I started writing this fic because of a prompt I saw on tumblr by a fellow hournite fan (hournites). But I also wrote it for us fans. After the recent news regarding our beloved show, I am torn and shattered and completley blindsided. CW has made a BIG mistake and I hope they realize their loss.

As always, happy Reading!


A soft autumn breeze ruffles the orange and yellow leaves on the black pavement of Blue Valley as day turns to night. The street lamps flicker on one at a time, lighting the litter free streets full of light. A yellow mustang travels down the street at a safe speed, heading to its destination for the evening. Soft music plays in the car, calming the nerves of the teen behind the steering wheel. Ever so often, his hazel eyes would glance at the clock on the dashboard, hoping he'd make it on time to make a good first impression.

The passenger seat was occupied by a single sunflower. Rick glances down at the flower and then back at the road. A soft smile gracing his usually annoyed complexion. Tonight was their first date and he wanted to make sure it was perfect.

You know something will go wrong, Tyler.

Rick shakes himself of his negative thoughts as he pulls up to the old Victorian house. He glances up at the house and sees Beth walking past her bedroom window. His heart jumps to his throat seeing her. He remembers the first time he felt this feeling for her…over two years ago. When he caught her after Yolanda pulled her out of the window and she flipped into his arms. He knew from that moment on he was doomed.

Mustering up all his Hourman courage, he turns his car off and steps out of the vehicle. His converse hitting the ground is the only sound for miles as he makes the long walk up Beth's driveway.

Taking a deep breath, Rick pushes the doorbell. The sounds was deafening as he can hear a faint "coming!" from somewhere within the house. Rick runs a hand through his dark hair as he waits for his best friend to appear.


Beth had just finished putting on her mascara when she heard the distinct sound of the mustang engine roaring down her block. She walked past her window to see the vintage yellow vehicle parked outside her home.

She giggled to herself as she moved past the bay window and to her white dresser. She looked herself over one last time; Courtney let Beth borrow one of her dresses, a deep orange velvet dress with brown buttons down the middle. She paired it with a white long sleeve shirt underneath to keep warm and a pair of black booties, giving her a few inches of height. Beth blushes when she thinks about what Yolanda said when she handed her the pair of boots.

"You know," Yolanda teased. "so Rick doesn't need to lean down too far when he kisses you."

To say the least, Beth was mortified as she left the Montez household earlier that day.

It was well past six in the evening when the doorbell chimed at the Chapel household. Beth glanced at the clock reading 6:50PM in bright red. Beth smiles knowing Rick made a great effort to be on time. Their movie doesn't start until eight, but they wanted to stop at Richie's for a quick dinner before the new superhero movie they planned on seeing.

"Coming!" She yells as she grabs her phone and her small yellow leather crossbody bag. Typically Beth would bring her backpack, but tonight was different.

Tonight everything will change.

She checks to make sure her goggles are in her purse before making her way down the stairs. Beth pauses at the large mahogany door in front of her. She takes a deep breath to calm herself.

It's just you and Rick. Nothing new…except now your feelings are out there.

Shaking herself from her doubts, Beth opens the door and is rendered speechless.

She knew Rick was handsome, but the boy standing before her is not what she expected. His usual lax style was replaced by a less baggy attire, and more form fitting. His signature hoodie replaced by a brown leather jacket. His old warn jeans replaced by black straight leg jeans and a new dark blue sweater Beth has never seen before.

"Rick…" She steps forwards and tugs at the end of his jacket and then glances up at him. She was surprised by how much effort he put in and her heart swells that he did this for her, for them. "You look very nice."

He grins bashfully and looks away somewhat embarrassed. "I uh, wanted to look my best for you." He admits and takes her hand in his. He looks her up and down and smiles, "You look beautiful, Beth."

The flutter was back in her stomach as she smiles wider at Rick, "Thank you, Courtney and Yolanda were a big help." And she was glad they intervened when she told them Rick had finally asked her out. She never been more unprepared for a moment like this. But it was worth it, the way he was looking at her…she wanted to remember this moment forever.

Breaking the silence between the two, Rick tugs her hand in the direction of his car. "We should get goin' so we can grab a bite before the movie."

Beth nods in agreement and lets him lead the way to his car. He opens the passenger side door, but before she can move to slide in, he reaches down and picks up the sunflower on the seat. Beth feels her breath catch in her throat, he got her a flower. But not any flower, a sunflower. Awhile ago, when she and Rick were at the Pit Stop working on her goggles, she noticed he had put a sunflower next to her name in his phone. She never understood why at the time, but she get is now.

"Is that for me?"

He looks down to the flower between his rough hands and back up to her, "This is gonna sound so stupid…"

Beth tilts her head in curiosity, "No, please tell me." She steps forward and place her hand atop of his holding the dark green stem of the flower. He looks down at her hand on his.

"Awhile back, you had these sunflower earrings and necklace on and it was just so you. And this was at the beginning of all this. Us becoming a team and friends." He spoke softly feeling as thought saying this too loud would sound ridiculous to Beth. "And whenever I see sunflowers it always reminds me of you." He pushes the flower into her hand and grins. "Zeek also said it was improper not to properly woo a lady." He joked.

Beth laughs, taking the flower from him and hold it close. "Awe, that's so sweet, Rick!" She brushes a soft kiss across his cheek. Rick's eyes widen at the surprise affection. It felt like when he turns over the hourglass, a sudden rush of feeling that completely blinds him.

