Date: February 1, 2019

✰

After a whole lot of disagreeing, Jessie and Ryan finally decided that they would go out for their little 'experiment' (she called it that to avoid using the 'd word') on that coming Saturday, 3:30 pm.

"Alright, it's a date!"

"No it isn't."

✐

They were going to the arcade and the park, so she didn't dress up too much. She'd worn a cropped jeans vest over a fan t-shirt of her favorite gaming channel. It went together with her pants ripped at the knees, and she tied her hair up into a high puff.

Walking down the sidewalk, she spotted the curly-headed brunette wearing a burgundy colored hoodie and grey sweatpants. He waved and she approached him.

"Hey, how's it been?" he chuckled nervously.

She looked up him and down. "Let's just skip the small talk. What are we doing first?"

He sighed dejectedly. "Well then we should probably get to the arcade."

"The close one or the fancy one?"

"..I don't know which one is the 'fancy' one but there's one less than a block away."

She snapped in recognition. "Ah, the close one then. Well, come on then, I'm ready to whoop your ass in every game."

"Hah, we'll see about that."

✐

The two spent the next hour playing games and earning tickets, both of them earning as many tickets as possible from each one. They met up at the shop after depleting their coins, browsing for which items were worth their tickets.

Wanting to impress her, Ryan got a big crab plush and gave it to her.

She told him to keep it (although she found it absolutely adorable) and they went back and forth for a bit before she decided to just accept it.

"Thanks."

"No problem." he grinned at her.

Jessie traded her tickets in for enough bubble containers to last her a month. (Which in her case, was... twelve).

She didn't like to admit it to many people, but Jess absolutely loved bubbles. With a passion. And whenever she'd get multiple cases and finished using them, she'd slip the wands through other students' lockers to confuse them.

On their walk, they went by a corner store, catching their attention.

"Hey, I still have a few bucks left from the arcade." he went through his pockets. "Wanna buy some snacks before we get to the park?"

A nearly unnoticeable spark of excitement glinted in her eyes. "Awesome, I do too. Let's go."

They spent a bit of time in that local corner store, picking out some chips and candies they could eat while hanging out at the park. (They're kids, DWI.)

Sitting at a park table near a tree, they weren't quite sure what to say to each other. Their time together hadn't been going badly, and it had only been two hours. He wasn't ready to give up.

"Was that all you had planned?" she popped a Cheez-it into her mouth. "It isn't late, but I'm okay with going home n-"

"No!" he cut in, perhaps too quickly. "I, I mean, like you said. It's not late so I'm sure we could find something to do."

"Alright then, Mr. Hot Shot." she crossed her arms. "What are we doing next?"

He thought about what she might want to do, and what places would be open.

'Think, Ryan. What kind of stuff is she into?'

"Hmm, there's a laser tag arena down the street."

"As fun as that sounds, it'd probably cost more than we have with us," she picked at her nails. "Even if we could afford it, it'll be all babies and little kids."

"Sorry I couldn't come up with anything better.. there isn't much to do around here." He blew a strand of hair out of his face. "I wanted to impress you, but I can't do that if there's nowhere in town interesting enough to go to. I... I guess we should finish up here, so I can walk you home." he chewed on a gummy worm, defeated.

She looked at him with a sigh, slight sympathy welling up in her heart. As much of a pain as Ryan could be, she didn't enjoy seeing him upset.

"Look, you said there's no place in town to go, then how about we go outside of town?"

"What?"

"Hey, your words, not mine." she shot him a small smile. "We'll clean up and then I'll race you to the edge of town."

"Are you sure? I mean, it's not exactly a short run."

"Fine. Then we'll race to... the Dairy Queen a few streets down. If you win,you get bragging rights. And, I'll buy you an ice cream."

He smiled.

"Deal."

✐

After wrapping up (heh) eating their snacks, they stood together in front of a tree facing the exit of the park.

"Ready?"

"As I'll ever be."

"On my count, kay?"

"Okay."

"One.. two.. go!"

The two took off in the same direction, running full speed. Ryan wasn't taking it too seriously, it was more for fun then actual competition. But he saw Jessie zoom past him in a blur.

'Wow.. she's fast.'

He raced to catch up with her, mere feet behind her before she tagged the light pole in front of the ice cream parlor, earning herself a win. He doubled over, his hands on his knees as he tried to catch his breath.

She cheered, smiling for the first time he'd seen since the date started. It made his heartbeat speed up to see her so happy. He didn't even care if people stared as she completed her victory dance.

