Indecision and uncertainty rolled over Jean like a wave. He stood in front of his wardrobe staring at three different shirts which were hung up on the door for his perusal. His eyes flicked over each as his bottom lip was drawn in between his teeth.

One was white with blue pinstripes. The other, a deep navy which he liked the most out of the three. But another was a bottle green colour, and it was much smarter than the other two. He didn't know how. He just felt it was. It would make him look older. More mature.

"Jean?"

"Yeah," he called to his mother.

His bedroom door was closed so he could get ready, and she now stood on the other side, calling out to him.

"It's almost six o'clock."

Shit. He was due to leave at six to drive and pick up Rebecca. His heart rate picked up and he felt a sweat break out over his skin. He should be ready to leave right now, and he couldn't even decide what to wear.

"Jean?"

He cleared his throat. "I know." The words sounded so hoarse, Jean cringed.

"Are you okay?"

"Of course." His reply was intended to be casual. Easy going, just like him. Like he always was. But the anxiety currently curdling inside his stomach caused his voice waver slightly.

"May I come in?"

He was decent, so agreed. He wore a plain white t-shirt already with his jeans. The t-shirt was threatening to stick to him in the sudden nervous heat his body was producing, but he would keep the shirt on. He always remembered his father wearing a t-shirt underneath his shirts. Young Jean didn't really know why, and still didn't, but it was a fact which always stood out to him. In a way, he supposed, keeping the plain white tee on would make it feel as though his father was with him, guiding him through not his first, but certainly his first serious date. The most important one, anyway. The one he didn't want to mess up.

"You can't decide what shirt to wear?"

Jean looked at his mother pleadingly. A wave of desperation overtook him, as well as the feeling of really needing and wanting his mother's guidance.

"Can you help?"

She smiled warmly at him. "Of course I can, honey. Are these your options?"

"Yeah."

"Okay. Good choices. I wouldn't go with the white. If you spill food on it, it will show up, plain as day."

Jean exhaled and nodded, unhooking the shirt from his bedroom door. He placed the shirt his mother had ironed for him down on his bed, dismissing it from his options.

That was a good point about the spill. He wasn't a child or a messy eater, but he wanted everything to be perfect tonight for Rebecca. It would be rather immature if he were walking around sporting a massive food stain on his chest because was so nervous he couldn't eat properly.

His mother popped her hip and tapped her lips with her pointer finger, the other arm crossed and tucked under her arm. Her eyes flicked between the two shirts just as Jean's had done mere moments ago.

"I like the blue." She unhooked the shirt and held it up to Jean, looking him up and down.

"Yeah?"

Marie nodded and she grinned. "Definitely. The navy brings out your eyes. Makes them shine," she quipped with a smile.

Relief coursed through him. Jean exhaled and nodded, grateful for her assistance.

"Thanks, Mum."

"Of course, sweetheart. Anytime."

Jean shrugged the shirt on and tried to ignore how much his hands were shaking as he tried to button it up.

"Let me," his mother murmured, gently pushing his hands aside so she could do it for him.

He supposed he looked a rather sorry sight, shaking like a leaf as he tried to button up his shirt.

It disconcerted him. He wasn't used to feeling so anxious and nervous and it was putting him out of sorts.

"Are you going to wear a tie?"

Jean froze. He hadn't even considered it.

Should he? Would that be better?

"You don't need to," Marie reassured. "I was only asking so I knew whether to leave your top button open or not."

She finished up his buttons and smoothed down his collar. Her hands patted his shoulders as she appraised his appearance. A soft, proud smile spread across her face as she looked up at him. "You look just like your father, Jean."

Her quiet comment brought a lump to his throat and Jean blinked rapidly.

"What's wrong?" His mother cupped his cheek and drew his full attention to her. Her eyes scanned his face as Jean tried to find the words to explain himself.

But still, he struggled.

"You're nervous."

Jean exhaled, thankful she'd been able to pick it up for him. "Yes."

