"You wanted to ask me something, Barbara?" Jamie asked, offering a warm smile that was readily returned by his older coworker upon entering the mail room.

Barbara had been absentmindedly shuffling through a stack of letters when he'd entered. The mailroom was as neatly kept and organized as ever - that would be Jamie's doing. He took quite a bit of pride in making sure every letter was perfectly stacked and no package was misplaced, while Barbara seemed intent on doing the exact opposite, being rather reckless with how she handled things. As she tried to restack the letters she'd been skimming through, she relented and simply placed them back on the desk in a pile, dusting her hands off on her uniform before flashing him a wide grin.

"Heya, kiddo! Thanks for stopping by." Anyone who was more than a few years younger than Barbara was subjected to being called a kid, and Jamie had since grown both used to and fond of it. On top of her friendly and motherly attitude, her endless energy was infectious, and it always left Jamie feeling invigorated before he even started his route.

"So, I've got a small favor to ask." Jamie's eyebrows pricked up in surprise. Barbara was a loud, proud and determined woman. It wasn't often she'd ask for anything, and she frequently refused assistance, assuring everyone she could handle herself, though Jamie made it a point of letting her know that he was always happy to help. So for her to ask anything of the younger mailman was a rarity.

"Sure, of course! What is it?" He asked, shifting his mail bag over his left shoulder. When he lifted his head back to face her, he fumbled with the packages shoved into his arms, blinking at her from over the edge of the box on top.

"You know my route, right? Up in the hills?" Jamie nodded at Barbara's questions best he could, trying to get a better hold on the packages. The heart of Beach City, beneath the rolling hills, was where Jamie's route was, while Barbara would make the journey up into the hills that lead out of their little beachside town to the few houses that overlooked everything else. He knew that's where the Maheswarans and the mayor lived, at the very least.

"Well, I know I usually handle that side of town, but the old knee is acting up again," she said, patting her braced leg for emphasis before continuing.

"Anyways, there's a few houses up there that would just kill these joints if I tried delivering to them today. Especially this one house on the east side. Real big, super long driveway. Can't miss it. And I figured I would stay around here today and hold down the fort, handle walk in deliveries and pickups, you know."

Jamie could see what she was getting at. The brace on her knee could only help the older woman so much, and on certain days it just became too much of a pain. She'd long earned his respect and sympathy for being able to do such a physically demanding job with her injury. He had no problem letting her have an easy day, especially when she never complained and so seldom asked for any help.

"You want me to deliver these?" He asked, his smile barely visible behind the tower of boxes. The slap she delivered to his back made them topple from his arms as he helplessly tried to grab them again, only managing the clutch his hat to his chest as it was knocked off as well. He should have expected that, honestly, and could only hope there was nothing breakable in any of them.

"You read my mind!" She grinned, with Jamie letting out a wheezing laugh. "I owe ya one."

"It's no problem." Jamie managed, bending down to gather the packages back up while Barbara helped. "You don't owe me anything, I don't mind."

"You're such a good kid." Barbara told Jamie, helping him back up after he'd somehow managed to stack the deliveries in his arms once again. As she walked out of the mail room with him, she hummed to herself, placing one hand to her chin before adding, "A little warning about this one, though…"

She tapped the top package as she spoke, prompting Jamie to give her an odd look. He wasn't sure if she could quite see it, but she elaborated regardless.

"Kid orders something every other week. Not much for conversation. At all." She added flatly. "One of those rich kids. Kinda rude, if I'm being honest. Don't take it too personally."

"I'll try not to." he chuckled, managing a quick wave before nearly dropping the boxes again. He struggled to open the door for a few short moments, even resorting to using his foot before Barbara stopped her snickering long enough to take pity on him and opening it, wishing him well before closing the door behind him. He'd not gotten two steps from the building before she burst out of the door, making Jamie drop the boxes in alarm.

"I almost forgot! On your way there, could you put up some of these flyers?" She asked, handing a stack of papers to Jamie, who looked them over. They were advertising the Fall Festival that coming weekend, a yearly event that many of the citizens of Beach City attended. Jamie looked forward to it, and while he wouldn't be helping out this year as he often did, he still planned to attend.

