#(chapter); unknown

             Rain Shower Kiss - @defiantcharms - NOT ACCEPTING.

    this was the remarkable end to yet another remarkable day. she invariably had made every day in her presence the best day yet. while she may have vetoed his idea of visiting cambridge for the third time, she had gone along with his whim of a visit to the cadbury chocolate factory. the day had been spent indulging in one too many indulgences, and it seemed that tonight would follow the same course.

      leaving her here at her door was an agony he was forcing himself to follow, she hadn’t been unwelcoming — but he felt it wrong to prey on such kindness when she barely knew him. every moment spent with her he was half holding his breath, half waiting for her to realize she could reach for the stars and easily keep them in her delicate hand. yet to lower herself to pluck a stone from the dusty ground and to cherish that —- was a sort of act he could barely understand. 

     it was one of those moments that are the general magical scene in a chick flick. the girl standing on the first step, the boy still at the street level.  the rain coming down slowly – not enough to send either running for cover but enough to cause both to glance towards the sky and then their eyes meet. only in this case – the rain began to come down in much heavier sheets – she was protected under the slight awning of the porch… but he was almost immediately drenched. 

    yet an ever present smile as he ducked under the awning, a low hum as he reached for her hand. it seemed as if kismet agreed with his temptations he stepped forward to brush his lips to hers. tilting his head slightly to accompany for the height difference.

Claire had often watched the numbers tick down, whenever she had a spare moment, time to let her mind wander. She’d wonder where she might be when the countdown began to near its end, and who would be standing there before her when the numbers hit zero.

Well, now here she was, shuffling awkwardly in a crowded square of people. The last seconds were ticking, and there she was, surrounded by other human beings, but alone. Green eyes searched for anyone approaching, wondering if they were there for her. If the seconds on their timer were ticking down, too. Everyone seemed busy, in a rush to get to wherever it was they were supposed to be.

But one man, he was tucked off to the side, staring down at his wrist. There! Maybe it was him. He was obviously looking at his timer instead of noticing her. She’d just have to get his attention, that was all. So Claire took a deep, calming breath, and walked over to the man. His back was to her, she had to reach quite high to tap him on the shoulder. “Excuse me?

      his eyes were trained on the declining digits on his wrist, he’d spent many years ignoring them - but as of late they’d become one of the only sources of hope he’d had. and so with a tenacity he barely knew he had --- he clung to that hope. it had been too many years that he’d been alone to ever really even think of someone being meant for him. the concept alone was sheer idiocy in reflection of his life so far.

      abandoned at birth, abused through child hood --- little more than a weapon in the grand scheme of military life he’d never truly formed any mutual connections. never any sort of relationship that would weather the storm. 

   today he’d been drawn out of the comfort and safety of his home for a single reason. to see if anyone would come when those numbers finally hit zero. after all if there was someone in the world meant for him -- then he wanted to at least be dressed and in public.. instead of hiding from life and spending the day reading per his usual activity level.