"Candy, she's sweet like candy in my veins

Baby, I'm dying for another taste

And every night my mind is running around her

Thunder's getting louder and louder

Baby, you're like lightning in a bottle

I can't let you go now that I got it

And all I need is to be struck by your electric love

Baby, your electric love

Electric love."

-  Electric Love

BØRNS

[ U N E D I T E D ]

The sun had begun to set on the chilly Saturday evening. Zea was sitting outside of a small, dainty cafe, sipping on a mug of warm caramel macchiato as she awaited the arrival of her friends. Se had been waiting for an hour now, but it wasn't cause they were late, her friends knew better than to be late when meeting up with her. She was simply early, very early.

Zea prided herself on her timeliness; she was seldom tardy. And on the rare occasion that she was, she would only be late for not more than half-an-hour at her worst and would always call to inform in advance. But it was unusual for her to be this early either.

She didn't plan on leaving the house early, but her mother and aunt were back from their trip. Being women in their 40s, they were sure to invite their friends over to brag about their journey and catch up on the latest neighbourhood gossip. Having a group of middle-aged ladies prodding her about her love life was not how she wanted to spend her afternoon.

Thus, she had locked herself in her room and glammed up her face. She threw a coat over her revealing outfit to avoid the chill of the weather and judgy looks. She quickly left the house, briefly greeting the gossip ladies with waves and polite smiles before kissing her mum and aunt on the cheek.

Now as she waited for her friends at the cafe, she scrolled through apartment listings, trying to find a place that fitted her; modern, posh and quaint.

 It wasn't that she didn't like living with her family of five, the house was well big enough. But she didn't love it either. She had close to zero privacy, the house was very homey, a little more on the traditional side. So not her style.

Eyes concentrated on her phone, Zea didn't see her two good friends approaching. The short blonde dropped her bag on the table with a bang, causing Zea to jump as she sipped her coffee. The other, with her bright blue ombre hair and an all-black outfit, sat next to Zea, giving her a side hug.

Zea wiped her cupid's bow with a napkin and proceeded to return the hug, "Hey Lottie. I missed you."

Zea turned to the petite blonde, dressed in a pink two-piece, "Hi, Chelsea! And oh my God, that haircut looks great on you!"

The blonde, Chelsea, beamed wide, flashing her white teeth. Her hand absentmindedly reached up to touch her hair.

"Thanks, Zea! I actually didn't expect it to be this short, but then again I did ask them for a bob, but hey it worked out! I think... Actually I don't know, are you sure it looks good? I don't think I have the face structure for it and I-"

"Chels..." Zea interrupted her friend's rapid rambling. Chelsea was always one to ramble on or lose sight of the topic, but that's one of her defining quirks that Zea adores so much. The tattoo-decked Lottie gave a small giggle as Chelsea sheepishly apologised.

Noticing that one person was missing, Zea folded her arms and raised an unamused eyebrow. "Where's Paula?"

"She's running late. But! She assured us- well more of told us to assure you that she'll be at the pub by the time we reach," Lottie answered, fidgeting with the rings on her fingers.

Lottie was the intimidating one of the group, tall, tattoos, bright hair, piercings. She was the resident hot goth. But on the inside, Lottie was as soft as a bunny, a side only her close friends could vouch for. Her loyalty and protectiveness of her friends were to be admired and feared, she was afraid of no one, but she did respect Zea.

Zea let out a small hum in acknowledgement, her face stoic and unimpressed. The small blonde gulped, she knew Zea well, her silence was a deadly mood-killer, and Chelsea knew she had to cut the tension. 

"Shall we get going? If we're early, we'll get the best seats! Best seats equal the best view of boys!"

Zea shook her head, her face breaking into a smile at her friend's bubbly, boy-crazy personality, "Sure Chels. Let me finish my coffee, and we'll head off."

After finishing her mug and returning it to the counter, Zea hooked her friends' arms into hers. They started walking along the rows of cafes and restaurants, the bars and pubs were only a few blocks away, and the walk allowed three of them to catch up.

