[Q]A Perfect Night (Avery)

[LOKI!]

Have you ever seen, the stars so bright.
With a night like this, wish it'd last for weeks

Sawyer walked across campus to the girls dorms, he could feel his knees turning to jelly. Yes he had spent a little time with Avery since meeting her, but this was different, this was a real date. He hadn't been on an actual date in so long he wasn't sure he remembered how.

He sent her a text as he sat on a chair in the lobby letting her know he was there. He rubbed the bruise on his chest, he hoped Riley wouldn't tag along downstairs to see them off. It wasn't that he didn't like her, he didn't really know her. He was just plain scared of her.

It soothes the soul. Takes us back in time
when we walked in fields of gold

[averygrant]

Avery finally decided on a pair of dark denim shorts and a grey tank top that had black sequins around the neck line. It was comfortable, kind of casual, but still cute. Her phone vibrated on the dresser just as she finished pulling her hair back into a ponytail. She glanced down and saw a text from Sawyer, saying that he was downstairs waiting.

She walked down the stairs and into the lobby, trying to remember everything she should and shouldn't do on a date. She brushed her palms off on her shorts as she walked up to Sawyer. She wasn't sure how to greet him at this point in their relationship, so she settled for a quick greeting and a smile. "Hey. I hope I didn't keep you waiting too long."

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[LOKI!]

Sawyer smiled as she walked into the lobby. He slipped his arms around her waist and kissed her forehead. "I don't mind waiting for you." He took her hand and led her to his short bed ford, "I know I said dinner or a movie, but we already did both of those the other night. If you don't mind I thought of something a little different for tonight."

He cranked the truck to life and pulled out of the parking spot. He let his hand fall between them on the seat, hoping she would get the hint. He wanted to feel her touch, but he didn't want to force it on her. He was determined to not push too far with her.

[averygrant]

She wondered what he had up his sleeve, but she didn't ask. She just nodded and smiled. "Sounds good to me."

[/b]

Soon enough he had started the truck and was pulling out of the college parking lot. She was growing more curious about where they were headed, but she decided she'd let him surprise her. He laid his hand on the seat between them. She thought he wanted her to hold his hand, but she wasn't sure. Should she take it? Should she leave it? She stared out the window for a few moments, watching the landscape pass by. The bright summer colors were still alive, since it was only the end of August. The heat had dried out some of the flowers and grasses, but otherwise the landscape was alive with a variety of green hues.

Finally, she turned her attention back inside the truck and looked at Sawyer as he drove. She slid her hand off her of lap and onto his hand very delicately, wrapping her fingers across the back of his hand.
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[LOKI!]

He smiled as he felt her hand touch his. "I think you're going to like it. Well I hope you are going to like it." He watched the small little town fade away as they drove towards the woods. He traced the edge of her hand with his thumbs. "So your sister, shes kind of . . . feisty isn't she? The pain in his chest was almost a memory, but he could still feel it a bit.

"I'm sure she's just looking after you though, and I don't blame her." He turned to smile at her as he pulled the truck into the clearing in the trees. "Well I think we have arrived. What do you think?" He leaned down and kissed her forehead as he unfastened his seat belt.

[averygrant]

She laughed as he mentioned her sister. "Uh, yeah, I suppose that's one way to put it."

[/b] Then a couple miles down the road he pulled into a clearing in the trees, what appeared to be a small makeshift parking lot. He shut off the engine and turned to talk to her.

She looked out the window and saw a whole lot of...nothing. Well, it was just some kind of place out in the woods it looked like. No buildings, nothing man-made within sight. There was a small path through the trees, and she wondered if wherever they were going was through there. She hid her disappointment well. It wasn't exactly what she'd pictured her first date being like, but she was with him and that was all that really mattered. Somehow, she knew he'd make it something special, even if it wasn't what she'd envisioned. "If I knew what exactly we were going to do here I might be able to tell you what I think,"[/b] she said with a smile. "But it looks like a really pretty place."[/b]

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[LOKI!]

He went around to the back of the truck and took out a blindfold. "You have to promise no peaking ok?" He slipped to her door and opened it and held the blindfold up. "The surprise is further on ahead." He smiled shyly, "It's nothing bad I swear, I wouldn't want to risk Riley coming after me." He laughed gently.

He helped her out of the truck and tied the blindfold around her eyes. He slipped his arm around her waist and started to lead her through the trees. "I wanted tonight to be special, so I through together a little something up on the trail."

[averygrant]

Avery let Sawyer tie the blindfold around her head. She felt his arm slip around her waist as he got her out of the truck and started walking. She was moving carefully, being cautious with her feet to make sure she wouldn't trip over anything. She felt safe under his guidance, but her anticipation of why lie ahead was quickly growing.

