The plan is perfect and actually convenient because my parents are in a crucial part of the research they are carrying out so they wanted to spend the whole weekend working on it but they were worried about me, hence when I suggested I wanted to spend the weekend at Sam to study they were relieved. When they have these moments they usually take me with them to uni and I spend my whole time at the library, but they still worry and that's inconvenient during their work so this arrangement really suits them. I think they would even let me go to London if I tell them but I rather not risk it and go with what we planned with Sam.

That's why when I'm dropped at Sam's I know my parents won't even call me because they'll be too busy working as to remember they have a daughter. I'll have to send some text messages to remind them to eat and to tell them I'm alive.

And once I'm with Sam, Mrs White drives us to the train station where I'll meet with Zeke.

"Take care, don't do anything reckless and please promise me this is the last time you do something like this," Mrs White makes me promise and I nod.

"First and last. If I ever do a field trip again, Sam will come with us and my parents will be aware of it," I swear and give her a hug before I get off the car. Sam comes with me.

"I'm so excited I feel butterflies in my stomach!" Sam shrieks and I laugh because I feel the same way. I'm so eager I can't even begin to have expectations because if I do that I'll get too anxious.

I'm just carrying a backpack with the essential things I'll need to stay overnight. Zeke made all the arrangements to stay there—we'll stay at a Beth's friend's flat—and bought the tickets for the concert. I bought the train tickets.

When we make it to the platform he's already there, all dark and mysterious keeping people away in this cold day. He's even smoking but I know he'll throw it away the moment he sees me, and his whole aura will change, too. He's like that.

"Zeke," I call out loud and he turns in my direction, the cigarette trapped between his lips that curl up in a happy smile. He grabs the cigarette, throws it to the floor, steps on it before picking it up and throwing it to the rubbish bin; only then he walks up to us.

"Hello there," he says, his eyes so intent on me and I feel my heart racing and my stomach filled with butterflies. It's so funny to say that because I know it's not like that, yet I go for the socially accepted metaphor. "Hi, Sam," he greets later and she has this humongous smile. For some reason she reminds me of Sponge Bob with that expression.

"Hi," she squeals and I blush, even Zeke blushes a bit. I think both of us are too aware of this situation, that this is a date and Sam is only making it more evident. "Okay, I'll leave you two and amuse myself somehow while you two enjoy Snow Patrol..." she sighs heavily and we chuckle. She loves Snow Patrol and I don't blame her, I've been listening to them the whole week, which means loving them. "Have fun!" she still wishes us giving us a hug each. "Take care of her, okay? Don't kill yourselves or something," she adds addressing Zeke in particular. "Bye!"

And then she runs away, leaving us two alone there. It's a bit awkward but we're saved when the train arrives. We don't say anything as we board and look for a place to sit. As I said, we're too aware so for a while, none of us says anything, we just look at the landscape. Eventually I start to relax as I see the scenery and I get excited, realising we are actually going to London, just the two of us. And when Zeke sees me like this, he also relaxes. We start a casual conversation about the places we've visited, and I, of course, can barely contribute to this conversation. I can fully describe Manchester University and the science department, which is what I've gone to the most. Zeke has visited other places and he likes to travel alone.

"When I can I just buy a train ticket and go wherever I can. Just to explore, to get lost, I guess. It's a good way to know places," he explains and I'm fascinated. "Plus, travelling alone is a great experience because you can rely only on yourself."

"I'd like to do that! I'd probably get lost forever, though," I laugh and he joins me.

And for almost four hours I keep him talking about the places he's gone to, the things he's seen and the adventures he's lived. I'm fascinated and I wish I could also have experiences like those. At least I'm living this one now and I'm so happy.

So once we are in London I can barely contain myself. I don't even know where to go first and I'm afraid I'll just stay in one place, staring like an idiot. But Zeke grabs my hand, entwines our fingers together and says, "Let's go take a look to find a place to have lunch, okay?" But I can barely hear him because my heart is beating too strong now that he's holding my hand.

Zeke guides me and for a while I'm too giddy to pay attention to what's around me. Eventually, I wake up and start enjoying what I see around. The streets, the shops, the people. It's the same as in Manchester, but it's all different and that excites me.

We find a good place and we eat, of course, fish and chips. We have an amazing time, it's delicious and we start to feel normal. We joke, I make observations that make Zeke laugh because I'm just too nerdy. And that's how we spend the rest of the afternoon, wandering around, visiting some iconic places and the whole time Zeke keeps holding my hand and I don't want to let go. It's warm, it's comfortable, it's perfect, and it makes me happy, so happy. Even if at first it was awkward, we go back to our normal selves but closer. We take pictures together and those are my favourite moments because he wraps his arm around my waist, pulling me closer, with our cheeks pressed together as we look at the camera.

It's a normal day, but it's just the two of us, in a different city and it's just a wonderful time.

And then we're queuing for the concert, too excited, yet Zeke keeps his arms around me, my back against his chest. I lean on him, staying very close because it's just very cold and it's late. I'm comfortable next to Zeke, but it's really cold and we would be more comfortable inside. Or I think so.

When the doors open and we're finally able to go inside, Zeke holds my hand again to guide me in carefully until we find our place among the crowd. We still have to wait for the concert but I'm bubbling with excitement. So many people, all waiting for the same. I've never been in a concert so I'm ecstatic. Zeke keeps hold of my hand and that makes me feel secure among so many people.

