BART POV

I lean over and put my lips on his. I kiss him. He stays still then after a moment, kisses me back. After all this time, kissing Milhouse is better than I could have ever imagined. My hand rests on his cheek. He holds onto my other hand.

Then we pull apart.

"Milhouse?" He looks at me. "I really, really like you. I have for so long. I don't want to ignore it anymore. I have a crush on you, Milhouse. I like you. I want you to be with you. And I'm sorry I kissed you without asking first."

"Bart, I like you too. And it's okay, I would have never had the courage to kiss you."

We smile at each other. I hold onto his hand.

"Do you want to go out with me?" I ask him.

"Yeah." He says, kinda awkwardly.

"What about Moe's on Friday at six?" I ask. A plan formulating in my head.

"Sure." He must think it's sorta weird that I'm taking him to a dingy bar for our first date. But the place means something to me. And I want it to be a special place for me and Milhouse.

We lay on the roof, holding hands, looking at the stars in comfortable silence. Until his phone rings, his mom telling him to come home.

LISA POV

After Bart answers the door and goes upstairs and doesn't come back, Grampa and Patty and Selma leave. I tell mom I'm going for a walk. A tear slips down my face. I'm still sad. A few days ago, Ali broke up with me. They said that I am too mature. Too mature. Mature? I mean I make careful decisions. I consider every angle. Like if I buy something, I must know that it's ethically sourced. I go on protests. I debate serious issues. Suppose I am mature. Ali wants to be carefree and I'm too meticulous. I sit down on the edge of the fountain in the park.

"Ha ha!" I hear in the distance. This could only originate from Nelson Muntz.

He walks closer.

"Hey, Nelson." I say. He waves at me. And sits down next to me.

NED POV

I get ready for bed. I stand by the window in my room. I look over at the Simpson house. Two figures on are the roof. I notice it's Bart and Milhouse. They are holding hands. And Bart is smiling. I've never seen Bart look so happy.

"Aww, that's sweet. Good for you, Bart. And happy birthday." I say out into the night.

BART POV

I open my eyes. Light streams into my room. The events of the previous night roll around in my head. Was that real? Of a dream? Probably a dream. I sit up. I look for clues to tell me whether it happened or not. The bird cage. So Milhouse was here. My window's open. It's real I think. I hope. I want. I need. I climb out of my window to study the roof. A lone jacket. It's Milhouse's. It was real! Excitement bubbles inside me, reaching the top, I need to tell someone. Usually, I would tell Milhouse, I don't have any friends other than him. That's kinda sad. Well, there's Nelson, but we aren't like that close. Lisa is my sister. Donny was my friend, but now he's my ex boyfriend. I quickly get dressed and go downstairs for breakfast. "How does it feel to be 18, Bart?" Mom asked me.

Oh right, it was my birthday yesterday. And my birthday wish came true.

"Pretty much the same." I say. I grab a sandwich. I should tell Dad, I've been wanting to visit him.

"I'm going to Dad's." I say.

"Hey, Bart. What you doing here?" Dad asks.

"You seem different." He adds.

"Dad! You'll never believe it. Dad, I kissed Milhouse! And he agreed to go out with me! And we're going on a date on Friday!"

"Whoa, that's a lot. That's great, Bart. I'm happy for you."

"Thanks, Dad. And I kind of need your help. I want to set up a date for Milhouse and me at Moe's on Friday."

"I'll help you. I'll speak to Moe."

"Thank you, Dad."

I dial Moe's number.

"Hi. I'm looking for a Idi-Et. First name Ima."

"Ima Idi-Et! Anyone here know Ima Idi- Et?" Moe asked. I heard laughter from the phone.

I laugh.

"When I find you I'm gonna use your skin as a rug. It would really fancy up the place."

I hang up. I dial the phone again.

"Hello?" Moe asks.

"Hey, Moe, it's Bart."

"Bart, it's so nice to hear from youse."

"Moe, I wanted to ask you about how available you are on Friday?"

"Wanna come for another G and T. Gum ball and talk?"

"No, no. I was hoping I could use your bar for a date."

"Of course, I usually have Barney, maybe Lenny and Carl. I'll keep it nice and quiet for youse."

"Thanks, Moe. I'll bring the food, all you have to do is warm it up for me?"

"Sure, Bart."

I say bye and hang up.

Monday

"Milhouse, hey!" I say happily.

"Hi, Bart." Milhouse smiles awkwardly.

Does he regret Saturday?

"You ok?" He asks me.

"Yeah. Are you ok? Still good for Friday?"

"Yeah."

Milhouse and I walk to class. I'm not quite sure where we stand. We kissed, he agreed to go out with me, but are we actually together? And we haven't spoken for so long. We speak mostly of school. It's awkward.

After school, I ask mom for her recipe book. I tell her I want to cook something and she sits with me to help.

"So, since you are new to cooking, you'll have to make something simple. Like spaghetti or pasta or rice or burgers. It mostly depends, what's the occasion?"

I blush and look away.

"I'm having dinner with a friend on Friday." She senses my hesitance so drops it for now.

"What do you want to make?"

"Pasta sounds good."

"Great! Tomorrow we'll get the ingredients. Tonight you are gonna help me make dinner to get used to a kitchen."

I help mom make dinner and she says that I'm a natural.

NED POV

Homer and I have been having lunch together more often. We went to a coffee shop and had pastries and coffee. It was fun. This Homer is different from the one who I've been living next to for the past years. A new version of Homer. Kinder. Calmer. More open.