~Beginning of Summer Break~

I stretched as I woke up and smiled again.

Geez, why the hell do I keep smiling?!

Oh, yeah, I was thinking about Link, duh.

I wiped my eyes as I thought, numbly, I don't have to be in until 6 tonight, what to do until then…?

Then, my cell phone rang and I jump a good six feet as I landed on my back, on the ground, with a shoe in my ear… literally. I was chuckling at myself when I picked it up off the table and opened it to see his text-message:

Srry if I woke u but,

Naa & I wanna kno,

Can u hang out, 2day?

I blushed slightly and sat against the wall, facing my closet, on my bed. I quickly sent back:

Sure. Where/when?

And not even two seconds later, I got his reply:

Uh… meet prk 9?

I took a peek at the clock—7:49 am.

Kk. I'll b there.

I smiled to myself as I stood up and found a shirt and a pair of pants before walking across the hall and getting ready for a shower. I got a final text before starting the water.

C u there! ^,^

Cute face… I thought, blankly, before starting it and getting in.

A thought dawned on me as I walked out of the ghetto house in my new black jacket with a large three-slashes-X on it. It's supposed to stand for that Wolverine guy from the X-men but… actually, it does. It's when he claws the wall; remember? I'm trying to get enough money to go see that movie… Wait, I'm off topic. So… under the jacket I have on a white shirt that had a spider-webbing design for the sleeves, so it could give me a really weird tan… odd thought! Ugh. So, anyway, I have on a pair of black skinny jeans as I always do… even though it's sweltering…

I rounded the park a good five minutes early and saw Link standing with his usual wheat-gold hair facing the other way as he wore knee-length denim jeans and—by the back of the leather strap showing—his golden-buckled belt with a dyed-green wife beater clutching his skin under his unbuttoned button-up white shirt. Well, well, aren't we handsome?

Yes, I admit, that in these past few weeks Link and I have started 'dating' if that's what you wanna call it. I know I do… whoa, weird thought… My cheeks heated slightly as I continued my silent stalk towards him. But… the thing is, we aren't officially together… yet.

I'm planning to ask him tomorrow.

It's the one-month anniversary of our meeting…

Wow, that was girlish…

I chuckled silently. The ONLY REASON I know that, is because after we told Naa how we met, she's been sending me text messages about our 'one-month anniversary' from the date we told her we met. I stood behind him and grinned; he was wearing cologne that made him smell like… well, really good I can tell you that. Actually… that doesn't do it any good… it's more… no, that doesn't work, either. Well, hell, it's too good to describe!

After about ten minutes, he sighed and looked at his watch, muttering, "They must be standing me up or something…"

"Well, actually, we can't stand you up. This isn't a date. But, you know, we could cancel…" I corrected over his shoulder, making him gasp, spin around, and fall backwards with a heaving chest. "HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN THERE?!" He finally managed as I chuckled.

I gave him my hand and gave a half-smile as I pulled him up. "I dunno… 'bout fifteen minutes, why?"

He blinked before snapping. "How come you didn't let me know?"
I blushed lightly and looked the other way. "I-I got distracted."

He looked at me a moment before having his cheeks light up scarlet from picking up what I mean.

Awkward silence?

That's an insult to awkward silences everywhere!

And that's when we got the text.

Both our phones vibrated as we pulled them up and flipped them open.

We both glanced at each other before going back to the text. Then we sighed together, saying, "Naa just texted me. She can't make it."

I grunted and quickly sent her back a message in barely five seconds.

"What?" Link asked.

"She set. Us up." I replied, coldly, as I shut it and slipped it into my pocket. We both blushed together before walking away, next to each other.

Actually, we were having a lot of fun, to say the least.

I was laughing at a joke he had made as we sat down at the old-time diner, sipping milkshakes (mine was strawberry—I love them—and his was chocolate—heh heh) when I glanced out the window our booth was next to. He noticed my gaze and looked.

"What was it?"

"I-I thought I saw Naa… No, I guess not…" I added and shrugged. "Must've been some other desert-dweller come in for the farmers market that's opening tomorrow…"

"That's right! I have to get some service hours there."

