Scrapes @Connor
For the first time in weeks, Evelyn Marie Logan decided to take the day to simply exist. She was the girl who got her lifeblood from deadlines and due dates that kept the heart pumping quickly, but hours locked away in a library for exams simply tired her out. It was nearly summer holiday. Why not venture out into the world? After thinking it over, Eve left her laptop at home. Her bag was so much lighter without the machine, though she couldn’t say she didn’t miss being up to type up some observations she scribbled in her notebook. The pages and pages of notes she’d taken would be marginally useful next term, but she could file those away later. Today was relaxing. Today was relaxing. Without a plan, Eve threw her hair back in a sleek pony tail and found one of her more casual dresses to slip into. Her makeup was light but noticeable. The first thought she had when looking in the mirror was stay-at-home mom going to lunch, a look that made her only marginal upset.
Eve walked the streets near her apartment. She could indulge in a proper meal for the first time in a few days but figured waiting until lunch hour would be best. People watching was interesting enough. There was a family of three toddling toward the bus, an older couple arguing about which early bird brunch special they were going to choose. It was mundane, but nice to observe. Eve kept walking toward some unknown destination when she tripped over a person standing in the middle of the sidewalk. In a perfect world, she’d have stayed upright but in this case Eve took a harsh fall. “Fuck,” She murmured as she noticed a small scrape on the side of her leg. If this was any indication about her relaxing day, she might already be doomed. She looked up at the culprit and groaned. “You wouldn’t happen to have a bandage, would you?”
Connor had gotten back from London earlier than planned but left his pups at their spa. No need for their vacation to be ruined. Not that they had a rough life. His plans had been derailed but he was making the best of it. A few computer searches and information added and someone else would be paying for his annoyance. They would likely be paying for more than that. He was finally smiling. It had been a lot more difficult to smile but surprisingly someone else’s misery was just what the doctor ordered.
He had been walking around after a morning coffee, working out the next step to his endeavor when he realized he could use a newspaper. He’d found a bin of them and had slipped in the coins, about to pull it open when something collided with him causing him to let go of the door and lose his purchase. He would have cursed but caught a look at what or rather who had happened. striking woman was now sitting on the ground. He looked at her up and down. She asked for a bandage and he noticed the cut on her leg. Immediately he stopped down.
“Unfortunately, no bandage but would a clean handkerchief suffice?” He pulled it out of his back pocket and began applying it to the cut. “Sorry if this stings. And obviously apologies for my lack of manners, knocking you about without so much as introducing myself.” He smiled at her and hoped she returned the favor. He extended his free hand. “Connor Huxley.. street obstacle extraordinaire.”
“A clean handkerchief could work,” Eve murmured as she inspected the injury another time. There was only a small amount of blood and even though she was usually very high-strung about appearances, her exhaustion made it impossible to have the same sense of sharpness toward this man. Besides, her faint belief in karma made her less likely to be an arse and ruin the rest of the day. The stranger’s softer touch with the handkerchief was appreciated, though in a perfect world Eve would’ve preferred anti-infection cream. “Apology accepted as long as you help me up, yeah?” Eve returned his bright smile and took his hand as the leverage needed to get up off the ground. By this time, a few people looked in their direction with curiosity.
After standing up properly, Eve examined her leg another time and looked up at Connor. “Eve. I’m an expert in falling like a four-year old on the streets,” She took stock of Connor, her mind working with observations and intrigue into this attractive stranger. “You lost your paper, right? I’ve got some change to spare.” Eve reached in her wristlet to search for some coins. She produced a few, but not nearly enough to repay the other man. “Well shit, if it’s the Daily News it’s probably not worth reading anyway. They don’t verify anything.”
He helped her stand easily enough. She introduced herself and he laughed lightly at her own introduction. “Eve.. I think you’re selling yourself short. That was easily falling like an 8 year old.” He paid attention to her smile, her eyes. She was particularly striking. Her outfit wasn’t particularly revealing and looked rather comfortable. A woman out for a stroll. She mentioned losing his paper and was surprised she’d realized that. He held up his hand when she started looking for loose coins. “Nonsense.. really.. you needn’t..” She offered her change and then an anecdotal reply when she didn’t have enough for a fresh copy. “You’re probably right.. pure rubbish.” He put his hands in his pockets and regarded her kindly. “You’ve saved me from ignorance it seems. I should likely do something.. to return your kindness.”
