Harper Finkle didn't need to glance at her phone's blinking screen to know who was calling her. It was the same person who always called her at the most inconvenient times: Alex Russo. Once Harper found herself trying to work a hot glue gun while trying to answer the phone, only to glue the dress she was wearing to the dress she was making.

Sure, it inspired the "double-dress" she worked on for a few weeks following the incident, but it was messy and inconvenient, especially considering Alex had been upstairs the whole time. She was simply calling Harper to tell her to come upstairs to watch TV with her.

"It's just Alex," Harper said to Zeke, pushing 'ignore' before turning her attention to the date. "Now, where were we?" She stretched her hand across the table, fingers dancing against the tablecloth in some sort of strange finger-seduction move. He, in turn, went to grasp the inviting hand, only to be interrupted once more by her phone.

"Maybe you should get that," Zeke said. He could tell Harper was frustrated and embarrassed, yet he was nothing but understanding. Sometimes you had to be there for your best friends, even when you wanted to be with someone else. "It could be an emergency."

Harper rolled her eyes - not so much at Zeke, but at the thought of it being an emergency. "An emergency? I doubt it. An 'emergency' in Alex's world is running out of pickles or losing her place in a magazine." There was a bit of sarcasm and annoyance in Harper's voice, but the words were said with love, maybe even a hint of jealousy. It would be amazing to stay so worry-free, Harper had decided long ago.

The ignore button tempted her once more, so Harper pushed it, only to decide to take it a step further by turning off her phone entirely.

She cleared her throat, shook off any of the negative feelings, and tossed a smile in Zeke's direction. "Now..." she said, her fingers lacing with his. "I believe we were discussing the possibility of a second date?"

A nervous laugh escaped Zeke's mouth. Harper Finkle was clearly a take-charge kind of girl around him, and Zeke knew it would be difficult to keep up with her.

He was willing to take the challenge, though.

"Right," he answered. "It definitely seems like-"

Bzz, bzz, bzz.

Harper's phone was now vibrating on the table, knocking into Harper's glass of water and sending a cellular quake through the couple's hands.

"Didn't you just turn that off?" Zeke asked, eyebrows raised as Harper quickly grasped the phone.

She meant to simply answer it, but somehow managed to put it on speaker.

"Alex, sweetie...what do you want?"

"Harper, I need your help!" Alex's voice seemed urgent, and there was clearly a matched annoyance in her tone. "Why didn't you answer in the first place? I know you hit the reject button, and I know you turned off your phone. You know I hate using magic to get ahold of you." Who was she kidding? She loved using magic to get ahold of her, but not when she was in a rush and trying to do things the mortal way.

At the use of the m-word Harper froze, letting out a loud and nervous laugh that echoed throughout the suddenlysilent restaurant. She was sure even the piano player in the corner stopped playing – maybe he was between songs, but she doubted it.

"Magic! Oh, Alex, you're so silly. Always using your imagination. Now...what do you need help with? I'm kind of on my date...with Zeke...and you're on speakerphone...and he's listening..." Harper knew she wasn't being subtle. Alex should understand what she was saying without her actually saying 'Cool it with the m-world!'

"Sorry, Harper. You know I wouldn't have called unless it was an absolute emergency." That was a lie. "Max got into a bit of...trouble. Nothing Justin can't fix - because frankly I'm too exhausted to bother trying - but he's not answering his phone and I don't know where he is. I even tried what I tried on you but of course he's got it blocked."

"So you decided to call me?" Harper leaned close into the phone, throwing a nervous glance at Zeke before eyeing the phone suspiciously. She tried to whisper, her cheeks flushed. "Alex, c'mon. You know I don't keep up with his schedule anymore. Those days are over. I'm trying to get rid of the past. Look toward the future, and the future includes cute boys who clog, not your brother."

While Harper spoke, Zeke Beekerman kept his attention on the napkin in front of him. He'd started to fold it into a bird, more concerned with his art than eavesdropping on Harper's very public conversation. It wasn't his business, and clearly she didn't want him to know, so he managed to tune out her words and focus on the origami project in front of him.

He knew what she was talking about, of course. He knew dating his best friend's ex would be awkward, but - if he had been listening - he would have believed that she truly was looking toward the future and no longer concerned with Justin's schedule.

"Oh, will you stop freaking out?" Alex requested, her commanding voice drawing Zeke's attention away from the half-finished fowl. "I know you don't stalk him anymore but Zeke is basically his secretary. Is secretary a girl thing? What's the word for a dude secretary? Well, whatever the word is, Zeke's that. I thought he might know where he is."