"Doesn't word of mouth get the information around faster?" He asked, offering a crooked smile at Barbara's exaggerated sigh. The town didn't have that many residents, and you were more likely to hear about something in passing rather than from a paper on a wall.

"It does, but Mayor Dewey insists on hanging these up. Pretty unnecessary if you ask me, but he's the mayor, so who am I to say? I was thinking about taking my Sadie there! Though if I'm being honest, she doesn't seem too enthused. Kids, what can ya do? I know that boy she likes is going, but it's with Dewey's son, at least from what I heard." She seemed to catch herself rambling on, letting out a harsh laugh. "Went off on a tangent there. I'm not piling too much work on you am I, kiddo?"

"No, not at all! I'll get these up around town." Jamie said, rolling them up and slipping them into his mail bag. It was a bit overwhelming, but he didn't mind the extra work load, and he knew Barbara would appreciate the effort.

"You're too good to me, Jamie! What did I do to deserve you?" She asked, clapping a hand on his shoulder heavily, making the mailman's knees nearly give out. She could be overzealous at times, but her loud personality was something he'd grown accustomed to. He gave a final goodbye after she helped pick up the packages again and, at last, set out on his way.

Once he'd gotten a good distance down the sidewalk, with the hills laid out before him, he set the packages down with some trouble, taking a deep breath as he leaned on them with his arm. The Autumn chill did nothing to quell the heat of the sun on him. After catching his breath, he felt his curiosity gnawing at him as he let his eyes shyly wander over to the top package while rubbing his neck. A heartbeat later he caved and took a glance at the first name on the top package.

'Kevin'

He didn't know a Kevin, but he'd try to keep Barbara's warning in mind. Besides, by the looks of the addresses on the rest of the deliveries, of which there were four in total, he'd be the last one on Barbara's route he'd take care of. Then he could get started on his own. Maybe this would be fun. And if not, it would certainly be interesting.

(-)

Barbara, despite her tendency to dramatize and embellish, certainly hadn't been exaggerating when warning Jamie of the length of the driveway, and the mailman could certainly understand why she'd not be able to walk it when her knee was acting up. It was a winding, twisting and meandering path up to the front of a large house, and edged with hedges and flower bushes. It was a noticeable contrast to the houses that Jamie usually delivered to, and it was almost intimidating to the mailman as its shadow fell over him while he strolled up the steps to the front door.

He paused briefly, his hand hovering over the doorbell as he hesitated for just a moment before forcing himself to press it. He stepped back, holding the package with one hand while he reached into his mail bag to retrieve his clipboard.

Just as he managed to, the door swung open, with Jamie's eyes shifting upward. He prepared his normal greeting for the individual, smile ready. But the tightening of his throat made that impossible, and he became all too aware of the blush that fired across his cheeks, making his face burn and mind race.

Leaning lazily against the doorframe was a young man, around his own age if Jamie had to guess. Brunette haired and fair skinned, with dark eyes that were focused on his phone as he texted someone. He hadn't yet looked up at the mailman, who stood stiffly, package clutched tightly to his chest. As though that would succeed in concealing his pounding heartbeat. The clipboard was held flat against the package, but Jamie had yet to bring himself to even get the man's attention.

When the stranger finally cast a quick glance up from his phone, not a moment passed before his head immediately snapped back up, eyebrows raising in surprise.

The look Jamie received did nothing to help his ever present blush subside, cheeks still burning as he remained frozen. After a few seconds of awkward silence, something in him gave and he pushed the package forward, managing to get out a sentence before his words failed him again.

"Are you Kevin? This is for you!" His voice came out uncharacteristically high, and given different circumstances, the mailman may have found it funny. But the boy in front of him made his mind fuzzy and difficult to focus on trying to come off casual. Instead, he'd yelled shrilly and had shoved the package in the poor guy's face. Outwardly, he looked like a nervous mess. Inside, he was screaming.

It was a feeling he knew well - he'd felt the same with Garnet, though he'd long since moved on, and had promised himself he wouldn't be one to fall for someone so easily again.

