Chapter Twenty- Five

Nervous wasn't the word to describe how I felt.

I was anxious. I was freaking out. But most of all, I was excited.

It was finally the day of my date with Fabian. He didn't make it easy with figuring out what he had been planning, but I did soon enough.

I figured it was a dinner date when he asked me what flavour champagne I preferred. He tried to make it seem like a harmless casual question, but after a whole week of being secretive, he should've known I would've figured it out. I wasn't really a fussy person, but I was happy with whatever he chose.

"You actually look nice, dork." My sister stood in my doorway with a stupid smirk on her face. I couldn't even throw her a glare like I used to because I actually believed her.

I don't think there is a record in time where I looked this beautiful. I spent my entire Saturday morning at the salon, getting my haircut again, just how he liked it, but it was a bit different this time. My bob no longer looked like Dora's, but it swept my shoulder on both sides while the back curled a little shorter than at the sides.

My hair brought out my plump cheeks, but it only made my smile seem brighter. I didn't use a lot of make-up, but I added eyelash extensions, blush and lip gloss, as well as a light layer of foundation that surprisingly worked well after only two YouTube tutorials.

But the dress was what had me in awe. Pooled at my thighs was a royal blue ruffled dress, which left my shoulders bare and hugged my top half closely. It wasn't too formal, but it wasn't casual either. I paired it with my silver stilettos and a silver choker. My mom also saw it fit to paint my nails with her glittery silver nail polish, and I loved it all.

I beamed at my reflection once again before turning to face my sister.

"What do you want, Cynthia? I am in a good mood today. Don't spoil it."

She simply shrugged before turning on her heels before she spoke. "Your boyfriend just arrived. I'd tell you to hurry up. Dad is giving him the eye."

I groaned at this, feeling embarrassed by the simple thing. But when dad gives someone 'the eye', it couldn't be good.

I quickly grabbed my purse and turned off my room lights before making my way out and towards the stairs. I could hear hush voices from downstairs as Cynthia texted away on her phone while she walked ahead of me.

Fabian's voice was clear, and as usual, he sounded confident and undeniably sexy.

I also heard my mom. Luckily, she sounded pleasant. As for my dad, I knew he was going to be a more rigid shell to crack. Even though conversations of Fabian being a 'bad influence' were at the dinner table almost every night since we started hanging out, I confided in my mom and got her on my side with this. I told them both how I felt about Fabian compared to how I felt for Colton. But my dad, as it seems, will always be team Colton.

I just hope it's temporary. Fabian is, after all, a great guy.

My steps echoed through the room as I descended the stairs, and soon the voices grew silent. My sister pointed in the direction of the dining room before she left.

"Oh, by the way, I'm borrowing your car tonight. You know, since you're going on a date and all," she said, lifting her head from her phone for a second to make eye contact. I rolled my eyes but said nothing. I knew she was already grounded for taking my car two days ago, but she never learns.

She was just lucky that dad was too focused on my date to hear what she had to say. I sometimes regret teaching her how to drive. Because now she drives illegally whenever I am not using my car, despite how many times she gets punished.

With one final wave in her direction, I headed for the dining room, where three pairs of expected eyes found me as I entered. They all stood as if I was a bride starting the procession. First, I met eyes with Fabian. His were wide and sparkling, and his mouth was slightly ajar, but there still sat a small simper on his soft lips.

He was neatly adorned in a button-down navy-blue shirt and black jeans, and his hair was sticking in all directions in the most attractive way possible. He looked effortlessly perfect, and I don't ever think I could get over that.

I blushed under his intense gaze, and I couldn't help but look away when it got too much. If I had known that seeing him alone would have yielded this much blushing, I would've used less on my cheeks.

"Paris?" My dad's voice held evident shock, and I lifted my head to look at him. His eyebrows were raised a fraction with his hand on his chin as if wondering who this stranger was.

I mean, I looked the same for the most part, just a bit dolled up.

"You look beautiful," my dad and Fabian said in unison. They shared a quick gaze of understanding before Fabian rounded the table to come closer. He took my hands so gently in his, brushing my knuckles with his fingers before placing a lingering kiss there.

It did wonders to my nerves and body, and I took a sharp intake of breath as tingles bathed my senses. I was aware that my parents were watching keenly, but I didn't care.

"Completely gorgeous," Fabian added in a hushed whisper as he stepped closer to me. His scent filled my senses, and I was calmed by it instantly. My smile only grew wider, and it felt like we were the only people in the world.

"You don't look too bad yourself, Charmer," I teased, using the nickname I had chosen for him weeks ago. His smile was replaced by a smirk, and I assumed he was about to say something ridiculous, but my dad spoke instead.

"What time will you two be back?" he asked, not sounding too against it as I suspected. Fabian instantly straightened as he turned to face my dad again.

"I'll get her home by ten, sir."

"A second later than ten-thirty, and we'll have a problem, young man," my dad grumbled, trying to sound stern. I rolled my eyes.

"Not a problem, sir. It was great meeting you all."

"Likewise." My mom beamed as she sent me a wink, no longer reluctant to this Fabian idea anymore.

What did I say? He is a charmer.

My dad, on the other hand, needed a little more time. I could see that he was already loosening up, but he still wanted to sound and look stern.

I shot them both a final look before Fabian led me outside with his hand on the small of my back.

"So that was fun," he said as we stepped outside. I bit my bottom lip to suppress a giggle as we stopped at the car door.

"I'm sorry about them. I hope it wasn't too much trouble." I was genuinely concerned. What if they managed to scare him off?

