[A/N: Sorry about the wait, but we're not done yet. Promise! Enjoy this chapter, it gets good...]
...
(John's perspective)
That night, Paige had come to John's room again. "It just feels so real, you know?" she said once she calmed down. "The dreams. Well, the nightmares. And I never know they're happening. I can't ever control them, and it's so terrifying."
"I used to have nightmares," John said, thinking back. "More like weird, vivid dreams."
"About what?" Paige asked.
"Really weird stuff in the future," he replied. "It would be stuff we would do on a normal day, like have lunch or something, but there were terminators doing it with me. And they were only what I imagined they looked like, since I hadn't seen one before. And they were nice."
"See, I want dreams like that. Not my shitty ones. I always feel like I'm forgetting some part of the dream. It feels really important, but I can't remember what it is. Ugh."
"I hate that feeling," John said. Paige seemed to be thinking for a moment.
"Do you ever... miss that time when things were... well, kinda normal for you? Not your normal, but society's normal, sorta. When you thought you didn't have to be the leader of the Resistance."
John thought back to the time when Sarah was in the hospital. "It was cool to not have to think about it for a while," he said. "But everything else sucked."
"I know you didn't see your mom, and you had to go to school and live with different people, but other than that, did you like it?"
He thought again. "Yeah, there's some stuff I miss, I guess."
"Like what?" she asked.
"Like not training all the time. And going to school was pretty boring, but at least I had a couple of friends. It was fun ditching and going to the arcade." He laughed, thinking about the days he ditched with Tim. "Actually, it was only really Tim," he said, thinking again. "Everyone else thought I was a freak."
"Don't say that," she said. "You weren't a freak."
"I was," he said. "Nobody wanted to talk to the weird foster kid whose mom was in a mental hospital."
"I would've talked to you."
"No, you wouldn't have."
"Well, if I didn't, it wouldn't be because you were a freak," she said. "It'd probably be because I was too shy. I kinda thought you were this popular bad-boy, and I didn't have many friends either."
"Really? I would've pegged you differently. I kinda imagined you as the popular, super-smart type. But you're not wrong, I just wasn't popular."
Paige laughed. "You're not wrong either," she said. "Picture that type of person, but they care less about the way they look and have less friends."
"Ah, I get it. You were the smart kid, the only one who got an A on that hard test."
She looked away. "What? I like school."
John laughed. "It wasn't an insult."
"Well, people acted like it was this big deal. They basically blamed their grades on me."
"I didn't really do that type of thing, but I was always kinda jealous. I always felt really stupid. I still feel kinda stupid."
"You're one of the smartest people I know, John. It's just that the way schools measure it doesn't show it."
"Thanks," John said. No one besides his mom had ever really thought he was smart. He smiled.
"I feel like I'm never gonna be 'normal' again," Paige said. "I guess I might miss it, but I guess I don't really care either. Like you said, there's stuff I miss, but it wasn't as fun." She laughed again.
"Yeah," John said. There was silence again, and he realized Paige had fallen asleep. He thought about her. She was so nice to him, whenever she talked to him it almost always made him smile. He wanted to make her as happy as she was making him. Yet John felt that that could only happen if she knew his real feelings.
God, just be a man already, he thought to himself. He fell asleep.
...
(Paige's perspective)
No matter what I did, I couldn't figure out that part of my dream. It seemed important, if it was actually there at all, and every time I had the dream I tried to remember it. But it just wouldn't stick.
John was so nice to me. We talked about whatever, and he always seemed to care. Whenever he talked to me it almost always made me smile. I wanted to make him as happy as he made me, but I felt like I could only do that if he knew my feelings. I had no idea how to say it to him, or if I should, or if I was ready to...
I ended up deciding to talk to Sarah. This made me completely nervous, since it was her son and a kind of weird situation, but in a way I was her daughter now. Then that thought made it all a bit weirder. Yet who else was I supposed to talk to?
"Sarah, can I talk to you?" I asked after dinner that evening.
"Uh, sure," she said. "What happened?"
"Nothing," I said, "but can we... talk in private?" She nodded and gestured back to her room, where she shut the door and sat on the bed.