Of course, that was a promise easily kept when not faced with someone who's eyes smoldered into him and shook him to his core, and he did all of this without saying a word to him and oh God he was doing it again -

Kevin's gaze switched from Jamie to the box presented to him. A smirk spread over his handsome face, and Jamie could have sworn he felt his heartbeat falter while Kevin signed for it.

"Never seen you before. You new to this gig, baby?" Kevin asked, adding a flourish as he finished his signature, taking the delivery and setting it on a table beside the door, just out of sight for Jamie. What little bit of the house's interior that the mailman did manage to glimpse - best he could while his eyes were frozen to Kevin - looked just as elegant as the outside.

Jamie drew a blank, continuing to stare at him. What had he called him? When reality seemed to catch back up with him, he blinked dumbly.

"I … No, no. I just don't usually deliver to this area." Kevin hummed at Jamie's answer, offering a smirk that made the boy's knees weaken.

"That's too bad. So, got a name to go with that pretty face?" Jamie faltered with his response, aware that he was gaping at Kevin. It was an unexpected question. And compliment.

"Ah, Jamie! Jamie, it's Jamie." Once again, he received a smile from Kevin that brought a new wave of heat to his face and renewed the racing of his heart. Any longer and it would burst, he was sure of it.

"I should… I should really get going." Jamie finally stuttered, wringing his now free hands around the strap of his mail bag. Now that he had nothing occupying his hands, he didn't know what to do with himself.

"What's the rush?" Kevin asked, leaning forward a fraction.

"Well, its just, you see, I still have a lot of mail to deliver." Jamie admitted, shifting his weight as he stood on the heels of his feet. Kevin quirked an eyebrow at him, shrugging his shoulders before closing his door and stepping out onto the stoop.

"I'll go with you."

"Excuse me?"

"I'll go with you." Kevin repeated, offering Jamie a lopsided smirk. And was it his imagination, or did Kevin wink at him?

"Really? I mean, I don't mind!" Jamie quickly added, holding his hands out to assure Kevin. "Its just not exactly exciting. I'm sure you have other things to do."

Jamie may have been purposely trying to make his job seem boring - he enjoyed it immensely, and would normally never speak ill of it. But the thought of Kevin going with him made him sweat. He knew he'd end up making a fool of himself with how he was already acting - God help him if he started reciting Shakespeare to him.

"Later." Kevin admitted, slipping his hands into his pockets, making Jamie's train of thought crash back into the present.

"What?"

"You said you thought I had other things to do. But that's not until later this afternoon. I can spare an hour for you, baby."

"Oh… Alright. I'm just delivering boring mail!" Jamie tried to insist. Despite his attempts to dissipate Kevin's interest, he didn't seem to be changing his mind. In fact, in response, Kevin leaned towards him, making the mailman catch his breath.

Winking, Kevin responded simply with, "I'll make it interesting," before starting towards the end of his ludicrously long driveway. Once he remembered to breathe, Jamie trailed after him.

What was happening?

(-)

A cool ocean breeze swept through the beach side city, with the salty smell of the sea wafting over Jamie. He'd paused briefly, leaning comfortably against one of the metal beams under the Beach City water tower to look over the deliveries he had yet to make and the mail not yet distributed. He'd done every street except for one.

Usually, the scent of the ocean was relaxing for the mailman, and on beautiful days like this, should he be making good time on his route, he would find himself on the beach, standing along the water's edge and gazing out at the horizon while waves gently lapped at the sandy shore.

But today was anything but usual, and despite the fresh crispness of the cool air, Jamie's face was burning. Any hotter and he would burst into flames, he was convinced.

Kevin, for someone who'd flirted so shamelessly back at his house, had been quiet as the two of them strolled throughout the heart of Beach City.

Suspiciously quiet.

That wasn't to say the playful smirks and half-lidded looks Kevin gave over his shoulder at Jamie didn't make his heart melt, but it had lead to him letting his guard down.

That's why it came as such a surprise when Kevin, who'd previously been watching Jamie check his delivery list from a distance of about ten feet, arms folded casually behind his head and looking so unassuming, was suddenly beside him, his voice a purr in Jamie's ear.

