November 1st had come crisp and ready that year, wasting no time in dispelling any of the previous warmth September and some of October had provided. The Fall weather inspired Ruth to want to wear something that would protect her against the nippiness, but also something that she could feel cute in like the day she went to the powwow. It wasn't as hot as it used to be, but it was definitely cool enough to wear a sweater if she wanted to, so she and Jana worked together to find a good combination of warmth and cold in her closet.

After an hour of searching, they finally came up with a pair of leggings and a cute sweater that she picked up from Aerie last year to match her brown heeled booties. She piled her curls into a bun and pulled out a few of her curls to frame her face and twist beside her ears. It wasn't until she got to the make-up portion that she wasn't so sure if she should have Jana's help, but the stubborn girl insisted. Usually, make-up was Terry's job. But seeing as how she was at work, they only had each other, so Ruth could do nothing but warn her not to go overboard with the dramatics.

Jana rolled her eyes and got to work. She powdered Ruth's brown cheeks with a pretty blush, swiped her cheekbones with highlighter, blended hues of brown over her eyelids, and glued false eyelashes to her lids. Her eyes watered and blinked unnaturally at the gliding of mascara under her lashes and the swipe of an eyeliner, but she somehow managed not to move. It didn't help that Jana threatened her life if she so much as flinched, but maybe that was the motivation she needed.

Finally, after spritzing her face down with what she believed to be setting spray, she was all dolled up and ready to go. From what she barely got to see in the mirror, she liked how beautifully casual she looked. It wasn't too much, but it wasn't nothing either. Everything about her screamed soft and lovely, honey browns and chestnuts.

She had to give it to Jana, she didn't overdo anything. Well—she tried with the handbag, but Ruth insisted on grabbing her own purse, not at all caring that it was outdated and smaller than Jana's.

"You literally look like a twinkle of fairy lights," Jana gushed, brushing a rogue lash off of Ruth's cheek. "He on his way yet?"

"Yeah, he should be here in a minute," she admitted, her heartbeat racing just a little more in her chest. The familiar jitters tried to climb their way up up her throat and through her fingers, but she attempted to control them as much as she could. "Thanks for helping me tonight, J."

"No problem," she winked. "Told you I could tone it down."

Ruth smiled and only waited a couple more minutes before there was a hard knock at their front door, startling the girls. Furrowing her eyebrows, she made her way over and peered through the peephole, curious of—

Her eyes widened. She quickly turned to look at a confused Jana.

"He's here," she whispered, frightened.

Jana bit her lip to keep from squealing and raced over to the door too. Before Ruth could force out the word 'no', Jana swung open the door, startling Raffo who looked entirely too good for her poor, stopped heart. She subtly peeked around the door.

Brushing his hair behind his ear, Raffo wearily regarded Jana, having not expected her to be the one to answer the door. Ruth took a quick moment to run her gaze over his black jeans, his dark blue button down shirt that was rolled up on his muscular forearms, and his grandmother's medallion rested down the center of his broad chest.

Like she mentioned before, he was a total Choctaw Adonis. Just fucking beautiful.

Jana opened the door wider, revealing a frozen Ruth.

His heavy gaze found Ruth's. She watched his jaw move, strained against his face and his hand that was wrapped around a single carnation fell to the side, no longer being held in front of his chest. Their stares were intense, roaming over the other in obvious appreciation, and wishing they could hold onto the intensity of the moment forever.

But, of course, Jana knew how to ruin a moment.

"You clean up nice, Raffie. Real nice," Jana commented, glancing over him in appreciation. His eyes fell back on Jana and he frowned deeply.

"I hate that nickname," he mumbled to her.

"I know," she said cheerily. Then her gaze grew sharper. "Keep her safe tonight or I'll chop the boys off and feed them to the coyotes. And I won't feel sorry about it."

"Jana," Ruth gasped, shoving her cousin to the side as she pushed a scoffing Raffo out the door with her following closely behind. "See you later—yeah, I'll text when I'm on my way home—BYE."