"What's going on?" she asked.
"Nothing, I just..." I said, sitting down next to her. I grew anxious. "I... I like..."
"John, I know."
"What?" I said.
"I know that you like my son."
"Um, how did you –"
"A mother always knows."
"Vague, but I'll take it," I said, rolling my eyes. "So... I kinda want to tell him, but I don't really know how."
"What do you mean, 'how?' There's not many ways to say 'I like you.'"
"Well, yeah, but it's the words around those that make it... Look, can I just have some advice please? Isn't that what 'a mother always knows' how to give?"
She laughed. "That is my advice. Don't beat around the bush, just say it when it seems appropriate. What's the worst that could happen?"
"I don't know, I ruin our friendship and have to spend years in an awkward situation with another person in the same house, maybe."
"But do you really think that'll happen? He's obviously crazy about you."
"Really?" I asked hopefully. "But... what if he's just, like, crazy about our friendship only?"
"I guess you'll have to find out," she said.
"Well, thanks," I said. I gave her a light hug and went outside her room. I wasn't gonna tell him yet, though. I wanted to wait for a good opportunity.
...
(John's perspective)
John had to tell Paige. He wanted to, so badly, but he just didn't know how. So he decided to talk to his mother, of all people. This'll be fun, he thought sarcastically to himself.
He found her in her room. "Hey, mom," John said. "Can we talk? I need some advice."
Sarah rolled her eyes. "Sure."
He sat down on the bed next to her. "I like Paige," he said. He knew he could be blunt with her, since she didn't ever really say anything that wasn't direct. Sarah laughed. "What?" he said.
"I can tell," she said. "You think I don't know you're always looking at or putting your arm around her?"
John's face flushed. "Well... I wanna tell her. Any advice?"
"Just tell her, when you think it's the right opportunity. No sense in beating around the bush." He agreed with her on that one.
"But..." he said, "what if she doesn't... like me back?"
"Then you're still friends," she said. "She's obviously crazy about you. The worst thing that could happen isn't what you think it is."
"Well... okay. Thanks, mom." He left the room. He was going to tell her, but only when it was the right time.
...
(Paige's perspective)
After I talked to Sarah, it made me really think about me and John. I was really nervous about telling him, in case he didn't think of me in the same way I thought about him. However, I was really excited for the thought of him feeling the same way. It made me curious about what would happen. Would he tell me he liked me? Better yet, would he kiss me? God, I wanted him to kiss me.
That thought made me think: I'd never kissed anyone before. What if John had, and I seemed like an idiot who didn't know how to kiss?
I stopped my train of thought. I was getting ahead of myself, I hadn't even told him anything yet. Speaking of, how would I tell him? Should I just say it, like Sarah said, or should I do some sort of gesture? Would he even like some silly gesture? I knew I would, but I hadn't thought this through, and I was starting to sound like some obsessed, love-struck teen girl.
My friend Rachel used to try to get me to flirt with guys, but I'd protested. I told her I didn't know how to flirt, which was true. Then she told me ways to do it. She'd said, "Always talk about him. Everyone's favorite subject is themselves. Find some of his interests and make them your interests. Talk about them with him, and then do something like playing with your hair. Touch his arm. Before you know it he'll be asking you out." Only I never worked up the courage to start.
I missed her. But I also thought that, in this situation, that was one of the stupidest ideas ever. I already knew John, and if I acted like that he'd probably think I had fallen on my head.
I went to my room and flopped back onto my bed. This was harder than Sarah made it sound. But maybe it didn't have to be.
...
(John's perspective)
After John had talked to Sarah, it made him think hard about himself and Paige. He was nervous about telling her his feelings, in case she didn't think of him the same way as he thought of her. But he was excited for the thought of her feeling the same way. It made him curious about what would happen. Would she say she liked him? Would he get to kiss her, finally? He really wanted to kiss her.
That made him think: he'd never kissed anyone before. What if Paige had, and he seemed like some inexperienced guy who didn't know how to kiss?