"Where to next, mailman?"

Jamie nearly choked on his words, feeling a noticeable chill run through him. When had he gotten so close?!

Fumbling with the clipboard, he cleared his throat, tripping over his sentences when he did manage to answer him.

"I, ah, the Pizzas! Kofi Pizza, actually. But he's at work so, we'll go to his house. Down the street!" He offered a nervous smile to Kevin, completely aware that he was rambling, and how foolish he was acting. In response, Kevin quirked an eyebrow at him before letting out a quiet breath of a laugh.

"You're cute."

Jamie stared, his blush creeping down well past his collar as he held his clipboard against his chest while his heart hammered against it.

Oh, right, he needed to breathe.

"Lead the way, baby." Kevin added after a pause, breaking Jamie out of his daze.

"Right! Right, right, this way!" Oh, his voice cracked, wonderful. And he heard Kevin snickering as he began to walk down the sidewalk. He could scream into his pillow about that later.

It wasn't that Jamie couldn't handle attention - he was an actor, after all. On stage in front of an audience, he flourished, he was alive. He lived for the attention when performing under lights, and hopefully someday, on a screen. It's where he belonged, and his days of stage fright had long since left him. So attention itself wasn't the issue. But this was a vastly different kind of scenario.

With Kevin, it felt personal, intimate even. Jamie wasn't on stage, or in costume. He was in his uniform, being himself, doing a job that most people found monotonous, except for possibly Steven. Kevin's focus was solely on him, and Jamie didn't know what to do with himself.

Put him on stage in front of a hundred scrutinizing eyes, no problem. In front of just Kevin and his flirtations? Apparently he just became a hot mess.

"Oh!" Jamie had been so lost in his own contemplation, having fallen into a steady rhythm of placing envelopes in the mailboxes he'd gone by, that he'd nearly walked past the Pizza household. His sudden stop had Kevin, who'd been walking just behind him to his right, nearly stumble into him, earning the mailman an odd look.

"Sorry! Uh, wait here." Jamie rushed to say, pulling himself together as he went up to the house.

The Pizzas lived modestly (especially compared to Kevin), just a few houses down from Vidalia - a fact Jamie was grateful for, since that day the older woman was his next delivery. The doorbell chimed, and only a few moments later the mailman was met with a small elderly woman opening the door.

"Jamie! It's so good to see you again." Nanefua greeted warmly, opening the door and earning a heartfelt smile from the mailman.

He was honestly grateful he rarely had to deal with Kofi himself, since he was almost always at the restaurant. Instead, Nanefua would be the one to sign for any deliveries. She was often laid back and friendly, while her son was uptight and argumentative, even at the best of times. Kofi had even gotten into spats with Barbara over accusations of his mail being mishandled. Jamie just tried to stay out of the line of fire as best he could.

"Hi, Nanefua. It's good to see you too. I have Kofi's package." The small woman accepted it with a nod, signing for it after she'd set the box on the ground by her feet.

"His new pizza cutter. For weeks he's been pestering Jenny to sharpen the one he already has, but it's beyond repair. He knows that, he's just stubborn! So I took him by the ear and said, 'Kofi, you need to stop being such a cheapskate and just by a new one!' And I'm his mother, so he has to listen to me."

Jamie snorted, covering his mouth. If nothing else, Nanefua had the best stories to tell whenever he came by.

"Well, I hope it helps." he chuckled, hands returning to the strap on his mail bag.

"It had better. If he tries to complain one time, I'll whoop his butt." She threatened before giving Jamie a concerned look as she poked his stomach, her accent thick with worry as she spoke up again.

"You're so skinny, Jamie. You're a twig! Have you been eating alright? Let me get you something for the rest of your walk."

"No, no! I'm fine, Nanefua. Honest." He insisted, holding his hands out to stop her as she turned to go back inside. This happened every time he delivered while she was home, and while he appreciated her concern, as it did really warm his heart that she worried over him, he didn't want to put the elderly woman through any trouble. Though she would ignore him at times and give him something regardless.

"You need to eat more, you're too thin." She told him, still looking like she wanted to go inside and bring him food.

