Chapter Text
Milly was eccastic. For the first time since she had met Eric, the boy had finally smiled . Not because he was imitating her, but for himself .
She had never felt so proud for someone in her entire life. Hopefully, Eric’s development will improve even better after this. Despite her being able to gain nothing in this (or did she?), she felt happy that she could help out the boy in any way.
The next day, she received an unexpected visit.
She was doing the usual of jotting down Eric’s progress (particularly about his smile - oh how attractive it was) when there was a flicker of light in her mirror. Twisting about in alarm, her eyes found the open window, where the curtains were billowing from a faint breeze from outside, bringing in the scent of freshly mown grass.
In between the curtains, sitting at the window, was Eric Gibb.
Relief immediately flooded through her as Eric grinned, probably enjoying the fact that he managed to scare her. Milly returned his smile, beckoning him to enter. Eric did so cautiously, like he was unsure whether his presence was welcomed. Milly had to stiffen a laugh - he looked adorable.
“Don’t be scared,” Milly assured. “It’s just me. No one else is home.”
Eric seemed to not have heard her, however, as he had taken an interest in her parakeet that was placed above her drawers.
Milly got up from her desk to stand next to Eric, whose eyes shone with faint awe at the sight of the sleeping bird. They stood for a couple of seconds like that, with Eric watching the bird’s tiny chest rise and fall while Milly stood there admiring his fascinated expression.
However, things become a little awkward at that and Milly shook herself out of her reverie. If her parents were to realise that a boy was in the house while she herself was alone, she’ll be as toasted as morning bread.
“What are you doing here, Eric?” Milly asked.
Eric turned to look at her, his eyes still having that dazed look, but he pointed out of the window without a second thought. Milly tried to process what he was trying to say. Then some ideas clicked and her eyes widened.
“You don’t mean…” Milly whispered.
Eric smiled. Gently, he took her hand and led her out of the room and down the stairs. He seemed to know his way pretty well despite this being his first time in her house. They descended to the first storey and Eric made a clear beeline for the main door.
Without hesitation, Eric opened the door and stepped outside, bringing a stunned Milly along with him. Thankfully, Milly managed to get a grip of herself instead of getting lost in this way-too-good-to-be-true situation and got Eric to stop to lock her house door first.
Milly giggled as they sped up, jogging until they were running hand in hand by the pavement, with Eric leading the way. The wind whipped his curly brown hair back, the afternoon sun catching his hair at beautiful angles that was worthy of a picture perfect moment. Oh how Milly wished she could spend every moment of her life with Eric, the boy who drew her in like a bee to a flower.
They made their way for who knows how long, but eventually, Milly’s stomach started rumbling and she remembered that she hadn’t had her lunch yet.
Unfortunately, her rumbling did not go unnoticed. Eric slowed down their pace to a normal walking speed. Instead of smiling, he was intently studying the shops around them (since when were they in town ?).
Finally, his eyes managed to land on a particularly small, cozy cafe and he hastened his pace, making Milly stumble. When they made their way to the entrance, a waitress immediately attended them.
“Hi there, a seat for two?” she asked politely.
Milly’s cheeks heated up. This sounded too close to a date, and she didn’t know what she should be feeling. Excited? Nervous? Joyful? This wasn’t even supposed to happen!
When the waitress’ question went unanswered, she cleared her throat for attention. Milly, snapping out of her thoughts (get a grip of yourself, Milly!), realised that Eric had not replied to the waitress.
“U-um, yes,” Milly spluttered, trying to put on an air of confidence. “A seat for two.”
The waitress nodded, gesturing them to a seat by the streets under a green umbrella, which thankfully blocked out the scorching summer sun.
The two of them sat opposite each other. Milly can’t help but miss the warmth of Eric’s hand as she had to pick up her menu from the table.
When she had done choosing her meal, Milly put down her menu to find that Eric hadn’t even picked up his, but was gazing softly at her. Milly felt her face heat up; she hoped the summer heat would cover up her turning red at this moment.
“H-have you picked what you wanted to eat, Er-Eric?” she stuttered. Then, when she realised that she had stuttered over a little staring, she mentally berated herself for being such an amateur.
Eric only tilted his head. Right. He needed help with this. Get yourself straight and be a reliable guide, Milly!
Turning the menu around, she pointed at the various images of food while describing it to him. When they came across the pizza section, Eric nodded enthusiastically when Milly pointed at a Hawaiian pizza. Milly took that as a yes.
As if summoned, the waitress materialised next to their table. Her notebook and pencil were out as she chirped, “May I take your order?”