John stopped thinking. He was getting ahead of himself. He hadn't even told her anything. Speaking of, how would he tell her? Should he be direct, like Sarah said, or should he do some sort of gesture? Would she even like a gesture like that? John thought that he might. He hadn't thought this through, and he was starting to sound like some weird, unrealistic guy from a crappy rom-com.
He used to try flirting with girls through much encouragement from Tim, but he was never really good at it. He shot that idea down before it fully came into view. Besides, Paige would probably think he had a fever if he started flirting with her.
John had heard Paige go to her room and plop down on the bed. Her door was open. To him, it was harder than Sarah made it sound. But maybe it didn't have to be. He built up his courage and went to her room.
...
(Paige's perspective)
John came into my room, lightly knocking on the door frame and saying, "Are you awake?"
"Yeah," I said, sitting up, "but I don't wanna be."
"Tell me about it." He sat down next to me. Maybe this was the right time. What the hell?
"John, I –"
"Paige," he said, cutting me off, "I'm gonna say something and I need you to listen to the whole thing, okay?" I didn't think he heard me speak. I decided it could wait and nodded.
"Sure, what's up?" I said.
"I... I like you, Paige," he said. My heart instantly fluttered when he said those words. I was shocked. He liked me, and said it almost at the same time I was going to. But I told him I would let him finish, so I didn't talk yet. "Not just as a friend, but... but more than that. So... that's it, I guess." He stared at me, since I guess I still had a shocked expression on my face. His face flushed. "I –"
I didn't want him to be embarrassed, and I realized I didn't tell him I felt the same way yet. So I did something really brave, and slightly out of character.
I leaned over and, in the middle of his sentence, kissed John right on the lips. I took in the moment of my first kiss, closing my eyes. John seemed shocked at first, like I was with my impulsive actions, but after a moment he leaned into it. I liked kissing more than I thought I would. The feel of his mouth against mine was nice, and I could feel what felt like electricity dancing between us.
After about six seconds or so, I pulled away, opening my eyes. John opened his eyes and then smiled. I smiled back. "In case you can't tell," I said, "I like you too."
...
(John's perspective)
John sat down next to Paige. He had just built up his courage, and figured, What the hell? I'm gonna do it now.
So before he could chicken out, he said, "Paige, I'm gonna say something and I need you to the whole thing, okay?" It sounded like he interrupted her, but he was trying to say what he had in mind before he lost his courage, so he let it pass. She seemed to think it could wait too.
She nodded and said, "Sure, what's up?"
He took in a breath and mentally prepared himself. "I..." he began. You can do this, he said to himself. "I like you, Paige." He kept looking at her as much as he could. "Not just as a friend, but... but more than that." He wanted to make it clear. "So... that's it, I guess." Good job, he thought, you did it, you blabbering idiot.
John looked at Paige intently, scanning her face for emotion. All he comprehended was shock, and it was hard to tell if that was a good or bad thing. He was going to say, "I'm sorry, I just needed to say that." But before he even got to "sorry," something amazing happened.
Paige leaned over and kissed John right on the lips. Holy shit, he thought at first, this is... awesome. He closed his eyes and leaned into the kiss, getting over his shock. He enjoyed the moment of his first kiss. He noted the softness and fullness of her lips, which he liked. He felt like there was some sort of charge between them, connected by the kiss.
After about six or so seconds, she pulled away. John opened his eyes after a second and smiled. Paige was smiling too. "In case you can't tell," she said, "I like you too."
"Damn, at least buy me dinner first," he joked, grinning. She swatted his arm.
Now John was overjoyed. So he did something bold.
John's face turned serious as he slowly leaned over towards Paige. Her face became serious too, and this had a longer buildup, John feeling her breath against his face. Then he kissed her, and this kiss lasted a few seconds longer. John took one of Paige's hands in his and pulled away. Her eyes were closed, and she slowly opened them and smiled, gently squeezing his hand. "You have no idea how much I wanted to do that," he said.
"You have no idea how much I wanted you to do that," she replied. He smiled.
"Ugh, finally," Sarah said suddenly, walking into the doorway. "You've only been staring at each other non-stop."