"I promise, I'll eat later." He told her, offering a reassuring smile. That seemed to convince her, though only barely. Instead, her attention was caught by something behind the mailman.

"Is that young man with you, Jamie?" The mailman felt the heat return to his cheeks. How had he forgotten Kevin was waiting for him? Turning around, he saw the other man, arms folded, watching the pair impatiently.

"Yeah, he's with me." Jamie answered, adjusting his hat. "He's… keeping me company on my route today!"

That was technically true.

"I don't appreciate that look." Nanefua said, putting her hands on her hips, walking with Jamie to her mailbox. Kevin had made no point in hiding his annoyance at having been kept waiting, which the older woman noticed was more directed at her. But he did give Jamie a crooked smile when he approached.

"Hey, baby. What took so long?"

Jamie wasn't sure how to describe the noise he made - something of a high pitched squeak, certainly not a sound he'd ever made before. Never before heard by man, that was a good description. He pulled his hat down over his eyes, hoping to conceal the blush as he turned on his heel and began to head to Vidalia's house

"Ah, I'll be right back!" He called, leaving the two alone, with Nanefua looking confused and Kevin smug.

When he was far enough down the sidewalk, and realized no, the earth was not going to swallow him whole, no matter how much he willed it to, he brushed his bangs out of his face, placing his hat back on his head as it was supposed to be. That had to be intentional, what Kevin did. He'd be lucky if Nanefua didn't tease him relentlessly next time he delivered mail to the Pizza residence over what had just happened.

Jamie took a deep breath and held it before releasing it slowly, and action not too unlike the exercises he'd do before doing a play to relax, as he walked up Vidalia's cracked and paint stained driveway.

Her garage was open, as it always was, with purple curtain-like sheets covering the opening. Vidalia herself was seated outside on a stool, painting a cutout she'd managed to get onto her easel by some miracle of ingenuity. With her overalls splotched with paint and her face worn with age, she looked every part the seasoned mother she was as she turned to look at Jamie with a tired but welcoming smile.

"Hey Jamie. Lookin' a little red there. Hat not blocking out the sun today? Or was it that boy I saw following you around?" She asked, pausing her painting when he stopped in front of her.

"Uh, well it's not the sun." He said, hunching his shoulders after he'd freed her package. She was a mother, she could spot a lie easily, so there was no point in trying. He could just decide not to explain to her the full story. Besides, she could probably tell anyways.

She hummed knowingly, giving him a side eyed smile before getting off of the chipped and peeling stool.

"My new paintbrushes. Been waitin' for these. Mine are on their last legs." She said, hoisting the box under her arm with ease. She'd grown used to carrying large things under her arms, having carried baskets full of her both of her sons laundry for years now.

"Wanna see what I'm working on? It's for the festival this weekend. Dewey commissioned me. Guess he promised to handle props this year."

Jamie chewed his lip for a moment, thinking it over. Nanefua hadn't seemed too fond of Kevin just from a glance, but he did love seeing Vidalia's artwork. One minute wouldn't hurt.

Vidalia pulled back the sheet for Jamie, ducking into the dark garage after him before flicking on a light and gesturing to the far wall.

"Not too bad, if I do say so myself." They were cutouts, scarecrows, and amalgamations of cardboard, assembled and painted to look like some of the Gems that Steven and the other Crystal Gems had fought.

"They look amazing, Vidalia!" Jamie gushed, making the old painter laugh. She really was skilled, and Jamie wasn't shy about letting her know about how amazing all of her work was.

"Scarecrows aren't really my usual thing, but I thought I'd branch out, y'know?" She said, folding her arms as she looked at them while Jamie moved closer to admire the craftsmanship up close, continuing with, "They'll be placed throughout the corn maze the festival has. I'm going to have Sour Cream help put some of them up, at least before the rave he has tomorrow. Just have one more to finish."

"They really are fantastic, Vidalia. You did a great job!" Jamie told her, giving her a wide grin. Her work was truly inspiring.

"I can't take all the credit. Thank Amethyst too! She was my model. I didn't know what half of these Gems looked like until she shape shifted for me." Vidalia chuckled, heading back out of the garage with Jamie in tow.