Before Milly could so much as speak, Eric picked up his menu and pointed at something to the waitress. The waitress nodded, jotting it down, then turned to Milly.
“And what about you, ma’am?” she asked.
That sly Eric. He was up to something with that crooked grin of his. However, despite wanting to know what it was, she was fairly amused to see how this would play out.
Acting like she didn’t witness their exchange, she ordered a plate of bolognese spaghetti and Eric’s Hawaiian pizza. Once the waitress collected their menus, Milly found herself curiously studying Eric.
Eric continued staring back. Milly was sure, if Eric was someone else, they would have looked away or started a conversation, but this was Eric. This was why he was so special; there were things she could enjoy with him that she couldn’t with anyone else.
Sure, the view was great. Sure, they were in a cafe, stopping by for only a meal, but most importantly was Eric. They were together, with no one else. No parents, no Louis; just her and Eric.
The next thing she knew, the pizza and spaghetti were set in front of them. Hastily, Milly thanked the waitress. Said waitress smiled nostalgically. Then, out of nowhere, she leaned down right at Milly’s ear and whispered, “Go get him, tiger.”
Before Milly could so much as registered what she implied, the waitress had already turned tail and left, leaving a flabbergasted Milly and Eric who was dutifully digging into his pizza.
Then her stomach grumbled, reminding her of her current predicament.
“Guess I should eat,” Milly said reluctantly.
When Milly had finished her spaghetti, Eric was chowing down on his last slice of pizza. Upon catching her red-handed in staring, he gave a goofy grin, which he seemed to use as his main form of communication now. Milly wasn’t complaining, though. It made him look more attractive - and even contributed to Eric’s own persona. She was, by all means, even delighted of the development.
“You’re such a dork,” Milly sighed. She clamped her mouth shut upon registering what she had said.
Thank god Eric simply blinked at her offhand, top tier embarrassing statement. It was then Milly saw a speck of ketchup at the corner of his mouth, and without thinking, she found herself wiping it off Eric’s face with a napkin.
Eric didn’t react. He was staring at her with those soft brown eyes as usual. But with their proximity, Milly couldn’t help but want to get closer to him. He was so close, but always so far away. Why...does she feel like this?
And then Eric did something unexpected. He patted Milly’s shoulder, and Milly grudgingly sat down as the waitress arrived with an order.
“Fruit punch,” the waitress announced. She set the glass of tropical fruitiness in between her and Eric, then proceeded to place two straws into the glass. “Enjoy!”
Wait a minute.
Two straws. One glass.
Was this Eric’s plan all along?
Milly glared accusingly at Eric, but the boy didn’t even flinch. Without a care in the world, he leaned forward and took a sip from the straw closest to him.
She guessed she didn’t have much room to argue, anyway. It would be like protesting with a wall. So she bent forward and sipped from the other straw.
This has got to be by far, the most romantic thing she had done with Eric.
Eric, the sly dork, however, decided to make things go south by insisting he pay the bills.
“Oh, no, you don’t!” Milly exclaimed, grabbing hold of Eric’s arm which was about to hand a handful of cash to the cashier. “I have to pay, too!”
Eric shook his head. He pointed at himself, looked about, as if trying to find something. But apparently, he couldn’t find what he had wanted and his face soured like he had eaten a lemon.
After going seemingly limp for a couple of seconds, he started back to life by snatching up the menu from the counter and scanning it vehemently. Once his eyes sparkled, Milly knew he had found it. True to her thoughts, he turned the menu around and pointed at the bottom corner of the menu - at the word “Thank you”.
It dawned on Milly then. Eric wanted to treat her for lunch as thanks. Milly felt her resolve dissolving, and she laughed. Laugh she did; even the cashier found this awkward.
“Oh, Eric,” Milly chuckled, wiping a tear from her eye. “I’ll let you off the hook this time.”
Satisfied, Eric handed over the cash to the cashier. Milly didn’t hesitate for a second before enveloping Eric in a hug right then and there. The cashier had his mouth open agape, but Milly didn’t care. It was their moment, after all.
“I should be thanking you, Eric.” Milly smiled into their hug. “You made my life so colourful, I don’t even know if life will be the same without you.”
She released him, and found Eric making the most dumbfounded face she had ever yet to witness.
“Thanks for today, Eric,” Milly said from the bottom of her heart. “I truly enjoyed spending the day with you.”
Eric nodded, and - perhaps it was her imagination, but - Milly could nearly hear him saying through his actions, “Me too.”