Connor could hardly believe his forward approach and realized he must still be feeling the adrenaline from having ruined someone’s night. It felt good. “I was fancying grabbing lunch and was about to venture at it alone. But perhaps it was a serendipitous encounter and I’m meant to dine with a lovely woman.” He met her eyes and let himself relax even more. He hadn’t asked someone out in a long while and thought he would be rustier at this. Apparently spending a lot of time in the company of the boys hadn’t been all bad. “Please don’t deny me. It’s the least I could do for scarring you as I have. I mean that might need..” He looked at her leg and it was a simple scrape. “Maybe not stitches but some antiseptic. We can swing by a druggist and purchase some before lunch.”
Eve raised an eyebrow. “Return my kindness?” She half-expected him to defend his choice of reading since it was probably not her place to comment on his reading habits. Connor was a stranger who expressed no interest in her opinions on the veracity of news outlets. But instead, Eve was surprised by soft words and an invitation to lunch. Her romantic life was practically nonexistent at the moment, save a few hookups spread throughout the semester. The woman started to deny his request because she simply wasn’t dressed to go out to lunch, she didn’t know him, she wasn’t hungry, nearly any reason to avoid the social expectations. “You knocked me down a bit, but I doubt it’ll scar.” Eve countered as Connor offered to go by the druggist. While going with a random bloke was against her instincts of safety, Eve told herself it was bright enough outside to share a simple lunch. She’d be headed to a store regardless.
“You’re right. The least you can do is buy me lunch and accompany me to the druggist.” Eve smirked a bit. Connor was bold enough to ask, better than most blokes without a pint in their hands. “Something casual though, I’m not dressed nearly nice enough for anything with proper tablecloths.” The self-conscious piece of her mind was telling her to cancel the encounter, but somehow Eve exuded confidence as she started walking toward their next destination. “You coming, Connor?” The woman teased when she turned round.
“Yes.. your kindness. The paper would have brought me little joy and likely some angst.” He’d been interested in the advertisements mostly but it was neither here nor there. “Can never be too careful.. about the scrape.” He wondered if she would agree to his proposal. It would certainly add a bit of unexpected excitement to his day. His smile beamed and he nodded as she agreed. “Absolutely Miss Eve. Casual.” He thought about the area and the available choices. He was busy running through the options when she started walking and asked if he was coming.
In truth he’d managed a look at her posterior as she’d begun walking and liked what he saw. Catching up in a couple of quick steps. “Right beside you.” He offered his arm. “While it may be old fashioned and perhaps presumptuous, my grandmother did teach me manners when attending to a lady.” He was definitely in a much better mood. The noise in his head wasn’t even a low murmur. Yes, the company was helping. “There are a few restaurants in the near vicinity that are casual and do not maintain linen table cloths. Sandwich shops and such.. there might even be a quaint osteria that serves some nice light pasta dishes. It all depends on what you would prefer.”
The offering of his arm made Eve laugh lightly. “First you call me Miss and then you offer to escort me like we’re going to our first spring formal in 1905? You’re funny,” The woman said as she kept her arms by her sides, at least for now. His kindness was refreshing but also too nebulous to attribute to any type of sincerity. For now, Eve would just enjoy the one-sided gestures with enough cheekiness to get by. “Though sandwiches are incredible,” An image of her eating three grilled cheeses half-cooked in between exams flashed through her mind and Eve recoiled. “I’d prefer pasta, specifically the light pasta that you mentioned.” Regardless of the pasta quality, Eve knew there would probably be other types of carbohydrates she’d enjoy. However, their first stop was a block away.
As they reached the store, Eve smiled at her new companion and began to do what she did best: ask questions. “Do you ask out every beautiful girl you knock down, or just me?” She brought up casually, looking forward to another nicely crafted answer. “To be fair, I’ve only accepted one other lunch date from a bloke who caused me harm. Think I was about 4, 5?” Eve smirked as they entered and she went directly to the aisle filled with safety supplies and first-aid kits. She scanned each product, looking for the cream in question and a bandaid that didn’t make her feel like she was 10 again.
Connor smiled and walked along. She didn’t take his initial offer of his arm but not the only time he’d offer. “I’m polite.. no harm in that.” They strolled as she spoke aloud what her preference of foods would be. “You will like L’Osteria then. They have outdoor seating as well so you needn’t worry about table cloths. Something they had everywhere in 1905.” He brought up the date she’d mentioned and looked at her as they reached the store. He opened the door for her.