After an hour and the opening show, Gary Lightbody is on stage and Empire States starts playing and the crowd goes wild. I start screaming, too, like everyone else, even Zeke is cheering and it's so powerful this feeling I get, the adrenaline, the music filling my body. It's so amazing I can barely describe it and we sing, we jump, we let ourselves be guided by Gary who manages us at his will.

Song after song, it's one of the most amazing experiences of my life. And Zeke is next to me the whole time, keeping me close and safe, protecting me from other people who are so into the concert they don't even notice whom they might hit with their own bodies.

When the concert is over, no one wants to let them go. We chant for more and more, hoping they'll come out again, but it doesn't work. It's over. Yet I'm still pumped up, I could keep jumping and singing even if my throat already hurts. The venue slowly starts to empty but we stay there a bit longer before we exit too. It's dark and late, but I don't think we can go to Beth's friend's flat yet so we just walk, aimlessly, just wearing all this extra energy out. At some point I let go of his hand and run a bit, then turn back so I'm facing Zeke but I keep walking backwards with my hands at my back. He smiles at me and keeps walking.

"It was so amazing, Zeke! I ever imagined it would be like this. Thank you!" I exclaim, still walking backwards.

"I'm glad you liked it, Allie," he replies and I chuckle.

"Liked it? Man, I loved it!" I correct him and his smile widens. "It's been fantastic, the whole day. I'm so happy we came here," I continue.

"Me too," is his reply, his smile is still warm and blissful. "You look really joyful, almost as if you were glowing."

I blush and look down a bit, my heart beating so hard and I know it's not only because of Zeke but also the concert and the adrenaline I felt during those almost two hours listening to Snow Patrol. But as I'm walking backwards, I make a wrong movement and trip, falling on my bum.

"Allie!" Zeke exclaims, rushing to help me. I look up from the cold hard ground and I burst out laughing at my own clumsiness. This is what I get for walking in an unconventional way. "Are you okay?" he asks grabbing my hands and pulling me back on my feet, but he doesn't let go yet.

"Yeah, it wasn't an ugly fall," I reply, still laughing at myself.

He chuckles, relieved that I'm okay and I can't sop smiling. Even if my bum hurts a bit, I don't care and I guess this means I shouldn't let go of Zeke's hand. For my own sake.

I look him in the eyes, those brown eyes that look so warm tonight, that make me feel all tingly and nervous, awkward and excited, happy and even a bit scared because there are so many things happening inside of me. My whole body is reacting to him and I don't even know what to do with myself. Then I notice Zeke's gaze lowers for a few seconds before meeting my eyes again, a question in his that makes my stomach tied in knots. I look at his lips, like he looked at mine and I feel my throat getting dry, I try to swallow but it feels like a lump is there now, making things hard for me.

I don't think about, I don't even stop to ponder if what I'm doing is appropriate or not or how to proceed, I just stand on my tiptoes and touch Zeke's lips with mine. I have no idea what I'm doing, but it seems like this is what one should do in this kind of situation.

I step back immediately, my eyes as wide as Zeke's that was clearly caught off guard with my actions. I giggle because I'm too nervous now as the seconds keep passing and I can't move because I don't know what to do now.

Luckily, it's Zeke who makes the next move, letting go of my hands just to grab my face and crush his lips against mine. It's not a peck like what I did, it's a real kiss and my own hands hold on to his wrists as he keeps kissing me. I close my eyes and I decide to shut down my brain. I won't think, I won't rationalise what's happening. I'll feel, I'll let myself feel and nothing else.

Unsure, I try to respond to Zeke's kiss, moving my lips like his but it doesn't match at first, so he slow down even more and kisses me carefully, teaching me what to do. And I'm a fast learner, I get the hand of it and when Zeke realises this, he lets go of my face and his arms wrap tightly around my waist, pulling me up, swiping me off my feet. And I wrap my arms around his neck, holding on to him for dear life as he depends the kiss.

It's sweet but fierce, it makes me feel alive in a way I haven't felt before. It's almost as if I were conscious of every cell in body, dancing and singing because Zeke is kissing me. I can't breathe, but I don't want to part and it doesn't seem Zeke wants to part either. Yet he pulls back just to take a deep breath before kissing me again, from another angle.

I always read about moments like this, I saw it in films, but I never acknowledged it or paid much attention. Now I realise how fascinating it is, how addictive, how sweet and beautiful this is, how it makes you feel, and the meaning it carries.

We pull back and I'm practically panting, but I stay in Zeke's arms, extremely close and I can't wipe out the smile of my face. And he is smiling the same way, he even looks relived when he presses his forehead against mine. I feel like giggling but I control myself, no matter how lightheaded I feel right now.

Zeke sighs deeply, brushing his nose against mine before he says, "Finally."

I can't help it anymore, I giggle before I go for his lips again. I don't know for how long he's been waiting for this, but I can tell it feels like I've waited forever for this. Like I've waited all my life for Zeke, even if it's not like that, it's how it feels.

-:-:-

*inhuman sounds* GIVE IT UP FOR #ZELLIE!!! *sobs* My babies *sobs some more*

Bel, xx