"Nice day, isn't it?" Jason asked, holding the passenger side door open for me. 

I thanked him and climbed in, shuffling until my backpack was comfortably resting on my lap. The cloudy sky was painted in a shade of grey as I gazed at it through the tinted car window.

"Yeah," I agreed after he strapped himself to the driver's seat. 

Jason placed his arm on the headrest of my seat as he pulled out of Claire's driveway. My vision was glued to his fingers, my thoughts wandering back to the kiss that we had shared two days earlier.

"Let's roll down the windows," I suggested. 

He obliged with a smile, pressing a button next to the gear console. All four windows slid down, allowing the cool early evening air to flood the car's interiors.

It was a relief to go out after having spent two days cooped up in Claire's house, incapacitated by a cold. I had spent my time watching TV, exchanging casual emails with Chris, and sleeping. Itching to see Jason again, I called him and made plans to go out the moment I felt better.

A refreshing breeze caressed my skin as I observed the luxurious homes that populated Claire's neighbourhood. When we drove into the city, the air turned warmer, the smell of the ocean mingling with the stifling odour of automobiles. The horde of cars reminded me of the hectic traffic jams that paralysed London regularly.

I should call Dad and see how he's doing, I thought to myself.

Suddenly, my phone chimed from within my backpack, breaking the silence. I dug around for it and found a message from Claire: I'm going to stay at the office a little longer today. Did Jason pick you up?

I sent a quick response: Yeah, we just left. I'll call you when I'm back.

Her reply came instantly: Okay. Have fun, Lee!

"Oh, I almost forgot," I exclaimed, grabbing the pouch of candies after dropping my phone into my backpack.

I picked two round sweets, their white centres imprinted with the picture of a muffin, and held one out to Jason. He turned slightly, careful not to take his eyes off the road. 

"Both hands on the wheel," I reminded him with a laugh when Jason moved his hand away from the steering wheel to take the candy. "Here, let me."

The tips of my fingers brushed against his lower lip as I dropped the sweet into his mouth. I momentarily forgot how to breathe when Jason's eyes flitted to mine.

"Eyes on the road," I whispered, my fingers still lingering on his lips.

"Right," he murmured, sounding obviously flustered. 

I withdrew my hand, the previously comfortable silence turning tense and heavy. Sinking back into my seat, I swallowed the other piece of candy, my mind inevitably wandering to the unforgettable kiss.

I stole a glance at Jason and found him staring straight ahead, his cheeks tinged red.

Is he thinking about it, too?

***

"Wow," I breathed, surveying the most exquisite, varied range of roses I had ever seen.

Nestled in between the Science Centre and the Natural History Museum, the sunken garden was home to rows and rows of stunning roses laid out on neatly manicured lawns. The cloudy sky and the sound of water gushing in a fountain nearby gave the place a surreal, heavenly ambience. Although the garden was set in between two famous tourist attractions, it exuded a detachment from its surroundings, like a lone tree in a concrete jungle.

Jason and I sat down on the grassy floor near a bush of white roses with distinctive red speckles on their silky petals. I inhaled deeply, the unmistakable, gorgeous scent of roses wafting through the air.

"How do you know about these amazing places?" I asked, looking at Jason in awe.

"Well, the city gets a little crazy sometimes," he shrugged. "But it also has a quieter side that you have to search for. Hollywood is great, but it's not the best thing about LA. I mean, in January, you can go skiing in the snowy mountains and in the same afternoon, you can take a warm swim in the ocean. Where else can you do that?"

"It is incredible," I admitted, marvelling at the way Jason's eyes glittered with excitement.

"I have a few other places I want to show you," he added, smiling down at me.

"I can't wait to see them," I grinned, lacing my fingers through his. 

Just as Jason's warm, long fingers closed over mine, a strong breeze blew through the bushes, amplifying the scent of the roses. The sound of the gushing fountain was momentarily drowned out by a barking dog nearby.

"Hey," Jason said, squeezing my fingers to grab my attention.

I turned to him questioningly. He held up his free hand, pointing the index finger upwards.

"Want to hear a poem I wrote?" he asked with a mischievous grin.

Puzzled, I smiled and said, "Okay."

"Roses are red," he began, pointing to the flowers nearby.

"Well," I interrupted. "Those roses are technically white."

"Hey, no interruptions," he mock-scolded. "You're about to witness a masterpiece."

"Sorry," I giggled, pretending to zip my lips closed. 

"Roses are red," he repeated. Pointing to the sky, he said, "The sky is blue."

"This rose garden isn't . . ." he lingered, his smile widening, "half as pretty as you." 

"Brilliant," I declared, freeing my hands to applaud. "It is a masterpiece!"

"Thank you," he beamed, his eyes laughing into mine.

Once our laughter died down, Jason hooked his fingers under my chin, lifting my face until our eyes met.

My heart nearly stuttered to a halt when he leant closer to me and whispered, "It's true, you know."

The roses, the grass, the cloudy sky, and the gurgling fountain faded into nothingness when Jason's lips touched mine. A tingling heat spread across my skin as his hands gripped the sides of my face.

A deep sigh escaped my throat as our lips parted simultaneously. My heart raced beyond comprehension when Jason's fingers trailed up my face, wandering into my hair. Wanting to eliminate all distance between us, I surged forward. His hands tightened around my tresses when our kiss deepened, the air around us popping with electricity. Much like the first time we had kissed, I felt myself becoming weightless.

Just as I was revelling in the sensation, it abruptly died when something circular and sticky landed on my feet. A loud, deep bark rang out, startling Jason and me so much so that we bumped teeth before pulling away from each other hastily.

It took me a moment to return to reality. When my mind cleared, I found myself face to face with a large golden retriever, its tail wagging frantically. I stared down at my feet to find a bright orange frisbee.

"Hey, buddy," Jason greeted the dog as I picked up the plastic disc.

"Is this yours?" I asked the dog, waving the frisbee in front of my face. 

The adorable pooch barked again as if to say yes, its tongue lolling.

"Juno!" a loud female voice called from behind us. 

I turned to find a young woman with a shock of neon pink hair jogging towards us.

"Sorry if Juno was bothering you," she apologised as she neared us.

"It's okay!" Jason and I assured her in unison, climbing to our feet.

"Juno, what have I told you about bothering strangers in the park?" she chided, taking the frisbee from my hands. 

The happy dog panted loudly, regarding us with wide, unapologetic eyes. Jason and I took turns to pet her while she demanded a scratch behind her ears.

"She's adorable," I commented with a smile when Juno walked over to her owner and pressed her nose against her leg.

"She's crazy," the woman joked, scratching Juno's head affectionately. "Anyway, we better go. Sorry again!"

"Bye, Juno," we called as the woman smiled before leading the excited golden retriever away.

After the two disappeared around the corner, Jason turned to me and said, "I just came up with another poem."

"Let's hear it," I said with an expectant grin.

"Roses are grey . . ."

He stepped closer, his arms snaking around my waist. 

"Violets are grey . . ."

He tugged me forward until my body was flush against his.

"The sky is grey . . ."

Jason dipped his head, his lips grazing my ear gently. I held my breath, involuntarily shuddering when his short stubble brushed my cheek.

"I'm a dog."

Dissolving into a fit of giggles, I smacked his chest playfully. The cheerful, musical sound of our combined laughter floated into the air, uniting with the unvarying burble of the fountain in the distance.