wren-schneider·:
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There was no denying it, not when Wren had 20/20 vision. He saw the way Chelsea’s eyes shifted to his lips for the tiniest moment and it made him break into a toothy grin again before they hopped on the motorcycle. He felt her arms wrap around him and found himself chuckling because for the first time, at least in what he could recall, Chelsea didn’t hesitate before touching him. Well, to be fair, the only other time he could recall it happening was when he took volleyball to the face during summer and she held an ice pack to his nose. Wren had never been someone who thought much about the little things people did to show him that they did or didn’t like him, figuring that all he was required to be was kind regardless of what came of it. But this… feeling Chelsea slowly open up to him… this put him on top of the world. He nodded, revving the engine. It didn’t even cross his mind that maybe he should remind her that he would never do anything to hurt her, that it just wasn’t in his nature. And so they were off, zooming past familiar landscape. He didn’t say much on the way to the pumpkin patch, letting her enjoy the ride since he was pretty sure this wasn’t a regular occurrence for her. However, he asked if she was okay a couple of times and there was a moment that he could swear he almost heard the smile on her face. But maybe it was his imagination considering how reluctant she’d been when he knocked on her door. Even though he took the backway, their destination wasn’t far. Fallbrook was only about twenty minutes of scenic trees that broke either into views of the hills on one side or the ocean on the other, so everything was both beautiful and close-by.
He pulled into the farm’s makeshift parking lot where most of the town’s festivities were being held that weekend, and turned the key to shut the engine off. He slipped his helmet off, brushing a hand through his ruffled hair and then turned to Chelsea. Wren took a step toward her, lightly tapping her fingers away so he could help with the spare helmet again. “There you go.” He smiled once she was free. His head cocked to the side for a second but he ended up motioning towards the entrance with his chin. “Hey, dude!” Wren waves as enthusiastically as ever when a friend from the hockey team passed by. Someone else complimented his costume as they headed into the pumpkin patch and when he realized that he was walking faster than Chelsea, Wren stopped and scooped her hand into his but he looked at her before walking again, “Is this okay?” He squeezed her hand in his a little so she’d know what he was talking about. There was no denying that Wren liked her but, more than that, he wanted to do this whole friendship thing right this time. He’d caught Chelsea in little moments where maybe she didn’t know he was there. Like buying coffee from Wildflower or walking to Jay’s house when Wren was headed to Skewer’s for some food. He’d seen the look her eyes held when no one was watching. It was the same look he used to have, one that said life had made him grow out of forever. That absolutes could be capped. Like how parents are supposed to be there for you but that’s not always the case. He knew about her mom, of course. Fallbrook talked, and a lot. Maybe that was why he was so drawn to her, but he liked to think it wasn’t the ache of the past that pushed him towards the brunette, but rather something better. After all, better was the only option in his mind. “Wicked. Look!” Wren was about to lead them to the biggest pumpkin in the field when his smile dropped. He looked at Chelsea and shrugged one shoulder. “Damn.” He was clearly shook off the previous thoughts for what was going on in the present. “So I kinda want that giant pumpkin over there, but we can only get whatever will fit into my backpack..” He smiled again. “You choose, Chelly Belly.”Â
@chelseamariereynolds·
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Chelsea’s cheek was pressed up against Wren’s warm back. He wanted to make her smile. He wanted to bring her happiness. And it was really nice to know that someone wanted that so much for her. The effort he put in to make that happen for her terrified her to say the least, but it was also nice. Hiding behind his back as they swerved through the streets, Chelsea just took in the sights passing by as she pretended her life wasn’t hers. Instead she pretended that her mother had never passed away, that she was still a dancer, that she’d gone to college and was now teaching classes at the local studio. All of her dreams were still alive and well, and she was just like an Emmi Valentine sort, all happy and smiles with nary a care in the world accept making others feel the happiness she felt. It was magical. Wren had the ability to drop her into a fantasy world where nothing and no one could touch her. She urgently wished she could explain that to him, but even more so wished to thank him for it. But maybe the best way to thank him for it was not to get too anxious as the magical motorcycle ride came to an end.Â
Luckily for her, she was eased into that by the simple gestures Wren made. Her eyes blinked softly when he brushed her fingers out of the way so he could help her with the helmet. Wren’s release of the helmet was one of the most intimate moments she’d shared with anyone in so long. He was close, close enough to smell, his fingertips grazing along her chin with the swee, kind gesture of removing the helmet. Chelsea didn’t mind it one bit, in fact, she really enjoyed the way she could suddenly feel her heart beating gently, but intensely in her chest. Chelsea was thrust out of her daze when Wren greeted one of his many, many friends. The woman swallowed nervously as she wiped her hands on her pants, suddenly reminded that they were in front of other people. She followed behind him, looking around to see the people of the town, hoping they hadn’t noticed them too much. Chelsea pulled down the sides of her Santa Hat, now feeling stupid for wearing such a dumb costume, if one could even really call it that. She wished she’d thought a little longer about it and picked out a mask of some sort instead. But she was thrust out of her nervous thoughts when her hand landed in Wren’s. “Um--” Her eyes glanced around again, but she made no move to remove her hand from his. “Okay.” She offered quietly. Surprisingly, his hand made her feel more calm, than more nervous. Chelsea distracted herself by looking at all of the different pumpkins around them. She had always loved the season of fall. She would’ve normally been startled by Wren getting excited and stopping abruptly, but she had grown used to being around Wren. He was always startling in one way or another. “Wow it’s huge. I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that big.” She turned to look at him as he worked through whatever was going on in his mind, then turning back to the pumpkin. “We could take pictures next to it, to show how big it is compared to us. And then we’ll always have it.” She shrugged back to see if that would satisfy him. Her eyes then scouring the patch for one that would fit into his backpack. “Do you like the more long oval pumpkins, or the more round pudgy ones?”