Friday afternoon

After we finish our drinks, we still have some time, before Jay has to go to his class, so we take a walk across the campus while we continue our conversation.

My reason for coming here today was (and, despite the little distraction, still is) to learn more about the NIT, so Jay keeps explaining and pointing out the different schools and other facilities for me.

We finally arrive back at the main plaza, where we met this morning.

I smile at Jay. "Thanks for the tour and lunch and... everything. I really had a great time today."

"Me too." He smiles back, letting go of my hand and placing his own hands on my waist. "And no need to thank me, I am just trying to recruit the best and most beautiful future engineering student for the university."

"I have to say, the NIT has a very nice way to treat their prospect students." I wink at him. "But if you just wanted to convince me to study here, you already got me with the lab tour this morning..."

"No, don't worry. Not all of this is part of the normal Open Day procedure here." He replies, before he leans in to kiss me goodbye. "But I am glad it worked..."

"Yeah, it did." I mumble against his lips.

We reluctantly break apart. "I'm afraid I have to go to my class now. Will I see you later, Nya?" Jay asks hopefully.

I remember that last week I didn't get to tell him that I wasn't going to be at the comic book store this afternoon. I couldn't know how long my visit here would take, so I've swapped shifts with one of my coworkers - Chamille, the 'scary one' - who was not happy about having to do a double shift on a Friday afternoon/evening. But I really don't want to disappoint him, not after all he has done for me today. And I am sure Chamille wouldn't mind swapping back...

I check my watch. As I said to Jay earlier, I have already made up my mind about what I'm going to do, so I don't really need to attend any more lab tours or lectures here. And I even just got my own private tour of the campus, which means I now only need to get a couple of forms from the registration office, find my best friend, invite her for an ice cream to say thank you (and bribe her into not telling my brother about Jay yet), before we'll head home. And that means I could still make it to the store well in time for 'my' shift, which starts at four.

"Sure." I reply. "Same place as usual. I'll see you later."

When I arrive at the comic book store, just five minutes past four, Lloyd is already there. As soon as I walk through the door, he immediately runs towards me.

"Nyyyaaa." The small boy happily embraces me. "I thought you weren't coming today and I would be stuck here with... her." He glances at my purple-haired colleague, who is watching us from her place behind the counter.

I chuckle. "Oh, c'mon. Chamille is a very nice person - as long as you don't get on her wrong side."

"Yeah, but I somehow manage to do that all the time..." Lloyd admits meekly.

Chamille walks over to us. "I hate to interrupt your cute little family reunion, but I am leaving now." She informs us, handing me the store keys. This is the first time I see a little smile on her face. "Thanks for taking the shift back, Antonia. I have better things to do on a Friday evening than dealing with the little brat or the annoying rich kid..." I bet she's referring to Jay.

"Oh, no problem. I don't mind dealing with either of them." I reply.

Today is a rather busy day at the store - which is great for the business but unfortunately doesn't give me much time with my young friend. But Lloyd appears quite content, he quietly sits on the sofa, reading his comics and finishing the bag of lollies he's been working on all week.

And to both our surprise, Jay arrives very early today, balancing a cupholder with four paper cups in his hands. I am busy serving the other customers, so he just flashes me a smile and sits down on the sofa opposite to Lloyd's in the reading area.

When I finally get to join them, they are already half way finished with their hot chocolates. Guessing from stains and the wide grin on Lloyd's face, their drinks must have been topped with loads of whipped cream.

I sit down next to Jay and steal a marshmallow from his cup.

"Hey." He complains. "I thought you didn't like this sweet stuff..."

He wraps an arm around me and plants a small and very chocolaty kiss on my lips.

"I don't know, something - or someone - must have changed my mind..." I wink at him and peck his lips again. "You're early today."

"Final class of the term, we only had to finish and submit our projects."

"Ewww." We hear someone complain from the other side. Blushing slightly, pull apart and turn our heads to see Lloyd pulling a disgusted face. "What are you doing there? That's gross."

"Sorry, kiddo..." My boyfriend starts. "You'll... ahem... learn about that when you're older."

"Jay, I am twelve years old and not five, I know about that kind of... stuff." Lloyd says in all seriousness. "So, are you two dating?"

We look at each other. "Yes... ahem... I mean, are we?" Jay asks carefully.

"Yes, I think we are..." I confirm with a smile.

"So, when are you getting married then?" The child excitedly bounces on the sofa. "Can I come to the wedding? Pleeeaaase. I've never been to one... I promise I'll be good. And when I am older, I can babysit for you..."

I decide to let a beet red Jay deal with the boy's questions and instead busy myself with slowly adding some milk to my coffee (which, by the way, is quite challenging when you are trying to suppress a laughter!).

"Uhm... you know. I like Nya... a lot. But we are just getting to know each other, so we'll just... have to see how this works out." Jay uncomfortably explains. "But if we ever decide to get married, we'll definitely invite you."

"You'll be the first person on our guest list." I agree, and Lloyd beams at us.

"Speaking of guest lists... I have something for you." Before the boy can ask any further questions that we might not want to answer, Jay pulls a crumpled envelope from his pocket and hands it to him.

"Oooh, what is it?" Lloyd asks, well distracted from our current conversation.

"Smooth move." I whisper to Jay, while our young friend rips open the envelope to reveal two pieces of shiny cardboard.

"I know you and your best friend Brad are two of the biggest Starfarers fans, so these are are tickets for the première of my dad's new movie next Saturday." When Jay tells him, Lloyd jumps over the table between the sofas and wraps his arms around the older boy.

"Thank you, Jay." He sobs. "This is sooo cool."

"No problem, Lloyd. My dad insists that I go, although he knows that I hate these kind of events. He therefore gave me a few extra tickets so that I can bring some friends. The film was made for the people who love the franchise and not for all the celebrities who just show up for the party and to have their picture taken on the red carpet." Jay explains. "I have another ticket for Rufus. And another one for Nya... if you want it."

"You want me to come as well?" I asked surprised. "As a friend, or as a girlfriend?"

Jay blushes again. "Both, actually."

Luckily, Lloyd is busy texting his friend to tell him about the tickets, so we can talk more privately.

Jay takes my hands into his. "Nya, I would prefer to take you a more private date. And I promise you that it will happen, but Cliff is going to keep me busy this weekend and the next one. So, would you accompany me to my dad's movie première? You have met Cole, he and his girlfriend are coming as well. But I know that it is quite a lot to ask of you, so you really don't have to if you don't want to..."

I shake my head, "No, no, I'd love to. It sounds fun. It's just... if I come as your date, that would make it quite... official, right?"

"I guess so. There will be a lot of photographers and such, and they will probably take pictures and publish stuff about my new beautiful girlfriend. If you are not ready for that, you can come just as a friend, that's fine as well. I just would like you to be there."

I look into his eyes. "No, I think I am ready to be your official girlfriend." To be honest, I am surprised by myself. "Under two conditions..."

Jay questioningly raises an eyebrow. "Which would be?"

"One: you'll have to meet my brother. I can't have him find out about us from the newspapers." That will be fun, but maybe I can get Sky for some moral support - even though I know she is going to make fun of me: This morning I insisted that Jay was just a friend; this afternoon I asked her not to tell my brother about my boyfriend yet, and now we are going to make it public...

"No problem, I would have suggested I'll pick you up from your place anyway. And two?"

I smile at him. "You'll have to be my date for my graduation in two weeks."