Gabriel

Thwap! Another ball of crumpled up paper landed in the waste basket and I dragged my hands over my face in frustration. I had already been sitting at this desk for 9 hours, trying so hard to come up with the perfect plan because it had to be absolutely perfect.

I stared at the blank page in front of me for a few moments, willing it to inspire me, but when none came, I dropped my head onto the notebook in defeat. I stayed like that, my forehead pressed firmly into the blank paper, and I let my mind wander back a week.

It had started off like any normal Thursday morning; I'd woken up at 7, made Lucky Charms and ice cream for breakfast, and got dressed. Of course, one does not simply prepare for the day without music, and although I fell over a few times during the process of dancing while pulling on pants, it was worth it.

I'd walked the same path to campus that morning that I always did, headphones jammed in my ears to chase away the silence. I'd sat through my Thursday classes, ate lunch by myself under my usual tree and, after the rest of my classes, I'd gone back home to the apartment I rented off campus by myself. It wasn't anything grand, just a simple one bedroom flat, but it did have a small balcony. Often times I'd sit out, read in the sun, watch the sunset, or launch water or paint balloons onto the innocent pedestrians below.

That day, I was rushing around to get ready for my shift at the local candy shop Sweet Heavens!. I loved my job. The owner, Gertrude, was a nice older lady who frequently sent me home with bags of candy to feed my addiction. Work was the best part of my days as it was the only time I had someone to talk to other than my Deadpool wall clock, and I welcomed the steady flow of conversation that Gert provided. Sadly, the shop had to close eventually and I was once again alone, but that was fine. Alone meant that I could enjoy a Harry Potter marathon without complaint and I also wouldn't have to share my candy.

I set the movie collection beside the DVD player and got to work on my pillow fort, grateful that I didn't have Friday classes. Halfway through the construction of my pillow fort, I had the sudden urge to go to the library. I didn't question it and set about filling a bag with candy, grabbing my purple fort sheet on the way out the door. For hours I sat there in the baking cook-book section, happily reading The Chronicles Of Narnia and stuffing my face with sweets. I had just finished the second book and was in the process of eating a Twix when my whole body tensed suddenly.

There's a disturbance in the force, the thought had flashed through my mind as I quickly stood and shoved the sheet aside. That was when my life changed, that was when I laid eyes on the glorious Sammoose. I'd known instantly that my lonely days were finally through.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

Thud... thud... thud... I banged my head against the notebook, desperately trying to get the creativity and, more importantly, romance flowing. It had been 16 hours and 23 minutes since I'd seen Sam and it was driving me crazy. After the boom box trick had failed, I knew I had to step up my game if I wanted to catch and tame this magnificent Samsquatch. Annoyingly, that meant that no talking to him until I had the perfect plan. It was proving to be a lot harder than I'd anticipated and I'd already had to ask Gert to lock my phone away so I couldn't text him. That had just been after the first hour.

I was aware that I was probably making this a lot more difficult than it needed to be, but who could really blame me? I'd found my Knight In Shining Flannel, and everything had to be flawless so I could sweep him off of his giant bigger-than-my-face feet.

"What do you think, Deadpool?" I asked the clock across the room. It didn't answer, choosing to stare at me silently rather than provide any ideas. I huffed in annoyance and threw a paper ball at the clock angrily. Stupid inanimate object. How dare it not solve all of my problems or at least say something.

I hadn't dated since my sophomore year of high school, 4 years ago, preferring to focus on my classes and job instead. I'd convinced myself that I didn't have time for things like dating what with studying to become an English teacher as well as minoring in business so I could one day open a candy shop of my own.

Aside from my younger brother, Balthazar,  randomly buying me a car a few months ago, I hadn't spoken to my family since leaving for college, having lost touch with most of them. I did have one sibling nearby, but we didn't exactly get along and mostly avoided each other. Despite all of that, I'd been content, a little lonely at times, but overall happy with my good grades and awesome job. Then I'd met Sam, and I knew from the second I saw him that I had to have him. He was one of those 'once in a lifetime' type of guys and I intended to waste no time at all. I could tell just from looking at him that he was super sweet and oh boy, did I love sweet things. With a determined grunt, I picked up my pen and started to plan.

I would make that moose mine if it was the last thing I ever did.

*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•*•

He said yes!

I hadn't slept at all the night before, too excited for today. I was going on a date with this freakishly gorgeous man who had eyes like sunflowers and a smile sweeter than any candy I'd ever tasted.

The first step in Operation Face-Battle was breakfast and, although it was odd, I took Sam to the local salad shack because I knew he'd love it. Sure enough, as I devoured my chocolate muffins from the bakery Dough Re Mi, my outrageously tall date tore into a salad despite it only being 11 am. Clearly phase one had been a success and I couldn't stop smiling, especially when Sam managed to get ranch all over his nose and mouth, a single shred of lettuce stuck to his cheek. Adorable.

