Ava Morris

I calmed down when I saw the message. I have been up all night thinking about the date. I have never been this excited. There is a jittery feeling in my stomach and I just can't keep my excitement down. I comb my hair and try to push it back. I wore a 'Gap' brown hoodie and pants.

Brad mentioned comfortable clothes and I have no idea where he is taking me. So, I decided to keep the outfit simple and cute. I apply simple makeup and wear my vans before picking up my bag.

I go down and hear my mum's series playing in the background. When she heard me coming, she paused her episode and looked at me. "You going out?"

I took my seat beside her and nodded my head. "With your girls?"

"Nah."

"Hmm?"

"I'm going out with Brad." There was a surprised look on her face. "Brad?"

"Yes." She nodded her head but didn't ask me any further questions. Thank god, she didn't or else I would've been in a fit of nervousness.

"Aren't you going to have your breakfast?" she asked.

I think about having breakfast. "No, it's too early for breakfast." I usually go for brunch and having breakfast at seven in the morning isn't ideal when I'm going on a date with Brad.

"What about a cup of coffee? I will make you one."

"It's okay, mum. I will grab one later."

"Okay."

"Where's Vincent?"

"He went out with Valerie, didn't give many details but will be returning in the evening." I hummed and pulled my phone out.

"When will you be back?"

"By evening, mum."

"Tell Brad to join us for dinner. It's been a while."

"Will pass the message." I go through Instagram while I wait for Brad. I don't think he would be coming in and tell mum hi. He must be nervous as well. Hopefully, excited...

I look at the time '7:50.' and think if Brad would be on time or if he would be late. There's a message from Brad. I immediately opened it.

Brad: Hi, hope you remember today. I'm waiting outside.

Ava: 😒

Ava: Will be out in two minutes.

Brad: Waiting

"Bye. mum. I will text you if there's something and call me if you need something." I got up from the sofa and gave her a hug.

"Brad is waiting?"

"Yeah..."

"Cool, babe must be nervous. Hopefully, you guys hit it off by making out by the end of the date." My eyes widened in horror and shock.

"What? Do you think I did not notice it or saw the pictures of you two in the trail room?"

"What?" She laughed before shaking it off. "Honey, your pictures with Brad coming out of the trail room were a hot topic but they didn't mention Brad's name."

"Don't worry, Vincent won't be knowing it."

"But how did you know about the pictures?" I asked.

"Valerie." I groaned and shook my head.

"Don't worry, I ship you both. I cannot wait to see you two together!" she beamed with happiness.

"Ugh." I stepped out of the house and made my way towards the driveway. We live in the same old house though there were plans to shift. But we didn't have the heart to shift as this home holds so many memories.

My steps slowed down when I was Brad leaning against his car with his head in my direction. He is wearing a black cap and shades. I checked him out shamelessly while I made my way towards him.

He is wearing a charcoal hoodie and black pants. He is hot, he has got the right amount of muscles in his body. He isn't buff or big, he is perfect, but if I stood beside him he would look big!

"Hi!"

"Hey..." His voice came out deep and I felt like he had checked me out. We stood there for a minute and I was getting shy.

I wandered over to the passenger side and opened the door while Brad just stood there. "What happened?"

"Nothing." He opened his door and went in. I did the same and buckled my seatbelt.

"Here." He handed the brown takeaway cover.

"What's in there?" I asked even though I was peaking into the cover. He bought me breakfast and coffee.

"That's so sweet, Brad. Thank you but I would like to eat after a while." He nodded his head before starting the engine. I took the coffee out and placed the cover beside me.

*

I looked out of the window, trying to calm down my heart from excitement. I have never been on a date or on a long drive with Brad. He is tapping his fingers on her steering wheel. I took a glance at him and he was doing the same.

"Where are we going?" I opened the breakfast cover and looked at the wrapped sandwiches. He brought me breakfast and I was on cloud nine when I saw him.

"Long drive." I rolled my eyes before taking a bite of my sandwich.

"Is Vincent home?" he asked and I shook my head. "No, he is out with Valerie."

"He wasn't answering my calls."

"Is it important? We can call Valerie, sure she will answer the call," I added.

"No, it's fine."

"Why did you call him though?" I wiped the sauce off my lips when I felt it on my upper lip.

He was quiet for a minute like he was thinking something. "I wanted to tell him that I'm taking you out." I stopped eating and faced him with a confused look.

"Why?"

"No particular reason. I― wanted to tell him if I'm taking you out for a day." He glanced at me before looking back at the road.

