samarasketch

They’d been dating for a year, but he still wasn’t used to saying words of affection. Beth had been working him up towards it for the past few months, but ever since she took up the internship at the hospital, Rick had barely had the chance to see her. When he woke up today, he felt it deep within his bones that if he didn’t get to see her today, he’d probably combust. So, he came down to the hospital as early as he could, on the off chance that he could catch her on her break.

A crash of thunder jolted Rick from his thoughts. "Oh right, I almost forgot. I have something for you." He fished out a little box from his back pocket.

"Oh?"

“Is that all you’re going to say from now on? ‘Oh’?” The corner of his lips couldn’t help but lift up at the adorable look of bewilderment in her eyes.

"Oh. I mean-- No, I just--"

"I’m just teasing,” he chuckled as he fished out the small box from his back pocket. “Here.”

“For me?” she looked at it with wide eyes, gingerly taking the box from his hand. “That’s so thoughtful, Rick. But... what’s the occasion? It isn’t Christmas, or my birthday, or our--”

“Anniversary.” They said at the same time.

“Wait, it’s our anniversary?! So soon?” 

Rick nodded, rocking on the back of his heels. 

Her face fell. She pulled out her phone from her back pocket to check out the date. “Oh my gosh, you’re right! I can’t believe I forgot!”

He gave what he thought was a reassuring smile. “It’s okay. You’ve been so busy with your internship, I figured it would slip your mind.”

“I’m so sorry, Rick. I’ll make it up to you, I promise.”

He shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. Now, open it.”

“Here? Now?”

He nodded.

She pouted. “But I wanted to open it when I get home--”

“I wanna know if you like it.”

“I love it!” She looked at him in that How dare you? way she had whenever anyone dared to talk bad about her boyfriend.

He couldn’t help laughing. “But you haven’t even opened it yet!”

“It’s from you, Rick! You know I’d love it no matter what it is!” She beamed reassuringly. 

“Open it. I want to see your reaction before I go.”

Thunder crashed and a light drizzle began.

“Come on,” he coaxed. “We don’t have much time if I’m going to make it back to the Pit-stop before the storm goes full swing.”

She huffed. “Oh, alright...”

A little owl pendant sat on a delicate gold chain. Tiny green gems lit up its eyes, giving it a look of gentle defiance as it caught the light and winked at her.

Beth gasped.

“D-do you like it?” He bit his bottom lip.

“I love it! Thanks Rick!” She beamed, the warmth of her smile radiating through every inch of her body. 

“Here, let me help you put it on.” 

She happily obliged, glad to have a piece of him with her after spending so much time apart.

He turned back to her. “Happy anniversary, Beth.”

“And happy anniversary to you too, Rick,” she said, reaching out to thread her fingers through his.

Another crash of thunder cracked through the air and the light drizzle became a heavy downpour.

“I should go now. I’ll come see you again soon, okay?” 

“Okay,” she sighed, letting go of his fingers reluctantly.

He took off his jacket, intending to use it as a makeshift umbrella, and stepped out into the rain. “See you soon, Beth!”

Just when he was about to take his third step in the rain, he heard a faint call of his name, nearly drowned out by the thundering storm.

“RICK!” 

He turned, only to see Beth hurrying toward him.

“W-wait, Beth! The rain! Your hair--”

“I don’t care,” she grinned, sidling up towards him. 

He held the jacket over her, “What...?”

“You forgot this!” she pulled his collar down towards her, leaned up...

... and kissed him.

Her lips felt warm in the cool rain, and he could taste a hint of... strawberries?

She was about to break apart when he caught her lips again between his own, and this time, he could taste the smile that cracked across her lips, the heat of her radiating through him, down to his very bones.

They broke apart after a few minutes, both completely drenched despite Rick’s jacket-umbrella.

He stared down at her dazedly and watched as sudden shyness overcame her.  Her eyes darted everywhere except at him, and for a moment, he couldn’t believe he was lucky enough to call this bold but shy woman in front of him his girlfriend. 

He breathed in a deep breath of the cool air, then asked...

"Remember, Rick. You only have until midnight. Once the hourglass runs out-"

"I know, I know. I'll be back to normal again." He placed the hourglass in his front pocket. "Thanks for the help, Mike. I really appreciate it."

"No problem, my man. After all, what are fairy godbrothers for?"

Rick was about to turn and head toward the carriage that Mike lovingly called 'Stripe' (which was weird, because there wasn't any stripe pattern to be found), before his fairy godbrother called out, "Oh, and that's Magic Mike to you!"

---

"Cool hourglass."

He jumped. He wasn't expecting to talk to anyone tonight. "Uhh... thanks." His eyes scanned the stunning girl in front of him as his brain struggled to come up with something. What did people say when they meet someone for the first time?

"Catching some air too?" she gestured at the cool night air. "It can get kinda stuffy inside, huh?"

"Uh... yea."

She took the spot next to him. "I didn't expect tonight to be so... overwhelming."

He nodded. The gold tapestry, the fancy champagne, and the tiny food that you can never get satisfied from... it all screamed of money. Something he and his uncle didn't have. That didn't stop his uncle from inviting himself to this swanky party and trying to land himself some wealthy heiress, though.

But from the dirty looks that the ladies (including the waitresses) have been sending his uncle, it would take a lot more than a fancy new suit (that he likely bought with the money his parents left for him) to turn that frog into a prince. Some ladies were even gossiping about how his uncle tried to accost the princess earlier that evening. The thought of his uncle trying to seduce a girl young enough to be his daughter sent a shiver down his spine.

"My parents thought it'd be a great idea. They keep pushing me to make new friends, now that they're too busy with work and all to hang out with me. But I don't quite fit in with the crowd out there. I never know what to do or what to say-"

"You're doing fine," he tried to reassure her, then realised it was kinda rude to interrupt her. "Oh, I'm sorry. Uh... you were saying?"

Her big round eyes narrowed. And narrowed further. Was she mad at him because he interrupted her?

"I-I'm sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt-"

He then noticed that she was leaning in, and her eyes didn't look mad. They looked... bewildered.

"Wait, are you short-sighted or something?"

She jumped at the observation and put some distance between them. "Oh, haha..." she blushed. "You caught me."

He couldn't help but chuckle.

"I just-" she sighed. "You see... I had this idea to not wear my glasses tonight, 'cause it didn't match with my dress. But right now, it doesn't seem as smart as I originally thought."

"I see..."

"Yea, my eyesight is really bad, so I gotta squint really hard to see clearly, but even then, it's not perfect. Ahh... curse it. I really wanted to see you-"

As if realising what she was about to say, she cut herself off promptly and took a step back. Just then, the sound of several musicians tuning their instruments came from the ballroom.

"Oh! They're preparing to play the next waltz. I must head back before my parents wonder where I went."

Just as she turned to leave, she felt a tug on her sleeve.

"Don't go," he said, his voice cracking. He cleared his throat. "I mean, not before we have a dance."

She couldn't see his face, but the sincerity in his voice sent warmth through her body.

Her lips tilted up in a sweet smile. "I'd love to."

---