After a successful dinner at one of their favourite Greek restaurants from the summer, neither Riley nor Zane was ready for the date to be over.

It had started to get dark, and even though it was a little colder than ideal to be stargazing outside, they took the blanket out of the trunk of Riley's car and laid down on top of it on an empty soccer field.

They talked and pointed out goofy shapes in the stars for a while, but eventually they found themselves lying in silence.

Zane was still starring up at the stars until he felt Riley's gaze fixed on him.

Zane turned to Riley, "What are you thinking about?"

"The auction, and how that was probably the best 50 bucks I'll ever spend," Riley said honestly.

Zane smiled at that. Not just his usual 100 watt grin, but the one with a little extra fire that made Riley's insides do little flips every time, even now.

"You didn't have to splurge like that you know," Zane teased.

"Come on, I couldn't let that other guy get you for so cheap," Riley teased back.

"Ah I see, you were just jealous!" Zane joked.

"Noo..." protested Riley, laughing, "Well yes a bit. But no, it wasn't just that..."

Then Riley paused and frowned, uncertain whether he would be able to articulate what was in his head, or if he should even try.

Zane studied Riley closely. "Suddenly you're giving me 'Riley serious face'..."

"Um... I don't know how to explain exactly..." Riley sighed, and sat up.

"Try?" Zane encouraged, moving to prop himself up on his elbows.

Riley took a deep breath. "Ok... well when everyone was bidding on you... like, I suddenly knew... actually I think it was that I realized that I knew... or... that I had known... like, known before... that I was more scared of losing you than I was of the whole school finding out that I'm gay... So then it was sort of obvious what I was going to do... What I had to do... so, yeah... Am I making sense?"

Only then did Riley look at Zane, who was now sitting up beside him.

Upon seeing the slightly stunned expression on Zane's face, Riley started again, "Okay... I'm obviously not because you're looking at me kinda funny..."

"Riley..."

It was then Riley noticed just how close Zane's face now was to his.

Riley swallowed nervously, "I guess I should stop talking now."

Zane nodded his head slightly and leaned in further, "Uh huh."

Riley smiled shyly and then moved to meet Zane's advance.

As they savoured their first kiss in months, a familiar jolt of connection rocketed through them both. The kiss was gentle, but firm, with timid tongues staying just shy of breaching that invisible line.

By the time they pulled away, their noses still practically touching, Riley could already feel his heartbeat humming through his entire body.

"That was quite the kiss for a first date," Riley said quietly.

Even though it had gotten fairly dark, Riley could see Zane smile in agreement.

With the exquisite thrill of the first kiss still suspended in the chilly air around them, drawing them in all over again, it wasn't long before their lips met for the second time.

Now much more confident, Riley and Zane felt like giddy school boys – which is exactly what they were – and the kiss was playful and teasing, and heating up fast.

Only moments later Zane's fingers were threaded snugly in Riley's hair, Riley's hand was tracing along Zane's jaw, and soon the kiss was turning rather sloppy, and more than a little desperate. They were breathing a little faster, a little louder; the chill of air long forgotten in the searing kiss.