"Hah! That was nothing compared to the practice we do at track meet!" she laughed triumphantly.

"Well, since you won," he approached her with a soft grin. "I think it's only fair that I treat you to ice cream."

"Thanks." she leaned on the streetlight. "You know, you're much more fun when you're not constantly serenading me."

"Yeah, about that.." he scratched the back of his head, a prominent shade of vermilion. "I'm sorry for causing you trouble, I guess I didn't realize that after a while it isn't as romantic.. just annoying."

She sighed, giving him an empathetic look. "It's alright, no hard feelings."

They stood in awkward silence for a moment.

"So, ice cream?"

"Fuck yeah."

✐

Jessie enthusiastically licked her coffee ice cream cone as she and Ryan sat in a booth of their local Dairy Queen.

Ryan sat in front of her, eating his pistachio cone, enjoying the time they spent together. He couldn't help but giggle seeing the bits she got on the edges of her mouth.

"What? Is there something on my face?"

"Yeah, a little." he snickered.

She rolled her eyes. "Well, would you quit laughing and pass me a napkin?"

He picked one up and waved it just out of her reach.

"Uh-uh, what's the magic word?"

"Come on, hand it over."

"You didn't say the magic word." he teased, knowing it would bother her.

"Alright. Give me the fucking napkin, please."

"Fine, fine."

✐

Minutes later they were both done and walking together to the park again to sit near the pond.

The sky was darkening as the sun went down, it becoming a lovely swirl of pink and blue.

"Today was nice, I hope?"

"..yeah. It was better than I expected it would be."

He discreetly scooted closer on the bench, inching his hand closer to hers.

She noticed, placing her hand gently on his.

His breath hitched for a moment before he let out a small sigh of relief. Ryan looked to Jessie, seeing her staring right back at him.

They sat like that until she noticed his eyes flicker down for a second and he slowly leaned in.

'What... what is he doing?'

"Jessie, I..."

His hand crept up to cup the side of her face and she fought the urge to cringe.

"I had a lot of fun today." he whispered with a tender smile. She responded with a weak grin, extremely confused by the situation at hand.

His eyes gradually closed, and he leant in for a kiss.

She realized this at the perfect time, and he was met with a firm slap on the side of his face.

Ryan shot back, holding his hand over his sore cheek, mouth agape.

"Hey! What the heck was that?!"

She looked at him with a blank stare.

"Seriously, why'd you hit me?!"

"Because you were coming onto me, idiot."

"What?"

"You tried to kiss me without asking."

"Well, y-yeah, but.." he tried desperately to defend himself. "I thought you wanted to!"

"Did I ever say that? I don't think I did." she berates him, her tone aggro and annoyed.

He stayed silent, looking down, disappointed in himself. "No, you didn't." he admitted, his voice quiet.

Jessie decided she wouldn't bother with him, and began to get up.

"I think that's enough time together for today.. or ever."

"Wait!" he reached to pull her arm back but stopped when met with a glare.

"What now? The deal was that if I didn't like you by the end of the date, then you'd leave me alone."

"But.. could you at least tell me why?" he begged, trying to keep his voice from cracking. "What about me is so terrible that you can't stand the idea of us being more than friends?"

She clenched her fists and sighed.

"Look, it's not you. So don't lose sleep over it. It's probably not what you think."

"Well, what is it, then?"

At this point, he was becoming impatient.

"Are you not into guys, or something? Because if that's it, then so be it. But if you just don't like me in particular, then I just want a reason."

"I told you, it's not what you think."

"Then what is it?!"

"I can't tell you!"

"And why not?"

"I-" she stumbled over her words. "I just can't."

"Seriously?"

"Well, it's none of your business anyways!"

"It's literally focused around me!! So would you please, just talk to me for a second and tell me what-"

"I'm aromantic, okay?" her voice quieted. "Thanks for outing me, jerk."

"..what?"

"You heard me."

"What does... what does that mean?"

He tilted his head rather innocently, clearly clueless, and she couldn't help but answer his second question in succession.

"It means that I don't hold romantic attraction towards anyone. That includes you."

"Oh.." he felt ashamed of himself. "I'm-"

"That's enough questions. I'm going home."

Jessie stormed away before Ryan could get any more words out.

"I was going to say 'I'm sorry'.."

× × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × × ×

This took a long time to write, glad it's over

I think the next episode will be the last, so bear with me

Anyways, I hope you liked it

1774 words