"Steven mentioned she models for you a lot." Jamie recalled, thankful his hat shielded his eyes from the sun as he watched Vidalia climb back onto her stool.

"Ain't no better model than her." She smiled. Turning her head away from Jamie, he saw her give an amused snort.

"I think granny over there and your shadow are getting into it."

"My… shadow?" Jamie asked, looking over. He heard arguing…

Kevin and Nanefua were visible from Vidalia's driveway, and while Jamie couldn't make out what they were saying, he could tell it wasn't a friendly conversation by Nanefua's angry hand gestures and the way Kevin seemed to flippantly wave them away.

"Kevin! Sorry Vidalia, I'll see you later!" Jamie told her, panic rising as he ran back to the pair, with Vidalia calling out, "see ya, Jamie." as he did.

Two seconds! He had left them alone for two seconds, and Kevin had somehow started a fight with arguably one of the friendliest people in all of Beach City. Who did that?! Kevin, apparently. At least Jamie got to see that abrasive personality Barbara had warned him about.

"It's rude to - oh, hello Jamie." Nanefua's stern tone changed when Jamie got back, brightening when she saw him. Kevin didn't even have enough time to look at him before he was being ushered away, with Jamie firmly pushing him down the sidewalk by his shoulders.

"Sorry Nanefua!" he called over his shoulder, giving her an apologetic smile and brief wave before his hand returned to Kevin's shoulder. He didn't stop leading Kevin away until they were around the corner, in sight of the town square, with Mayor Dewey's… questionable statue of himself coming into view.

"So, do you always pick fights with little old ladies, or was today special?" Jamie asked, finally letting Kevin go to rest his hands on his own waist. Kevin huffed when he turned around to face him, folding his arms in a clear act of defiance.

"You think I'm going to let some old bag tell me how to behave? She doesn't even know me. Plus, she started it."

"Firstly, Nanefua isn't an old bag," Jamie told him, making Kevin roll his eyes, "she's probably the most active senior citizen I've ever met. Granted, I don't know too many…"

Kevin snickered at the way Jamie's sentence trailed off, earning an unamused glare from the mailman.

"And secondly, you-," whatever Jamie had found the confidence to say was forgotten when Kevin took his hands, pulling him forward and making Jamie practically trip into his chest, staring wide eyed at Kevin as their noses nearly touched.

"I know, baby. I'm just the worst."

The situation hadn't fully processed in the aspiring actor's mind, and when it did, reality hit him like lightening. He breathed in sharply as he quickly closed his mouth, which had been hanging open in shock, while stepping back and gripping the strap of his mail bag so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"I-I wasn't, I wasn't going to…," Jamie floundered with his response, with Kevin watching him struggle.

Jamie really was cute when he blushed…

"I wasn't going to say that." Jamie finally got out, his gaze falling to his shoes as he tried to find the right words. "What I was going to say is that you're just a little… overwhelming."

"Better than being underwhelming and a nobody." Kevin countered, nudging Jamie with his shoulder. "I can't help it if I stand out."

He was confident, Jamie would give him that. It was admirable. He could see where Barbara was coming from, certainly, but there was something about Kevin that just drew his attention. Besides the obvious.

"Well," Jamie started, changing the subject as he pulled out the flyers, "since you've already agitated one of my deliveries, and you did insist on coming with me, could you help me with this? It's the last thing I need to do, then you can go to whatever you had planned for today."

Kevin made a face initially, clearly not interested. When his glare did nothing to faze Jamie, he relented, giving an overdramatic sigh. It was hard to say no when Jamie was looking at him so expectantly.

"Fine, whatever, I'll help… what the hell am I helping with?"

Jamie showed him the flyers. They each had a stack. They were cheesy looking and not exactly something that would get someone on board if they were on the fence about attending the seasonal event - especially when the biggest thing it was advertising was having more corn.

"A festival?" Kevin drawled as he took the top page off of the stack, scanning it with a bored expression before trying to hand it back. "Not my style, cutie."

Jamie had to force his voice to remain steady when he replied. He still wasn't over the constant pet names.

