I finished my last bit of homework and looked over at the clock. 4:38. It still wasn't even close to six, but I was still freaking out.

It was Friday, and I still had no idea what Evan and I were going to go on our date.

I'm usually pretty good at winging things. As they say, going with the flow and all. But this was Evan. And a gosh darn date.

There's a part of me that wished I never asked Evan out, especially considering the circumstances. He's probably still reeling from everything that happened on Saturday with the Murphys. Actually, let me rephrase that. He's probably still reeling from everything that happened with the Murphys. Was this really the best time to take him out?

Maybe not, but he said it himself on Monday. He was happy. That's all I really want from him, right?

Ha. No.

But for the time being, sure. I want him to be happy.

Now that my homework was done, I had no suitable way of distracting myself. I still had 80 minutes to wait until I had to get in my car and drive to Evan's, hopefully with an idea of what to do on our date.

My phone rang, and my immediate thought was, "Oh boy another distraction!", but then I looked at the caller ID.

I took a deep breath and, "Hey Evan."

"Hey." He said, trying to keep his cool, just like me. Both of us were obviously nervous. "M-my mom wants t-to know w-when we'll be back t-tonight..." He mumbled.

I bit my lip as I tried to quickly calculate everything I had planned for our date. Oh, wait. I planned nothing. I had 0 idea when we were gonna be back.

How long even are dates? Isn't there like a set timeline I have to follow or something?

Timeline.

"Hold on, Evan, I'm getting another call." I said. Decoys! We love 'em!

Somehow I could hear him nod on the other end. I put him on hold, and dialed Alana's number.

"Jared?" She asked when she first picked up, skeptical.

"Look, don't look too into it." I started, not wanting her to get on my case about Evan, "But how are dates supposed to go?"

"OOOOOH!" She chirped, "You planning a date, Jared?"

"Uh.. kinda?"

"Oh, you're so totally planning a date." Alana said, and I could almost imagine her running up to her room to grab a planner.

"Can you hurry up, here?" I said impatiently, "I don't have all day."

I heard Alana's footsteps stop, "We don't?"

I swallowed. I had a feeling I was about to get a lecture about "timely planning."

"No. I'm leaving in like..." I looked at the clock, "45 minutes."

"Jesus Christ, Jared!" She said, "You're supposed to plan the date before you go on it. Actually, typically it's planned at least somewhat before anyone's ever asked!"

"Well, I'm sorry!" I spat, slightly irritated. I inhaled before saying, "Look. I'm picking him up at six-"

"So it's Evan. Nice." She interrupted.

I ignored her, "And I just need to know what to do, and how long we'll be doing it. Like, a timeline."

Alana was silent for a minute before, "I think you should decide that, Jared. It is your date after all."

"Helpful." I mumbled sarcastically.

"I try." Alana replied, acknowledging my sarcasm. "He likes trees. Maybe Ellison?"

I ignored the fact that Alana's helping me even though she just said she wouldn't. "He worked there last summer. Probably sick of the place."

"Maybe that old ice cream place? Everyone likes ice cream."

"If you're recommending Al-a-Mode, that's a big fat no. Connor-"

"Right." She said, realizing. "Maybe Dairy Queen, then?"

"That's literally the least romantic someone can get. A corporate chain."

"I don't recall you being the date master, Jared."

"No u."

"Fair enough."

An idea suddenly hit me, "Dandelion!"

Dandelion Fair was a tiny theme park a couple miles out of town that Evan and I used to go to all the time when we were little. It was all based around flowers and trees and nature, everything Evan loves! It'll be a nice nostalgic place, too! It was perfect!

"Dandelion Fair?" Alana clarified, "Isn't that for kids?"

"Hey, technically Evan's still 17."

"Evan is."

"Shut up."

-

Evan got in my passenger seat and closed the door. "Have you eaten?" I asked.

He shook his head, "I assumed we were going somewhere to eat."

"Well." Was all I said, as I started to drive. Dandelion had a bunch of food stalls. We should be fine. I hadn't eaten either so this was actually good.

"Where are we going?" Evan asked.

I laughed, "I'm surprising you, duh!"

"You don't know, do you?"

"Haha, that is where you're wrong! I have it all figured out this time!" I said triumphantly.

Evan chuckled.

We drove sorta in silence. Evan was fidgeting with his fingers, and then his hair, and then the hem of his shirt, and then his shoelace, and then his fingers again-

"Don't be nervous." I said, being a complete hypocrite. "It's just me. I'm not some stranger. You can't really do anything wrong."

But you can, Jared.

Evan nodded quickly, obviously not convinced. I didn't press any more, though. I didn't just wanna make him feel worse.

I slowed at the road that lead to Dandelion. "No way..." Evan whispered. Yes way, Evan.

I turned and found a parking space.

"It's Dandelion Fair!" Evan basically squealed. I couldn't help but laugh at his enthusiasm. "I haven't been here in forever!"

I laughed again, "Me neither."

We got out of the car and walked to the ticket booth.

I gave the money to the dude there and he looked at me, "2 adults?"

"Well technically he's 17." I replied, pointing at Evan. In response, the ticket dude just pointed at the sign above him that had the ticket prices and said A child is anyone under the age of 12. "So yes, two adults."

He gave us our admission tickets, and in a monotone, said, "Enjoy."

I nodded at him and went through the gate.