Still standing there in shock, Beth giggles to herself. "We should get going." She slides in to the car and lets Rick shake himself from his stupor and shuts the door behind her. As he take the walk around his car all he can keep thinking about the small brush of her lips against his cheek and how if she actually kissed him, he would be a goner.


It was almost 11PM when Rick pulled up to Beth's house. If Rick were being honest, he doesn't think his life can get any better than this. At the diner, everything felt just right. At first, him and Beth sat across from each other in their usual booth, but when dessert came around, a slice of Maria's homemade three layer chocolate cake, Beth motioned for Rick to sit next to her to share the dessert. He laid his arm on the back of the booth and Beth settled into his side like it was the most natural thing in the world. He never realized how they always seemed to gravitate towards one another. If anything, he's noticed more recently during JSA meetings he would pull his stool closer to Beth or sit behind her on the steps. He wanted to be close to her and he thought it was his imagination when she'd lean closer to him or settle back against his leg on the steps.

He genuinely believed he made it all up.

But after tonight, he doesn't think he can go back to how things were between them. The longing stars from across the garage. The shared looks when Courtney says something ridiculous and they always seem on the same page when it comes to her antics. Or the random or not so random subtle brush of hands when they walk down the hallway at school…

So deep in thought, he didn't even realize Beth was speaking to him.

"I'm sorry, I totally zone out. What'd you say?" He turns to her, seeing her completely swallowed by his leather jacket. At some point during the movie, he noticed Beth shivering and offered his jacket. When she put it on she pulled it tight around herself and leaned her head against his shoulder. After that, he seemed to forget the movie they were watching and just watched her reacting to it.

Beth giggles, "I said 'can you walk me to my door?'"

Rick turns his car off, "Yeah, of course." He hops out of the car and walks over to the passenger side. He holds a hand out to Beth which she gladly accepts and steps out of the vehicle. He shuts the door behind her and they walk hand and hand up to her front door.

Beth puts down the sunflower on the wooden bench outside her door and takes a step closer to Rick. She was close enough that she didn't have to strain her neck to look up at him, courtesy of the boots she was wearing.

Rick seemed to realize at that same moment how much taller Beth was in those heels too. Not significantly but enough that he can tilt his head down and their lips would brush. Being this close to Beth was already making his brain short circuit, his palms were sweety and his heart racing a mile a minute.

Slowly, Beth trails her hands up his soft blue sweater, settling her them against the back of his neck. Instinctually, Rick wraps his arms around her waist, touching the soft velvet of her dress. He tils his head down causing his nose to brushes against hers.

"Is this okay?" he softly asks. He watches the emotions play out on her face before she answers, "Yes. It's okay." Hesitantly, Rick eliminates the space between them and pulls her close. He never thought much about who and where he would have his first kiss. But he's glad it was with his best friend. Someone he knew he couldn't help but care for and quite possibly be in love with. It wasn't what he expected it to be like either. He figured he'd be a mess and fumble to get to this point, but Beth always had this aura about her that calms him down and helps him think clearly.

But right now was not a think clearly kind of moment, especially when Beth threads her finger through his hair and tilts her head to deepen the kiss. Any thoughts he had are far gone as he pulls her closer and enjoys this one normal moment in his life.

Beth eventually pulls back and rest her forehead against Rick's catching her breath. Her hand falls to his heart, feeling his heart beat erratically against his chest.

She gazes into his eyes and smiles, "Well that happened."

Rick chuckles, "Yeah, it finally did." He tilts her chin up and brushes a soft kiss across her lips and reluctantly pulls away from her. "I should get going." Beth nods in agreement and removes herself from him. She picks up her flower and opens her front door. Before she shuts it she turns back to him. He was leaning against the door frame watching her with this serene look in his eyes and a small smile gracing his lips.

He's never looked at me like this before…

"I'll see you tomorrow?" She asks hopeful that this wasn't just one night. That they will continue to have these moments for however long he will let her.

He nods, "See you tomorrow, Chapel." He winks at her and turns, making his way down her driveway and back to his mustang.

She shuts the door and falls against it, letting out a girlish squeal and runs up the stairs to her room and to her bay window. She watches as Rick looks up to the window and waves before getting into his car and driving off.

A few moments of watching the empty street her phone begins to ring.

INCOMING FACETIME CALL: COURTNEY

Beth stares down at her phone in disbelief, how did they know she was home?

"Hey!"

Her phone populates with Courtney and Yolanda's faces.

"BETHHOWDIDTHEDATEGOT"

"TELLUSEVERYTHING"

Beth's eyes widen at the onslaught of questions.

"Whoa guys, one at a time!" Beth says. "Also, how did you know Rick just dropped me off anyways?"

Courtney's blue eyes widen in disbelief, "Beth Chapel, did you blow curfew?!"

"Beth, is that Rick's jacket?!" Yolanda gasps. "He gave you his new leather jacket?!"

Beth rolls her eyes, "I'm not telling you guys anything."

The two teenaged girls groan in unison.

"Oh, c'mon, Beth!" Courtney groans. "You gotta tell us something!"

Beth laughs, "Fine. I'll tell you one thing and only one thing. Okay?"

Both teens squeal in excitement.

"Yolanda."

"Yes?"

Beth blushes. "You were right about the shoes."

Yolanda's jaw drops. Courtney looks between the two in confusion.

"YOU AND RICK KI—"

Beth ends the call and falls back on her bed with a happy sigh.

You kissed Rick!

She pulls Rick's jacket closer to her and smiles to herself feeling over the moon. She never thought she could feel so many emotions all at once, but she's happy they took this step.

And she knows she'll never look back.