"You slept with him? And only after a few days of knowing him?" Lottie asked, shocked. Zea had just told them about her bump-ins with the dashing doctor, and what it lead to. "Who are you? And what did you do to Zea?"

Chelsea giggled excitedly, "That's so not like you."

Zea groaned, dragging her hand down her face, "I know, I know. Don't remind me."

The two girls looked at each other, both having the same thought. Zea was wild. She loved to party, always had boys after her, but, she was never one to sleep around. Never.

"What changed?" Lottie asked, something both her and Chelsea were wondering. 

They were in the blocks of pubs now. Loud thumping music and the smell of beer filled the air. Swirls of cigarette smoke danced through the air, shouts and cheers echoed from the multiple sports bars as people were gathered to watch football with their friends and fellow supporters.

Zea shrugged and sighed, "I have no idea. I guess it was just in the heat of the moment. He was good-looking, charismatic, very enticing and I thought to myself, 'Why not?'"

As they entered the dim-lit bar, the previously muffled voices of the live, upbeat band were now clear and loud. The beat from the drums, the rifts of the guitar complemented ideally with the lead singer's powerful voice as she sang a rendition of an early 2000's rock song.

The bar wasn't too filled, but the bodies were packed, crowding around near the bar, each shouting their order to the two, overwhelmed, bartenders.

"Let's go grab a table, yeah?" 

Zea pointed her ear, twisting her wrist, indicating that she couldn't hear over the blaring music.

Lottie repeated her statement, louder this time. Zea nodded, taking distracted Chelsea by the shoulder as they wind their way through the crowd of bodies. Zea scrunched her nose as she got a waft of the sharp smell of alcohol was mixed with the stench of body odour. 

A hand shot up over the sea of heads, waving at them.

"I think that's Paula!" Chelsea exclaimed, raising her hand to wave back excitedly.

After finally weaving their way through, they found Paula who immediately threw her arms around the three girls. Her jet-black hair flowed to her waist, cherry red lips complimenting her glowing, brown skin. She grabbed Zea by the shoulders, an apologetic smile on her lips. "Told you I'd be here by the time you reached."

Zea scrunched her eyebrow, a teasing smile on her face as she nodded sarcastically, "Yeah, sure."

The girls headed to their seats, ordering a few rounds of drinks. They drank and chatted, catching each other up on their work, relationships, drama. Smiles and laughter spread through the table, no matter how long they've been apart, this was always how their meet-ups went — full of jokes, drinks, gossip and pure love for each other.

Chelsea hopped to her feet, high from the alcohol streaming in her body, "I've had enough Gin, let's go dance!"

The girls smiled at Chelsea's eagerness, each agreeing with her suggestion. Leaving their coats at their seats, they stood and left for the makeshift dancefloor in front of the live band. Grabbing Zea's hand, Paula lead her to the centre, swaying her hips and twirling Zea around. Zea laughed and started to dance with the rest of the girls, Paula's late arrival long forgotten.

The girl twirled and shimmied, moving to the beat of the songs from the '90s to the mainstream pop songs, as long as it had a rhythm, the girls found it. 

Zea was in her zone as she swayed her body, chatting with strangers, interacting with the band. A few beads of sweat dripped down the sides of her face, her muscles were beginning to tire out, so maybe, it was time to take a short break. "Hey, girls! I'm gonna go grab a drink!"

She wasn't sure the girls heard her over the music, but a thumbs up from Lottie notified that at least someone knew where she was going. She pushed through the sea of dancing bodies, apologising at every person she had to push aside, "Pardon me...Excuse me...Thanks."

Finally, she reached the bar. As she sat on the elevated stool bar, the tall, boyish-looking bartender approached her while wiping the inside of a glass. "Hey Z, saw you dancing. Nice moves."

Zea rolled her eyes and smiled, "Thank Zach."

