The two didn't talk much during the drive, though they did listen to music the entire time. Soon they arrived at the mall and found a parking spot towards the back of the parking lot. While walking to the building, Charlene began to talk,"So, you got bored enough to want to hang out with me?"she asked teasingly.
"Well you got bored enough to hang out with me too so you're not one to talk." They both laughed.
"We've never gone anywhere just the two of us..." Charlene blurted out of nowhere. They walked through the entrance.
"You're right. I'm glad we're doing it now,"he said and instantly regretted it. He hoped he wasn't ruining everything before it even started.
Charlene couldn't believe what she just heard,"You are?"she tried not let her surprise and excitement show in her voice but failed.
"By the sound of it you are too." Charlene tried not to blush.
They walked aimlessly and talked about pointless things, a change from the usual conversations they have around all the other keepers. Charlene couldn't help but notice Maybeck was acting slightly different. Not by much, nothing too jurassic. He was being a little less sarcastic than usual, softer in general.
They reached a food court and decided to buy ice cream. Charlene ordered Strawberry, her personal favorite, while Maybeck ordered Chocolate, a favorite of his. They sat close, side by side, at a small table for two.
As Charlene lifted the cone to her mouth, she got a small bit of the pink ice cream on the tip of her nose. Maybeck laughed and Charlene turned the same shade of pink as the ice cream. Maybeck lifted a napkin to her face and surprised her by wiping the ice cream off of her. She giggled.
They sat, once again in silence as they ate the frozen treats.
Out of no where Maybeck spoke something he had been debating saying for a while,"This ice cream is almost as sweet as you."
Charlene turned a deep red,"What?"
"You heard me."
She looked up at him and was surprised how close he was to her. How close their faces were. Surprised that she didn't pull away at the realization. He reached down and grabbed her hand. Surprised that she held his hand back. The red had yet to leave her face.