Protect the Crown

07

Theo and I both order and Sophie scurries off with our menus. We both sit in comfortable silence drinking our chocolate milk.

"Ivy?" He asks questionably referring to the nickname Sophie called me. Something about him saying my name sends goosebumps up my arms. Something in me wants to record his voice and play it over and over.

"Yeah it's a lot better than Ivanna don't you think?" I take another sip of my drink. He just gives a slight nod and looks back out the window.

"Where did you live before coming here, Theodore?" I ask noticing that he seems to be foreign to our country's customs. He looks over at me and it looked like he was debating on telling me.

"From a little bit of everywhere." He answers broadly. "Fine how about a more specific question. Where were you born?" He keeps his eye contact with me.

"The States" he replies.

I kind of figured so because of his accent. I just hummed in response and gave him a smile. He's starting to open up more even without my bad attempts of flirting.

"Why the sudden curiosity?" He asks and I just shrug at his question not really knowing the answer myself.

I just want to know more about him. He interests me.

Just on time, Sophie brings out our food. She sets Theo's everything burger in front of him then sets my chicken strip basket with ranch, of course, in front of me.

"Does everything look good?" She asks and I replied with a simple yes. "Alright you guys enjoy and call me over if you need anything."  She said then walks off to wait other tables.

Theo takes a huge bite of his burger then giving me a thumbs up to let me know it was good. I felt content with his answer and started to eat my food.

It didn't take us long to clear our plates and pay the check. I gave Sophie a big hug but didn't leave before promising her that I will visit soon.

Theo and I walked around the town looking at all the different booths and shops. We, well more like I decided to first stop at bookstore which had not only books but also little trinkets.

I looked at all the bookshelves trying to find something new but the library at home already had every book here. I gave up and went to look at the cute little items they had for sale.

Nothing really called to me except a necklace that had a small book charm hanging off of it.

I grabbed it off the display and showed Theo who was standing behind me. "Isn't it just so pretty?" I turn to face him. He gives me a nod and I put the necklace back on its display.

I wonder off looking at all the other things and sometimes turning back to show Theo my findings.

We spent about a hour of our time in the bookstore and still left empty handed.

I had to sit for a minute to give my legs a break and Theo went and grabbed us ice cream. I got strawberry ice cream on a cone while he got chocolate ice cream in a cup.

Man he must really like chocolate.

After that Theo and I continue to walk along the street until I saw what could make this day hundred thousand percent better.

"Theodore!!" I shriek and gently tapping his shoulder to look. "Let's go make some flower crowns." I point over to the little girls sitting in a circle putting flowers together and making them into crowns.

He just followed me without any complaints and sat down in the circle of girls with me. The little girls helped him learn how to put together the flowers.

After Theo finished making his flower crown he put it on my head. I smiled at his warm gesture. I did the finishing touches on mine then placed it on the top of his head.

We made eye contact when I did this and the world behind me didn't seem to matter. He looked way more handsome up close. I noticed how strong his jawline was and the way his eyes glimmered in the sun. I start to lean in closer to him and then I felt a small tap on my shoulder.

I turn behind me seeing one of the little girls that helped Theo with his crown. "Would you guys like to dance with us?" She asked in a sweet voice.

I laugh at the adorable interaction. "Of course we will." I stand up and so does Theo. The girls run off and waving us to follow them which makes me laugh a bit more.

This day was almost too good to be true.

And it was.

Because not much later I heard a gunshot and strong arms wrapped around me.