"Oh."

We fell into a comfortable silence. I finished eating my breakfast and now looking out of the window. The trees are bare without leaves as it is the end of the winter season. There weren't any vehicles and the roads seemed empty but calm. I read the boards and a smile started playing on my face.

"Are we going to the hilltop?" I asked.

"Hmm."

"Wow, it's been ages since we came here."

"You have been here before?" I shifted in my seat and faced Brad.

"Yes! Dad took us here for a picnic. I was fifteen years old, I guess." Brad nodded his head and slowed down the car when we saw the bus.

For the remaining thirty minutes, I enjoyed glancing out of the window. Brad stayed quiet most of the time listening to the stories I told him. Once we reached the hilltop, I observed that there were some makeshift sheds.

"What's happening over there?" I asked, looking at people wearing helmets.

"Come on." Brad placed his hand on my back and gave it a gentle push. I started walking with my gaze fixed on the people. There weren't many people. Hardly ten people in my vision.

"Ava..."

"Hmm?"

"Ever done paragliding?" I stopped walking and looked up at Brad in shock.

"Paragliding?"

"Yes."

I opened and closed my mouth, getting an idea of where Brad had taken me. "No."

"I― I always wanted to do paragliding but never got the chance." He nodded his head at my answer.

"Okay, here is the chance then. We are going to do the paragliding."

"Are we?" I asked him in pure shock and a bit of horror.

"Yes? You have any problem with it?"

"Huh?"

"Are you scared?" He looked at my expression. "You look horrified."

"I'm." He pulled me closer to him. He hesitated when he cupped my cheek in his palm.

"It is going to be okay. You don't have to be scared. Nervousness is common, but give it a try. I― I will not force you."

I nodded my head in surprise. I was in awe when Brad spoke to me in that tone. The tone I had never expected from him. It was soft and gentle.

"I will take you there to the sight. There are a couple of guys who are planning to take off once the clouds are cleared. You watch them and when you are ready we will take off."

I didn't say anything. I just nodded my head. He gently held my hand in his and my gaze quickly went down to our intertwined hands. He gave it a pull before taking me to the take-off sight.

There were men who came over to talk with Brad. Brad introduced them to me and I was glad when he explained me everything and gave me time.

"Off we go!" A man yelled in excitement before taking off.

"They are certified pilots and they help you with paragliding."

"Oh."

"Anyone can become a certified pilot, right?"

"Hmm yes, you need to join the flying school. Undergo training and tests before they give you the certificate," Brad explained with his hand placed on my back.

After watching for fifteen minutes, my body and mind were ready to experience flying. "Brad! I'm ready to fly."

Brad just looked at my face before giving a short nod. A man came over and Brad helped me with the flying gear and then he wore it himself.

My brows frowned in confusion when I saw him set the parachute. "Ava, come over here."

"When I tell you to run forward, you just run forward, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good, do not sit down or jump. Just run..."

"Okay."

"Where is our pilot?" I asked him.

"I'm your pilot."

"Huh?" There was a shock in my voice.

"I said we were going to fly together. I'm your pilot," he explained.

"You are a certified pilot?"

"Yes." He could easily read the fear and nervousness on my face.

"Ava, do you trust me?" Do I?

"I have been flying for five years now. I will take care of you." There was a determined look on his face. "Okay, I trust you."

He gave a quick nod before locking the gear and all. "Once we are off, sit down. This will be your seat."

"Hmm." The nervousness is creeping up but there's the excitement that's building in me. My first time is going to be with Brad and I just cannot keep the happiness growing in me.

"Woah!" I yelp when the wind just pulls me back.

"Ava, run," Brad commands, and I start running forward even though it's pulling me back.

"Fuck!" I yell in horror when I don't feel the ground underneath my feet. I looked down before looking up. I breathe out heavily while Brad does something.

"Hey..."

"Hi?"

"You okay?" He asks.

"Hmm."

"Don't panic, I'm here... You are with me, open your eyes and look around..." he whispers. We are damn close. If I leaned back and if we weren't wearing helmets, our heads would've been hit.

"Okay." I took my time calming down and looking at the view. I'm thrilled and happy, I couldn't explain in words about the feeling. I watch as birds fly before us.

"I remember you telling Vincent about doing paragliding," Brad whispered.

"You remember that?"

"Hmm."

"That was years ago..." I remember how I used to follow Vincent around asking him when we were going to do paragliding. Celeb even said that he would take me to the take-off sight. But that never happened. I just left it and moved on with my college.

