┌─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───┐

chapter three
can i get your number?

└─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───┘
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┌─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───┐

Kaycee had never tried painting anything that was a living, breathing creature, its chest rising and falling with every faint breath, until today.

She was an art student starting her first semester soon, of course she had to try it sooner or later; she wouldn't really be able to call herself an artist if she hadn't done it at least once.

So, she brought her easel to the nearest park she could find, her easel folded under her arm, and her paints and paint brushes all in a bag that she had slung over her shoulder.

Parks like these were hard to find in the city, especially in New York; the park was quiet, and the only thing you could hear was the leaves brushing against one another, the wind blowing against the trees.

The girl's eyes trailed after the leaves that had drifted off to the ground, falling to, for her, the absolute, most perfect spot to paint-beneath the tallest tree, thriving.

That's when her Rottweiler and her Yorkshire Terrier had started to tug her forward, her hand tightly holding onto their leashes.

These two were her models.

"Kino! Lulu!" Kaycee squeaked out as the two dogs started to run towards the tree, tugging her along.

She could do nothing as her dogs dragged her along the ground like a toy, almost tripping over her own two feet, trying her best to keep up with the two.

But soon, she had forgotten all about it, getting lost within the trees that towered above her, taking her in like one of their own.

Kino and Lulu had found the perfect spot; beneath the trees, the smallest stream of sunlight seeping past them, shining onto the girl's skin, sparkling.

Kaycee smiled at her dogs. "Well, this is a good spot, you two."

The girl took the easel that was tucked underneath her arm and thrusted its thin legs into the ground, throwing a canvas-one that wasn't too big, but wasn't too small, either-onto it.

Her hands on her hips, she couldn't be happier when she glanced back at them, the two taking it upon themselves to tilt their head ever-so-slightly, like the two majestic creatures they were.

"Good job, Kino! Good job, Lulu!" gushed the girl as she placed her hands together, praising her two pets, pets that had played some of the most important parts in her life.

She had spent a good amount of time training the two, and by the looks of things, it looked like it paid off.

Kaycee slipped her bag off of her shoulder, setting it down on the ground. She knelt down, taking their leashes off, leaving them in nothing but the multi-colored collars they had around their neck.

Since she still had a shift later that day, she didn't want to take her sweet, sweet time painting her pets; in fact, she wanted to get started on this as soon as she could, so that's what she did.

She pulled out the paints she needed, pinching the tubes, pushing them out onto her pallet. Pouring water into a plastic cup, she pulled out her paint brushes, plunging them into the water, watching as it flowed through each and every strand.

The girl couldn't help but giggle when she glanced back at the two, posing like they were on a photoshoot for a can of premium-quality dog food.

Kaycee was ready. Kino and Lulu were ready.

But just as the bristles of the and brush in between her fingers were about to meet the canvas, a black and white Shih Tzu with a loose leash came running to her Rottweiler and Yorkshire Terrier, running after the smaller dog.

"Oreo!" a familiar voice called after the dog. "Come back!"

She whirled herself around, and that's when it happened.

Golden pools of honey mingled with a dark, dark brown as Sean's eyes met Kaycee's, melting into one another.

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Sean would often take his dog, Oreo, out for a walk in the nearby park, an earphone plugged into his ear and the other hanging off of his shoulder, soft music filling his ears.

He couldn't help but smile when he saw the archway that stood at the front of the park, twined with vines and all types of flowers, blooming wherever they please.

As soon as he stepped foot on the stone pathway, he saw something-or rather, someone-in the corner of his eye; he didn't know if he was seeing things, maybe he was just thinking about her too much, he didn't really know.

But when his dog's leash had slipped from his hand and she had started running towards her, he knew he was screwed. Big time.

"Oreo!" Sean called for his small, black and white dog, shuffling after her as she continued to sprint towards her. "Come back!"

And that's when he looked up, his eyes melting into hers.

Kaycee simply stood there in shock, eyes sweeping over the boy in front of her before shifting to the small, black and white dog that was chasing after her larger black dog and smaller terrier.

"Is that your...?" she trailed off, the three dogs taking a lap around the tree she stood by.

