The day flew by in a daze. Jared spent most of it barely present, so lost in thought that he maybe understood half of what anyone said to him all day.
I did not think this through, he thought, cracking his knuckles.
That he'd asked Kim out again? Great. The fact that he hadn't planned out anything? Not so good.
Any outdoor activities are basically a no, he thought, looking out the window at the thick, gray clouds. It was going to snow; he could smell the crispness in the air. Kim would probably be too cold.
They had already been to the diner, and he wasn't eager to repeat that experience so soon.
Inviting Kim to his house seemed too rushed. What would she think of it? He shook his head. No, it was too soon. Besides, he didn't want to have a date in front of his 10 million family members. His parents would definitely embarrass him and his sisters… he shuddered at the thought. He didn't want to go there, not yet.
Going to Forks or Port Angeles would take up too much time and Kim's parents were strict, so she had to get home early… He sighed in frustration. Where did other people go on dates?
He thought about it all the way to his house, so deep in thought that he almost drove past it.
As he got inside and kicked off his shoes, he saw his mom in their living room, drinking tea, bundled up in a blanket. Then, a spark of inspiration lit up in his mind. As his mother greeted him, he threw his arms around her, wrapping her up in a hug, and kissed the top of her head.
"Mom, you're a genius!" he exclaimed, a grin spreading across his face.
His mother looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Well, someone's in a good mood! What's got you so excited?"
"Yeah, I've got to run!" Jared replied, his words rushing out as he hurriedly left the room, leaving his bewildered mother with her mouth agape.
The plan was good, he steeled himself. It was good. It was different. And romantic. And not usual. Unusual, so to speak. So, it was good. Jared nervously adjusted his shirt collar as he waited for Kim to arrive. He parked in front of her grandma's house, like they'd agreed. The snow was already coming down hard, just like he'd predicted, and the wind was whipping it into a frenzy. He wondered if Kim would still show up or if she'd decided to cancel. But she would've called; he was sure of it. He nervously tapped his finger against the steering wheel of his truck. Thick flakes fell on his windshield like feathers, making it hard to see.
Finally, he spotted a figure emerging from the house, and his heart skipped a beat. It was Kim, bundled up in a thick coat and a colorful scarf, her rosy cheeks standing out against the white landscape. Relief washed over him, and he quickly jumped out of the truck, rushing to meet her.
"Hey! Are you okay?" Jared asked, concern lacing his voice.
Kim smiled, though her teeth chattered slightly. "Yeah, I'm fine," she replied, shivering. "I'm sorry I'm late. The snow slowed me down."
"No problem," Jared assured her, ushering her into the warmth of the truck. They settled into their seats, and a comfortable silence enveloped them as they took in each other's presence.
"So, where are we going?" Kim asked, her curiosity evident in her eyes.
Jared flashed her a mischievous grin. "You'll see."
A playful glint danced in Kim's eyes. "Okay, but can you at least tell me what we'll be doing there?"
Jared chuckled. "You'll find out soon enough. Consider it a mystery adventure."
"Fine," Kim conceded with a laugh. "A mystery, huh? Very well, then," she settled into her seat more comfortably. "I can be spontaneous."
"No, you can't. It's killing you not knowing, isn't it?" He laughed at her.
"No, it's not," she swatted his arm. "I'm down with this."
"Great, I am really happy to hear that," he grinned.
They just sat there for a few moments, staring at each other, and then Kim broke the silence.
"So. Ready to go?" She smiled.
"Uh, yeah!" He replied, a little too loudly, as he finally started the truck. He cleared his throat to regain his composure.
As they drove on the snow-covered roads, he could sense Kim's curiosity growing. She looked at him, quizzically, questions forming in her eyes. Jared only smiled at her and continued driving, stealing glances at her every now and then.
After a while, they arrived at a secluded spot in the woods. Jared parked the truck and turned off the engine, allowing the serenity of the surroundings to embrace them. He glanced at Kim, who looked at him expectantly.
"Okay, here we are," he said, his voice filled with a hint of mystery. "But we're not getting out just yet."
Kim raised an eyebrow. "Yeah, I wasn't planning to," she chuckled. "It's freezing out there! But, just to humor you, what are we waiting for?"
Jared smiled mischievously. "Surprise! I thought we could have a winter picnic," he said, his voice filled with warmth and enthusiasm. "I know it's too cold to be outside, but I figured we could create our own cozy spot right here in the truck."
Kim's eyes widened in surprise, but she couldn't help but smile. "A picnic in the truck? That's different."
Jared grabbed his backpack and started pulling out everything he'd managed to pick up from home: a blanket, some string cheese, crackers, beef jerky, two apples and a bag of gummy bears. Kim burst into laughter as he lifted the bag of gummies and shook it dramatically.
"Don't laugh, Kimberly; I'll have you know, I had to fight a vicious seven-year-old girl for these," he said, starting to laugh as well. "There was crying involved, but I persisted."
"Yeah? Who cried?" Kim started to laugh harder.
"That's besides the point," Jared grinned, tossing the blanket to Kim. "The most important thing now is that we have all these delicacies here."
