great and all but they just seem so overcrowded."
"Yes, same!" I beam at him. "Ren is always going on about how I'm such a bore for wanting to live somewhere quieter where 'no action happens' because apparently, living in a big city would 'keep me on my toes'."
"You don't look like a city girl to me." He comments.
"And you don't look like a city guy either. Right, your turn for a question." I tell him.
Xavier thinks for a second. "Where do you see yourself in five years time?"
Pursing my lips together, I think. I've always been a big dreamer; well, an average one. Like most people, I want a normal life where I happily fall in love with an amazing guy, get married, have kids and work at a place I enjoy. The thing is, I could never find it realistic. But, I feel like Xavier is opening my mind and is showing me new things.
"Uh...well I see myself graduating from college and going into the teaching business. Everybody always says I'll never be good enough for it but... I dunno. We all have our own dreams." I mumble.
Xavier stops walking, causing the people to giving us aggravated looks and walk around us. Stepping closer to me, Xavier softly grabs onto my chin and lifts it up so that I can properly look into his gray eyes.
"Hey." He says softly. "You are brilliant. You're so smart, kind and stubborn. You can be whatever you want to be. I can't believe you even let them get to you, you never let anything get to you. You have so much faith in everybody else, just have some faith in yourself."
Staring at him with wide eyes, dumbly I nod. He just said something so...truthful? He sounded so sure of himself. Xavier just keeps surprising me, shocking me and showing me how he is such a great guy.
Breathlessly, I thank him. Our proximity is causing my heart to pound in my chest and my breaths to become shaky. The electricity between us... no words can describe it.
The closer we become, the more electricity we feel. The connection grows stronger.
"Anytime Princess." He smiles and then steps away to grab my hand.
Continuing to walk through London, I couldn't help but feel happier. I never thought I could feel so satisfied with this. Being with Xavier, in these moments, I can't help but feel grateful he came. Now that I'm getting to spend time with him, I learning that there's a fantastic side to him. He's opening up to me and showing me the side he never shows anyone.
I can't even describe how special I feel for that.
Eventually, Xavier stops when we reach a park. A magnificent and big park. Large trees stand around a pond where the lights from the stars glimmer down onto the water. A small bandstand is situated further on, with beautiful flowers surrounding it. There are some park benches on the path and the on the grass. A few other people are here, some walking and chatting whilst others are in more secluded areas where they're having picnics.
This place is mesmerizing.
A short man approaches us, holding a bouquet of flowers. His eyes look over to Xavier, nervously. Something happens, maybe he gets confirmation for something because they then flicker to me and smile.
"Hello." He greets once he makes it to us. "Flowers for you, from Xavier. And sir, your thing has been set up." The man informs him, passing the pretty flowers to me before walking away.
Casting a confused glance at Xavier, he only gives me a smirk. Scowling at him, I let him lead me to wherever. I smile at the people we pass, getting curious at where we're going when we get somewhere less populated.
I gasp when I see a neatly made picnic laid out. Food is scattered on the picnic, with empty plates as well. There's even a CD player! The blanket has been laid out so its close to a tree but not so we can't look up to the sky.
This place is just incredible though. I can't believe Xavier did this for me.
"W-what do you think?" He nervously asks. Yes, nervously. Xavier's never anxious about something, he's always confident.
"This." I shakily say, too astounded by everything. "Is amazing."
"Thank you!" I squeal, practically jumping on him as I hug him.
Xavier seems shocked at first but once he recovers, he wraps his arm around me, chuckling. The sound sends shivers down my spine as I try to keep my cool. His refreshing scent of wood and aftershave overcomes me and all I can do is greedily inhale it.
I never knew he smelt this good. Creepy, I know but hey, if you could smell it too you would know how nice it smells.
Letting go of him, I move back, beaming at him. "You did all of this, for me?"
Nodding his head, he gives me a dazzling smile. "Of course I did. Anything for you."
Word count: 1575
Yay, a date! Did you like it? Wanna see more of Xavier like this?
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The next chapter will carry on from this date :)
Next update: 1st February