She knew Zach for quite a while now, ever since she and the girls started patronising the bar. He was cute, blond cropped hair, green eyes and soft features. His good looks and extroverted charm made him popular among bar-goers, male and female. He was a class flirt, but he never overstepped his boundaries.

"What's your poison this time?"

Zea crossed a leg over the other, leaning over the counter slightly, "Just water is fine."

"Could I interest you in a coke?" He asked, putting a freshly cleaned glass onto the counter.

"Eh, why not?"

Zach shot her a wink and grinned, before turning to fill up her glass with her chosen liquid.

She drummed her nails on the black marbled counter as she waited, she tapped her foot to the beat of the music. She turned her head to the side, eyes concentrated on her friends, watching over them like a hawk.

"Hey."

At the sound of the unfamiliar voice, Zea turned to face its owner. At an average height, he stood only slightly taller than her sitting down. He was buff and bulky, no doubt a gym rat. His eyes raked over Zea's long, exposed legs, licking his dry, chapped licks.

Zea's face scrunched in annoyance and displeasure, her eyes turning cold as it met his.

"Bye." She replied curtly. 

She heard Zach whistle to her as he slid the glass of coke down the bar counter. Zea caught it, raising the glass to salute the bartender, who smiled and returned to his other patrons.

"Don't be like that babe, how about I buy you a drink."

Seriously, does he not see the drink in my hand, Zea thought. Her grip on the glass tightened as she forced a polite smile.

"It's fine. I have my drink right here." Zea lifted the glass, showing him that she was already occupied with a drink. She slowly turned away from him as she took a sip, and she can't help but regret not ordering any alcohol.

He rested a sweaty hand on top of Zea's free one, much to her disgust, "C'mon how about we leave this place and have some fun."

Zea clenched her jaw and took a deep, deep breath. Maintaining her composure as best as she could, she asked in a polite but stern voice, "Could you please let go of my hand? Thank you."

The creep didn't listen. As she proceeded to pull her hand from under his, he grabbed it, tight,  into a handshake position. He looked at her straight in the eyes, an innocent, yet sinister smile playing on his lips, "I'm Jaku-"

"I don't give a damn. Let. Go." Zea's voice was low, almost a growl. Her eyes burned with disgust as she tried to pull her hand away, which only made him come closer. Her calm composure was falling apart, rage and distaste filled her core.

From the other end of the long bar, Zach could see the small commotion, a customer had pointed it out to him. He motioned his partner to continue serving the guest as he made his way over.

"Fiesty. I like it." The creep's face was nearing hers now. She could smell his rancid breath, a mixture of cheap beer and bad hygiene.  Zea stared right at him; her face was frighteningly calm. His hands were still gripping hers, and she decided she's had enough.

Before the bartender could even get there, a loud crack could be heard as Zea's forehead connected with his nose. In a fit of pain, he let go of her hand, cupping his nose instead.

"Fucking bitch!"

Zea rolled her eyes as she combed her hair back into place with her fingers. She chugged down the rest of her coke, this time really wishing it was alcohol.

A few goers noticed the scene before Zach shooed them away, "Damn girl. Sorry I didn't get here sooner. I call security over to haul his ass out."

"Not a problem, I handled it," Zea mused, waving off the apology as the security guard arrived.

"Yeah, I can see that," he laughed as he looked at the creep, who was now being dragged away, hands still cupped over his nose as blood dripped. Zach called out, "Hey! Don't get your blood on the carpet you prick."

Zach turned to Zea and looked over at her empty glass, "Can I get you a refill, it's on the house."

Zea nodded, before lifting a finger, "Actually, could you get me a shot of Vodka, thanks hun."

The bartender nodded, quickly filling up the shot glass and handing it to her. She thanked the bartender, downing her shot before returning to her friends.

Chelsea was the first to notice her return, "Hey babes, took you long enough."

"Sorry, been busy handling some grabby bastard."

"Knowing you, he's probably learnt his lesson," Paula shouted over the music as they continued to bop to the music.

