Throughout the concert, Aleksei was paying more attention to Sam's reaction to his favourite music than the actual music. He couldn't stop sneaking glances at Sam's face to make sure he was enjoying it, and each time he did, he saw Sam's eyes twinkle. Most of the time Sam didn't even notice Aleksei was checking on him, and Aleksei took that as a good sign. A very good sign.

Frankly, Aleksei just hoped Sam had forgotten all about his parents by the time the last notes died out, followed by a standing ovation from the crowd.

Sitting here, together in the concert hall, Aleksei didn't want the evening to ever end. He leaned towards Sam while people around them were getting up to leave.

"Want to get some drinks before going home?"

Sam nodded, still staring at the stage. He felt as if he had been in trance and shook his head to wake himself up from his stupor. "Yeah, lets go get a drink," Sam answered, getting up from his seat.

The more time he got to spend with Aleksei, the better he felt. Which was why he didn't care about coming home late.

"There's a little pub close-by which is really nice, I know the owner and it's probably not busy tonight. Want to go there?" Sam suggested.

"Sounds good." Aleksei knew he'd get in trouble for being out too late when he got home, but he couldn't care yet at the moment.

Sam couldn't stop smiling. Not just the music had cheered him up; just being in Aleksei's company had done the trick.

"Thanks, for taking me here," Sam said, and just because he was as happy as he was because of Aleksei, he carefully took Aleksei's hand in his own.

Aleksei felt a jolt travel up his arm, simply because Sam's gesture was so unexpected, but, nevertheless definitely not unwanted. Aleksei's lips tugged up and he entwined their fingers.

"No problem, I enjoyed it a lot, too..." Aleksei glanced at Sam. "My favourite was the cellist and pianist sonata."

"We could be like that, you know?" Sam said, half joking, half serious. He smiled at Aleksei while he opened the door to enter the pub.

"I could imagine us like that on a stage," Aleksei replied. For a split second he was uncomfortable, walking into the bar still holding hands. Who knew what kind of homophobic people were lurking in the shadows. But he relaxed once the bartender winked at them and they made it to their table without issue.

Sam studied the menu for a short time, deciding to drink regular beer. "What do you want to drink? My treat."

Aleksei followed Sam's example and also studied the menu. Underneath the table, he brushed his knee against Sam's because he already missed their hand-holding contact.

"Ginger ale," he finally settled on a non-alcoholic drink.

Sam went to get them the drinks, sitting down close to Aleksei as soon as he got back.

"Anyway, why wouldn't we play together? I mean, we already practise together. What about performing?" Sam knew it wasn't that simple to perform, but it was nice to fantasize about it. Performing on stage would be like a dream coming true.

"I would be happy to," Aleksei immediately agreed, perking up. "I could look for the sheet music of that piece we listened to. And who knows, maybe we'll play in a concert hall some day."

"That would be awesome," Sam replied, moving to grab Aleksei's hand again. "We can practise at my place whenever my parents aren't home. And I could ask Jenna about an open stage nearby, if you want?"

Aleksei squeezed Sam's hand, so grateful and glad that Sam's enthusiasm for the cello wasn't ruined by his parents. And that he'd been able to help encourage Sam to play again.

"I'll be there," Aleksei promised.

He just couldn't help but smile. There was no reason to doubt how things were going between him and Sam, but making future plans like this made Aleksei happy and more sure.

Sam leaned towards Aleksei until he was close enough for Aleksei to hear him whisper. "You know, you always make me happy just by being with me," he whispered, pecking a small kiss on Aleksei's cheek.

If Aleksei hadn't been acutely aware they were in public before, he definitely was now. This was huge deal for Sam, and for Aleksei, too. The place where Sam's lips touched his skin felt flamingly hot, and a storm of butterflies got released inside his stomach.

"Me too," he whispered dumbly, before frowning. "No wait, I mean happy to be with you. Not that I'm happy to be with me. And uh, I'll make sure to be with you a lot."

Sam chuckled, thinking it was cute when Aleksei was tripping over his own words. It gave him just about enough courage to continue with what he actually wanted to say to the boy.

"You know," Sam started, clearing his throat, "I like... really like you. Like... like-like." Sam silently cursed himself. Why couldn't he just come up with the right words?

"Sam..." Aleksei faltered.

He was having the same problem. His heart pounded and words were difficult. English words were even more difficult.

"You mean so much to me," eventually rolled out. In Russian, but, Aleksei hoped Sam would get what he meant from his expression and tone.

Sam had no idea what Aleksei had said exactly, but Aleksei's eyes told him more than enough. Or at least, gave him enough confidence to get to the point.

He grabbed Aleksei's hand with both his hands, squeezing it gently. "So, would you, like, want to be official?"

Aleksei forgot to breathe for a second. He didn't know all the american sayings by far, but he did know that one. He'd seen it in sappy Netflix movies he'd watched... but he just wanted to hear it without proverbs. Straight on.

"I don't understand. Be official? What does that mean?" Aleksei asked, trying his hardest to keep a serious face while he actually wanted to leap into Sam's arms with a grin that'd split his face in half.

Sam felt his cheeks heat up a bit as soon as Aleksei told him he didn't really understand. It wasn't as if he had done this before. Why did he have to actually voice it?

"Well, you know..." Sam shrugged a shoulder, shortly looking away before focussing back on Aleksei while taking a deep breath. "Like... be my... my boyfriend?"

There was no way to not smile now. "Actually I knew what being official means," Aleksei admitted, feeling like he was literally beaming. "I just wanted to hear you say it."

Sam stared at Aleksei in disbelief, his eyes widening a bit. How had he not noticed Aleksei was fooling him? And why hadn't he given him an answer?

"Right..." He awkwardly bit his lip. "But... well, yes or no?"

Aleksei's smile widened. There was not a single scenario in which he would say no.

"Yes," he simply replied. "Yes, and can I kiss you?"

Sam smiled, and as an answer, he cupped Aleksei's cheek with a hand, leaning in to kiss him.

Aleksei had always had a hard time switching off his we're-in-public anxious brain. It always worked overtime, especially when it came to guys. But when Sam, now his boyfriend Sam, kissed him, Aleksei finally just didn't care anymore where they were.

"I really hate that I have to go home tonight," Aleksei murmured after their lips parted.

"Me too," Sam mumbled still on cloud nine now that Aleksei was his boyfriend. "I wouldn't mind staying at your place, though," he added, simply because the thought of going home alone didn't feel right. He wanted to stay with Aleksei forever.

"You'd be welcome to stay," Aleksei eagerly offered. "It's crowded, but it's possible."

Sam shrugged a shoulder. "I don't care how crowded it is, as long as I'm with you." He took a moment of silence, caressing Aleksei's cheek with a thumb. "I can't find the right words to describe how crazy I am about you."

Aleksei knew he had to be beet-red and his eyes shyly darted down to the table. It was still hard to imagine someone—especially someone like Sam—would say these things to him.

Nevertheless, Sam's warm hand was in his. This was real. Aleksei raised his eyes back up to meet Sam's and smiled. Simply, smiled, hoping Sam got he was just shy. "Me too, Sam."

Sam felt the butterflies in his stomach go crazy as soon as Aleksei smiled. His smile simply was to die for. Sam leaned in for another quick kiss. "Let's go to your place."

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