Dandelion wasn't large park. Maybe 6 acres or so? It was basically a large square of land with stalls of carnival games and food lining the middle, while the sides had rides, bathrooms, and benches. There were, obviously, dandelions almost everywhere on the ground. Sunflowers lined the entrance, and trees were basically used as lampposts, which fairy lights dangling all around them.

For a little kiddies' park, it was pretty beautiful.

"First stop, food." I said, "How about... Lilly's?"

Lilly's was the only food stall Evan's family would eat at when he was a kid, because his dad was lactose intolerant.

"Yeah, yeah!" He was practically jumping up in down with excitement. I think I picked a good place for a date.

We walked over to Lilly's and ordered our food. I got a hamburger and some fries while Evan got a salad.

We sat at one of the tiny picnic tables and began eating.

"I'm having so much fun already!" Evan said and he threw a tomato into his mouth, "And we've barley done anything yet!"

I chuckled, "Guess I'm doing a good job then." Probably not something you should say out loud on a date, but Evan knows me. He's fine with it. Right? I'm pretty sure.

"I haven't been here since I was 4!" He said, taking in his surroundings, "It brings back so many memories."

Snarky comment; "How do you remember anything from when you were four?" Honestly, I barely recognized this place. It either changed a lot, or I'm remembering it wrong. Thank goodness I remembered where Lilly's was.

We finished eating and started just walking around, watching children play on swingsets and wait in line for the teacups.

"If you wanna ride anything, just let me know." I said quietly as we passed the miniature farris wheel.

Evan nodded and pointed to a ride a couple yards ahead of us. "Bumper cars." He said simply.

"Hell yeah!" I replied, smirking, "You're on!"

It would've been really cool if we just ran up and jumped in a car, but there was a line to wait in.

Once we got to the front of the line, we showed the ticket man our tickets and hopped into a car. Evan got into a purple ladybug car with the number 2 written on the side, and I got into a little orange beetle with the number 7.

Ticket Man went through all that theme park precaution talk, ( "Please keep all hands in feet inside the ride at all times." ) and then the cars starting moving.

Evan immediately came straight for me. I went straight for him. Those poor kids around us were probably so confused.

At one point a little boy in a black snake (4) car bumped right in between Evan and I. He smiled wide at us and we smiled back. He was adorable.

"Sammy I got the grown-ups!" He called to a red-haired boy on the other end of the platform.

"No way!" Sammy responded.

Evan looked at me and laughed. Those little boys honestly reminded me of Evan and I when we were tiny.

"Hey Sammy you're supposed to be on our side!" I shouted as the original little boy rammed into Evan again. Sammy laughed.

Then the ride stopped and all the kids (including Evan and I) stumbled out.

"That was so fun!" Evan said, "And those little boys were so cute!"

I chuckled and felt a little pride well up inside me. He's enjoying this. I'm enjoying this. I can do dates! Yay!

Evan stopped me at a Slushie stand and bought us both slushies. "It's not a fair without slushies." He said.

We sat on a bench and sipped our slushies as the sun set. I glanced at my watch and saw it was 7:08. I had told Heidi that Evan would be home by eight. We still have time.

Evan finished his slushie way before I did, probably because he was nervous. He sat there holding the empty cup in his lap and staring at the sun.

"Don't stare at the sun." I warned quietly, "You're eyesight will end up like mine."

At the mention at my eyesight, my glasses decided to fog up. "You gotta be kidding me." I mumbled, taking them off and whipping them.

You know, I kinda expected this, but Evan was staring at me. "What?" I said, as if I didn't know he thought I was adorable without my glasses.

"You're adorable without your glasses." He said blatantly.

I chuckled, "I know."

I put them back on and finished the last of my slushie as Evan spoke, "You know... I'm kinda confused."

Man, he was gonna bring up the Connor Project, wasn't he? I was kinda hoping this could be a purely fun night. But ok.

I made a noise of acknowledgment and Evan continued, "I don't know if I should hold your hand or hug you or what. I've never d-done this whole date thing..."

My ears got a little hot and I turned to face him. "Whatever floats your boat." I said. "I'm not picky.

He nodded and turned to face my in the eye. "Ok..." He said quietly.

He leaned in an kissed my lips quickly.

"Was that ok? Oh boy, I'm sorry I-"

"Well technically I gave you consent." I pointed out, laughing.

In all reality, that one single-second kiss was like heaven.

"Can I do it again?"

I chuckled at his patheticness but "Sure. Whatever."

We leaned in and our lips connected. For longer, this time. He put his arms around my neck and I put mine around his waist, sorta subconsciously. My heart exploded and I couldn't hear anything except Evan and the cool air around me. I've waited so long for a real kiss like this. Not one like the Pineapple Pizza Kiss™.

His lips tasted like blue raspberry.

He pulled away and his face was, like, very red.

"I'm sorry I-"

"Why are you apologizing?" I said, cutting him off, "I told you you could. And I enjoyed it." I added that last bit a little embarrassed.

"Oh, sor-"

"Dude!" I shouted, about to burst into laughter, "I tell you I enjoyed a kiss and you apologize! You're ruining the moment!"

"Oh, s- ok. I'm sorry is just really new-"

"Stop. Seriously." I said with a kind smile on my face, "You're good."

He finally stopped speaking and smiled back at me.

Oh boy I love this kid.

"Bumper cars again?" I asked, "We dan do the racecars this time."

Evan's smile grew, "Yeah. Racecars."

"And the kids are on my team this time."

--

Published 4/17/20
Word Count 2153