"You bet your ass he did."

Lucas stood in front of the bathroom mirror, hands teasing his obsidian hair with gel as he styled it to perfection.

It was Sunday, the day of his date with Zea.

His 16-hour shift had ended in the early hours of the afternoon. His work shifts were irregular due to the need for interventional cardiologists like him, to be available around-the-clock in case of any emergencies.

He had left the hospital at 1104,and only slept for six hours, give or take, a now he was up and in the midsts of getting ready. He had just showered and shaved, with a towel now wrapped around his waist, he was focused on getting his hair just right.

Once satisfied, he put on some aftershave and deodorant before entering his closet. His closet was huge, a walk-in that could fit two to three people if he wanted to, but less than half of it was filled. His clothes were neatly arranged, from his suits to his button-ups. His shirts and trousers were folded and tucked systematically into the shelves. In the drawers were his briefs, socks, ties and a few pieces of jewellery, mainly consisting of watches.

Deciding to go slightly more casual and laid back, he picked a pair of light-washed jeans and a plain white t-shirt. He searched his closet for a suitable coat to wear for the chilly, August night to come. A plain beige trench coat was what he chose, slipping it on, his eyes caught onto a scarf.

He grabbed it and hung it around his neck. Looking in the mirror, he repeatedly put it on and off again, contemplating if he should wear it.

Scarf?

No scarf?

Scarf?

No scarf?

Eh, no scarf, he decided. He threw the scarf back in the closet. He'll hang it back later.

He took out a watch from his drawers, putting it on he noticed the time, 1749. Shit, he had roughly one hour to reach, not to mention the traffic was going to be atrocious. He quickly put on his pair of Timberlands and exited the closet.

He grabbed the keys and wallet from his bedside table, along with an extra helmet from his cupboard. He jogged down the stairs, turning back around again when he realised he wasn't wearing any cologne, fuck.

He rushed into the bathroom, picking up a random bottle from his array of fragrances and gave a few spritz. He hurried out of his room and down the stairs once again.

As he exited the house, the modern security system automatically locked the door behind him. He walked over to his driveway, there his black Audi R8 slept, sun rays gleaming of the shiny exterior. He walked past it, opting for his two-wheeled Honda instead.

The engine started to rumble to life as he inserted the key into the ignition, he threw his leg over the seat,  clasping his helmet in place as he secured the extra helmet safely onto the motorcycle. Kicking the leg stand back, he started the engine and slowly exited out of his driveway.

Zea had sent him the address earlier, it was near the city and only a thirty-minute journey from his house, an hour if he had taken his car. He rode and swerved past the piling traffic, relieved that he had decided to take his motorcycle, the evening jam would have made him late for his date.

After getting through traffic, he reached Zea's affluent neighbourhood. Not much different than his, the neighbourhood was lined with rows of elegant houses, perfect lawns and luxury cars. The exterior of the houses were older, more of the traditional, colonial homes than his were.

He slowed his bike down, cruising at a safe pace as he looked for the right address. Eventually, he found Zea's residence, parking his bike along the side of the road, he got off and leaned against it. The lawn lights were turned on as the daylight faded, glancing at his watch, he was fifteen minutes early. His hands gripped the side of his helmet, pulling it off his head and laying it on the seat.

He fished his phone out of his back pocket, shooting Zea a quick text, informing her of his arrival.

I'll be right down! xx

Lucas smiled as he read her reply. He took a quick look at his motorcycle's rearview mirror, running his hands back through his hair, pacifying the flyaways caused by his helmet.

The shut of the front door made him turn his attention away from the mirror. His mouth hung open ever so slightly at the sight of his date. The cream turtleneck Zea wore contrasted beautifully with her golden skin, the brown suede skirt she wore showed off her marvellous legs which were annunciated by the tall wedges she wore.

Zea sauntered over with her bag in hand, squinting her eyes in an attempt to see the male figure behind the bright headlights of a motorcycle. "Lucas?"