"Mom!" John shouted, his face turning red. He and Paige scooted away from each other. Sarah snickered.
"Alright, alright," she said, sticking her hands in the air. She left, and as soon as John couldn't hear her anymore, he got up and shut the door.
"I'm... sorry," he said to Paige, his face slowly returning to normal color.
"It's fine," she said. She cleared he throat. Her face had been red, but was also returning to normal.
"I knew I shouldn't have asked her for advice," John said under his breath.
"What?" she said. "When?"
"Around... well, it was just before I came and talked to you."
"Was she already in her room?" Paige asked.
"Yeah. Why?"
"I think I talked to her before you talked to her. To be honest, I was just about to... to tell you, but you sorta interrupted me."
"Oh. Sorry," he said. Then he realized. "Wait a minute, so she... knew we liked each other and didn't tell either of us?"
"I mean, I guess. She sorta hinted at it."
John laughed. "Well, I guess it turned out okay."
Paige laughed too. "More than okay."
...
(Paige's perspective)
He liked me. John fucking Connor liked me, and he kissed me. Well, I kissed him first, which was fun... but he kissed me. He was looking into my eyes, and I could feel his breath against my face, and he kissed me. And held my hand. Then Sarah came in, of course. We pulled away and it ended with John shutting the door on her.
Apparently, Sarah had known we both liked each other at some point, but there was no harm done now.
"So..." John began in a curious tone, "are we... dating now, or something?"
"Is that your way of asking me out?" I asked. "Because we're not really dating until we've, you know, been on a date." I grinned at him.
"Oh, yeah... Sorry. I've never really done something like this before."
"Really? I kinda thought... I mean, I haven't really either."
"Oh. Well, that's cool. We're each other's first date. Speaking of, here it goes." John turned more towards me and looked in my eyes after rolling his. "Paige, do you wanna go out with me?" He gave me a cheesy smile, throwing up jazz hands.
"John, I would love to," I said, now grinning like an idiot and laughing.
"Cool," he said. He seemed to think a moment. "Shit, now I have to think of something for us to do."
I laughed. "You don't really," I said. And he didn't. I'd always imagined what my first date would be like, though. Maybe that was a girl thing. But if he didn't want to actually do a date date...
"No," he said, "I want to." It was like he was reading my mind at this point. He smiled at me. "I think it'd be fun. We could be kinda... normal, for a while. Have a real date. A normal date. At least more normal than shooting guns and riding dirt-bikes."
I laughed. "Well, yeah. But I did really like that. It felt bad-ass."
John laughed. "So, how about... tomorrow? Is that too early?"
"I dunno, is it? You're the one who has to think of stuff to do, apparently."
"What, do you want to?" he asked.
"Oh, no. I'd probably over think it," I said.
"How?"
"You'd be surprised," I said. John laughed.
"Okay, so tomorrow. What's a good time?" he asked.
"I don't know. I've always heard seven. I guess it depends on what you plan." I wiggled my eyebrows.
"How does six sound? I think that works for what I'm thinking."
"Sure," I said. "Ugh, now I'm curious." John smirked and pretended to lock his mouth and put away the key. "Wait, does that mean you've thought of it?" I asked. He shrugged his shoulders. I smiled. "Aw, come on. Give me a hint."
John pretended to fish out the key and spoke. "If I give you a hint, it'll ruin the surprise."
"Oh, fine," I said in defeat. "At least tell me what I should wear."
"I can't tell you. Just be ready for anything."
"Even skydiving?" I asked sarcastically.
"The world may never know," he replied. "No really, just wear what you usually would."
"Alright." I smiled. "I'd be happy with whatever, you know."
John smiled back at me. "I know."
...
(John's perspective)
John was excited to plan a date with Paige. It made him feel normal, and it gave him a chance to surprise Paige. And while he did kind of have something in mind, and he said so to make her more curious, it was only a picture in his head. The truth was he didn't actually have a real plan.
Yet John really, really wanted to surprise Paige. He wanted to watch her expressions as she saw what he did for their date, and he wanted to see the fun she would have and how happy it would make her.
