This story, or rather combination of two stories, came from the title. I originally wanted to do a GamDave fanfic, but that seemed kinda weird after a while so I turned it into two separate stories taking place at the same time in the same place. Hope you like it!

(I might just incorporate a third story to explain what the other characters are doing…)

~Dave~

You sigh as you hang up the phone. You can't exactly say no and leave John hanging like this, but hell, this is starting to sound more and more like a date no matter how many 'no homo's and 'totally platonic's you throw in there. It's not the concept of going on a date with John that's starting to freak you out, it's the way it makes your heart flutter and your words stutter.

Okay, Dave, calm down. You're rhyming again.

You take a deep breath, slipping the phone into your pocket. Christ, that kid's about the only one who can melt your facade like a sheet of ice. You'd told him you had to think about it, but you're sure he heard the desperate screeching going on inside your head. It's literally all you can do not to call him back immediately and say yes.

Although as you think about it you realize your hand hasn't left your phone this entire time and you're already on the verge of doing so anyways.

He's probably waiting for you to do it.

You curse to yourself and whip out your phone, of course he takes precedence on your speed dial over 911, and hold your breath. He picks up on the first ring. You were right.

"Oh, hey, make up your mind already?"

"Figured I've got nothing better to do." You hear the lie in your own voice, it's that obvious.

"Cool!" You can tell he's grinning like an idiot. "I'll be over at… seven?"

"You could come over now if you wanted. The Strider house is always open to cute raven haired boys." Damn it, Dave…

You swear you can hear him blush. "Seven it is then. See you then!"

He hangs up abruptly, like he always does when he's nervous.

Shoving the phone into your pocket, you shake your head. Fuck.

You hear a chuckle, and realize Bro was standing right there for your entire conversation. "You do realize making him uncomfortable isn't going to rope him in, right?"

"Shut up."

You glance at the clock. It's only five. You both can't wait two hours and wish they would never pass at the same time.

As you swap between eagerness and dread, the passage of time does also. It drags on forever at some moments, and then suddenly fifteen minutes are gone in the blink of an eye. You swear some time gods are fucking with you.

When finally the clock turns to 6:55 - oh, shit - you stride to the bathroom, slipping on the shades you'd been too worked up to wear. They were the ones John had gotten you for your birthday a couple years back, because he thought your old ones made you seem more intimidating, like your Bro. You didn't think so, and you even had the others in your safe box in your room, but if John liked them…

In a fit of panic you had dressed almost exactly like you had when you and John had first actually, physically met - white shirt with red sleeves and the Retro Vinyl logo, black flare jeans, and red converse. You didn't even realize it until now, but it makes you look younger.

You don't even have time to contemplate changing clothes as the doorbell rings, scaring the crap out of you. Why the actual fuck are you so nervous?! It's just John, for fuck's sake! Why are you blushing so much?

You groan, making your way to the door and swinging it open. John seemed to have the exact same problem, and probably the same thought process as well - he was dressed in a blue plaid shirt with the sleeves rolled up halfway over a plain black tee shirt and blue jeans. They way he used to dress before he was overcome with his nerdy obsessions. The way he knew you liked.

Okay, this is already awkward. He just got here and you're already both blushing like crazy.

"Hey, man."

"Yeah, hi…"

"You gonna come in or are we leaving now?"

He shrugs, looking off to the side. "Either or."

You sigh, grabbing his arm and pulling him inside as you shut the door. "We need to work on your decision-making skills."

His blush worsens as you take his arm, automatically pulling it out of your grip. "No, we need to work on your personal-space-respecting skills." He snaps, placing his other hand over the spot where yours was.

There's definitely something wrong with him. "Dude. You're acting weird."

"I am not acting weird!"

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing is wrong!"

You shrug, raising your eyebrows in a bit of confusion, but you let it go.

He seems to notice what you're wearing, and his eyes widen just a bit before he looks off to the side.

"Are we going to leave tonight?" He asks, still sharply but quieter than before.

"Let's go."

He opens the door, immediately dashing outside where it's already dark and his blush isn't as noticeable. You follow, closing it behind you and catching up with him.

It's a short walk to the carnival from your house, and you both decided it would be easier not to have a parental (or brotherly) figure to drop you off.

You walk in silence for a while, and after what was probably a lengthy debate in his head he reaches over and takes your hand in his, staring straight ahead. Your heart flutters again, and you feel your stomach flip-flop as you contemplate what this means. Sure, you'd held hands before, but this feels… different. You can feel the cold November air on your now warm cheeks as you tighten your fingers in his.

You don't speak, afraid that if you do it will break whatever this moment this is. You'd probably just spout some rhyming bullshit, anyways.

Once you get there, not a single word having been said since your house, you look up. It's dark enough that they turned on the lights already, and it's actually really beautiful in your mind. John mumbles something about the gradient of the blueness in the sky, and you notice he's smiling that bucktoothed smile that always takes your breath away. You look down, smiling a bit yourself. He doesn't catch it.