Before Jana could say anything else embarrassing, Ruth slammed the door shut. She tried not to groan when she heard her cousin's witchlike cackle and she pushed them all the way to the parking lot before she finally removed her hands and took a breath. Raffo chuckled and turned around to face her, shaking his head.

"I'm sorry about her. You know how she is," Ruth rushed. "She means well—"

"You look beautiful," Raffo interrupted, causing her to come to a halt. His eyes were twinkling and dancing along her face and down her body again, taking his time appreciating her getting dolled up for him on their date until her cheeks were hot.

"I—so do you," she stuttered, earning a soft laugh from his smiling lips that she wanted to kiss the hell out of already.

"Thanks," he grinned, then held out the white carnation to her. "I know most guys give roses on the first date, but I know you like carnations. And I would have gotten a bundle but they were all dying. This one was the only one that was—"

"Perfect," she finished his babble softly, plucking the pretty flower from his hand. She ran her fingertips along the rubbery petal and was pleased to find no wilting petals, no brown spots, nothing but perfection.

And when Ruth looked back up at him, she swallowed thickly and flung herself forward, her arms going around his neck tightly as he caught her lips. He wrapped his arms around her waist and drew her as close to her as she could get while she pressed her fingers against the back of his head, holding him to her. They kissed fiercely, filled with excitement and wonder.

Excitement for all things new between them and what could come out of it; wonder for a future they didn't know they could ever have. All because of a simple date that pushed their relationship in a new direction. Forward.

When Ruth pulled her lips away just a mere inch, her hooded eyes searched the length of Raffo's handsome face, and she realized with a start that her future was there, touching his moonlit, sparkling gaze. When her mouth curved upwards, she knew it had something to do with the new feeling that just began to unfurl across her chest. It reached a hand inside of her and flipped her unsuspecting heart upside down. Her body floated off to a dreamy world of all things fluffy and warm.

"You ready?" he murmured, brushing his thumb along her lower lip. The rest of his fingers stretched across the lower half of her cheek.

She nodded her head, a small smile gracing her lips. Her arms tightened around his neck for just a moment. "Always."

He pecked the corner of her lip and then patted her hip affectionately. "Let's head out."

Taking her hand in his, he led her over to the truck, whisking her away for the night.

*****

After driving for an hour and a half or so, Ruth finally realized where it was that they were going, having caught the signs on the drive towards the tall buildings with lit up windows. She recognized the area instantly as Oklahoma City, a place she had only been to once or twice for a baseball game and a restaurant downtown with the girls. It had been a while since she came out that way, so when Raffo pulled off on an exit, a tingling glow stretched across her body. She was almost breathless as her pulse raced with adrenaline.

Out the corner of her eye, she saw the tips of Raffo's mouth twitch after sparing her a long glance. The city lights had nothing on that look.

Soon after he entered the city, he pulled off into a scarce parking space in front of a rather nice-looking restaurant that didn't seem too over the top fancy, but still nice enough to have a good dinner. It looked really comfortable, with large windows that overlooked people eating at candlelit tables and smiling waitstaff. She eyed the name of the restaurant curiously, reading out, "The Mantel."

"One of our customers offered to get me in here whenever I wanted for fixing up his car a few months ago," Raffo explained, pulling her vision from the brick building to face him. "Thought tonight would be a good time to call in that favor."

She beamed. "Let's not keep them waiting, then!"

He smiled and nodded in agreement. She carefully put her carnation on the dashboard after spending the entire trip twirling it between her fingers and by the time she gathered her purse and fixed some of her curls, Raffo was on her side getting the door. He held out a hand to her like a gentleman and helped her climb out of the tall truck, allowing her to slide down the front of his body until she was secure on her feet. His cheeky smirk didn't go unnoticed.

"Pig," she mocked, rolling her eyes after his hand moved slowly away from her waist.

