the date had gone well. he had been nervous, as had she. she was shaking, a little, at first, and he was confused as to why.

"i'm a little nervous," she said.

"don't be, i'm the one that has to impress you," he said.

"what do you mean?"

"well, i'm already smitten with you. now i've got to convince you to like me," he said.

that put her a little more at ease, though she never quite got rid of the butterflies in her stomach.

and he, he was awkward in an endearing way. he spilled water on himself, accidentally stabbed himself with his fork.

she thought he was almost like a little boy trying to impress her. but it was in those moments where he really lost himself in what he was talking about, children or literature, where he forgot to be self conscious that she was able to see that he was kind of charming in an unexpected way. then he would become aware of what he was saying, of how he became passionate, and would look down, almost blushing.

she decided he was kind of cute.

as for him, there were many times during dinner he lost what he was saying because he looked up at the right time and she was smiling and her eyes were lit. when she laughed, he stabbed his hand. it startled him, her laughter, soft and encompassing. he would ask her questions and listen to her voice. she was a music minor and he heard it in her voice, in the modulation and tempo she picked up sometimes.

they decided it was too early to end it, too late to do much else, so they went back to her house. they sat on the couch, talking, half paying attention to the television.

they sat on opposite ends of the couch.

"i'd like to kiss you," he said.

"just to, you know, throw that out there, in case you were wondering," he said.

it made her smile. he quickly changed the conversation. when he stopped rambling, and looked back over at her, she said, "you can."

he thought, quickly, of smart assed things to say. things like 'you're trying to take advantage of me.' but he didn't say anything smart assed. he didnt say anything. he just stood.

he moved to stand in front of her.

being short, sometimes, has it's advantage. you don't have to lean very far over to kiss someone sitting, for one.

he reached out and touched her neck. his fingers jumped when he found her pulse. it was beating fast and strong. his thumb brushed her cheek.

he tilted her head up.