You're being so... so... he thought, romantic. Yuck.
But at least Paige'll be happy...
He'd overheard some classmates talking about dates they'd gone on once. He'd heard things he couldn't really afford or would like to do. He couldn't afford a fancy restaurant, and he didn't think either of them would enjoy going bowling.
John thought about something he could do. He had heard one idea he'd liked: a drive-in movie. But how the hell would he do that? He couldn't drive, and he was most certainly not going to have someone else sit in the car with them.
He also heard picnic. He could do that, but that would be short. Maybe he could do that and a movie? Jesus, he thought, this takes more work than I thought. But he was determined to do something, something enjoyable.
...
(Paige's perspective)
The whole next day, all I thought about was six o'clock. I was nervous, excited, and pretty curious.
At around five, I decided to get ready. I'd never done something like this before. I knew I was supposed to wear what I usually do, but –and this was the girly, about-to-go-on-a-date part of me –I wanted it to be special. I wanted to look nice, but not dressed up.
I didn't want to look out of place. So I ended up wearing something I usually would, which was basically jeans and a black top. I guess it did end up looking sort of nice, but not out of the ordinary. I let my hair down and, for a finishing touch, put on some lip gloss. Damn, I thought, I'm being girly as hell right now. Oh, whatever.
It only took me half an hour, and then I sat in my room impatiently. Finally six rolled around, and I was just about to go into the hall when John knocked on my door.
I opened it and he said, "Ready?"
"As ever," I replied. I took in a deep breath. Now that I was thinking about it, why was I nervous? I already knew John. It's not like I was trying to impress him. On second thought, maybe I was. Just a bit.
John said, "Alright, I just got this ready. I hope you like it." He smiled. I grew curious as to what "this" was. "And I almost forgot, here," he said, handing me a petunia.
I smiled widely. "John, it's beautiful," I said, smelling the purple flower. "Thank you, that's so sweet. I'm gonna leave this in my room until we get back, if you don't mind."
"Go ahead," he said. I placed it on my dresser and went back out into the hallway.
John led me outside. "Where are we going?"
"On a walk to... destination number one," he said. I smiled.
"Cool." We walked outside and down and off the street, away from other houses. There was a slightly secluded place, with a blanket laid out and a basket. "Aw," I said, smiling more.
"My mom helped me set it up," he said. "After teasing me, of course." I laughed. "Here, sit." I sat down and he followed. He opened the basket, which had some sandwiches and lemonade inside.
"John, this is awesome," I said. "I didn't know you had it in you."
"You'd be surprised," he said, much like I had the day before.
As we began to eat, we talked about random things about each other that we didn't really know before. "I guess we don't know some weird things," I said. "Like, what's your favorite color?"
"Hmm," John said, thinking. "I guess I'd have to say... blue? I don't really have one."
"I've always kinda liked yellow," I said. "I guess that's my favorite."
"How about... favorite food?" John asked.
"Well, apparently since I was like, four, I have always loved oranges. I still do, but I think then I just liked the thought of ripping something apart and getting food."
John laughed. "I'm more of an apple guy myself. But whatever, we have watermelon."
Now I laughed. It continued like this for a while as the sun set, until we were finished and John said, "So what's your favorite movie?"
"To be totally honest, it used to be, you know... those movies. Not anymore, though. I guess I need a new one." I felt kind of bad for saying it, because it felt like a weird thing to have done. I watched a major part in John and Sarah's life without actually being there. I wondered how he felt.
"Why?" he asked.
"I... I don't know. I just liked movies like that. My dad would always show them to me. It was kind of our thing, you know?" I paused. "Does it make you uncomfortable?"
"No," he said. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to... I just wanted to know why, no big deal. So," he said, clearing his throat, "are you ready for destination number two?"
I grinned. "Sure."
"Alright, c'mon," John said. He stood up and offered me his hand, and I took it and stood. "Close your eyes."
"Why?" I said, still grinning.
"Because it summons the destination fairy," he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes and laughed. "I want it to be a surprise."