The thinly veiled insults were lost on Zeke, who seemed excited by the mention. He liked being helpful, especially if his helping could benefit the Russos AND impress his date.

"Justin's at the comic book store next to the hobby shop!" Zeke grinned, leaning over the table slightly as he spoke into the phone. The duo basically lived there. "They're doing a huge Pokemon trade-off today. We'd been talking about it all month. He probably has his phone off so he can concentrate and interact with his fellow Pokemasters."

Harper seemed surprised by Justin's location. This was the sort of thing the best friends always did together. Why was Zeke with her instead of Justin?

"He's such a dork," Alex complained, letting out a loud sigh as she realized her two options: fix the situation herself or let Max remain stuck to the ceiling until Justin got home. The latter was tempting. "All right, thanks for the help. I guess I'll just figure something out."

"Is there anything we can do?" Zeke wasn't sure what kind of problem Max had, but he never turned down an opportunity to display his chivalrous personality. Besides, if he was going to be hanging around the Russos even more than before, he had to make sure to impress everyone. That included the youngest.

"Nah, it'll be fine. We replaced the sharp objects with pillows so even if he falls he'll be mostly OK."

Leave it to Alex to end the call with that. She hung up, and Harper's phone powered down to its original off position. While Zeke was a bit confused, Harper hadn't even processed what Alex had said. She was still hung up on his choice to be with her instead of a room full of nerds.

"Zeke." Harper gained his attention, her hazel eyes locking his. He had the brightest eyes she'd ever stared into - it made it difficult to concentrate at times, but she kept it together. "You gave up a Pokemon meet-up thing to go out on a date with me?" Eloquent, Finkle.

Zeke found the question odd. He would give up almost anything to go out on a date with her, but he refrained from saying as such. Instead he kept it sweet and simple: "Of course."

Harper felt like she could jump across the table and kiss him right there. Instead, however, she played it cool. This was, after all, the date he was using to 'woo' her. She couldn't let him know she was completely reeled in already.

Besides, the older couple a few tables over would probably stare, and lunch date kisses would be too much PDA for the red-haired girl to be comfortable with.

Her eyes, still locked to his, lit up brightly as a thought flashed into her mind.

"You made Justin take your DS with him, didn't you?"

She'd seen him attached to the lime green video game console and couldn't imagine him fully giving up this opportunity. (She'd also made a mental note to make him a rad alien-themed carrying case, but that wasn't important at the moment.)

Zeke's cheeks turned pink. He wasn't embarrassed by his love for video games. No, instead he was embarrassed at how well Harper Finkle apparently knew him. Clearly he'd never be able to get away with anything.

"Well," he began sheepishly, his fingers forming the beak of his napkin bird, "I really need a Rayquaza."

Just as she suspected. He handed her the napkin creature, fingertips brushing against hers as she took the item.

"It's not quite as crafty as something you could do," Zeke admitted, shrugging his shoulders casually, "but I thought you'd like it."

Harper examined the bird's imperfections - part of his tail was limp from a drop of water that had soaked the napkin. That made it all the better.

"I love it. It's perfect."

"He's perfect," Harper thought to herself as she walked toward Waverly Place, her fingers laced with Zeke's. He was telling a story about his family.

It was strange how much Harper didn't know about Zeke. She had learned Justin's blood type and social security number years ago, but Zeke's life story was a mystery. It was hard to believe he'd been so close to her for the past few years yet she hadn't gotten to know more than the basics.

She was looking forward to that journey more than anything, her eyes dreamily locked upon his face as he spoke.

Unfortunately, Harper had failed to realize he would want to get to know her, too.

"What are your parents like?"

Harper froze, her mind desperately searching for the most accurate description of the family which had raised her. She loved them, of course, but they were kind of embarrassing. The longer she was away from them the more she realized how different she was from them.

"They're different," she answered. "You know how you're supposed to learn what to do from your parents?" Zeke nodded. "I learned what to not do. I love them, but...their relationship is so strange to me. Like, you look at the Russos, right? And they're totally in love. Even when they bicker about sandwich meats or fabric softeners you can still tell that they're totally in love. I mean, he gave up mag-"

She froze, unable to think of word which started with 'mag' so she could continue her sentence. Instead she started coughing, pretending that the word had simply slipped out. It wasn't a related thought - not at all. It was a hacking sound. Zeke's hand freed itself from hers, only to find a new resting place on the her back.

