Hi Everyone! I hope you like this short story I have for you. This is an excerpt of what's to come in an upcoming book of mine called, To Live in Bliss. I hope you like this scene of my two main characters, Flynn and Etta.

~Amanda

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I look out the window of the train, my brown backpack in my lap with my arms wrapped around it. I watched as the world rushed past as we traveled closer to our destination. Flynn sat beside me with his hands folded together. His head rests against the back of the seat with his eyes closed.

"What's it like in Edinburgh?" I whisper, glancing towards him. Flynn opens one eye to peek at me.

"Well, it's verra old," he says softly. I let out a snort of a laugh. "O'course there's the castle, the royal mile, and some other tourist things."

"Sounds simple," I reply. "How often do you come here?"

"Not too much. Inverness is enough for me. Everything I need is in the highlands," he grins, glancing over to me. "You nervous?"

"What? No!" I look away from him, but to only further my embarrassment, he begins to laugh lightly. "Stop laughing at me, Flynn Mackenzie."

"I'm only laughin' because yer as red as a tomato," he rests the back of his hand against my red cheek. I move my head away from his hand, hoping to make him forget about my embarrassment. "Why're you nervous?"

"I don't know!" I laugh. "I-I'm not even sure why I would be. Maybe it's because of the fact I'm going somewhere new?" I shrug my shoulders unsure of what to say. Flynn shoots me a crooked smile and brushes his fingers through his curly mess of red hair before he pulls his phone back out of his pocket.

We both sit in a a sort of an awkward silence. I'm even sure what the hell was going on, but I know that Flynn was probably one of the nicest people I've ever met. I also know that my heart holds a special place for him. He has captured something within me that I haven't felt in a long time.

I glance over at Flynn and notice him typing away on his phone with a smile. I smile to myself and look back out watching the old buildings pass by. Flynn reaches over and gives my knee a gentle squeeze. I turn back towards him and smile at him.

"I'm a wee bit nervous my'self," he says, placing his hand over his chest. "I do not want ye feeling left out, Etta."

"Good," I nod. "You should be."

Flynn leans his head back against the chair. I bite my lip debating whether or not I should scoot closer to him. I lean to my left and rest my head against his shoulder. He moves slightly, glancing down at me. I flicker my eyes to look up at him and give him a toothy grin.

When we arrive at the train station, it's all hustle and bustle. I fiddle my orange train ticket in my hand as we walk out of the station. Flynn's hand trails across my back as he gently urges me in a certain direction.

"For the record, Edinburgh is not my favorite place," Flynn whispers in my ear. "Ye'll find that the people here are rather rude."

"Everyone in a big city is rude," I roll my eyes and look around. "Besides, I'm here to enjoy spending time with you and experience the history."

"Experience the history?" he laughs. "Yeh do say some funny things."

"We don't have this around us in America, Flynn," I wave my hand around at the large bridge we're walking under. The dark brown stone looks as old as the castle in the distance. "Where I lived, it was all new. Anything old gets torn down and replaced with something new. Here, everything is preserved. There's something so enchanting about it."

"Enchanting?" his brow is raised as he looks at me. "Are ye mad?"

"No," I giggle. "Didn't you hear? Americans are awfully passionate."

"Aye, that they are," he smiles at me. "Well, Passionate American, where do ye want to go?"

I pull out the small folded piece of paper I have in my pocket and look at it. The mid-length list wasn't too obnoxious (at least I don't think it is) and they were genuine places I want to visit. Flynn begins laughing and takes the list from my hand. I frown at him as he immediately puts it in his pocket.

"What was that for?" I ask. "You asked what I wanted to do!"

"Well, that was before I realized I shouldn't have asked ye," he points at me with a wide grin. "Now, since I'm the one who thought about this date, we'll go find somewhere nice for a spot o' lunch. Sound good?"

"I guess?" I shrug.

"Ye've got no choice in the matter, so ye should probably just go along with it."

I roll my eyes and follow him. He stops in his steps and reaches out for my hand. I shake my head at how he seems to know what to do. I barely know how to act around him, how am I supposed to survive a date? God, I'm so awkward sometimes.

I follow Flynn, his hand wrapped tightly around my fingers. He leads us up a set of stairs into a dimly lit pub. Flynn lead us towards a small table and pulled out my chair for me to sit in. I looked around as I pulled my bag off my shoulder and set it by my feet. I folded my hands on the table and looked around, taking in the place around me.

"Do ye like it?" Flynn asked.

"Not sure, I haven't tried anything yet," I smiled. "But I'm sure I will."

Flynn's cheeks flushed as he looked down at the menu in front of him. I reached across the table, my fingers stretched out. Flynn looked at my hand for a brief moment before he placed his hand in it. I closed my hand, encasing his.

"What are you going to get?" I asked, moving my hand to lace our fingers together.

"Probably the hunter's chicken," he said with a nod. "You?"

"Probably the same," I smiled.

He closed the menu and smiled at me. His eyes moved over my face making me slightly uncomfortable. I hated being a spectacle.

"Will ye stop fidgeting?" he chuckled. "Stop bein' so nervous."

"I can't help it!" I chuckled. "Why don't you go order the food and drinks?"

"Is that how it is then?" he asks. "I'm paying for our food?"

"It is a date, isn't it?" I ask, my eyebrows raised knowingly. He bites his lip and smiles at me.

Flynn takes a few steps backwards He turns on his heel, walking towards the bar in long strides. I take in a deep breath as I look around. I can't believe I'm on a date. On Valentine's Day no less. This place isn't too busy, but how many people choose to go on dates in a pub on Valentine's Day? I guess Flynn and I.

"All done," he smile as he put a soda in front of me. "You'll love the chicken."

"Good," I smile.

Flynn looks at me and then let out a heavy sigh.

"I'll be honest, I've not really taken a girl out on a date before," he scratches the back of his neck. "I like ye, but I do not ken what to do, Etta. I asked ye to Edinburgh with me because I like spending time with ye; more than anyone else."

"I like spending time with you, too." I grin at him. He smiles at me before glancing down at the straw in his glass.

"My friends think I'm crazy fer askin' an American out, but they dinna ken ye. Yer different."

"Am I?" I ask.

"More than I can even begin to describe, Etta," he says. "Ye look at things differently. Like here in Scotland, ye see it for how beautiful it is, not because ye've always lived here."

"You live somewhere exquisitely beautiful."

"Yer exquisitely beautiful," he takes my hand in his. "If ye don't mind, I'd like to be yer boyfriend? Is that okay?"

"Yeah," I nodded. "I'll be here a while."

"I know. Ye'll grow sick of me, ye ken."

"I don't think I'll mind."