↔IMPULSE↔

↔Pre-Date↔

↑Cutie↑

After that weekend, a whole week passed until Friday, Blake decided it was time to get out of the bedroom and have a proper date.

Blake was at school with Reese, unlocking his bike and Reese's longboard. "Are you coming over to my house or am I going to yours?"

"Neither," Blake said, "let's go on a date."

Reese raised his eyebrows and chuckled a little, "what?"

"You heard me, a date. Go home, get out of your uniform and I'll pick you up and we'll go on a date."

Reese shook his head, "nuh-uh. I'll pick you up. I'll see you at eight." Reese took off before Blake could say anything. Reese loved his jeep, it was painted turquoise and bright orange, he got it at the end of eighth grade from his Uncle Remy as a graduation present. Blake like Remy too, he was ten years older than them and was the one who taught Reese to surf and fish and pretty much everything he does outdoors all the way to driving. 

Blake watched him cruise off on his board, sucker in his mouth and headphone attached to the Walkman in his pocket. He laughed to himself, suddenly, Nikki was at his shoulder following his gaze.

"What are we staring at?" 

He jumped, "wha-what? Nothing!"

She had her hair pinned up with sticks, "Uh-huh," she sounded unconvinced, "so...what's been up with you and Reese?"

"What do you mean?" Blake asked nervously.

Nikki snorted, "every since you guys started this whole "mystery bet" deal, you've been acting really weird."

Blake tried for nonchalance, "not really, we've always been weird."

Unimpressed, "I've known your dumbasses since middle school, I know when something's off. Spill. What's the bet?"

"It's a secret."

"What are you two, girls? Did you pinky promise?" She pried.

Blake looked away from her, "I'm not telling you, Nikki."

"Blakey! Come on! I'm dying to know! I'll find out eventually," Nikki hung on his arm, looking at him with mischievous, pleading dark eyes, her face was peeling from getting sunburnt in gym class earlier in the week.

He avoided her staring, "Nik, it's really personal."

"Personal? That's revealling." She grinned, "seeing which one can get laid first?"

Blake's cheeks turned pink, "no!"

Cackling, "I'm close! So, it's related to sex...hum...what could it be?"

He felt himself getting restless, "Nikki, butt out!"

"Are you two fighting over a girl? Did Reese sleep with Amelia? Come on, just tell me already!" She was getting excited, bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Blake shook his head, "no, it's nothing like that. Listen, I got to get home and do some homework."

"Sure..." She finally let him go and he hopped on his bike and headed home.

He let out a stressed breath and let the cool wind cool his blushing cheeks. At home, his parents were there, early for a change. "Hey, what're you guys doing home before eight?"

His mom pulled her curly, dark hair into a bun, holding it in place with an ivory hair stick. "A late lunch, we're heading back at four and staying the night at the office."

"Why?"

Dad loosened his stripped tie, "we got a big case at the firm."

"I take it you guys will be having a lot of all-nighters?"

"Yep. Oh, before I forget, you have spring break in a couple months, right?"

Approaching the subject reluctantly, "yeah?"

Mom smiled happily, her green eyes shining, "you and Amelia will be spending two weeks with your grandparents in New York."

The bomb had been dropped, "what? Spring break is only a week!"

Dad looked at him oddly, "you'll be taking the week before off of school as well, you'll be put on home study for that week."

"Why can't I go for a week?"

"Blake, you haven't seen your grandparents since last year, and shouldn't you be happy to travel?"

"But I'll miss a week of school!"

Mom grinned, "I see what's going on here, you must've gotten a new girlfriend!"

"No!"

His dad joined in on the teasing, "that's why you were so curious about all nighters!" He laughed heartily with a proud look. 

Blake sighed, "I'm going to do homework, I'm hanging out with Reese later."

"Okay, tell Reese I said 'hello' and 'get a haircut'."

He laughed, "sure thing, Mom." He was finally safe in his room, he tossed his satchel on the floor and began to strip from his uniform, leaving a trail of clothes as he made his way to the shower. After a hot shower, he stood in a towel in front of his closet, looking through his clothes.

He settled on a fuzzy sweater with long sleeves that was a little long in the arms and slim, acid wash jeans that bunched up at his ankles. He combed his hair neatly even though when it dried it would inevitably fluff up when it dried. He put on his marble bead bracelets that Nikki gave him for his birthday last year and the silver ring on his middle finger that his mom got him.

While waiting for eight to roll around, he sat at his desk and read through his biology textbook halfheartedly. Ten minutes till eight and the doorbell rang through the house. Blake ran downstairs and froze, ran his hands through his hair and took a breath before opening the front door.

Reese had his hair pulled back in a messy bun, he wore a mint green t-shirt and black jeans with the cuffs rolled up once at his ankles. He had on his sea glass bracelet, Puka shell bracelet, and necklace, he looked handsome.

"Uh, hi?" He said a little awkwardly.

"Hi...ready to go?"

"Um, yeah." Blake smiled at him and they headed towards his car.

His jeep was almost always clean, a sand dollar and Puka necklace and a preserved starfish hanging from his rear-view mirror. It smelled like saltwater and his tropical flower air freshener. Blake sat in the passenger seat and off they went.

"Where to?" Reese asked.

Blake glanced over at him, "the mall."

He smirked, "what's tonight itinerary?"

"Arcade, movies, burgers and shakes, then...back to my place?" Blake added the last part a little unsure about his decision.

Reese turned the corner, he smiled, "sounds like a great plan."

They pulled into the mall's parking lot and they headed inside, it was busy as all hell, after all, it was Friday night. Date night. Blake looked over at Reese, would this really qualify as a date if he was with another guy? Reese and Blake hung out at the mall occasionally but they weren't considered dates, what would be different about this?