"I wasn't showing it to you to advertise. Also, I know the flyer isn't exactly selling it, but it's always fun! And Vidalia did some great props for it this year."

"Who?"

"Vidalia," Jamie repeated, "the woman I just - ah, not important, help me put these up! Please."

Kevin groaned, letting his head fall back and his shoulders slouch before taking the first stack from Jamie, clearly annoyed but resolute in his decision.

"You're lucky you're cute."

Jamie felt his excitement rise, and it (along with Kevin's flattery) drew out a giggle from the mailman, who immediately covered his mouth in hopes that Kevin hadn't heard, before going his own way to plaster them around the boardwalk. Honestly, he'd expected Kevin to refuse, so it was a nice surprise.

His day had just been full of surprises.

As Kevin hung the flyers, not using much thought as to where on the boardwalk they went, he glanced at Jamie every so often. When he could catch a glimpse of him, anyways.

Jamie was… different. That was for sure. Vastly different than the people the young man often showed an interest in. He was open, friendly, and he seemed very genuine about everything he did. Kevin knew a lot of people he would describe as 'fake'. But Jamie seemed as real as someone could be. Not to mention he loved seeing the mailman blush, which was pretty damn easy to do.

And somehow, against all odds, he'd gotten him to do manual labor. Maybe hell had frozen over and Kevin just wasn't aware yet.

"Hey Jamie," he called, leaning against the Funland Arcade, hands in his jacket pockets as he saw Jamie lift his head in acknowledgment, "all finished, babe."

Even from a distance he could see Jamie's face turn scarlet, making Kevin smirk. He'd really have to see what else he could say to get a rise out of him.

Jamie put up the last of his own flyers, jogging over to him and admiring their handiwork.

"Thank you! Barbara is going to really appreciate this." Jamie beamed, clearly taking pride in their accomplishment. Kevin didn't care enough to ask who that was, only assuming it was whoever asked him to put up the damn papers in the first place.

"So, any plans now?" Kevin asked. There was a tone to his voice that made the other man falter for a moment.

"Just going to head home and change. I'm not a fan of wearing my uniform any longer than I need to." Jamie admitted. It was the first thing he did after finishing his route - going home and changing. No matter how hot or cold it was, or how early or late in the afternoon, he just didn't enjoy wearing his work clothes when he wasn't, well, working. "After that… I'm not sure. Didn't you have plans?"

"Shit." Jamie was right, and Kevin took a quick glance at his phone to check the time. This had lasted longer than he expected. He wasn't complaining, for sure, but he had lost track of the time when with the mailman.

"Too late?" Jamie guessed, feeling a twinge of guilt. At his worry, Kevin shrugged.

"I've got a few more minutes to spare." Kevin's mouth curved up into a smile as he pushed off of the wall to lean towards Jamie.

"I'll walk you home."

"Home?" Jamie asked, blinking. "It's more of an, well not more of, it's an apartment."

Not exactly the most glamorous living situation, but on his salary, he couldn't afford anything more. He didn't mind - the living space was small, but he'd made it his own. And it made for a nice underdog story for when he became a movie star - coming from nothing, living in a small, cramped apartment, only to one day rise to fame and glory. By then, he'd be able to have a house as big as Kevin's, if he wanted. Though he'd probably stick with simple, humble living. Jamie didn't see himself as the type to own a lot of flashy things or flaunt wealth.

He wasn't fully aware just how different he was from Kevin in that regard just yet.

"I'll walk you to your apartment then." Kevin corrected, his tempting smile still present. "Where is it?"

Jamie gestured behind him - the Beach City apartments faced the city square, with large, rectangular windows giving a view of the beach for those walking down the halls past the rooms.

Unfortunately, the rooms themselves faced the opposite way, so all Jamie got to look at was buildings and hills.

"Really, I can just walk there myself." Jamie told Kevin, but the hand that pressed against the small of his back, urging him forward as Kevin began to walk quickly hushed any more resistance.

When they arrived, Kevin looked around the inside of the apartment building, unimpressed while Jamie retrieved his keys. While he unlocked his door, Kevin let his eyes drift over to him. They almost seemed to glow with mirth when his lips curled up. He had an idea.