"Okay," I said, and I closed my eyes. He took my hand and pulled me forward. "Where are we going?" I asked.
"Did I not say surprise?" he joked. "You'll see."
"Is it far?"
"It's a surprise," John said again. "You're curious a lot, aren't you?"
"Obviously," I said, still being pulled along.
"Are they still closed?" he asked.
"Yes..." I replied. I then opened one eye, only to see John turning around. I quickly shut it again.
"Hey, no peeking," he said.
"Uh huh," I said, trying to sneak another peek just to mess with him. He was already looking and caught me again.
"That's it," he said, and he let go of my hand, went behind me, and put his hands over my eyes. "Are you happy now?"
"Very," I said, smirking and laughing.
"Alright, turn left... wait, back a little... keep going... alright, now straight," were the directions John gave me, unable to lead me with his hands over my eyes. It made it kind of like a game as I followed his direcitons.
"Okay," he said, and after a moment, "just a little further."
"Can I look now?" I asked.
"Not yet." We walked a little further and he stopped me. "Ready?"
"Yes!" I said impatiently.
"Here we go," he laughed, taking his hands away from my eyes.
I saw a white screen, possibly a sheet, hanging up, behind a car that was parked facing towards it. "What's this?" I asked.
"A drive-in," he replied. I smiled wide.
"You did all this?" I asked.
"The big guy helped a lot, but... I guess I did." John sounded proud, and to me, he damn well should have been. His face became a bit flushed. "Do you like it?"
"I love it," I said.
"Well, you'll love it even more when it's running. C'mon." He led me to the car and opened the door for me on the passenger side. All of this made my heart flutter. John, who I've liked for so long, had set up an amazing date for me and was being so –and I hate to use this word –romantic.
He went around to the other side and climbed in. Pulling a small remote out of his pocket, he turned around and pressed a couple of buttons. I noticed we weren't far from the house still. "Hey," I said, "why'd it take so long to get here but we're not even all that far away?"
He smirked. "I basically took us in circles for a while. It was hard not to laugh. But I did surprise you, didn't I?"
I smiled. "Yeah, you did."
"Shh, the movie's starting," he joked, and I swatted his arm. Onto the "screen" came what I recognized as the beginning of Jurassic Park.
"I saw parts of this once, when I was little," I whispered.
"Did you like it?" John asked.
"I can't remember, I was little."
"You still are little," he teased, smirking.
"And what, you're not?" I teased back.
"I'm less little than you," he replied.
"I can't disagree, sadly," I said.
"Well I think you'll like it. I always have, anyways."
"Is that why you asked me my favorite movie?" He nodded.
"Why are you whispering?" he asked.
"There's a movie playing," I replied.
"But no one's here," he said.
"Oh. Right." He laughed. As the movie played, my thoughts drifted a little, as they tend to do. I'd heard stories of people on movie dates. The guy would always do the over-the-shoulder move, and the girl would ignore the stupid excuse he created to do it. That would be pretty fun. I'd even seen couples making out in movie theaters before.
I suddenly tensed up, and when I realized I did, I glanced at John to see if he noticed. Thankfully he didn't. I wondered if, by some odd chance, John was planning on... making out with me.
So what if he does? I thought. Then I thought differently. I have never made out with anyone, especially not on a first date. And while John had never been on a date, that didn't necessarily mean he'd never made out with anyone.
The thought scared me. What if it was gross? What if I didn't like it? What if I didn't do it right, or I hurt John, or he didn't like me anymore afterward?
I was worrying now, as I always do, over nothing. I realized he was only sitting there, and hadn't done anything but watch the movie. Yet, I corrected myself, he hasn't done anything yet.
I, in a way, sort of liked the idea of making out with John. I was certainly attracted to him, and I knew he was a good guy. But I wasn't sure if I was ready. I also didn't know what the hell I would do. I wondered if he would pressure me into it. No, I thought, he would never –
John suddenly reached over and took my hand, but I was so startled I practically jumped out of my seat, pulling my hand away.
"Woah, I'm sorry," John said. "I just wanted to hold your hand."
"I... I know," I said, jumping back into reality. "I'm sorry, it was my fault."
