Submerge

D A T E ?

M A S O N

I had never been so nervous in my life. Standing in front of the mirror, I adjusted my collar for what felt like the hundredth time, trying to make sure everything was perfect. It was silly, really—Ethan had seen me at my worst, but this was different. This was our first official date, and I wanted it to be special.

Nathan had tried to give me advice earlier in the day, most of which involved him teasing me about how much of a big deal I was making this. "Just be yourself, Mas," he'd said, smirking as he patted me on the back. "That's who Ethan fell for, after all."

Now, as I stood in my room, those words played on repeat in my mind. Be yourself. The problem was, I wasn't entirely sure who that was anymore. But I knew I wanted to figure it out—with Ethan.

When I finally made my way to Ethan's house, my heart was pounding so hard I was surprised he didn't hear it from inside. I stood on the doorstep for a moment, gathering my thoughts, before finally knocking.

The door opened almost immediately, and there he was—Ethan, looking as effortlessly handsome as ever. His smile was warm and inviting, and I felt some of the tension melt away.

"Hey," he said, his eyes lighting up as he took me in. "You look great."

"Thanks," I mumbled, feeling a blush creep up my neck. "So do you."

We stood there for a moment, just smiling at each other, before Ethan broke the silence. "Ready to go?"

I nodded, and we headed down the street together. Ethan had planned a simple evening—a walk through the park, followed by dinner at a small, cozy restaurant he loved. It wasn't extravagant, but it was perfect.

The park was quiet, with only a few people milling about. The sun was setting, casting a golden glow over everything. We walked side by side,

"This is nice," I said, breaking the comfortable silence between us.

"Yeah, I thought you might like it," Ethan replied with a smile. "I know how much you enjoy being outdoors."

I chuckled softly. "You remember all the little details, don't you?"

He shrugged. "Just trying to make sure you have a good time."

At one point, Ethan stopped and looked at me, his expression thoughtful. "You know, Mason, I'm really glad we're doing this."

"Me too," I admitted, feeling a flutter of nerves. "I've been looking forward to it all week."

Ethan grinned. "So have I. I mean, it's not every day you get to go on a date with the most amazing guy you know."

I laughed, but the sincerity in his voice made my heart skip a beat. "You're pretty amazing yourself," I said, feeling my cheeks warm again.

We continued walking, eventually making our way to the restaurant. It was small and intimate, with dim lighting and a soft hum of conversation in the background. We were seated at a corner table, tucked away from the rest of the diners, giving us a sense of privacy that made the evening feel even more special.

As we looked over the menu, Ethan leaned in slightly, his voice low. "So, what do you usually order on a first date?"

I chuckled, trying to shake off the nerves. "I haven't really been on that many dates," I admitted. "But I guess something simple? Maybe pasta?"

Ethan smiled, his eyes twinkling. "Pasta sounds good. I'll go with that too."

The conversation flowed easily as we waited for our food. Ethan asked me about swimming