Sean blinked once, then blinked again. "I, well, y-yes-are those your...?"

The girl shrugged her shoulders. "Y-Yeah, they are."

Sean and Kaycee stood there, staring at each other, before the girl started to laugh softly, shyly shrugging her shoulders, a hand scratching the back of her neck.

"So, you wanna go get them?" she asked, smiling at him.

Sean stuck his hands into the pockets of his black jeans, staring down at her beautiful, big, bright brown eyes, strands of his shaggy hair falling to his face. The slightest of smirks splayed on his lips, "Sure, as long as you're with me."

Rolling her eyes, she still couldn't help but smile at him, shaking her head slightly. "Yeah, right, right."

As he tucked his earphones into the pocket of his black jeans, he took his hands and tugged at the sleeves of his dark blue jacket and at the hem of his plain white shirt, trying to look the best he could for the girl that had now turned her back to him. She set her things on the ground, a small sigh slipping from her lips.

Sean flinched slightly as she whirled herself back around, her smile shining and eyes sparkling. "Ready?"

"When I'm with you, always," he beamed back at her, taking the chance to shoot her a small wink, to which she could only shake her head and smile.

The two started to walk side by side, their shoulders brushing ever-so-slightly against one another. The boy was looking at her, her hair straightened as it fell to her shoulders, framing her lightly-freckled cheeks, dusted with the slightest shade of pink.

Kaycee Rice was still, and probably always will be, the most beautiful girl Sean Lew's ever seen in his entire life.

She tilted her had up, looking up at him through her long, curled lashes, her eyes meeting his. She knew there was something about the way he was looking at her, his eyes sweeping over each and every inch of her, that made her melt.

Shyly, she couldn't help but smile at him, still softly smiling at her.

"So, you come here often?" Sean started, the smallest of smiles still on his lips, his hands stuffed into his pockets.

Kaycee couldn't help but laugh. "That's got to be the most normal pick-up line you've ever given me."

"Correction," he chimed in. "That's the most normal pick-up line I'll ever give you."

"You know," she said, a small smile on her lips as she looked up to meet his eyes, the smallest sparkle in them, shining. "I don't really know why I'm telling you this, but I think they're cute-like, really cute."

"Really?" Sean asked, smirking. "Cuter than, I don't know, me and you?"

He couldn't have missed how her cheeks were suddenly kissed a shade of red, how the color seared across her skin. He thought it was cute, how she looked when she was blushing, her small nose slightly scrunched up. "Really, Sean?"

Sean shyly shrugged his shoulders, hands stuck into his jeans. "What? I can't help it. I like you, and as far as I know, you like me, too."

Shaking her head, the smallest of smiles spread to her lips. She looked up at him, her straightened hair falling to her shoulders, "I guess we'll have to wait and see."

The boy couldn't help the huge, adorable smile that tugged on his lips, his dimples teasing his cheeks. As cliché as it may have sounded, that smile of his made her melt-there's no use in denying that, that's for sure.

"I'm just happy that I have a chance," Sean grinned, almost gushing. "I'm more than willing to wait, if that's what it takes."

Carving the boy's words into the back of her head, her lips couldn't help but curl upwards, smiling to herself the entire time she walked with him by her side, her heart soaring. Him, on the other hand, couldn't help but look over at her every now and then, and how the smallest, softest of smiles had graced her lips, before looking back at his own two feet.

Their bodies brushed against each other, smiling to themselves as they looked down at the ground. The two were so distracted that they almost didn't notice the large, black dog that came rushing to the small girl.

Kaycee looked up slightly, and that's when she saw the large, black dog running up to her, ready to run right into her arms. "Kino!"

Sean could only watch from the side as this small girl was tackled to the ground by this dog that was pretty much as big as her, if not even bigger than her.

"K-Kino! Stop it!" she squealed as her rottweiler licked her face, making the girl laugh. The large dog only stopped when she started to scratch him behind his ear. "That's it, boy."

Okay, that's adorable.

Just when he thought things couldn't get any more adorable than they already were, the girl's small terrier came running into her arms. "Ah, Lulu, baby!"