"I've never known you to be so nervous about something." Her expression shifted and one corner of her lips quirked upwards. A knowing look appeared on her face, but she kept her thoughts to herself. "Especially not a date."

"I know," he shrugged helplessly.

He didn't like it.

"It's because she's important, isn't it?"

Jean swallowed and looked away.

But the answer, once faced with it, was easy.

"She is. Rebecca is very important to me."

Marie beamed at him. "Well, I'm glad. You'll be brilliant, just like you always are."

Jean wrapped his arms around his mother, and she stepped into his embrace.

"I hope you both have a ball. I'm glad you and Rebecca are finally trying dating."

Jean pulled away and looked down at her in surprise. "You are?"

"Of course. You've been pining over her since forever. I'm glad your time has finally come."

His face fell, which made his mother let out a quiet giggle.

Had he been that obvious?

"Listen. It was easy for me to see and recognise. But don't worry, you were good at hiding it. A mother just knows these things," she added sagely, giving him a solemn nod.

Marie glanced down at her watch. "You better go. It's a few minutes to six and you don't want to be late, do you?"

Jean felt the anxiety which had been following him around all day ramp up. But, with his mother's encouragement and her help, a thrill of excitement tampered it somewhat. He let out a shaky breath but couldn't help but smile.

"Thanks, Mum." He drew her into another hug.

"You're welcome, honey. Now, go. And have fun! I can't wait to hear all about it."

Jean grinned at her and grabbed his keys.

He wouldn't be late coming home but didn't bring it up this time. He knew it would make his mother feel guilty if she knew he was coming home early in order to save her fretting, after what had happened to his father. Important, potentially life altering evening or not, he couldn't do that to his mother.

Plus, he and Rebecca could have plenty of fun in a couple of hours. He'd make sure of it.

Roy took a deep breath and let it out in a rush.

He was currently parked outside of Riza's house ten minutes earlier than the agreed upon time for him to pick her up for their date.

Not wanting to be late, he left his house in plenty of time, and despite looking up the directions on Google Maps, and knowing the time it would take to drive over, he was still surprised he was incredibly early.

Indecision now reigned. He was anxious to knock on her door now, but he didn't want to interrupt or rush her if she was still getting ready. But his car was parked within full view of the front of the house. There were no trees of fences to block him from view from the front windows, so if she or someone in her family was to look out and notice him, they'd just see him sitting in the front of his car, looking nervous and uncertain.

Roy sighed again.

An idea sparked in his mind as his eyes roamed over the interior of his aunt's car – borrowed for the evening – and he spotted his phone.

He could text her to see if she was ready.

Practically lunging for his phone in his eagerness, Roy quickly typed out a message.

RM: Hey. I'm outside. No rush if you're still getting ready though. I can wait.

He smiled at the last message Riza had sent him. It was a tiktok of baby shiba puppies and it was incredibly cute.

They'd wordlessly taken to sharing tiktok videos with one another as well as songs for the playlist Roy had painstakingly spent hours crafting, ensuring it was perfect. He listened to every song Riza sent him and paid extra attention to the ones he had never heard before. Then, she'd sent him a random video as well, which made him grin like a fool, and he loved every second of it.

The songs were little pieces of her mind, shared tentatively with him, and the videos were things she'd paused and thought he might like to see. It also allowed Roy to learn more about her. She loved videos of dogs – especially puppies. Short videos with quick comedy – reminiscent of vines – were in abundance as well and made Roy laugh every time. It also made him think of Riza giggling away to those videos as well, which always put a smile on his face.

It was perfect. She was perfect.

Of course, Roy had known this for a while. The first time they'd met in chemistry he'd been apprehensive. After a not so good introduction in a previous class, he was wary of the rest of them on his first day. But she'd been lovely. Friendly and welcoming. It was a big improvement and Roy relaxed.