"Then why'd you jump?" he asked. "It's not that scary, is it? It's only dinosaurs. Or do you not wanna hold my hand?" He frowned, and now I felt bad.
"No, that's not it, I just..." my face flushed, and when I realized how embarrassing my train of thought had just been, I looked down.
"What's wrong?" John asked. Dammit, I thought, this always happens. Why does he always need to know why I'm upset? Sometimes it's embarrassing...
"Nothing," I said.
"I've known you long enough to know that you're lying," he said.
"I'm not lying," I persisted.
"Paige," he said, "you and I both know you can tell me."
"No, it's... really, really just stupid."
"Is it ever really as stupid as you think it is?" he said.
"Well, no, but..." I said, and John tried to take both of my hands into his. I pulled away, saying, "I'm... I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. I'm ruining this."
"Paige, for the love of... you're not... just tell me."
I took a deep breath and, without looking in his direction, I mumbled, "Did you do this just to try to make out with me?"
"What?" he asked.
"I've heard that guys do that at movies, and I don't know if you would do that, and if that's why you did this movie thing, then I –"
"Paige, listen," John said, stopping me from rambling on. "I don't want to make out with you." He paused. "...I mean, I want to make out with you – no wait, it's not like that, I just..." he breathed out. "I'm not gonna make you do something you don't wanna do. We could just hold hands, if you want. Or not even that. Hell, I'll go sit outside if that makes you –"
"I get it," I said, grinning.
"Well," he said, "did you... want to make out with me? I mean, I don't necessarily want to either, no pressure, but..." his face flushed.
"Um, I've... I've never..."
"Thank god, neither have I," he said.
"Jesus, pause the date," I said, "because we obviously need to talk."
"Don't you mean pause the movie?"
"No, the date. But everything's on hold, so pause the movie too. Please."
John turned around and paused the movie with the remote. "Okay," he said, "I guess we need to figure this out."
"Yeah. So... first of all, are we... too young, do you think?"
"Well, it's just kissing," he said, "and we're both teens. I guess it just depends on if we're ready."
"I guess. So, um... are you ready?" I asked.
"I... I don't know."
"Neither do I."
"I guess that's our answer then," John said. "If we don't even know... we probably shouldn't."
"Listen," I said, coming up with an idea, "when's your birthday?"
"Um, in about... a week, actually, on the twenty-eighth. Why?"
"Well, mine's on the tenth, so by then we'll both be fifteen, right?" I said.
"Right," John responded.
"So we can decide if we're ready then. That way, we'll both be technically older, and we'll have a chance to prepare for it for a while. Sounds good?"
"Yeah," he said. "...But wait, can I... can I still...?"
"Kiss me?" I asked.
"Yeah." His face was a bit red still.
"Sure, just not... you know, what do you call it? No French kissing."
"Agreed," he said. "Can we start the date again?"
"Yes, please. Could you rewind it a bit though? I kind of interrupted," I said.
"Sure." John turned around and used the remote to start the movie back at just before we started talking. "So where were we? Around..." he said, putting an arm around me, "here, I think." I could just tell he was smirking.
"Sounds about right," I said, leaning my head onto his shoulder. He reached his free hand towards mine and we laced our fingers together. My heart was beating loudly with excitement. We enjoyed the movie, sitting just like that, cracking jokes every once in a while.
At the end of the movie, I sat up. John and I got out of the car. "That was really fun," I said.
"It's not over yet," he said to my surprise.
I smiled wide. "Really? There's a destination number three?"
John returned the smile. "Well, sort of. Come on."
"I can keep my eyes open, right?" I teased.
"Fine," he teased back, "but you have to take my hand." I grinned and took his hand as he led me back to the picnic blanket.
"Another picnic?" I joked, still holding his hand.
"Nope," John said, and he sat me down on the blanket next to him. "Okay, lay back."
"Why?"
"C'mon, just do it."
"Why?" I persisted, teasing him again.
"Oh, will you just –?" John said as he reached over and grabbed my shoulders, pushing me down next to him. I laughed with him, both of us laying on the blanket.