"Hey, gorgeous," he replied, stepping out of the light. He gave a low whistle, "You look amazing."

Zea beamed. She glanced at Lucas' outfit, so casual yet posh and well put together, "You're looking fine as well, Dr Brandons."

Lucas watched as Zea leaned to the side, looking past him, "Is that yours?"

He whirled around, facing his bike and stroked its frame, "Yes it is. It's my baby." 

With a raise of a perfectly arched eyebrow, Zea stared to the side and smiled in a mixture of amusement and disbelief, "I wouldn't have pegged you as someone who rides."

"There's a lot of things you don't know about me," he stated cheekily as he turned to face her, "isn't it what this date is for?"

Zea hummed, her hands reached behind her head and gathered all of her brown locks into a fist, her head hung down as she proceeded to wrap a hair tie around her hair, collating it into a low ponytail.

She placed her hand out expectingly, causing Lucas to quirk an eyebrow as he placed his hand gingerly on top of hers. This caused Zea to cock her head and stare at him quizzically. Her confused face then broke into a laugh, "I was asking for the helmet!"

Lucas coolly took back his hand, his lips pouting slightly, "You could've just asked. You had me get my hopes up." He picked the extra helmet up and passed it to her, before picking up his own.

"Who knows, if tonight goes well, maybe I'll let you hold my hand for real," she teased, clasping the helmet on, tightening the strap.

Lucas put on his helmet swiftly, securing it. He held the handle as his leg went over the vehicle and started the engine, kicking the stand back with his heel. His head gestured to the space in the back as he planted his feet firmly on the ground, keeping the bike stable.

She slung her bag over her shoulder and easily swung her leg gracefully over the motorcycle. The sole of her wedges found the footpegs, and she mentally thanked herself for not wearing heels. 

"Next time, a heads up that we're taking a bike would be nice. I could've worn something more suitable," she stated, referring to her skirt that has slightly ridden up.

"So you're saying that there is a next time," he remarked jokingly as he turned to look at Zea, "the date hasn't even started yet. Guess you're already smitten, huh?"

Zea pushed the side of his helmet, forcing Lucas to face to the front, "Ugh." Her hands held onto the side of his waist, gingerly.

Lucas chuckled. Despite her feigning disgust, he could see her cheeks redden from the rear-view mirror. A smirked formed on his face as he placed his feet on the footpeg, "Hold on tight."

The hands around his waist didn't change their position; he shrugged his shoulders, turning the throttle. The motorcycle jerk forward suddenly, earning a surprised squeal from Zea as her arms immediately wrapped tightly around his waist, "Eep!"

"Don't say I didn't warn you!" He laughed.

Zea was full-on blushing now, the shame of squealing, coupled with the fact that the gap between them was now non-existent. The realisation that her arms are now around his hard abdomen didn't help with her embarrassment. His fresh, slightly masculine cologne wafted into her nose, and she had to stop herself from inhaling deeply. 

Lucas pulled his visor down. Knowing that Zea was now secure after the scare, he pulled away from the driveway and picked up the speed.

Lucas took off his helmet and immediately fixed his hair, not wanting it to be messy in front of Zea, who was already off the bike and in the midst of tousling her deep brown curls. She passed her headgear to him.

"So where are you bringing me?" She asked. They were now in the town centre. Quaint, two-storey shophouse surrounded them. The area was a mixture of modern and classical; the exterior of the buildings was of a different time, old, timeless and antique. The traditional cobblestone street was bustling with people. Street entertainers were spread out as they attempted to catch the attention of passerby's.

"Right there." Lucas pointed to one of the many eateries in the area, getting off his bike, straightening out his coat. A light breeze blew as the two made their way.

The restaurant was not what Zea expected. The modern renovated interior was a contrast to the traditional facade on the outside. The restaurant was small, and the dim lights made it all the more intimate. The walls were beautifully decorated with abstract paintings. Round marble tables were arranged neatly, paired with white cushioned chairs, different from the brown wicker seats at the outdoor seating.