“Hmm… I think you might be the only beautiful woman I’ve knocked down.” He knew that wasn’t entirely true but those were on purpose unfortunately and with deeper consequences. He also hadn’t been admiring looks in those instances. “Ahh so you’ve been knocked down before? He asked with amusement. “I hope he was as kind to you as the situation merited.” He observed her as she went through the medications and supplies. Her skin was dark chocolate and her full lips were calling out to him. He picked up the antiseptic ointment. “Here.. this is a good one.” He looked for bandages and couldn’t understand why all of the colorful ones. He chose a box of clear ones. “There.. that should suffice.” He didn’t hand the items over to her and instead walked to the register. “Coming Miss Eve?”
Following Connor’s compliment, Eve rewarded him with a smile. “Let’s see, he sat by me faithfully when we ate our fruit cups.” She pretended to be seriously thinking about the event. “It went well, but I wanted to see other people. Then he smashed my juice into the sand. What can you do?” They stood there in the aisle longer than was probably necessary, but that was the way Eve did things. Thoroughly. “Which one?” She looked at Connor’s choice and approved of it, then did the same for the bandaids.”Again, Ms. Eve is unnecessary.” Before long, they were headed toward the register and Eve started to reach for her wallet. She had a feeling Connor would object, though a purchase under six pounds wasn’t going to break either of their banks. “You’re too kind for offering, but I’m quite capable.” Eve said sweetly.
After leaving the store,, Eve took exactly ten steps before she found a nearby bench and looked at Connor expectantly. “I need to get everything settled before walking. Tell me more about L’Osteria.” Another once-over of Connor made Eve hope this lunch engagement went well. If so, she’d definitely put more effort into her appearance for their next meeting. Preferably at a pub. As she methodically cleaned her wound, Eve decided against asking him too many questions before they sat down. “Mind opening up this bandage for me? My fingernails are making it hard.” She handed it over to blonde before her extending her leg just enough to show them off.
“Smashing your juice? That’s utterly shameful behavior.” He smiled at her. Eve was definitely charming and beautiful. She thought his choice of ointment was appropriate after reviewing the name and ingredients. He thought that was rather clever. He shook his head. “I never said it was necessary if you recall. I’m simply choosing to use it.” She was about to pay when he held his hand out. While it may seem sexist to pay, he wasn’t thinking of that in the slightest. It was more of a courtesy he was offering. “I don’t doubt your capabilities. Not in the least.. but allow me a gallant gesture?” He paid for the items and they walked back out into the sunshine. He wished he’d brought his sunglasses but hadn’t thought that far ahead.
Eve sat on a nearby bench and he followed suit. He sat close but not so as to invade her personal space. “Well let’s see.. it’s an open concept restaurant inside.. but as I mentioned they do have outdoor seating.. much nicer in this weather.” He paid rapt attention to her movements. She was meticulous. “They do have a full menu, including salads and pizza if you change your mind about the pasta.. but their Paccheri salsiccia is delectable.. Apologies.. pasta with sausage…They also have fantastic desserts.. some even to share.” He mentioned this as he took the bandage from her and opened it carefully. She extended her leg and he did the honors of applying it. “There you are. All protected now.” His fingers lingered on her leg. Soft. He met her eyes. “I suppose I’m being forward.” He removed his fingers but maintained eye contact. “Though you did not seem entirely against that.”
Connor reminded her of those chivalrous knights in TV shows, gallant and dashing and all to willing to help. Eve knew it was probably too good to be true. But hey, they’d only known each other for a half hour. “Paccheri salsiccia,” eve repeated, letting the Italian roll around her mouth for fun. Her companion had pronounced it effortlessly and she was immediately impressed with a hint of jealousy. “Paccheri salsiccia,” Eve repeated as Connor lightly placed the bandage along her leg. It felt nice to have someone doing things for her, though this was much more up close and personal than she’d been in far too long. “Thank you. You’re too kind.” Eve rewarded him with a small smile. Thoughts were going through her head as Connor’s fingertips stayed against her skin, touching softly enough for Eve’s breath to catch slightly. “While I’m not entirely against being forward, I am against being forward this openly. We’ve only just met.”
With that, Eve stood up again and reached within her purse for chapstick. “You mentioned us sharing a dessert, right? That’s only possible if you like chocolate.”At the same time, her stomach started to rumble. Hopefully they were close to the restaurant. “So, your name is Connor and you spend your days dressing...nicely enough,” Eve smirked. “And running into to beautiful women on the street. Anything else?” She applied the lip balm carefully, making sure not to have any excess left over on her lips. Though she was dressed down, the demeanor of someone who wanted their career to be in making connections and being articulate was bubbling to the surface. “I’m a student myself. Journalism.”