Phase two of Operation Face-Battle was to take place at the movie theater for the re-screening of Ever After since Sam had mentioned once that he loved Drew Barrymore. The man in question gave me those confused puppy eyes and I felt my heart melt as I led him away from the seats and up a hidden flight of stairs.

"We don't watch movies with the commoners, my precious Denim-Clad Prince." I explained as we entered the projector room, a blanket and snacks -healthy for Sam- waiting patiently by the large window.

"You did all of this?" He gasped in awe. Mentally noting phase two as a success, I nodded, smiling when Sam hugged me tight.

"Thank you." He whispered and it took every ounce of self control I had not to kiss him right then. We watched the movie from our secluded VIP area and at some point, Sam's hand found mine and I struggled to breathe. I couldn't get over how perfectly his fingers fit in the spaces between mine, as if they were designed specifically for that reason.

I could hardly pay attention to the film, too busy watching the way the light from the projector flickered over his profile. He smiled at certain parts of the movie, sometimes frowning and occasionally leaning forward as though the movie were dragging him into it during the more intense plot points. It was truly a sight to behold, watching the emotions that played over his face, momentarily lifting the seriousness that seemingly always plagued him and allowing something more beautiful and even innocent to take over. I squeezed his fingers as an unfamiliar warmth filled my heart, grinning broadly when he squeezed back.

Our hands remained joined even after we'd left the theater. Having planned ahead, my car was already sitting in the parking lot and I tugged Sam to it eagerly, gently forcing him into the passenger seat despite his protests.

"Who's car is this? Gabriel? Where are you taking me?" The questions flooded from the handsome giant's mouth nervously.

"It's my car and I can't tell you where we're going, it's a surprise." I laughed, a cherry lolly finding its way into my mouth as I pulled out onto the road.

"Wait, if you have a car then why do you walk everywhere?" Sam asked innocently.

"Why waste the gas when I could just walk?" I pointed out and Sam clearly didn't have an answer to that.

"It's a beautiful car." He said after some time had passed. I smiled proudly and patted the dash of my lime green Pontiac Solstice affectionately.

"Thanks, his name is Mike." I stated lovingly.

"Why Mike?"

"Mike Wazowski!" My gleeful response made the moose beside me laugh and it was the best laugh I'd ever heard. He let me hear it again once I pulled into the location of phase three. Nerves lit up my emotional grid as I realized the last stages of Operation Face-Battle were nearing.

"The fair?" Sam chuckled.

"Time to get in touch with your inner child, Samster." I smirked as I pulled him through the gates. We spent hours riding rides, playing games and loading up on the sugary snacks available for purchase at every turn. Well, I snacked and Sam watched in amusement as I consumed funnel cakes, cotton candy, snow cones, and deep fried Oreos. At one of the games, I won him a giant stuffed moose that somehow managed to look minuscule in his arms. He named it Thidwick.

I giggled when I noticed Sam's face would pale every time he saw a clown, no matter if it were real or just a picture slapped on the side of a food truck. Our fingers were interwoven the entire time and it made me feel like I was floating.

Once the sun finally sank below the horizon, I began to pull Sam behind me, my heart thundering madly in my chest. I knew it was horribly cliché, but my inner hopeless romantic hadn't been able to resist involving the giant Ferris wheel in the final phase of the operation. We took our seats and, swallowing thickly, I placed an experimental arm around Sam's shoulders as the wheel began to turn slowly. He didn't resist and I smiled when he actually moved closer, marveling silently at the way the lights from the fair danced over his features and lit up his eyes ethereally.

The wheel paused when we reached the top and Sam sucked in a sharp breath. There was no fear on his face though, rather, he was taking in the view with an expression of wonder. I was sure it was a stunning sight in its own way, but it could never compare to the view of Sam sitting here in the sky with the stars shining brightly all around him.

"It's beautiful up here." The moose whispered as if he were afraid to raise his voice any louder, like if he did, the image would shatter and disappear forever.

"I couldn't agree more." I murmured in response. My heart caught in my throat as his eyes met mine and time seemed to stop as I lifted my free hand to his face, gently resting my fingers under his chin.

This was it, the exact moment I'd spent the whole day building up to, the moment that in the fairy tales would lead to the inevitable happily ever after. Forcing myself to remain calm, I slowly shifted closer, softly tilting his chin down. Those gorgeous, wild, sunflower eyes were opened wide, his cheeks flushed a soft pink, mouth slightly open in a gasp; he was beautiful. His breath tickled my skin and I knew all I had to do was lean in and I would finally feel the kiss I'd been dying to explore.

My thumb traced the delicate curve of his bottom lip and I gazed up at him through my eyelashes, silently asking permission. I didn't look away as I leaned in until the very last second, right before our mouths met. My eyes slid closed and I kissed him tenderly, the air being stolen from my lungs as Sam smiled sweetly and melted against my lips, his arms circling around me and holding me close.

Operation Face-Battle was officially a success.

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So after a long night of typing and then the finishing touches for a few hours today, it's finally up! Yaaaaaaaayyyyy!

Time to get started on the next one 😂

Until next time my lovely shippers! ❤️