After the event, Eugene took Sahara and I to ice cream. We agreed that we would never loose touch with each other and we'll always stay friends. We did an 'ice cream promise.' That's what Eugene calls when we promise on ice cream. He uses anything to make promises, honestly. Once he used flowers.

Once I got home, my phone started buzzing. I glanced at it. Sahara? Sahara's calling me? I answered. "Hello? Sahara?"

"Hi, Roland!" she exclaimed on the other end. "I wanted to ask you something!"

"What is it?"

"Do you mind if we go to the lake?"

"The lake?" I asked. "Why?"

"Well, I like looking at the water, especially when it's dark. It's just...calming, you know?"

"Sure, we can go," I replied.

"Really?"

"Yeah. I don't see why not."

"Thank you, Roland!" Sahara cheered.

"Is there a time you want to go?"

"Hmm...sometime late, for sure. When the moon is out." Sahara paused to think. She picked a good day. Tonight is a full moon. "How about eight?"

"Eight is fine," I said. "I'll pick you up before then. At...seven fifty."

"Seven fifty...got it! Thank you, Roland!"

She hung up. So Sahara likes looking at the water. I like the stars. I guess in some way, they're both connected. She sounded excited.

Just as I said, I came to pick her up at seven fifty. I'm a man of my word. "Oh! Great!" Sahara seemed more excited than on the phone earlier. "I'm ready!" I opened the car door for her. "Thank you!"

I came back in on the other side and drove off. "So, Sahara. You said you like the water. Is there a reason why?"

"Why?" Sahara asked. "Um, I never really thought about it. Maybe it's because I would go to the lake whenever my father came home. It's just relaxing and relieves some stress, you know? It's also just pretty."

"I see."

"Is there something you like looking at?" Sahara asked, curious.

"I like looking at the stars. The stars just dot the sky and my mother used to take me to the park late at night to look at them."

"Aww, your mother?" Sahara asked. "I like your mom! She's sweet!" She giggled. "Like her bakery!"

I smiled. "Yeah, like the bakery." We drove in silence for a while until we stopped at the lake. Its a popular place as there is a parking lot built in but it's not busy now. Sahara took a deep breath and inhaled the scent of the lake. "Aah, the smell of a lake."

She ran up to the end of it and sat down. "Thanks, Roland."

"Of course," I replied, sitting down next to her. I've never been to the lake this late before. It is quite pretty. The moonlight reflecting off of the surface of the water just right makes the water glitter. Since it's a full moon, the moon's reflection is the brightest yet and the surface is a little more reflected than usual.

"Isn't is pretty?" Sahara asked, breaking my thoughts.

"Yeah." Sahara moved closer to me. When I looked at her, she was shivering, just slightly. I took my jacket off and put it on her shoulders. "Hm?" Sahara looked at the jacket and gripped each side.

"Why did you call me?" I asked. "You could've called Eugene you know?" I think I know but I want to be sure. "Well, Eugene..." Sahara came up with a blank excuse. "Oh, really?" I replied. "Then why did you look really happy to see me then?"

"Well, uh..." Sahara stopped. "Okay, I wanted to...have a date with you," Sahara's words died down but I know what she said.

"What was that?" I asked teasingly.

"I said that I wanted to...have a date with you..."

"Come again?" I leaned closer to her this time. "I wanted to have a date with you!" I was right! Still hearing it, however, made my cheeks turn pink. "So I was right then!" I said, ignoring the warmth.

"You knew?" Sahara asked, shocked.

"There had to be a reason you called me and not Eugene, right?"

"Well, yeah."

"You even invited Eugene to the movie but he couldn't come, remember?"

"Yeah, I guess you're right."

We were quiet again. Growing closer to Sahara made me realize something. I want to be more than just her friend. I want to be with her...forever. My crush has grown stronger for her. It's turned into love. But...how do I tell her? How do I say something without messing it up?

Something leaned on my shoulder. I flinched and quickly turned to see it was just Sahara. Nothing to worry about. I think Eugene knows about my feelings for her. That's probably why he embarrassed me when he complimented her and why he keeps nudging me when he mentions things we can do together. I've had this feeling for her for a while now. Eugene caught on to it really quickly. Has Sahara? Does she feel the same way? Or is this an experimental date?

I want to tell her how I feel but, what if she turns me down? What if she doesn't feel the same way? Maybe I'll hold it off for a while, until I'm sure that she feels the same.

Sahara shivered again. She's cold, even with my jacket? "Sahara? Are you cold?"

"No," she lied. I sighed. She doesn't want to leave. I moved my arm behind her. I stopped. Is this a little too fast? Is it pushing my limits? Sahara is lying on my shoulder so, it should be fine...right? I shook off my doubts. Eugene is right. I can't always overthink things. I have to take risks. But...is this risk too much? I don't want to loose Sahara.

I closed my eyes. I decide to go for it. I raise my arm and rest it on her shoulder. I waited for the rejection. Instead of 'How dare you?!' I received a 'Thanks' in the softest voice possible. She...didn't reject it? I smiled. I didn't think it would work! I have to thank Eugene later, and properly.