The aroma of the different dishes was mouthwatering. The atmosphere was welcoming, filled with the chatter of families, friends, lovers. The host approached them, dressed in all black, she offered a professional service smile. "Hi. Any reservations?"

"Reservations for two, under Brandons," Lucas smiled, placing his hand on the curve of Zea's back absent-mindedly.

After checking the system, the host smiled and nodded. Taking two menus, she gestured for them to follow her, "This way, please."

The warmth of Lucas' hand on her back could be felt through the layer of clothes as he guided her, following the host to their table. As they took their seats, the host laid down their menus, "Your server will be with you shortly."

Zea smiled and thanked the host as she left. She opened and scanned through the simple menu, she looked away from the menu and asked Lucas, "What's good here?"

"I don't know, never been," he said, eyes concentrated on examining the food options available.

"You've never been here?"

"Nope. It was highly recommended to me by a few friends, but I never had a chance or reason to check it out," he explained. His eyes looked up from the menu and met Zea's, "until now, that is."

The corners of Zea's lips tugged up and shook her head lightly, eyes rolling in the process. She returned her attention back to the menu, glancing ever so often at her date. It was endearing to see his lips pursed in concentration, foreheard furrowing slightly, no doubt trying to make a decision.

A young lady dressed in a white button-up and black trousers approached them, tablet in hand, "Evening, I'm Kailee, I'll be your server for tonight. Are you ready to order?"

Lucas glanced a Zea, a soft nod from her indicated that she was ready to order.

"Yes, we are," he smiled. "I'll have the Tenderloin, rare, with the roasted vegetables. And the lady will have..."

"The Garlic Butter Prawn with Agnolotti, please."

The server tapped the tablet, entering their orders into the system, "Any drinks for you? Wine?"

"What would you recommend?" Lucas asked.

"Based on your selected dishes, I would recommend the Night Reserve Merlot for red and our house Riesling for white," she suggested.

Lucas looked at Zea expectantly, hand gesturing at her, "What would it be, love? Red or white?"

"Oh uh red, red is fine."

"I'll be back shortly with your drinks."

"So...," Lucas started as the server left them to their own devices, rested his forearms onto the table and leaned forward, "how's your uncle?"

"Your first conversation starter while on a date with me, is to ask about my uncle?" She asked, bored as she rested her chin in her palm, eyes questioning.

Lucas stumbled over his words with widened eyes, did he really fuck up the date this fast?

Much to his relief, Zea smiled behind her fingers, the crinkle of her eyes, giving her lie away.

"You're just teasing, aren't you?" He gasped, laughing lightly. 

Zea joined in with a giggle of her own while straightening up her posture. "I was. And to answer your question, he's doing fine, resting."

"That's great!"

"It is. In all honesty, I think its a blessing in disguise that he had to go through the surgery. Now, he actually has time to rest. I think my aunt is enjoying have her husband home for a week," she added.

The server returned with a bottle in hand. She uncorked the wine in front of them, expertly pouring it into the glasses already on their table. Placing the bottle gently on the table, she smiled and left.

Lucas raised his glass up, and Zea copied his movements, "Here's to our first date."

They clinked glasses before bringing it back to their faces. Lucas swirled the maroon liquid in the glass, the rich, earthy aroma wafting into his nose as he took a sip. Zea did the same, licking remnants of wine off her lips after. A small moan left her lips. This was some good wine.

Lucas gazed intensely at the veterinarian, who under the stare gulped nervously, "Is everything alright, Lucas?"

"Was just thinking about how much I enjoy that little sound you make," he declared nonchalantly. He took another sip from his glass, eyes never leaving Zea's, "Especially when I cause them."

Zea spluttered out a choke, her cheeks burned as her eyes avoided contact. Thoughts of that faithful night invaded her mind, the cheeky smirk on Lucas' face was no help. It was her turn to stumble over her words much to Lucas' amusement. "Oh- I- Uh..."

"M'am, here's your Prawn Agnolotti."

