grantmiddleton | A Not-Date Date {Val}

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valeria jung

A Not-Date Date {Val}

After some frustration with work, Grant's finally able to take up Val on that date she won so long ago. He feels crappy it's taken this long, but it turns out Val has been swamped at her flower shop as well. He texted her the middle of last week, letting her know to wear something comfortable that she won't mind walking around in, and that's he'll pick her up Monday morning. "We're leaving Siren Cove!" he hinted.

Dressing in some of his more casual clothes, Grant makes sure not to wear anything he'd shed a tear over or have to tell Alex if it were ruined. She's been testy lately and he'd honestly fear for his life he he ruined her favourite pair of shoes of his. He tucks a few things away in the trunk of his car before heading over to pick up Val. With a bit of a nervous sigh, he knocks on the door to the Jung residence.

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"There won't be that much working out," he laughs. "And it's not too far out of town. But I promise, you'll love it."

Grant ushers her to the car, making a point to open the door for her and everything, especially since he's pretty sure her sister will kill him and she's probably peaking out the window now. Grant climbs into the drivers' seat and grins. "Buckle up, buttercup, we're outies."

Val shoots him a suspicious look as she climbs into the car, but buckles herself in and settles in for the drive. "You know... I'm still shocked that you would've considered asking me out in he first place. We haven't been the most friendly people towards each other," she chuckles.

"I think that's only half my fault," he says, giving Val a meaningful look. "But then I also didn't think you'd make out with me in a closet and you did." Even Grant at this point realizes there's something more to this "You really bug me" relationship they've got going.

Val laughs, shaking her head. "Dude. You're hot. Who wouldn't make out with you in a closet?" she teases, quirking a brow at him.

"I thought your complete and utter disdain for cops made me less hot." Grant smirks to himself, always happy to hear about his appearance.

The drive isn't too far outside of town and Grant pulls into an old dirt road which leads them to an empty parking lot. Thankfully, the place is under reconstruction, so the giant sign announcing the botanical garden entrance is covered.

"Alright, sunshine. Time for some walking."

"No, no. You can't lessen the hotness. It just makes you less desirable," she teases, climbing out of the car and looking around curiously. She doesn't recognize the area but that's not surprising. She doesn't go out of town often.

"You haven't brought me here to murder me and hide my corpse, right? Because I don't think your mother would be happy to know you wasted her money like that."

"Ah, well at least I can sleep well tonight knowing I'll always be hot."

Grant laughs and shakes his head at her. "Excuse you, I was sworn to serve and protect, thanks. Plus I'm terrified of my mother." He leads them into the front office of the gardens, waving a hand at an employee behind the counter. He leans over, whispering something to the man, and the man nods. "Yes sir, right this way."

The man hands them both a booklet before smiling at Val. "Excuse our mess, miss. We're renovating. You and Mr. Middleton have the whole place to yourselves and will have the first look as public viewers."

Val takes the booklet with a look of confusion and glances down at it. Then she spots the name and gasps.

"No. No way. You're fucking with me. This is an elaborate joke or something right?" she gasps, waving the booklet at him. "You got us a private look at the new botanical gardens?!"

"Say whaaaaat?" he teases, glancing at the booklet in mock surprise. "Man, I meant to take you to the bug museum, dang it!"

"Oh knock off," she laughs, swatting his arm with the booklet as she looks around. "I can't believe you did this! I've been dying to go here forever and now I get a freaking private look at it? Come on! Let's go!!"

"God, you are such a nerd," he rolls his eyes, following her through the entrance of the gardens. "And so predictable. I knew you'd like it."

Skipping ahead of him, she flips him the middle finger and grins at him over her shoulder. "Well, yeah. My powers revolve around plants," she reminds him, darting over to the first area full of tropical flowers and giving a quick glance around. Sure there's no one in the area but them, Val releases the flowers to do as they will, smiling as they crane towards her, the ones with vines twining around her arms and the others rubbing against her like large cats. "This is probably the most amazing date possible and its only just started."

"So un-lady-like!" Grant grins as he follows her into the garden. "This is more like a date for you and the flowers," he complains. He won't admit he's actually happy to make this happen for Val. Nah, he's not happy at all.