"He gave up a lot for her, and she did the same," she answered after her fake coughing fit (which almost turned into a real fit) was over. "I don't know if my parents ever really went through that."

Zeke didn't really understand what girls thought about, so this was a nice sneak peek into the mind of one. Girls apparently wanted guys who would give up anything for them.

"So that's the kind of guy you're after? Someone who sacrifices everything to be with you?" He didn't mean to sound so serious - he was only curious, after all, and trying to not put himself in the context of the question.

Harper, however, shook her head. It proved, once again, that Zeke didn't understand.

"Just someone willing," she said.

They stopped in front of the sub shop, not worried about blocking any customers' way because, let's face it, not many people were entering the sub shop. There were better places to eat.

Harper knew this was the part of the date where they had to end things. The awkward "will they or won't they" kiss followed by her rushing upstairs to reveal every detail to her best friend. (Zeke, of course, would take the journey to the comic book store to be the envy of all of the nerds - he'd had a date! With a girl! Plus he had to talk to Justin and find out how the trade went, but even Zeke had to admit the first part was more exciting.)

"I had a great time," Harper told him as she slipped her arm around his body, pulling him in for a hug.

With his face engulfed in her hair, Zeke took a deep breath, allowing the scent to wash over him. He'd hold tightly onto that memory and all of the warmth associated with it.

"Thanks for going out with me," he said as he pulled back.

"Thanks for giving up your Justin time to go out with me," Harper countered, and a sheepish expression took over her features. "And...I'm sorry again about Alex and the phone calls. And Mr. Russo's questioning. And basically everything that wasn't perfect."

Zeke shook his head, unsure of why exactly she was apologizing. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary to Zeke, but he hadn't been on many dates.

"No one spilled anything on either of us," he told her, his hands gently touching her cheeks as his gaze locked onto her eyes. "You didn't leave out of boredom. I only burped once in front of you-" ("Alex does it all the time," Harper mumbled quietly to herself. "It's really no big deal.") "I'm pretty sure that means it was a successful date."

"Oh, Zeke Beekerman," Harper whispered, her voice almost a giggle escaping from her glossed lips. "I do believe I have been successfully wooed."

Zeke was breathless - the last one escaped in a silent laugh at her words - but he slowly brought his lips to hers anyway. When had he become such a stud, he wondered to himself. Was this the sort of kiss she would write in her journal about? Would she describe the way the wind rushed through their hair, or how her small fingers grasped the fabric of his shirt? Was she timing it in her head, or had all brain-clocks malfunctioned as a spark flew from her lips to his? (He was, after all, pretty sure that was how brain-clocks worked.) Were her knees as weak as his felt?

He wanted to ask her, but knew there was no way he was studly enough to pull off such a flawless execution of sweetness. He settled for a simple "Wow" as they broke the kiss. And then the only thing he could think popped out:

"If I ask you to be my girlfriend will you say yes?"

Harper laughed. Loudly.

It wasn't a nervous laugh, or an uncomfortable laugh, or even a laugh of amusement. It was just a laugh, one she needed to stop. Her hands raised to her mouth, eyes wide and bright as she nodded.

"Really? Oh, good. Good."

There was a moment of silence, Zeke glancing around happily as Harper's eyebrows raised. Wasn't he going to ask her?

When Zeke noticed Harper's expression his eyes grew wide. "Oh! Oh, right. I should probably actually...ask. My bad." He had turned into his hyper, jumpy self, body rocking back and forth as he gripped her hands. "Harper Finkle...will you let me be your boyfriend? Or, in other words, will you be my girlfriend? Thus making it official and boyfriendly-girlfriendly?"

There was the laugh again, Harper nodding instead of giving an actual answer, as her breath was too busy sounding giggles throughout New York.

And so Zeke jumped into the air, still gripping Harper's hands, a smile on his face.

"Awesome. Is it OK if I go tell everyone now?" Harper nodded again. "And I'll call you later, OK?" Another nod. How Zeke managed to go from chilled out stud to hyperactive child Harper had no idea, but she loved that she had somehow managed to flip that switch in him. "Awesome."

He bent down, placing a kiss on her cheek and saying his goodbye before making a quick exit. He sprinted down Waverly Place, pointing in Harper's direction as he excitedly told people "She's my girlfriend!" Harper waved at the people who stared at her, her cheeks flushed and her smile taking over her face.

"That's my boyfriend," she whispered to herself as he disappeared around the corner. "That's my boyfriend."