"A pig? That's not what you said when I-"

"Shhhh!" she hissed, shoving her hand over his mouth, wide-eyed. He laughed behind her fingers and took her hand from his lips, pressing a soft kiss to the top of it and weaving their fingers together.

"Alright, alright. I'll be good," he winked. "Even if you're wearing those damn leggings."

"What?" She asked, feigning innocence. She turned her backside towards him when she twisted partially around to glance back. The heat of his gaze on her body was exhilarating. "You don't like them?"

Raffo's expression lit with lust as his eyes slowly raked over her figure. His bottom lip rolled in after swiping his tongue hungrily along the outside. "You really want me to answer that?"

Ruth giggled, shaking her head. "Guess not."

Raffo led the way towards the door of the busy restaurant, only pausing once to open the door for her, before following suit. All he had to do was give his name to the grinning hostess and the blonde-haired woman swept them away with menus clutched in her hands.

She seated them at a booth towards the less busy part of the restaurant, much to Ruth's relief, and told them their waiter would be right with them before she left. Her curious gaze searched the area with interest, noting the white tablecloths covering every table, the candle glowing in every center, and the velvet mahogany color that lined every wall without crease. The lighting above them was dim, setting the mood for any occasion. Business meeting, engagement, first date, tenth date, you name it.

And when she turned back to look at Raffo, she found him studying her with a soft look in his eye.

"Raffo, this place is stunning. I can't believe we're here right now," she breathed, feeling like she was in an entirely different world. A world that she could see herself falling in love with, a world she could get used to after being deprived of it.

And she could have it. If she got into NYU, of course.

"I'm glad you like it," he smiled, his teeth gleaming brighter than the flame flickering between them.

Ruth reached out to grab his hand, giving it a warm squeeze. "Thank you. For taking me out tonight on this beautiful date- even if it is a Sunday."

"Aren't dates supposed to be spontaneous?"

She laughed, shaking her head. "I guess I better prepare myself for more of your spontaneity then."

There was a pause after her assumption that made her snap her jaw closed, her lips turning in and rubbing together. She never moved her hand though, and neither did he. Not even when his smile softened and his eyes grew earnestly.

An unsure, yet sincere undertone laced through his next set of words when he asked, "So . . . does that mean you'd want to keep dating me, then?"

Ruth's thumb graced over his knuckle. "If you'll have me."

His answer was a kiss to her hand and a repeat of her word from earlier. "Always."

Her heart soared and beat triple time all at once. When they turned back down to look at their menus, she had to hide the smile from sprawling across her burning cheeks by nibbling on the corner of her lip. The thought of dating him set her mind into a buzzing frenzy and she realized she had wanted this more than anything.

Dinner went by smoothly. They spent their time knowing the little things they didn't already know about each other and eating delicious burgers with fries. Ruth talked about her high school years with Diana and the boy who took her to prom for no reason at all. Raffo had shared he took Mirana to prom because she was his best friend and it was only natural for her to ask him. He wanted to ask some girl named Helena, but his loyalty to Mirana not wanting to go alone came first, especially because he didn't inherently know Helena personally.

Ruth had raised her eyebrows at that, but she listened to him tell funny stories about him as a troublemaking young boy who hated rules. She had been the opposite; she always listened to the rules. Her parents, particularly her mother, hadn't made it a negotiation. She was to either listen, or get in severe trouble. So she always chose to behave.

By the time the check came and Raffo was done paying for it, much to Ruth's protest, she quickly realized she wasn't ready for the evening to end. It was only eight o'clock, anyway. It was still a bit early, and by the corner of Raffo's lip quirking up, she was almost relieved that he thought the same thing.

"I have one more place for us to go tonight," he reassured her, standing up from his seat. Ruth didn't miss the way the girls at the table beside them ran their gazes greedily over his stretching body, taking in the muscles bulging beneath his button down shirt.