"So not even a hint?"

[/b], she asked with a laugh. With her eyes closed she could sense more from her other senses. The smell of the earth. It was crisp and clean. In the rural area like this there was a completely different smell than in the city, and she found it invigorating. She heard birds chirping in the trees, and grass and whatever else lay on the trail crunching softly beneath their feet. Though they moved quietly with much deliberation, it would be impossible for them to sneak up without someone hearing their approach.

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[LOKI!]

He smiled a little, "well I suppose I could do that much." He could sense the end of the trail getting closer and closer. "you said you might dance for me." He smiled knowing he had probably given a little more than a hint. But at the same time, they were in the middle of the woods, so maybe not.

As the trail ended he stopped walking and turned to face her. He let his arms wrap around her waist. "You can take the blindfold off now." He quickly glanced around the clearing. It was all as he had arranged it, the pallet with the plywood would have to suffice for a dance floor. Across from it a folding chair with a stereo. He smiled as turned back to her. "I know it's not a studio, but I hope it's good enough."

[averygrant]

Her mind began to wander over the possible meanings of his hint, but soon enough they arrived at their destination. She reached up and took off her blindfold, turning her head as she stared at the scene. A small plywood stage, one chair, and a stereo. It was clear enough to her that he wanted her to dance for him, and she smiled. "It's wonderful!"

[/b] She'd have to figure out a way to make do with the small area, which would limit the dance steps she could perform, but she could come up with something.

She felt a little nervous about dancing in front of him, but she knew she just needed to take a deep breath and plunge into it. She glanced down at her flip-flops and debated moving them, but she figured she'd make them work and it would be better than getting a splinter. So she left them on, and walked up onto the platform. She turned her back to him, and then nodded, pointing at the stereo. She wondered what kind of music he had lined up, but figured she was about to find out.

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[LOKI!]

He hit the play button, and the sounds of "Eluvium" filled the air. He couldn't help but be fascinated by the look of concentration on her face. The sun had begin to set painting the scene in a vibrant orangish hue as she began to move to the music. She looked so graceful as she performed the delicate maneuvers. He felt overcome with the sheer beauty of her movements.

He sat in the chair transfixed as she danced, the music washing over him. He was glad he had chose this over something cliche like dinner and a movie. Everything seemed to slow down, and it felt like there was nothing in the world besides him and her.

[averygrant]

He pressed play and immediately the sounds of soft, clear piano notes filled the air. It was a mild song, almost like a lullaby. She stood still for a few moments, then went through the ballet positions as she warmed up and got more comfortable with the music. As it progressed, she started doing turns, small jumps, and circles, being careful to stay on the small space. Then she danced down, onto the grassy ground, and performed a more complicated series of leaps, before ending up in a final pose in front of him as the music drew to an end.

She stayed still for a few moments, letting the music completely fade out, before she finally stood back into a normal standing position and smiled. "Sorry it wasn't much, it's hard to come up with something on the spot."

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[LOKI!]

He sat still mesmerized staring deeply into her eyes. "Avery, that was amazing." He smiled up at her as she stood in front of him. "I've never seen anything like that before." He blushed a little as the next song began to play. It was a slow country song, the lyrics were lost on the air. "Would you care to share a dance?" He managed to stand and wrap her in his arms gently.

He smiled as he held her, "I think this is more special then some old movie." His face brightened into a grin as he pressed his lips to her forehead. "Or is it just me?" The sunset emphasized her simple elegance. He felt himself falling into her beauty as he gently rubbed her back.

[averygrant]

She smiled as he took her into his hands, offering to dance with her. She'd never danced with a guy before, but she hoped it wasn't too much harder than the dancing she was used to. As the music played on, they began swaying to the song. He kissed her on the forehead and then she laid her head against his shoulder.

"I think it's perfect,"

[/b] she said quietly, almost as if she was afraid of interrupting the harmonies of nature and the slow country song.

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[LOKI!]

He rested his head against hers as the music overcame him. Everything felt perfect, he still couldn't believe it was all happening. He ran his hands along her back slowly trying to memorize every detail of her. He didn't want the song to end, he just wanted to hold her for the rest of the night. He would gladly hold her for weeks if he could.

The last note of the song faded into silence, he stood in the clearing with her in his arms. He wanted so bad to say something, anything. But his brain just couldn't turn the feelings into words. He gently turned her face towards his and gazed deeply into her eyes. The powdery blue felt like it went completely through him. He smiled gently as he gently traced her jawline. He leaned in to kiss her, at the last second he stopped. Take it slow, he kept telling himself. He felt conflicted as he wrestled with what to do next.