"Of course," Kim said, trying to gain composure. "And in which order should we eat these… delicacies?"
"Ah, yes. Let me educate you on the art of gourmet cuisine. Today, we have the Cracker Sandwich on the menu. I'll demonstrate." He took two crackers and put some jerky and cheese between them. "Voila!"
"How refined," Kim chuckled.
"And, before I forget," Jared said and reached into his backpack once again. He took out two cups and a thermos. "Tea for the lady, as requested," he said with a little bow.
Kim's face softened. "You remembered."
"Yeah, I'm great like that," he grinned. "Tea?"
"Yes, please."
Jared poured hot tea from the thermos into two cups, the aroma of the steaming liquid filling the car. The sweet scent of chamomile mixed with the cool freshness of mint, creating a soothing blend. They clinked their cups together, their eyes meeting, and took their first sips.
The warmth of the tea spread through their bodies, complementing the cozy atmosphere inside the car. Jared watched Kim as she sighed contentedly, savoring the flavor on her lips. He couldn't help but be captivated by her. He marveled at how her eyes sparkled, even in the dim light of the car. The soft glow from the dashboard cast a gentle illumination on her face, accentuating her features.
Their conversation continued effortlessly, their voices laced with laughter and familiarity. They talked about their dreams, their fears, and their favorite memories. The atmosphere inside the car felt intimate, as if they were in their own private world, shielded from the snowstorm outside.
Jared found himself captivated by Kim's words, her gestures, her ideas. He listened intently, hanging onto her every word. He couldn't deny the growing attraction he felt toward her, a magnetic pull that seemed to intensify with each passing moment.
Was it too soon to act on these feelings? Would she reciprocate?
As the conversation lulled, Jared's heart skipped a beat. He took a deep breath, his heart pounding in his chest. It was now or never. He had to know.
Without consciously thinking, Jared found himself leaning closer to Kim, his eyes fixed on her lips. He could feel his own breath quicken, his heartbeat echoing in his ears. The anticipation swirled within him, a mix of nerves and longing. He reached out and gently cupped Kim's cheek, his fingers brushing against her soft skin. He could see a flicker of surprise and anticipation in her eyes as she turned to face him.
"Kim," he whispered. "I…"
Her lips slightly parted, and in that moment, he knew. He knew he wanted to kiss her, to bridge the gap between them and let their feelings speak for themselves.
In a moment of confidence, he leaned in a bit too quickly, his nose bumping against Kim's, eliciting a soft giggle from both of them. They pulled back for a moment, their eyes meeting, and then they burst into laughter, their cheeks flushed.
"I'm sorry," Jared chuckled, his face turning a shade of crimson. "I guess I got a little too excited."
Kim's laughter filled the car, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "No worries, I think I might have been a little clumsy too."
They shared a lighthearted moment, their laughter fading into shy smiles.
Their eyes locked once again. Jared leaned in once again, his movements more assured this time.
"Is this ok?" He whispered. Kim only nodded, her eyes wide and soft.
Their lips gently met in a soft, lingering kiss. Kim's lips tasted like sweet tea and lip balm. Jared's skin broke out in goosebumps at the taste, tingling from his lips all the way to his toes. He wanted to feel and taste every inch of Kim's face and body, but he also wanted to stay right there, in that exact moment and that soft kiss, forever. He didn't know what to do with his trembling hands, too scared of ruining the moment to place them anywhere. Kim was obviously much braver, as she reached out and grabbed his left hand, squeezing it tightly.
Emboldened, he moved his right hand to the back of Kim's head, tangling it into her hair. It was soft and cool against his skin.
As their kiss deepened, their bodies shifted closer, their fingers intertwining in a desperate attempt to bridge the remaining space between them. Time seemed to stand still as they lost themselves in the kiss, the world outside fading away into insignificance. Their tongues met in gentle exploration, and Jared somehow expected fireworks to magically appear out of nowhere and go off at that exact moment.
When they finally pulled away, their faces flushed and breathless, they sat in the quiet of the car for a while, breathing in sync, their fingers still intertwined. Jared couldn't help but grin.
"I've wanted to do that for so long," he whispered. "I have to admit, clumsy or not, that was the best kiss of my life."
Kim's eyes sparkled with affection as she brushed a strand of hair behind her ear. "I'm glad I could provide you with such a memorable experience."
Leaning his forehead against hers, Jared whispered, "It's not just the kiss, Kim. It's you. Being with you makes everything feel right."
A soft sigh escaped her lips as she wrapped her arms around him, embracing him tightly.
"I never expected to find something like this," Kim said softly. "I never thought I could feel so deeply connected to someone."
Jared felt a tug in his stomach. Connected, echoed in his ears. So, she could feel it too. The imprint really did work both ways. Tell her, tell her, tell her, his mind chanted. He should, he knew that. He would. But, seeing her soft eyes and flushed cheeks, he bit his tongue. Not today, not now.
"Right back at you," he said, placing a soft kiss on her forehead, then trailing down to her cheeks and nose, and finally lips.
There was no point in ruining such a wonderful moment. After all, there was a whole life ahead of them. That was more than enough time to explain everything. Right?