I woke up the next morning with my heart feeling light and seriously excited for the date.
For once, I wasn't letting anything ruin my mood. I just wanted to be myself, properly, for the first time in a long while. I hoped I wouldn't regret it.
I had my bath while listening to Lana Del Rey's album Ultraviolence. Her songs always had a way of softening something inside me, like they understood things I didn't even say out loud.
I already had braids, so I just styled my hair, laid my edges neatly, and got ready. I slipped into the outfit Jay got me, and it looked so pretty on me. I wore the jersey and tucked the bottom under my bra so it sat like a cropped top, then paired it with the jorts. I kept checking myself in the mirror longer than I needed to.
When I got outside, I saw him already waiting.
He was staring at me.
Not in a casual way, but like he had to pause for a second just to take me in properly.
"You're so beautiful," he said quietly, like it slipped out before he could think.
I smiled a little as I walked closer to him. "You picked the outfit, so of course it looks good."
He shook his head immediately, still looking at me like he wasn't done admiring me. "No, don't say that. It looks good because it's you wearing it."
That made my smile soften a bit as I looked away for a second, suddenly feeling shy.
He stepped closer and naturally took my hand like it was the most normal thing in the world.
"You ready?" he asked.
I nodded. "I think I am."
He squeezed my hand lightly and we started walking together.
The drive felt calm in a different way. Not silent, not awkward, just easy. Music played low in the background while he occasionally glanced at me like he liked having me there more than he was saying out loud.
At some point I caught him looking again.
"What?" I asked, smiling a little.
He shook his head. "Nothing. You're just… distracting."
I laughed softly. "That's a bad thing?"
He smiled too. "No. It's a very good problem."
That made me look away because I could feel my cheeks warming again.
When we got to the arcade, the noise hit immediately. Bright lights everywhere, machines flashing, people laughing, everything moving at once like the place was alive.
I slowed down slightly at the entrance without thinking.
He noticed.
"You okay?" he asked softly.
I nodded. "Yeah. It's just… a lot."
He didn't let go of my hand. He just held it a little tighter like a quiet reassurance.
"Then we'll take it slow," he said simply.
And somehow that made it feel less overwhelming.
We walked in together.
At first, it was small games. Nothing serious. Just easy competition, light teasing, soft laughter slipping out without effort. He kept acting like he wasn't trying, but I noticed every time he let me win anyway.
"You're cheating," I said at one point, narrowing my eyes at him.
He raised his hands slightly like he was innocent. "I'm just supporting your happiness."
I rolled my eyes, but I was smiling too much to stay serious.
We moved from game to game without rushing, like there was no pressure to do anything but enjoy ourselves.
At one point we stopped at a claw machine. I tried a few times and failed, leaning back slightly in frustration.
He stepped closer behind me.
"Let me try," he said quietly.
I handed it over without argument.
His hand covered mine lightly as he guided the controls, his chest close enough behind me that I could feel his presence without it feeling too much.
"Watch," he said softly.
A second later, the machine dropped the toy perfectly.
I turned immediately. "That was definitely not luck."
He shrugged like it meant nothing. "Maybe I just wanted to impress you."
I laughed under my breath, shaking my head.
We kept playing for a while after that, collecting small wins, small moments, nothing too loud but everything feeling easy between us.
Later, we sat down with snacks between us, the noise of the arcade fading into the background a bit.
I glanced at him without thinking.
He noticed. "What is it now?"
I smiled slightly. "Nothing. I just like this."
His expression softened instantly, like my words landed exactly where they were supposed to.
"Good," he said quietly. "Because I like you here too."
The ride home was perfect, with my hands intertwined with his the entire time. It felt like he didn't really want to let go, and honestly, neither did I.
He kept stealing small glances at me while driving, smiling to himself like he was thinking about something he didn't say out loud.
Every time I caught him looking, he'd just smile a little wider, like he wasn't even trying to hide it anymore.
As we got closer to my house, the air inside the car shifted slightly. That soft awareness that the moment was coming to an end.
He slowed down near the front and looked at me.
"Are you sure you don't want me to come in with you?" he asked gently.
I laughed a little, shaking my head. "Nope. You don't have to worry. Once I get inside, I'll text you."
He smiled at that, soft and easy. "Okay."
There was a small pause, like neither of us really wanted to move yet.
Then I leaned in.
He met me halfway immediately.
The kiss felt different this time.
I wasn't thinking about anything else, not overthinking, not hesitating. I was just there in it with him, completely.
My hands moved up to his face, holding him gently, while his hands found mine like they belonged there.
It didn't feel rushed at all. It felt like time had slowed down just for that moment.
When I finally pulled back, I noticed his eyes were still closed, like he hadn't fully come back from it yet.
A small smile appeared on my face without me even realizing.
He opened his eyes slowly after a second, looking at me like he was still processing it.
Then he smiled.
And it made everything feel even softer.
"I'll text you," I said quietly.
He nodded, still a little close. "Don't take too long."
I laughed under my breath. "I won't."
I finally stepped out of the car, but even as I walked away, I could still feel him there like he didn't want the moment to end either.
And for once, I didn't rush inside.
I just smiled to myself first.