He blinked, “Lost?”
“Not lost lost,” she looked softly with a broken heart into his eyes.
“I just lost my connection with him.”
“Oh,” Dean nodded in realization as he looked at the stars for a moment before nodding.
After a while, Yvaine reached into her tote bag, “I almost forgot.”
She pulled out neatly packed snacks, as she offered Dean to choose from the tote bag.
Dean’s eyes widened, “Pandora box in the form of a bag?!”
“I just carried a few before leaving.”
Dean accepted with a laugh, “Wow, this looks like a planned date.”
Yvaine looked at the snacks, then at Dean, “Maybe if you want to think it that way,”
Dean almost dropped his sandwich.
Seeing his reaction, she burst into a quiet laugh.
“You’ve become dangerous,” Dean stared at with a fake annoyance on his face.
Before Yvaine could answer, her phone vibrated inside her bag.
She looked at the screen, the smile on her face had faded now completely.
“Yes?”
A brief pause followed.
“Okay, I’ll be back soon.”
She ended the call and slipped the phone back into her pocket, “I guess it’s to head back.”
Dean nodded, “Sure.”
He picked up the paddle again and slowly guided the boat toward the wooden dock.
The boat gently bumped against the pier, as the attendant tied the boat back.
Dean climbed out first before turning around.
He then extended his hand toward her.
Yvaine looked at his outstretched hand for a brief moment.
Then she placed hers into it.
Dean gently pulled, her balance disappeared for an instant.
For one suspended heartbeat, they stood closer than either of them expected.
Their joined hands had lifted almost between them from the pull.
Yvaine’s gaze met his chest, her cheeks warming as she stared at the space between them.
Meanwhile, Dean found himself looking at the loose strands of hair that had slipped free from her ponytail, gently swaying in the night breeze.
Neither of them moved, nor spoke.
Yvaine broke silence as she stepped back, “Thank you.”
They both started walking out of the avenue, either of them wanted to talk, but the earlier moment left a print of either of their minds, which replayed the moment they thought of starting a conversation.
Just as they were about to leave, an elderly vendor from a nearby wooden stall waved at them enthusiastically, “Young man!” He held up a delicate silver bracelet decorated with tiny moon and star charms.
“Buy this for your girlfriend,” he pointed toward Yvaine with a cheerful grin.
“It’ll look beautiful on such a beautiful girl.
Dean and Yvaine instinctively looked at eachother and immediately looked away.
“She’s not—”
“We’re not—”
They spoke at exactly the same time.
The old man burst into laughter, “I’ve lived long enough to know that lie.”
Dean rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly, “No, really… We’re just friends.”
The vendor leaned over his counter, “That’s exactly how it begins everytime.”
Yvaine looked at him with perfectly innocent eyes, “Can I try it even though I am not your girlfriend?”
Dean turned so fast as he almost gave himself whiplash, “I-I mean that’s not what I—”
She tilted her head, “What do you not mean? Me not trying it cause I’m not your girlfriend, or I can try it if I am your girlfriend?”
Dean’s brain stopped working, “I-I”
The vendor chuckled, “He’s already nervous.”
Yvaine bit the inside of her cheek to stop herself from laughing.
Dean looked between the two of them, “Why is it 2v1!”
The old man laughed loudly.
Yvaine finally let out a laugh, as she offered a card to that vendor, “I will purchase your today’s stock. A person will come and pay you the entire amount due.” She walked near to that wooden stall.
Then she looked at the collection and took a couple-matching bracelets, “As for now, we will be taking this.”
The vendor smiled warmly, “She is more courageous than you, thank you my child for buying it.”
They both started to walk to the car.
As they settled inside, Dean started the engine quietly.
“I should’ve stayed home,” he groaned dramatically.
Yvaine smiled softly, “But then who would’ve rescued me from absolutely nothing?”
Dean opened his mouth but then closed it again, “I can’t win against you.”
After a few minutes he pulled off his car near the Prescotts mansion.
“We’re here at your stop, Miss,” Dean looked at Yvaine.
She was about to get off when she closed the door back.
She offered one of those bracelets to Dean.
He extends his hands to take that bracelet, when Yvaine makes a grumpy angry face, which leaves him confused.
“Give me your wrist.”
He held out his wrist, she put the bracelet on him.
“Now mine,” she held out her wrist.
Dean carefully picked the other one up.
His fingers hesitated, “Uh, how did you put it on my wrist?”
Yvaine looked at him, “You’ve never put a bracelet on someone before?”
“No…”
“Take that tiny clasp at the end, open this part first and hook it here.”
Dean nodded seriously, as if he had just received instructions for defusing a bomb, “Okay.”
His fingers fumbled with the tiny clasp, “No, please don’t be slippery!” He finally fastened the bracelet around her wrist, “Done!”
Yvaine looked down at it, as a warm smile spread across her face, “It looks cute.”
Dean smiled awkwardly, “It strangely does look cute.”
“This makes us best friends now,” She extended her hand toward him.
“Thank you, it was fun.”
Dean shook her hand with a smile, “…Yeah, I enjoyed it too.”
Yvaine slowly stepped down from the car, “I should head home now. See you tomorrow!”
Dean stood there for a second, watching her walk away.
She’s so cute!