Then he started to notice little things about her. How she twirled her hair around her fingers when she was reading in class. How her tongue stuck out a little as she was concentrating and writing answers. How a tiny little crease formed in between her eyebrows as she measured out the chemicals they needed for their experiments during the practical and how studious she looked.

Roy didn't know why or understand why he was suddenly noticing all of those things and he hadn't wanted her to think he was staring at her or being creepy. So, he kept his eyes downwards, resisting the urge to look up and meet her gaze. If he did, he was sure he'd give all of his small, budding feeling away.

Slowly, Roy came to the realisation he loved everything about her.

The evening they'd all gone to the cinema and he'd ended up sitting next to her, Roy was officially a goner. His heart was lost to her. He'd been glad it was dark because she wouldn't be able to see how red his face had become every time their hands touched. Every caress of her skin against his sent spark shooting up his spine. And afterwards, she'd gravitated to him once more and Roy was smitten. He loved her laugh. He loved the way her eyes and her entire face lit up with joy whenever she was happy. And she loved her smile. That was his favourite thing about Riza Hawkeye. Her smile could power a whole city, he was sure of it. And more often than not – actually, always – Roy was caught in the spell of it. Of her.

He loved it.

RH: I'll be right down!

Roy grinned down at his phone and exited his car, not wanting her to feel like she was left to walk to his car alone. He strode up the path to her front door and resisted the urge to wipe his sweating hands on his thighs. At least it wouldn't show up on his black trousers.

He wasn't wearing a suit, but he wore smart, black trousers with dress shoes. A green tie added a pop of colour against his white shirt and black jacket.

Right as Roy was going to knock the front door open hurriedly and Riza appeared in a waft of lavender perfume.

"Hi," she greeted, appearing rather breathless.

Roy knew he should reply to her greeting. He intended to. But his mind stuttered and he couldn't conjure up a single word to say as he took her in.

She was stunning.

Riza Hawkeye always had been to Roy, but tonight, outwith school and the boring uniform, she was otherworldly. Her hair hung loose, the colour of it like spun gold. And her dress complimented it perfectly. It was pale pink and fell to her knees, puffing out slightly in the skirt with a sweetheart neckline. Her shoes matched her purse, the same blush pink.

Roy blinked at her – gaped at her, really – rendered mute by her beauty.

"Roy?" Riza worriedly ran her hands over her skirt and looked down at her outfit. "Is something wrong? Does this look okay?"

"Yes," he finally managed to choke out. "Yes, it looks lovely. Beautiful. I mean, you. You look beautiful, Riza."

Her face flushed and she tried to supress her smile but failed. Her eyes twinkled but she still looked up at him hopefully. "Really?"

Roy swallowed and fought to regain his faculties so he could actually speak to his date, rather than stutter like a young teenager, and not just stand there opening and closing his mouth like a fish. "Yes," he breathed.

She beamed at him and Roy felt his heart thud inside his chest as he met her eyes.

Riza looked at him as he'd granted her the world and Roy found that was all he ever wanted to do in life. Make her happy and give her everything she deserved.

The front door closed behind her and was locked. After she pocketed her house key Roy hesitated, but ultimately offered her his hand to take. It was a short walk to the car, but he'd been itching to do it for so long, and now felt like the perfect time.

Riza glanced down and smiled. She placed her hand in his eagerly and it made Roy's heart soar. He gave her hand a squeeze and they walked to his car.

Once there, he let go and hurried to reach the door handle for her, opening the door.

"Thank you, Roy."

"Of course, Riza. You're welcome."

Once they were seated inside and buckled up, Roy connected his phone and noticed his hands trembled. Although, this time it wasn't with nerves. It was with anticipation for the evening and excitement.

"Would you like to go for a drive first or go for dinner?"

He wasn't sure exactly how he was going to be able to drive for so long with Riza sitting and looking so breath-taking beside him, but he'd just have to manage.

"Dinner, if that's okay?"

"Of course it is," he grinned. "I have the perfect place. It has the best food in town."

Riza perked up. "I can't wait!"