"No really though, why?" I asked.
"The stars," he said.
"But they're not out," I responded.
"They're always out," he said.
"Well, yeah," I said, "but I can't see them."
"Be patient," John said. "You have to wait for your eyes to adjust."
"Have you done this before, Mr. Star Expert?" I joked.
"Once, actually. We happened to be outside and I realized that you'll see them eventually."
"Cool." We were quiet for a minute as I saw the stars slowly peek out. I gasped. "You're right. Aw, it's so pretty."
"What, did you think I was lying?" he joked.
"Oh, I would never," I joked back.
"Of course you wouldn't," he said, laughing.
"Ooh, I wonder if we'll see a –" I said, and just then, a shooting star danced across the sky. I gasped again, saying, "Oh my god! A shooting star! John, it's a shooting star!" I leaned over and looked at him to get his attention.
"Quick, keep looking and make a wish!" he said. I leaned back again and quietly made a wish, saying to myself, I wish... that John will always care about me.
"What did ya wish for?" I asked, taking a last glimpse at the shooting star.
"You're not supposed to say," John said, "or it won't come true."
"Please?" I said.
"Oh, fine," he said, rolling his eyes. "I wished that you would come closer to me." I knew he was smirking again.
"Oh, fine," I mimicked. I scooched closer to John and lifted my head in the process. He took the opportunity to put his arm underneath my neck, giving me a place to rest it. "See? It came true anyways."
"I guess you proved me wrong. Oh well," he joked. I laughed and smiled. So that his arm was basically cradling my head, his hand was at the top of it, playing with my hair. It made me feel relaxed, and though it was a bit cheesy, it also made me feel loved. "What'd you wish for?"
"Oh, nothing," I said.
"Do I smell smoke?" he asked.
"What?"
"Because I think your pants are on fire." I playfully swatted at John, making him laugh. "No, really. I told you, you tell me."
"It's kinda stupid, but... I wished... that you would always care about me," I said, feeling embarrassed.
"Why would you wish that?" he asked.
"I don't know... I just like this. This... feeling of being cared about, of mattering enough to someone to do all this."
"You liked the date?"
"John, I loved it. I still do. This has been so amazing. With everything you did, my heart would flutter."
"Really?"
"Yes, really. No smoke." We laughed.
"Good, I'm glad," he said. John seemed to be thinking for a moment, almost saying something and then silencing himself a moment later. "Paige?" he asked.
"Yeah?"
"Can I tell you something?" he said, adjusting his head to look at me instead of the stars.
I met his gaze. "Of course."
"You... you really do matter to me. A lot."
"You matter a lot to me too," I said.
John smiled. "Good."
"I swear," I said, "if you keep playing with my hair I'm going to fall asleep right here."
"And?" he said jokingly.
"And we'll freeze, maybe?"
"Good point. Wanna go inside?" he asked.
"Aw, is this the end?" I asked.
"Maybe," John said mysteriously.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I said, sitting up.
"Oh, I don't know," he said, sitting up and not completely answering me. "There'll be more dates anyways, I promise."
I stood up. "Should we just leave this here?" I asked.
"I could just get T to clean it up," John said. He sighed, standing in front of me. "Well, take it all in, it's the last of our first date."
"Our first date," I said, looking around a bit as John slipped a hand into mine. He walked closer, looking down at me. I fixed my eyes on him as, in silence, he began to lean down towards me. "No making out?" I asked.
"No making out," he repeated, his face getting closer to mine as he smiled. His grin faded as he planted his lips on mine. I closed my eyes, taking in the scene and leaning into the kiss. John slipped his other hand into mine and we held hands, kissing. I felt a bit lightheaded for a quick moment. Then, after about ten seconds had gone by, John pulled away. "Is that.." he said, licking his lips and looking up, "strawberry?" I realized he was talking about my lip gloss.
"Um, no," I said, laughing lightly, "I think it's raspberry."
"Nice," John said. We smiled.
...
[A/N: And it's still not over! Yay! I, for one, loved writing this chapter, and if you loved reading it, then PLEASE REVIEW!]