Sean didn't know that he had broken out into a smile that stretched from ear-to-ear, his eyes shining as he watched the small dog nuzzle itself against the girl's nose. She then pressed her lips to her pet's nose, planting a small kiss.

When he thought he couldn't fall any harder for this girl he just met, she just had to prove him wrong.

"Ah, Rice!" The boy tore his eyes from the sight, turning his head, to see this woman stepping out of the ice cream truck.

The woman had large, golden hoop earrings dangling off of her ears, her hair pulled back into the neatest bun he's ever seen. She fanned her long lashes behind her plastic, see-through visor, looking down at the girl on the ground.

"I knew these two were yours, but I didn't really think that you'd get another one," she said, eyes on Kino and Lulu. "You really didn't think two was enough?"

The boy looked back at the girl. Brows furrowed together, the brunette stood up, brushing her hands against the fabric of her bright yellow long-sleeved shirt, tucked into her denim jeans.

"Thing is, I didn't get another dog, Tricia," Kaycee said.

Tricia leaned on the side of her ice cream truck. The woman's brows stitched together, "You didn't?"

That's when a small, black and white dog stepped out from behind the back of the ice cream truck, sprinting on over to the boy as it sprung straight into his arms. "Oreo!"

With her eyes swallowing stars-sparkling, almost-Kaycee could only watch as Sean showered the small dog in soft kisses, those dimples of his showing even more than they already were, and damn, was it adorable.

He pressed his nose against Oreo's, her paws on his face, making him laugh. God, this boy's too perfect.

When she was pulled out of her thoughts, she came face-to-face with the older woman leaning against the side of her truck, her knowing look seen through her crystal-clear visor, blood red lips tugged into a thin line, smirking.

"So, can I get you two anything?" Tricia gestured to the ice cream truck she had parked beside her. In a sing-song tone, she sung, "I'll give you half-off."

After setting Oreo on the ground next to Kino and Lulu, each side suspiciously sniffing one another for any suspected evil, Sean turned to Kaycee, who had already turned to him.

The boy simply shrugged, "Your call, Kaycee."

Kaycee smiled at him, before looking back at Tricia, smiling at her, too. "I mean, sure, why not?"

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Holding a vanilla soft-serve drizzled with dark chocolate and dusted with multi-colored sprinkles between his supple fingers, Sean watched as the girl beside him took a lick at her ice cream, which was, well, coffee-flavored.

"Man," he sighed against his lips, swirling his tongue around his ice cream. "I can't believe that you're still a coffee-addict when it comes to ice cream."

Kaycee let out a small giggle, licking her coffee crumble ice cream again, letting the flavor of sweet, sweet coffee fill her senses. The girl worked almost every day in a coffee shop and was going to be a college student in two weeks' time-it made sense, she thought.

Simply, she shrugged, "I can't help it. I just really, really like coffee."

As he nodded along, he noticed the ice cream that had started to drip down his cone. He caught the dripping ice cream with his tongue before it dripped onto the ground, which he thought would've been a waste of some perfectly good ice cream.

On the other hand, Tricia rested her arms on the counter, a finger on her lip, eyes on the boy in front of her. The woman couldn't exactly tell if she's seen him before, somewhere.

"Say, are you new here?" she chimed in, catching his attention. "I don't think I've seen you around, yet."

Sean nodded his head. "Oh, my name's Sean. I'm new here. I just flew in a little earlier this week, actually."

"Interesting," said Tricia, as she placed her head on top of her hands, one on top of the other, her long, brightly-colored nails clicking against one another. The woman's eyes moved to the girl, then to the boy, then to the girl again.

As the two ate their ice cream, Sean noticed a little bit of ice cream that had gotten on Kaycee's cheek, a light brown cream staining her lightly-dusted cheeks.

"Kaycee, you got a little something," he said, pointing to the little smudge of ice cream she had on her cheek. "Here."

To say that Kaycee was adorable as she tried to lick the ice cream off of her cheek with her own tongue, her brows furrowed together, and eyes almost crossed, would be an understatement-and a big one, at that.

She licked around her lips. "Here?"

Sean could only laugh, shaking his heads as he took another lick of his ice cream. "Nope."