She clenched her teeth at the sudden burning in her chest, but tried to shake them away after placing her hand in his outstretched one, noting that his vision was on her instead of them. He didn't care about them. She was the one on a date with him, the one he wanted to treat to for a night out. So when he tugged her close, she dispelled of any other childish thoughts and lead the way out.

The cool air punctured Ruth's dimples deeper into her cheeks until they were rosy and she had no choice but to inhale a sharp breath. Her lip slipped between her teeth and she wrapped her arms tightly around her curved body shivering like a leaf. Raffo walked her to the other side of the truck to climb in before he followed suit and turned the car's heat on blast with all the vents facing her.

Ruth didn't know where he was taking them, but she was content all the same, and relaxed back into his seat. Her fingers feathered over her full belly a few times absentmindedly before glancing up at Raffo, who looked calm and content. He ruffled his fingers through his hair a few times habitually, pushing the dark strands behind his head and over his shoulder before returning his hand to the wheel.

"How long have you been growing your hair out?" Ruth asked, tilting her head curiously.

Her glanced over at her out the side of his eye. "Four years. I haven't cut it since."

Since his grandmother.

It was their culture; to grow your hair out and then cut it off when you lose an immediate family member while you're mourning. It was a way to show your deep sadness, the harsh loss of losing someone you no longer have time with, symbolizing the reason behind cutting the hair. And when your hair grows after, it was a symbol of new growth, of life after.

The rest of the ride was spent in a gentle silence. It wasn't a long ride like before, and it consisted of driving up a few mountains and windy roads. It was too dark to see very much of anything, but eventually after passing many trees and stretches of land, she saw the bright lights of the city below. Ruth's gaze swiveled over the gorgeous view, her heart pumping harder in her chest when the truck slowed to the perfect spot that he backed into.

Before Raffo could say anything at all, Ruth opened the door and hopped out of the truck without a thought and raced over to the guardrails on the side of the abandoned, lookout parking lot. She leaned her elbows on the rails, careful not to use her hands, and gazed out upon the bustling city with the twinkling fairy lights below. There was something magical lookout out on views like that at night, and she definitely didn't get to see it too often where she lived now.

Raffo's arms slid protectively around Ruth's leaning body and held her tight to the front of his muscled body, almost as if terrified she was going to tip over and fall the few thousand feet it took to get to the lower ground. She didn't mind the feeling of him so close to her. In fact, she relished in it, and leaned back into him, enjoying the way he warmed her out in the cold. His lips pressed soundlessly against her temple.

Ruth's thoughts ran wild at the soothing way his thumb stroked the flesh of her hips and a thousand possibilities of where she wanted those hands to go slipped into her mind. Just that brief touch spread a bundle of warmth throughout the rest of her body just from that placement on her hip. She relaxed completely against him, breathing a puff of smoke out into the cold breeze.

"Raff-" she went to murmur, her voice faltering. His voice whispered into her ear then, his breath tickling the outside of it.

"Turn around," he said quietly.

Ruth blinked rapidly, her eyebrows squishing together as she turned around in his arms. She looked over his shoulder and noted the bed of his truck was covered in blankets and pillows with the back end opened up, a few jars of lights twinkling along the edges. The palm resting on his bicep tightened as her eyes grew with an indescribable joy that pumped through her body.

Once again, she left him. Before she could stop herself, she raced over to the bed of three truck and climbed inside of it. She fell back on the softest of blankets and on pillows that could have easily been clouds. His woodsy scent enveloped her everywhere and she sighed out with her arms spread wide, her eyes closed.

"This is beyond perfect," she murmured, the truck nudging a little under his weight as he climbed on. She moved her arms back to her sides.

The warmth of his presence loomed over the side of her and she peaked an eye open to see him laying on his side, his head propped up on a hand beside her. She opened her other eye now and turned her head towards him. It took everything in her to fight the smile from stretching across her lips.

"Good surprise?" he questioned, his eyes soft on her.

The corner of her mouth snagged between her teeth, the smile forcing its way across her cheeks anyway as she nodded timidly. "Great surprise. The best date I've ever been on."

