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Lucy yawns with her scarf in hand.
She had been checking her watch every hour, her shift dragging on and on. Once it finally drew to a close, she said her goodbyes with the utmost simplicity. Her blonde hair was tied back, but as she made her way out of County General, she took the hair tie out, hooking it around her wrist. The Chicago sky was prominent, with streetlights and stars engulfing her vision. The paved pathways glistened, wet and slick with rain. It had sprinkled a tad since Lucy walked out, droplets beading along her golden strands. She let a breath escape, a smile planted against her face. She huddled into her jacket, arms crossed against her chest as she watched and pointed out constellations while the rain continued. People passed by her, and the doors opened and shut.
None of it seemed to distract Lucy.
The rain kissed her face, water running down her neck and pooling at the ends of her cheeks.
She was captivated.
She observed, pulling her jacket off and feeling the wet fabric between her fingers. With time, a taller, more visible figure approached her as she listened to the automatic doors shut. At first, he didn't speak. He waited, his breathing soft and slow. But, as he observed Lucy, he noticed she might not spark the conversation. He parted his lips, his hands buried into his coat pockets. "What are you doing, Luce?"
She doesn't look at him, her smile larger than it had been in weeks. "Watching the rain."
"You know, I never have the time to admire Chicago. With autumn looming over us, maybe I can start." She rambled on. "Don't you ever just take the time to look around, Carter?" She proposes a question, her arms now planted against her sides.
The rain quieted down, her hair sticking to where it caressed her skin. Carter adjusted his position. His eyes pointed toward the sky. "Sometimes. Not everyone is as optimistic as you."
Lucy's expression softened. She stopped staring for a moment, Carter falling into her central vision. "That's depressing."
Carter chuckled, his head tilting toward the ground. The two stood next to each other.
The wind picked up with time, and Lucy felt a tinge of opportunity grow in her chest. She glanced over at Carter, whose eyes were focused on the pavement. She gently nudged his arm with her elbow, his face now fixated on her budding smirk. With a swift action, she proffered her hand, ungloved with her palm facing the evening sky. He furrows his brow, slightly confused. "What?"
"Take my hand," Lucy suggested.
"For what reason? What are you planning?" His tone was suspicious.
"Will you just take it? It's getting cold." She declared, rolling her eyes.
With slight hesitation, John Carter gave Lucy his trust, unveiling his hand from his pocket and laying it against hers. Immediately, Lucy pulled him, running toward the nearest streetlight. The rain was much heavier now, drenching them both. Carter blinked. He followed behind her like a lost puppy. There was a glow off the pavement, Lucy's eyes sparkling with anticipation. She balanced and stood right in front of him. Gently, she stole his other hand, intertwining his fingers with her smaller ones. Carter looked around, the rain louder than he could ever be. "What are you doing?!"
Lucy let the rain soak her shirt, her blonde hair growing darker. "We're dancing." She held onto his hands, the water cold to the touch. His thumb aimlessly traced over hers.
"I don't dance," he muttered.
"Don't be silly, Carter. Everyone dances." She yelled, communicating over the rain.
"Lucy, this is a parking lot! You didn't even ask me." He responded, shivering under his now-soaked coat. His darker hair stuck to his forehead, water tracing his jawline. The two bickered back and forth, a sound familiar to Lucy's ears. For once, she wanted Carter's wall to break. Even if it took her entire life, she'd be the one to knock it down. She wanted his words to mean something. She wanted to have a lasting memory the two could look back on. The white light shone down on Lucy, reflecting off her damp skin. Carter sighed, watching her, drinking her in. He removed one hand from her own, his fingers climbed up her arm. The touch alone was enough for Lucy to shake. Her lips were now a lighter pink from the dropping temperature. They parted once more. Her eyes grew wide. She whispered, inches away from him. "John Carter, will you dance with me?"
As the words slipped off the tip of her tongue, Carter found himself unable to say no. "Lucy Knight, you're eccentric."
She giggled, letting everything go as Carter twirled her. The two laughed as thunder rumbled throughout the city. John pulled her back toward him, her arms smashed against his chest. She looked at him with newfound admiration. As their eyes meet, she's reminded of their first kiss. This moment was different. There was no rushing. They moved with each other. His hands found their way to her waist, holding onto the curves of her hips. He let a small smile form against his complexion.
Lucy noticed. It gave her hope.
She eased into his gentle grip, allowing her hands to cup his cheeks. His skin was frigid, but she didn't mind. "It doesn't get any better than this."
John loomed over Lucy, pressing his lips to hers. There was no space between them. The sound of their hearts was much louder than the rain. Lucy grinned, hooking her arms behind his neck. They broke away slowly, a bit of Lucy's chapstick coated his mouth. If he licked at the skin, he could practically taste it. Once he wrapped his head around what had just happened, Carter let himself speak again. "Did you want to grab dinner? Hot chocolate sounds nice."
With a quiet nod, Lucy agreed. Carter swung her around, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. She held onto his hand, letting him lead her to his car. As the two walked, Lucy listened for thunder. She listened to the rain.
She was glad she listened to her spontaneous thoughts.
She was pleased with herself. She was fearless.