"Let's walk," Alesha said as she pulled her car into a parking space in front of the Fort.
"Okay," Nick said smiling. He got out of the car and stretched. "No offense darling, but I don't like your car."
Alesha laughed. "You're just too tall for it. I love my car," she said patting her teal Kia.
"And those silly Squirtles hanging in the window," he said looking at her and shaking her head. "I do have to admit that the Link hanging from the mirror is sweet though. I'll have to get one of those for my Durango. I love Zelda. That game just kicks all ass."
"I happen to like my Squirtles, thank you very much. They match the car."
He laughed. The Squirtlemobile. Hehe." He came around and put his arm around her shoulders. "Come on darlin. We gots lots to do."
She smiled, snuggled up to him and said, "Let's go then."
Nick looked down at her and smiled. "I love you."
They crossed the street and headed to the musem. They wandered around in there for a little bit. It was a Civil War museum, being that Fort Marion was a big Civil War Fort. Nick was amazed at her interest and knowledge about history. "I didn't know you liked history," he said looking at her.
She laughed. "Does that make me a nerd?"
He shook his head. "That makes you even more perfect. Something I didn't think was possible."
She looked at him funny. "Can we go to the Scottish Village? Pleeeease?" she begged.
"Why?" he asked confused by her pleading of something as silly as going to the Scottish Village.
"Because," she said smiling. "I'm Scottish and love seeing stuff from there," she said in her best Scottish accent.
"Impressive," he said grinning. "Scottish, huh?"
She nodded. "And Irish. I've always wanted to go to Scotland. Something I'll probably never get to do though." She sighed.
"Why not?" he asked as they walked towards the village.
"Because, it costs way too much money. Something I'll never have enough of to do anything I want to do."
He looked at her funny. "Don't think that way baby. Someday you'll getta go there."
"Yeah. When I'm too old to enjoy it," she grumbled. She smiled suddenly. "And so I settle for here." He laughed and shook his head, following her.
She dragged him into shop after shop, looking at all the things from Scotland. He listened to her talk about a place she had never been, but had spent her entire life learning and hearing about. Her whole face lit up as she talked. Alesha looked over and seen Nick staring at her. She grew very self-conscious, her face flushing. "WHAT are you staring?"
"You."
Laughing nervously, she looked away. Glancing back, she saw that he was still staring. "What?" she asked. He shook his head, not budging from his spot against the wall. He was leaning on one shoulder, his arms across his chest, and his legs crossed in front of him. "Then why are you staring at me?" she asked.
"Because you are extremely beautiful. Especially when you're talking about something that interests you. Something about you…I can't take my eyes off you. The happiness you find in the small things…I've never seen someone get so happy with a replication of something they want so much. You enchant me, you confuse me, you amaze me, you surprise me…you make me happy…you make me think of and feel things I've never thought of or felt before."
Alesha laughed. "Listen to you. You're insane."
Nick looked at her. His face turned a light shade of pink. He looked away and without another word, walked out of the shop. Confused, Alesha stood staring at the spot he'd been standing. Shaking her head, she walked out of the store. Looking both ways, she couldn't see where he had gone. She finally saw him sitting on a bench across the street. He was sitting on the back of the bench, his feet on the seat part. He was staring at his hands as if deep in thought.
Alesha sprinted across the road. She walked over to the bench and sat down. Looking up at him she asked, "What's wrong baby?" He didn't answer her. He just stared at his hands. "Nick?? Hello. Darlin', talk to me."
He sighed. "I don't know what to say. I…I can't tell you what I'm thinking. Everything comes out weird and you laugh at me. I try to tell you how beautiful you are to me and how special you are to me…and you laugh."
Her hands flew to her mouth. "Oh god, Nick. I wasn't laughing at you. I am so sorry baby. I didn't mean for you to think that." She sighed. "I just…you embarrassed me. I'm sorry."
"Why would you be embarrassed? I'm not saying anything that isn't true."
"Because I'm not use to getting compliments. I don't know how to react to them."
"Well, we'll have to make sure to fix that. I'll have to make sure to tell you everyday how beautiful and special you are."
"Be careful, I may grow conceited," she said making a face.
"Good," he said smiling at her. He grabbed her hand and jumped off the bench. "There's a music shop I wanna stop in. C'mon."
She laughed. "You have got to be the moodiest person that I have ever met."
He grinned. "I get that a lot."
They walked in the store and looked around. "Woohoo!" Alesha said as she started doing some dance steps in the middle of the aisle. "I LOVE this song," she said and began singing softly.
o~/Somebody told me that you're not my kind/so have I lost my mind/you keep on doing all the things I like/you've got me hypnotized/But that's the way I like it/~o
He laughed. "You're crazy!!" He looked around, but no one was paying attention to them. "How do you know that dance?"
She laughed. "I've watched you guys enough."
"And you STILL made me show you ID when I signed the credit card slips?"
"Didn't say I was paying attention to you," she grinned evilly.
"Oh yes," he said. "I forget…Howie's the god," he said sarcastically.
"Yes, yes he is," she said smiling dreamily.
"And what am I? A dead fish?"
"A what?" she asked laughing.
"A dead fish. Something no one wants."
Alesha snuggled up to him. "I want you baby. Even if you were a dead fish."
"Thanks, I think…" he said looking at her funny.
She giggled. "What are you looking for anyway?"
"A Metallica import."
"Which one?"
"Two of One," he answered.
"Ooooers," she said. "Good disc. I have 3 of them."
"Why would you have 3 of the same CD?"
"I bought one forgetting that I had ordered it. Then I got one as a gift. Want one?"
He nodded. "Sure."
"Groovy," she said smiling and picking up a CD. "Coolieos. I have been looking for this EVERYWHERE!!"
"What is it?" he asked looking over her shoulder.
She held the CD to her chest, hiding it. "Nothing."
"Let me see it," he said.
She shook her head. "No."
"Pleeeasse?" he begged.
"You'll laugh," she said looking at him.
"No I won't," he said grabbing her hands. "Just let me see it." She let him take the CD from her hands, looking the other way. He started laughing and then stopped, trying to hide it. "Why would you have been looking for this CD?"
"Because I want that song," she said softly.
"You could have asked me for it," he said.
"Nick. How many times do I have to tell you that I forget who you are. Besides…the challenge of finding 'Give Me Your Heart' on CD…couldn't pass that up."
"You are so crazy. At least let me buy it for you."
"Why?"
"Because I want to."
She shrugged. "Whatever."
They walked up to the counter, he pulled out his wallet to pay for the CD. He looked at the CD and started laughing again. Alesha raised an eyebrow at him. "What is wrong with you?" she asked.
"I do believe this is the first time that I have ever bought one of our CDs," he whispered to her.
Alesha started laughing and shook her head. "And you say I'm crazy."