"Brad?" I called after a while.

"Hmm?"

"Thank you, I― I never felt this happy before." He didn't say anything, just gave me a comfortable tap on my shoulder. For the rest of the hour, we stayed in a comfortable silence and enjoyed the peaceful feeling.

*

I placed my coffee and watched my surroundings. I have no idea where Brad is taking me. We had our lunch on our way back. Now we are back on the road. After a while, Brad slowed down the car and the car came to a halt.

We are at the empty land. I have heard about these lands from Vincent and dad. I looked around after getting out of the car. Vincent mentioned that these lands were up for sale and there were potential buyers who were looking forward to developing them as the land price was reasonable.

It is a thirty-minute drive from the city and takes around two hours from my home. "Come on," Brad spoke and I followed him. I saw a group of people surrounding a makeshift table. Once they saw us, they corrected their posture and straightened up their backs.

"Who are they? What are we doing here?"

"You see the land, I bought it," he stated simply, and my jaw dropped.

"What? You bought this whole part?" I asked in a crazy tone. For sure, I must've looked like a lunatic wearing a crazy expression.

"Half of it. I couldn't afford the whole thing. Maybe in the future, I will buy the rest of it." It was like he was telling himself about the latter part.

"Wow, that's so much land. What you gonna do with this much land?" He looked at me, his lips slightly turning up in amusement.

"Land is an asset, Ava. You can construct buildings and houses of your choice." I rolled my eyes.

"Okay, tell me what are you going to do with this land?" He took a minute before speaking.

"I have a plan― to construct a house and a martial arts house. Haven't given it much thought as I'm still planning. There are a couple of kids whom I have met and they are in need of a foster house or something like that."

"Kids?"

"Hmm, the ones who were rescued from the streets." Suddenly Vincent's voice was ringing in my mind. I didn't mean to listen, but he was loud while on a call. Now it makes sense.

"Vincent knows about those kids?"

"Yes, we went together to the rescue house to meet them." Brad glanced at me. "We were on call from time to time talking about this."

I halted my steps and held Brad's hand, stopping him from walking. He looked at me and I couldn't stop myself from throwing my arms around Brad. Brad was startled but didn't push me away. I hugged him tightly and kissed his cheek.

"Let's go," I said, seeing his warm face. He didn't say anything but wrapped his hand around mine.

We went to where the five men were standing. They were stunned but quickly changed their expression and smiled, looking at us.

"Good afternoon Mr MacCarthy and ma'am," the one with pepper hair greeted. He must be the head one.

"Good afternoon."

"Good afternoon."

"Sir, here are the best designs you asked for. " They showed us the designs lying on the table.

Brad presses his hand on my back, encouraging me to look at them. I was confused, but he leaned down to whisper in my ear.

"Tell me which one you like." I nodded my head as I was at a loss for words.

I went through the designs carefully. They were designed well. I picked out five from all those. I pointed those five to Brad. Brad explained to me his plan and how he wanted the place to be constructed. We took our time going through each design and the ideas.

"So where are you going to live? With the kids in this home?" I asked him.

"We are going to live in our own home." He pulled the design sheet which we had decided to go with.

"Huh?" he didn't respond and called the engineers back. Did I hear him correctly?

*

"You are planning to stay with your parents?" Brad questioned.

"I'm planning to buy an apartment next year. I'm saving money to buy a place for myself but these prices are reaching the sky. It's not that easy to find a good place situated in a good neighbourhood on my budget."

"What kind of place do you want?"

"For now, it's an apartment, but I'm comfortable staying with my parents. I might save money to buy a proper house. I'm not sure about moving out." I always wanted to move out, but considering the studio and everything, I wouldn't be able to move out. It would be better if I stayed in my parent's home.

He nodded his head. "What kind of home do you want to live in? He looked at me before adding, "In the future?"

"A spacious house with two storeys, a garden and a small pool maybe. I would love to do gardening."

"Nice."

"How much time will it take from your apartment to the construction site?" I asked him.

"Twenty minutes if there's traffic." I placed the taco on his plate and continued eating mine.

The evening went on with our little conversation before we went home together. Mum was preparing dinner. She had a smile on her face when she saw us walking in together. While I sat on the high stool, Brad helped mum make the dinner.

It was a sight to see. Mum was smiling throughout the time while she had a conversation with Brad. Strangely, it warmed my heart watching them together and watching Brad in our kitchen.