Too Sweet

After I finished my food, our waitress, Kim, returned and asked,

"Do you need anything?" While refilling our drinks.

"No, I'm fine," I answered.

"I would like to order a dessert to go... what do you like Akina?" Serco stated.

"It's okay, I'm not much of a sweets person," I responded.

"Then what do you want?" He gave me a look making it obvious he would not accept "no thanks" for an answer.

"Onion rings... maybe?" I conceded. He chuckled and turned to Kimberly to say,

"An order of onion rings to go and the bill, please." I didn't have any money with me so I couldn't protest when he paid for dinner. The next time I get my allowance, I should buy him a meal. After we left, Serco discretely teleported me within a few blocks of my house and offered to walk me home. While we were walking, there was a deep crease between his eyebrows as if he was in pain or, perhaps, angry. I'm usually too timid to talk to people who look so upset but for some reason, I was able to gently touch his shoulder and ask him,

"What's wrong?" He looked at me then took my hand from his shoulder and held it. It felt like electricity was leaving his body and entering into mine.

"I think I would like to spend time together again... would that be alright?" His statement surprised me and it took me a while to reply,

"You've done enough for me, I didn't really do anything and you already treated me to food and the arcade, I couldn't ask you for more," I commented.

"That is fine, but in the future could we spend time together as friends, for no special reason at all?" His request made my heart race, out of shyness I almost blurted out 'no' but I managed to suppress my stupidity and say.

"Yeah... but I would like to treat you, next time," After my statement, he hugged me. It felt different from when my mom, Nacina or Will hugged me. The explosion of emotion was impossible to ignore.

"I apologize... I should not have grabbed you so suddenly but... do not fret over expenses, I don't have bills, or taxes, and I barely require groceries. My job as a Guardian pays well so you are not a financial strain. Still, I will allow you to treat me if that is your wish. I am excited to see you again, Akina." And after saying that he disappeared. I only realized I was in front of my house once he was gone, and I walked inside still feeling stunned. Mom was sitting in the living room, with popcorn, she noticed the bag in my hand and the look on my face and decided to ask,

"How was your date?" In response, I blushed and rushed upstairs to my room. I sat on my bed and took several deep breaths to calm myself then I opened my doggy bag and saw a note on my takeout box. I picked it up. Written on it was a phone number and underneath was the name Serco. I threw the note into the air in shock then quickly re-grabbed it before it hit the floor and then entered the number into my phone's contacts. I need to make sure I got the right number... should I call? No, I'll just text, we just saw each other after all. so I text him a simple "Good Night." About 2 seconds later he replied.

"Good night, Akina." Yeah... this is the right number.

"Before I sleep, how did you know it was me?" I asked for clarity.

"Because no one else has this number, and you just received it." He answered. Well of course... he said he's never spent time with any other people. I turned my phone off and decided to get ready for bed. I always felt like everything should follow a logical path, even my own emotions, but today my feelings made no sense. The strange heart palpitations, the tingling sensation whenever our skin touched, blood continuously rushing to my cheeks, the sweating; none of that makes sense. But I'm not stupid... even though I've never had a crush on anyone before I know that's the only explanation for why I feel like this. What doesn't make sense to me is why. Why, Serco? I feel like such a cliche. Everyone I know has had a crush on the Guardian at some point and now I have followed them down the same path of heartbreak. I must be stupid. Feelings are so weird.

That night I dreamed that Serco and I were sitting together on a bench, talking about nothing in particular. Catching me off guard, Serco placed his hand on my waist, both me in my dream and my real self felt butterflies in our chests. I had never felt so comfortable when being touched by anyone, or so happy... He was close and I could feel his breath on my lips. My mind was racing, wondering if I should close my eyes or wrap my arms around him but the emotion that overwhelmed me the most was the desire to look at him to watch and see if he intended to kiss me. My dreams are usually ominous or contain only fictional people made up in my mind... but tonight Serco is here, reinforcing the feelings I only recently come to terms with. When his lips hit mine there was a wave of disappointment because I didn't feel anything except air, so I pressed in, closing my eyes and adding more passion to the kiss. But no matter how hard I kissed him and held onto him, I still felt nothing. I was still struggling with this dilemma trying to fuse my mouth to his when I got tangled up in my bedsheets and fell off the bed. What a harsh way to return to reality... and I should repress this dream so I can look Serco in the eye the next time I see him. This is so embarrassing. I wonder how he feels about girls fawning over him... or how he feels in general... about me. I shouldn't get my hopes up but I know he was serious when he asked to be friends so I don't think I'm being too greedy by at least wanting to know him better. I think I can be satisfied with that...

I later stuffed myself with the onion rings he got me so I could fall back asleep.