I looked at him, utterly shocked. "You're in NHS?"

He nodded a couple times as I pouted. "Why?"

"If you had told me, I would've come to the induction ceremony, ya know."

He cocked his head at me. "Wait, you're in it, too?"

"Just because I don't act smart doesn't mean that I can't be a straight-A student…" I trailed off, remembering what had happened the last time I had brought home a B. I tried not to shudder at the thought, but sometimes they're too strong, so I shivered and shook my head as I nonchalantly sipped my shake.

He noticed something and cocked his head. "What? Do you think you're dumb?"

Better play along… its better that way… I blinked up at him and grinned. "Well, maybe I'm a little butthead-ish…"

He grinned and patted my shoulder, surprised when I didn't recoil from pain. "You're not dumb, Dark. Not at all. And…?"

Clearly it's about my arms… I grinned at him. "Dad's been here and there so much that he hasn't had time to 'pick on me.'" I paused a moment. "But my forearms are still pretty bad…" plus the scars… I shrugged a bit and took another drink.

He smiled at me, that way that always makes me loose myself in those eyes of his… I blinked a couple times as he smiled, but sighed slightly.

"Is something the matter?" I asked when he started staring, dreamily, out the window.

"Tomorrow's just a big day, ya know?" He replied, grinning at me and I suddenly found myself wondering if Naa has been sending the same texts to him, too.

Heh-heh… I wonder what'll happen if I… "Really? It is? How?"

He looked back at me in disbelief before his eyes looked like they were hurting… then again they stopped dancing… I leaned back and cocked my eyebrow, waiting for him to expand.

He shook his head. "No… I guess it's nothing…" He shrugged.

"If it's your birthday, better tell me now. I don't want Naa killing me." I chuckled inwardly. I know full well that his birthday is actually November Twenty-ninth… it's a little odd since mine is January Twenty-ninth… that's weird, right? It's, like, exactly eleven months apart…

He sighed and shook his head. "No, it's not my birthday, don't worry," Not like I really was… "Naa won't kill you."

"You won't tell me, will you?"

"It's not that important…" He trailed off, looking out the window in a dreary way… I think I might've hurt his feelings… I don't wanna do that! Shit!

So, I did the one thing I could think of…

"Hey, Link, I kinda need your help for something…"

He perked; he always has liked helping others, even if he doesn't get anything in return…

"Yeah? What is it?"

I smiled, embarrassed, as I looked out the window, slightly. "Well… I kinda don't know how to do something…"

"What is it?! Let me help!"

"Shhh!" I snapped, trying to make it so that everyone else in the room wouldn't look. I mean, I know it's common knowledge that I'm gay—why else would I have shot down Jessica Coolman (the hottest girl in eighth grade) for going on a date together to the promotion dance?—but that doesn't mean that I was everyone to know that I'm having boy-troubles!

"Sorry." He admitted and made this arm gesture for me to continue as he sipped on his milkshake and then did the most disgusting thing I've ever seen! He took one of his fries and dipped it in the shake before eating it.

I could feel my face scrunch as I watched him. "That's gross."

He chuckled. "No it's not! Try it."

"Ew, no."

"You sound like a girl."

I went dark red as I glared at him.

He giggled.

"Takes one to know one."

"Look who's talking."

"You're right; you are."

He laughing slightly before taking another fry and dipping it, handing it out to me. "Here, try."

Again, my stomach did a flip. "No! That's disgusting!"

He laughed and rolled his eyes, moving it again. "If you don't take it, I'll cry." Damn.

I hate that card.

I sighed and took it, hesitantly, and bit off half of it.

He's right. This is good.

"Well….?"

"Note to self," I said, loud enough for him to hear. "Listen to Link more often."

He chuckled. "See, what did I tell ya?"

"And don't count him short… except maybe those two inches."

"HEY!" He snapped, trying to suppress his chuckle. "That's not nice."

"Have you ever known me to be nice?"
"Nice? No. A gentleman? Yes." I went red in the face as I watched him smile.

Ok, maybe I have half a chance with him…

"So, you said you needed my help, what is it?"

"Well…um… c-could you… um… not tell… anyone?"