"C'mere, you gigantic baby," Val scoffs, grabbing his hand and pulling him over. The flowers immediately surge to check out the newcomer, brushing against his hands and legs. Val gestures to each plant, explaining their names and occasionally a bit of trivia about them. "God, this place is amazing," she finally sighs, practically glowing with happiness and the boost her powers are getting. "I'd gladly live here if I could."

"Nerd," he says under his breath though his smile broadens every time Val explains something about a plant. Of course, he's retaining very little of it. But Grant's mainly focused on what a dork she is about flowers and that it's kind of cute. "Yeah? I'll get you a little sleeping bag and we can set it up right....over....there," he says, pointing under a large tree.

Val laughs, heading towards the tree. "Think they'd allow that? I'd be very good for their plants. Riley might not like it much though."

"Shoot, just cover yourself in flowers anytime someone comes by, they won't even notice." He touches the bark of the tree, tapping on it as he looks up at high up the branches go. "Though I do think you're the scarier Jung, I don't really wanna piss off Riley either. Maybe she'll move out here with you?"

Val presses her hand against the trunk of the tree, smiling up at it. "Hm? Probably not. She gets annoyed enough when my plants creep into her room," she admits, giving him a wry smile. "And I wouldn't move her without her. So I'll just stick to a bedroom full of flowers and my garden out back."

Grant stares at Val a bit. Maybe it's because he's an only child, but he really doesn't understand how Val and Riley can be so close without wanting to murder each other. "It's good you two have each other."

He turns around and lowers himself to sit under the tree, letting out a groan as he stretches his long legs.

Val glances down at him with a smirk. "Tired already, old man?" she taunts, sliding down next to him. "There's a lot more for us to look at, you know... And I'm not gonna give up until I've seen everything."

"I'm sore, not tired, thank you very much," he corrects. "I've been running around everywhere lately."

"My brain though? That's tired. How do you keep all these information in that tiny head of yours?"

"Ew. Why would you do that?" she asks, baffled by what goes on in his head.

Val shrugs, blossoming a flower between them just to vent some magic. It was beginning to feel a little overwhelming, but in a good way. "I mean, I love this stuff. Its a part of me. Plants think I am a plant," she explains, stroking the flower's petals. "So this information sticks. I'm awful with other things, but plants are easy."

"Because I want to," he tsks. "Helps reduce stress."

He nods at that, watching the flower bloom. "I guess that'd be like me learning all the police codes. Super dull and uninteresting to you."

"Gross. Plants reduce my stress, thanks," she tuts right back, shaking her head at his silliness.

Val chuckles, giving him a mischievous grin. "I don't even care for the police stuff I do know," she points out, clearly teasing him.

"I still have that one plant and I gotta say, sometimes it stresses me out when other people try to water him at work."

"Why does it feel like you actually mean "I don't even care for the police stuff or cops I do know?""

"You still have that? Even though the bet is over?" Val asks, tilting her head curiously. "And of course that would stress you out. Other people don't know how much water it requires!"

She leans her head back against the bark of the tree, pulling a face. "I dunno. I've gotten used to some of the cops, I guess. They're not all bad..."

"Um, duh, we're bros." He gives her a smart-ass look. "I take him home after work every day. And you're not allowed to call me a nerd for that, you freaking sleep with vines."

"Well well well," he smiles, looking up at the branches of the tree. "Looks like the Jung tides have turned."

'Hey! There was no nerd-calling! I was just surprised, is all. I didn't think you'd want to keep it after the bet was over, let alone bond with it," she scoffs.

Letting out a disgruntled noise, Val socks him in the arm, glaring. "You keep that to yourself, smart-ass."

"Excuse you, I'm a very easy person to bond with. I have abandonment issues and that little plant will never leave me," he teases.

He makes a face and rubs his arm where she hits him. Jesus, she has an arm on her. "No, I'm posting it all over the precinct."

"Uh huh. As long as you keep it happy and alive, I will encourage yo," she smirks. "Even if you're a big fat liar."

Val's frown deepens exponentially. "I will turn you into fertilizer for this garden," she threatens, leaning in to glare him down.

"Wow, name-calling already. And I did something really nice for you!"

Grant smirks. "You're not as scary as you think you are."

"Well, don't be a big fat liar and I won't have to call you one!" she says, giving him a self-satisfied look. "I only tell the truth, you know."

Val reaches over, punching him in the arm again. "I am too!"

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A Not-Date Date {Val}

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