"So… today was interesting." Jamie laughed, taking his hat off to run his free hand through his hair. Kevin had said he would make it interesting, so he kept to his word. "But I enjoyed it. I never have someone to walk with me, or talk to when I do this. Oh, the life of a lonely, lowly mailman - a narrow path I walk alone! But walk alone I must!"

Well, at least he hadn't quoted Shakespeare at him. It was the small victories.

Kevin… Kevin was something else - he was certainly unlike anyone else Jamie had met. And he had a way of making Jamie just unravel and go weak in the knees, even more so than Garnet had. With Garnet, Jamie had been the one trying to shower her with affections. This was the reverse, and that had never happened to him before. It was unexpected. And exciting…

"Anyways," Jamie said, turning to face him, "I just wanted to say thank-"

Kevin's hands braced themselves on either side of Jamie's head, against the wood of his door, a playful glint in his dark eyes as Jamie's heart leapt in his throat and his breathing faltered. Kevin was close to him again, as close as he'd been in the town square. His eyes seeming to blaze into Jamie's like embers, the smirk he'd worn so often that day present once again.

"If you enjoyed it, why let this be a one time thing? How about a date?"

Jamie's thoughts hadn't caught up with what was happening. Rose red blush had once again bloomed across his tan cheeks, but the rest of him felt chilled. If it wasn't for his back against the door, he would have collapsed to the floor, and his heart felt like a caged bird trying desperately to free itself. His eyes had locked with Kevin's - he couldn't tear them away, even if he wanted to.

Not that he did.

His tongue felt numb when he tried to speak, but miraculously, he formed words.

"A-a date?"

"You can even choose where." Kevin smiled. How was he so easily able to make Jamie just turn into complete mush like this?

"Come on, baby," he continued, leaning forward just a fraction while tilting his head, almost pleadingly. His voice had become a low, sultry purr again. Jamie could smell the mint on his breath, and the cologne he was wearing; it was almost dizzying as he breathed it in, like he was under a spell.

"Say yes."

All of his thoughts seemed to hit a dead stop, and his mind went completely blank when he finally responded.

"O-okay."

Kevin's smirk tempered back into a smile as he quirked an eyebrow at him. He was still expecting Jamie to choose where.

Suddenly his thoughts were racing again until he just said the first thing that came to mind.

"The Fall Festival?"

He was stupid. He was stupid! Kevin had specifically said earlier that he wasn't into events like that! But it was all Jamie could think of because he kept being reminded of it all day, and what else was he going to say when he thought his heart was going to stop and his breathing had quickened so much and he was still so dizzy and Kevin was so close and he was excited and nervous and thrilled, and it was happening again! And Kevin was never going to say-

"Sure."

Jamie felt like he'd been struck, blinking before he processed what Kevin said.

"Really?"

"Yeah." Kevin smiled, shrugging, "This weekend right? I'll be there Saturday afternoon."

He stepped back, and Jamie finally felt like he could take a deep breath. Which he nearly choked on when Kevin took his chin in his hand.

"I'll see you there, Jamie."

Finally - finally - Kevin stepped away fully, and there was a much softer smile under his glittering eyes this time before he walked down the hall. He was late for his plans, but he couldn't give less of a shit at this point. He'd already been late by the time he checked the time back in the town square anyways.

Jamie was left leaning against his apartment door, his head falling back against the wood as he stared at the cracked ceiling, one hand resting on his unlocked doorknob while the other was against the side of his head. His mind was left reeling as he tried to piece together what the hell just happened.

Kevin… Kevin had asked him on a date. And he'd said yes.

He'd said yes.

He had a date! He had a date with Kevin! He had a date with Kevin this Saturday!

No matter how many times Jamie repeated it in his mind, it didn't seem to be true. He felt joy begin to bubble up inside him, forming into delighted giggles before full on elated laughter.

The doorknob he was still gripping began to turn ever so slightly, and before Jamie realized it, the door had swung open behind his back, turning his laughter into a cry of alarm as he fell back hit the ground hard, knocking the breath out of him and forming stars in his vision.

So pretty accurate to how he felt right then.