"Really?" The pleased tone of his voice almost made her smile wider.

"Really."

Raffo lifted his fingers towards Ruth's face then and pushed the stray curls from her cheek. With her right hand, she tucked her forefinger into the hairband and released her rambunctious curls from their confinement until they spilled out like a cascading waterfall. She refused to move away from his eager pursuit in finding her face beneath it all again, sighing under her breath in content.

"I don't know what it is about you," Raffo eventually whispered, awe flittering around his features as she gazed up at him curiously. "Everything you do . . . all of who you are . . . sometimes I think I made you up."

Her lips curved. "Sometimes it feels like I've known you all my life."

He nodded in agreement, the tip of his forefinger tracing the intricate outlines of her flushed cheeks, the soft edges of her jaw, the arch in her eyebrows, the curve of her nose, and finally ended at the plush of her lips. He helped nudge the corner out from the clench of her teeth and gently rubbed at the tender flesh soothingly.

"All it took was three months, huh?" he murmured.

"Three months," she echoed, considering his words. Did he really have her feeling this way over knowing him for three months? Everything had felt so . . . so slow, it seemed like. But now it was all happening in the blink of an eye.

"Where do you want to go? Once school is all over," Ruth found herself asking before she could stop herself.

Raffo pursed his lips thoughtfully. "Finish up at a state college for two years."

"In Oklahoma?"

"I guess. I don't really have anywhere else to go," he shrugged, adverting his gaze.

She tilted her head at that. "If you had the chance to go anywhere in the states . . . where would you go?"

"I dunno. Haven't thought about it."

Ruth ignored the increase of her heartbeat. "Would you ever go to a big city? Like Seattle, Los Angeles, or . . . I don't know, New York City?"

Raffo snorted and quickly shook his head. "That life isn't for me. Too fast and expensive and . . . overcrowded. I can barely stand being in OKC."

Any hope in her body deflated and she glanced away from him to look at the stars. "Oh."

"That's just to me," he quickly interrupted, reading her gaze. "I can see why someone would want to move down here. I could just never leave too far from our town."

Ruth frowned. "But if you could . . . would you?"

He considered her words. "Maybe. If I did, it wouldn't be to a big city," he eventually admitted. "It would be to someplace quiet. A place I can connect to."

Ruth wanted to ask more questions, but Raffo's fingers caressing her cheek distracted her. She blinked up at him and all the words halted on her tongue.

"Let's not talk about leaving," he murmured, drawing closer to her. Her breath halted in her throat then, her previous words evaporating from her mind and floating out into the atmosphere. She blinked long and slow, her tongue pushing eagerly against the back of her teeth. "Let's talk about staying."

Raffo's voice was velvet and low, and his deep gaze smothered in warmth. The closer he got to Ruth, the more she moved towards him, hypnotized like magnets.

"Let's talk about now," he whispered.

"Okay," she whispered back, pushing herself towards him. "I'll stay, then. Right here—with you."

He rubbed the tip of his nose against hers affectionately, igniting a smile between the both of them. "Then come to me, aiukli."

Ruth closed the space between them and kissed him deeply. Her hand came up to rest on the breast of his chest, fingers brushing the buttons as he pulled her impossibly closer by tugging on her waist. She comfortably wrapped a thick leg around his waist, leaning further into him with their lips meeting in their ravenous hunger.

"Stay," he whispered against her mouth softly. His fingers dove into her curls to hold her tightly to him.

"I'll stay," she gasped and moaned all at once.

They spent the rest of their night kissing, watching the stars, talking about dreams, and cuddling close to block out the gusts of winds. Raffo at one point had her wrapped up in the covers of one of the blankets, stuck in the comforting cradle of his strong arms. She tried her best to protest out of them but he only silenced her cries with greedy kisses and tickling fingers. Their date could have easily gone on forever for all that they cared.

But, alas, all good things must come to an end.

*****

notes: translation (from choctaw to english)

♡ aiukli - beautiful