"Oh! Uh, thank you!" Zea exclaimed, her mind was so occupied with brushing away all inappropriate thoughts that she didn't even notice the server's arrival.

Lucas chuckled. He thanked the server politely as she set down his food. He picked up his utensils and teased, "I'm sorry, didn't mean to make you so flustered."

Zea snorted and rolled her eyes, "Sure... Of course, you didn't."

The sarcasm in her voice was evident but not hostile. The two began to dig into their food, continuing the conversation. They exchanged their list of favourites, experiences at work, all the mundane things people share on the first date, only it didn't feel mundane. On the contrary, in fact.

Their conversation flowed smoothly, the two of them took turns serving the other with questions, much like ping-pong, it was back-and-forth. They were both interested in what the other had to say, gazing and listening intently before replying. 

And the more they talked, the more comfortable they got, to the extent that they were now indulging in physical contact. The side of Zea's foot was now grazing along Lucas' in calve, both bodies leaning towards each other.

Soon enough, their plates were clean, and the bottle was empty. Lucas had insisted on footing the bill like the gentleman he is. They stood up, thanked their server and host, and exited the bistro.

They walked shoulder-to-shoulder, strolling along the bustling street. The chilly air was refreshing as the light breeze went against their faces. Lucas' hands were tucked into his coat snugly, eyes gazing at Zea. She looked straight on, the wind blowing her loose hair back, she spared him a glance from the corner of her eye as the corner of her mouth tugged.

"What?"

Lucas shook his head, smiling cheekily, "Nothing. It's a nice night out init?"

Zea hummed in agreement, "Thanks for bringing me here. I haven't been to this part of town."

As they strolled, they begin to notice people walking with an array of finger foods. Most evidently were the children who had candy floss of different colours in the small hands, the teenagers and adults were carrying a variety of food ranging from hotdogs to pastries as well as unexplainable hipster food. The sweet aroma of freshly baked goods and sweets got stronger as they walked.

Turning around the corner, the source of the smells and food was apparent; a pop-up food fair. Stalls were set up into two neat rows facing each other. The fairy-lights draped across the stalls shone brightly against the night sky. Chatter of people buying and selling snacks were paired with the chords of a busking guitarist following the melody of the carousel that sat at the end oh the street.

Zea's eyes brightened, immediately grabbing Lucas' hand and dragging him to one of the stalls. The scent of sugar and cinnamon punched them in the face. 

"Hi, darlings! Would you like a cinnamon roll?" The vendor asked. Her greying hair was tied up in a bun, a kind smile showcased the fine laugh lines on her face, but her eyes were youthful yet wise as she looked between the two.

Zea nodded, taking out a note from her purse, "Yes, please. Would you like one, Lucas?"

He shook his head as he smiled down at her, he was quite full from the meal earlier, but it seems like Zea wasn't.

The old lady handed Zea the warm, sweet roll, before accepting the money. Zea politely requested for her to keep any change.

To Lucas' surprise, Zea's petite hand returned to his as they continued surveying the fair, he wasn't going to call it out though, choosing to enjoy the moment. She bit into the dough, releasing a happy groan as the sugary taste engulfed her mouth.

"Good?"

"Mmhmm," she mumbled, mouth still full of the pastry. She lifted the cinnamon roll to Lucas' lips, eyes looking at him expectantly. She nudged it towards his face when he gave her a confused look, "Try it."

Lucas scrunched his nose, the sickeningly sweet smell of icing and cinnamon did not call to him, "I don't have a sweet tooth." But the look Zea gave made him give in. Hesitantly, he took a bite out off the warm bun, slowly chewing. His eyebrows raised in shock, it wasn't overly sweet like he was expecting.

"Thish ish really gud."

Zea smiled in satisfaction, happily eating away at the rest of the cinnamon roll.