He nodded. "Cross my heart and hope to die."

My eyebrow arched at him and I got a giggle from him. I just like hearing him laugh, honestly, it's so velvety…

"It's just that… there's this…"

"This what? Com'on! You asked for my help."

"Yeah… I know…" I paused a moment and jumped at the sudden vibration in my pocket. I pulled it out as he pulled his out.

TOMORROW!!!!

I rolled my eyes and quickly sent back:

*Eye roll* I KNO!

But, then I heard Link's phone vibrate again.

He cocked his head slightly.

Why'd u reply 2 ur own txt?

My eyes widened.

Naa sent the text to both of us and somehow—never did find out how—got our phones to text each other…

Srry, wrong person.

Ooo. Was his reply.

And then I flipped it down and stuffed it back in my pocket as he did the same.

"So, what were you saying?"

"Oh, right." I muttered and took a drink of the half-filled shake as I collected my thoughts. "I was just saying that there are these…. Boy troubles…"

His eyes dimmed slightly, but he tried hard to smile and make it seem like he didn't care. I must've just hurt him really bad… but, like I said, it was the only thing I could do!

Well, actually, I prolly could've done something else, too, but… well, FUCK! I'm stuck in a fucking jumbled mess!

Ugh.

"Yeah? Continue!" He urged and nudged my leg.

I pouted a moment and my thoughts.

"Well, I really like him, but, I'm not sure if he likes me…" I said, in a little whisper. I mean, who am I to know if Link likes me this way? There goes my chance…

"Why don't you ask him?" His voice sounded forced.

"I-I kinda don't… think I can…" I admitted, sheepishly.

"Why?"

"Don't have the balls."

"Huh?"

"I-I mean…" I paused a moment and blushed. "I think he likes me… but I don't want us to be too awkward if I do ask…"

"But, that's not the problem." He figured out, shortly into it.

I shook my head. "No… I was kinda thinkin' 'bout asking him to be my… my boyfriend." Geez! Why the fuck am I stuttering so much!? "But…. I don't know how."

"Well, what's he like?"

"Personality?" He nodded. "He's hyper, overactive, caring, quirky—but in a good way," Hopefully that saves my ass tomorrow. "He likes helping people, smart—very—and is overall , the exact opposite of me."

"Really?"

"Yeah."

"That's basically just like me!"

Well, duh! "Really? I hadn't noticed." It is you, idiot!

He nodded. "Yeah, I noticed that this morning while I was waiting for you." He went bright red; he was thinking about me?! I blushed, slightly.

"A-Anyway… I guess I should just tell you what I'd like."

I nodded. That would make it so much easier, it's not funny!

"Um… If someone was asking to be my boyfriend, then I'd want him to know my birthday," November Twenty-ninth. "Be caring enough to listen to my problems," I'd quit my job to help him—whoa, that sounds weird. "It couldn't be one of those sick jokes where they just want to know how desperate you are," Who does that? (a/n, sick bastards that just use it against you at different points in the year…) "And they'd have to be honest. I mean, no cheating or anything." Who else is there for me to cheat on him with?

I nodded. "Actually, that sounds easy…" I paused a moment and sighed. "If only it was that easy…"

"Hm? What's that mean?"

"Ever since we met, I feel like I've been hurting his feelings more than helping him…"

"So? If he was right for you, he'd get over it. Otherwise, there are more fish in the sea, ya know?"

I smiled, full-heartedly, at him. "I hope he gets over it."

He nodded. "For your sake, I hope he does."

I smiled at him as his hand shifted and he pulled out his phone to read a text. "Oh, I've gotta go, I'll talk to you later?"

I nodded. "Sure. I've gotta go home and get ready for work, after all. Text me whenever."

He smiled at me and nodded, telling me he would before pulling his wallet out and paying for his half and taking the milkshake to-go. That's a good idea.

I looked out the window and noticed that he was climbing in a car with a slightly-dirty-blonde man with bright blue eyes, but that's all I saw. I couldn't even tell if it was a guy or a girl… I watched as they pulled out of the lot and drove down the street. I quickly paid for my stuff and picked up my milkshake before leaving.

Wow. Weird day, huh?