He turned to the older woman in the ice cream truck, tapping her on the arm and then turning to the girl beside him. Shyly scratching the back of his neck, he shrugged.

"Um, Tricia, was it? May I ask for some tissues? If you have some, of course," he asked her, politely.

Tricia nodded and went to look for some tissues, leaving the two together.

Kaycee felt the shade of a rose flower on her cheeks, feeling the heat from her face. Sputtering, she stumbled over her words, "No, no, no. I think I can get it off myself, you can just tell me where and I-"

Sean cut her off, "Nope, I'm doing it."

The woman returned with a bunch of tissues in her hands, handing them over to the boy, the smallest of smirks tugging at her lips. "Here you go."

"Thank you." He smiled at her, nodding his head slightly.

Kaycee forced her eyes closed, already feeling her face flush. She felt the soft tissue on her skin, the boy tentatively touching the ice cream with the tip of the tissue, not wanting to stain her delicate skin.

Relaxing, her eyes slowly fluttered open, only to see his dark brown eyes looking into hers, before lingering down to her soft, plump lips.

That's when her breath got caught in her throat, the boy's warm breath against her skin hitching before he pulled away. He breathed out, "There you go."

Kaycee placed the tips of her fingers to where he had dabbed the tissue, feeling as smooth as a baby's skin. "T-Thank you."

Sean smiled at her, and almost instantly, she shyly turned away, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. She continued to eat her ice cream in silence, the boy then turning back to the older woman.

"Tricia, can I borrow a pen?" she heard him ask.

Kaycee looked up, seeing Tricia take the pen in the pocket of her blue apron and hand it over to Sean. When he glanced back at her, she looked back down quickly, biting down on her lip.

On the other hand, Sean took the final bite at the cone of his ice cream. Flattening one of the pieces of tissue on the surface of the ice cream truck, with his fingers pressing down the edges of the paper, he scribbled something on it.

With a quick "Thank you!" to Tricia as he handed her back the pen, he handed the tissue to Kaycee, who had just finished her cone, crumbs around her cheeks.

"Here," said Sean, the tissue in hand, "I think you got a little bit on your cheeks."

"Oh," Kaycee breathed out, a hint of embarrassment in her voice, blushing.

The girl swiped the tissue across her lips, lightly dabbing it around her cheeks, brushing the crumbs away. Holding the tissue in her hands, before holding it out in front of her for him to take.

"T-Thank you," she muttered, almost in a whisper.

Sean shook his head, hands stuffed into his pockets as he swayed back and forth, grinning from ear-to-ear. "Flip it over first."

She wasn't going to lie-she was confused at first, curious as to why he'd want her to look at the back of the tissue, but then, it hit her.

'I like you a latte. Can I get your number?'

Kaycee couldn't help the small laugh that left her lips, covering her mouth with her hand, feeling her hot cheeks.

The brunette shook her head, smiling, before turning to the woman in the ice cream truck, simply watching the two in amusement. "Could I borrow your pen, Tricia?"

Tricia handed it to her as fast as she could, almost excitedly, getting on her tippy-toes to watch the young girl scribble her number onto the tissue paper.

Young love, she thought.

Popping the cap back on the pen, Kaycee placed the pen back into Tricia's hand, before placing the tissue into Sean's hand.

Her big, bright, brown eyes bore into his, eyes shining like glowing, glistening pools of honey in the stream of sunlight that seeped through the three standing behind the ice cream truck. They were shining, he thought, as she placed the piece of paper in his hand.

She happened to get a glance at her watch, eyes widening.

"I, uh, gotta go, Sean," Kaycee rushed through her words. "Text me when you can, I guess?"

Sean looked down, and there it was. Kaycee's phone number.

Clutching the paper in his hand, he smiled, his dimples showing even more-if that was even possible, that is.

It seemed like she was in a hurry, skipping off as she sent her goodbyes to him and her friend, her two dogs sprinting after her. She had good reason to, though-she had a shift in less than an hour, she had to stuff all her art stuff back into her bag, and she had to run back home to drop off her things and her two dogs.

Simply shaking his head, he couldn't help but smile to himself, not really believing what it was that was in his fingertips.

Kaycee's phone number.

└─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───┘