The spent the rest of the hour roaming leisurely around the fair, enjoying each others company and not in a hurry to end the date. Along the way, Zea picked up a few more dessert buns while Lucas got himself an ice cream cone. She had insisted on paying for everything they bought there, saying that it was the fair thing to do after he had paid for dinner.

Their last stop was a stall selling various fruit desserts, from chocolate-covered strawberries to candied fruit and the ever-so-classic, caramel apples.

Licking his lips, he approached the stall. He bent lightly, eyes focused on the caramel-coated apples.

"I thought you didn't like sweet things?" She asked, noticing Lucas' appetite for the fruit. She lifted her finger to the vendor, who nodded and picked one up, placing on a piece of thin sheeted paper.

"I don't." He stated, taking the sweet treat happily from the vendor, "But these are an exception."

Zea smiled adoringly at the giddy, happy Lucas. It was a slightly different side from the always calm and confident Lucas, she's witnessed, "What's so different about them?"

"They're my childhood favourite," he declared as he took a huge bite out of the apple, he munched and swallowed before continuing, "Me mum used to get these for me all the time when I was younger. It's been years since I've had one."

Lucas took another munch out of the fruit, the sweet caramel blending with the tangy, juicy apple, "Plus its healthy dessert, unlike those buns you splurged on."

Zea fake scoffed, placing her hands on her hip, "Excuse me, are you sure about that? That has as much sugar as my chocolate danish."

"You know what they say; An apple a day keeps the doctors away," he joked, sticking out his tongue.

"If that's the case, guess I'll stay away from you now," she said, feigning seriousness as she spun on her heel.

With his free hand, Lucas pulled Zea in towards him by the waist. Zea's breath hitched, her foot wobbled, and her chest slammed into his. Her wide eyes met his mischievous ones as she looked up to him.

"Now, don't joke about that. I plan on keeping you around for a while."

Zea blushed at the sudden confession. She wasn't one for official commitment, but her heart fluttered at the words, after all, this wasn't a marriage proposal.

All around, the stalls began closing up, and the streets were a little more empty now. Checking his watch, he sighed, it was getting late, "I should be getting you home now."

"I guess so," she whispered, trying to hide her disappointment.

Lucas loosened his grip around her waist, allowing her to turn around, but still holding her close to him. As they walked back to the motorcycle, Lucas finished up his apple, letting Zea have a few bites in the process.

They reached the driveway of Zea's home, right back to where they started. Zea had enjoyed the ride back home, the heat radiating off of Lucas' back provided her warmth as the rode through the chilly breeze of the night and plus, she got to have another feel of his abs.

The feeling was now bittersweet as the date was coming to an end. Zea got off the bike and struggled to unclasp her helmet. She may have done it a little too tight. Lucas chuckled, his fingers reaching to help her out. 

"There we go!" He exclaimed after finally getting the helmet off.

Zea said her thanks as she straightened out her hair.

"No problem," he smiled, securing the helmet onto the bike.

"No, but really, thank you, for everything. For the ride, the dinner, the impromptu food fair," she said with sincerity. She looked down to her shoes, smiling lightly, "I really enjoyed today."

Lucas beamed, eyes shining. He reached to cup her chin, tilting it up to meet her cerulean eyes. They glimmered under the streetlights, so beautiful, so mysterious. "Glad I wasn't the only one."

A laugh left Zea's lips as she turned her head to the side, before slowly glancing back at him. She leaned in and quickly gave him an unexpected peck on the cheek. As her lips pulled away, Lucas turned to face her and caught her lips with his before they went too far.

Zea gasped against the kiss, but promptly began moving her lips in sync. Their tongues mingled, and she could taste the faint remnants of rich caramel. Lucas couldn't get enough of Zea, of her touch, her scent, her taste. As he said before, he wasn't a fan of sweet things, but he could make an exception for Zea, and caramel apples of course.

Maybe the end of the night wasn't so bittersweet after all.

Hey all! I think this is one of the longest chapters I've written, yet. Hope y'all enjoyed!

Oh, and I got bored, so here is their date aesthetic! Let me know what you think.