But when he used his index to lift my face to his and met his eyes, I knew my concerns were immediately dismissed.

"From you? Not a chance," he mumbled before leaning down to place a lingering kiss on my lips.

"Get a room!" We were driven apart by my sister's amused voice as she hopped in my car that was parked in the lot. I rolled my eyes at her as Fabian chuckled.

She winked at us as she drove away, right as my dad came out, glaring in the direction she went.

Fabian and I quickly hopped in the car before he took out his anger on us as we tried desperately to hold back our laughs.

"So I see that you're not the rebellious one," he snickered as we drove off.

I shrugged. "My sister is very… adventurous."

"Oh? And you aren't?" he questioned with a raised eyebrow, looking towards me ever so often as he drove.

"Nope. I'm a bit boring. Nothing adventurous about me." I couldn't help the disappointment in my voice as I spoke. I've always tried to be more outgoing for my age, but I always fell back into my little shell of boredom.

"I don't think you're boring," Fabian said in a matter-of-fact voice. I scoffed at this.

"That's because you have feelings for me," I pointed out.

"Strong, strong feelings," he added in a gruff voice.

I could feel my cheeks flaring up in heat as he took my hand over the console and placed a small kiss there. I tried to refocus my mind on something other than my tingling nerves when I realized we were in a car instead of his bike.

"Whose car is this?" I questioned, still holding hands over the shiny console.

"Oh. It's Chad's. I supposed that picking you up on my bike wouldn't have been the most romantic choice." He chuckled nervously.

"You're a romantic, huh?" I teased after seeing how anxious the topic made him.

"I try to be."

"Well, it's working." I turned my head to view the rushing trees and buildings as we drove. It then occurred to me that this date was supposed to be a surprise.

"Where are we going anyway?" His ears turned pink at the very question, and I could see that he put a lot of thought into this, to the point where he was wondering if I'd like it or not.

I know the feeling because I've done it before when planning my friend's birthdays.

"Whatever it is, I'm sure I'll love it," I told him truthfully. As long as it's with him, I knew for a fact that I would enjoy it thoroughly.

"It's still a surprise, but you dressed perfectly."

"Perfect is a bit much, don't you think?"

He didn't answer for a while, and I lifted my head to see what he was doing. To my surprise, I found him looking at me, momentarily glancing forward to watch the road.

"You are perfect, Paris. Every single part of you."

"Okay, I think I've had my fair share of compliments for one night."

"Well, prepare for a lifetime of them," he said on instinct before he stiffened considerably as if that wasn't supposed to slip just yet.

However, it warmed my heart that he was thinking about us long term. It made me feel more than unique and wanted. It made me feel loved.

And so, I didn't make him uncomfortable anymore with the small talk, so I simply stared outside the rest of the way, never once letting go from his hand.

The sun had already set, and the hint of the moon started to peek from behind the light feather of clouds. I noticed that we were driving away from the city, yet we were somehow still in the middle of it all.

My restaurant theory started to wither when I saw him pull onto a paved walkway that seemed deserted, though I didn't understand why.

It seemed like an abandoned park, although it was beautiful. I let go of his hand so that he could park adequately, and I didn't even notice when he hopped from the car and appeared at my door because I was too busy trying to figure out what was happening.

"Fabian? Where are we?" I questioned, looking around as I tried to recognize something—anything.

I've lived in England all my life, and I believed that I knew every inch of the city. But, apparently, I didn't.

"I'll show you," he simply stated as he held me by my waist and lifted me from the car. I giggled as his fingers tickled me. Still, I was focused on everything.

He held my hand after locking the car and led me down the concrete pavement. On either side was lush green grass, and I had no clue how it managed to stay so beautiful in a dormant place. Pole lights stood on either side of the pavement too. However, no bulbs were in them, confirming my theory that this was indeed an old park.

I got excited to know what Fabian planned as he led me further down the pavement. But when we took the final turn that finally led into the park itself, I was left in complete and utter awe.

The first thing I noticed was the city's beautiful lights across the River Thames and the magnificent view of London Bridge, neatly situated in the centre of it all. I threw my hand over my mouth as I took it in completely, loving how it looked like a perfect picture of art, and I was in the midst of it.

Fabian wrapped his arms around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder as I continued to witness this perfect view.

"Do you like it?" he asked as if it wasn't obvious.

I tried to speak, but I couldn't find my voice. So, I simply nodded in answer. However, I had a feeling that this wasn't the last awe of the night.

Fabian lifted his hands from around my waist and used his long fingers to cover my eyes. My stomach erupted in butterflies at the very thought of something more than this lovely view. He led me further in a straight line, down to the edge of the landscape that almost met the river.

The calming breeze ruffled my hair as Fabian came to a stop, and I already knew what I was about to see before he even removed his hands.

When he did, the sting of tears burnt my eyes when I finally saw it.

Below us was a large white blanket with two picnic baskets sitting on either side. There also sat a champagne bottle—the very same one I told him I liked, as well as two unlit candles and a single sunflower seated in the middle in a silver vase.

A tear rolled down my cheek as I opened and closed my mouth like a gaping fish, unable to speak or say how I felt.

But I was sure that he could see it on my face, and just to be sure, I made no hesitation in grabbing him close to me and crashing my lips against his.

In all my years of living, no one—not even Colton—has done something so thoughtful and special for me. If Fabian didn't do anything else, he indeed made me feel loved.

"I love it, Fabian. I love you," I said in a messy sniffle as I gently pulled away.

"I love you too," he replied with just as much passion. "I wanted this to be perfect for you."

"It already is." This much was true. If he had packed everything in the car right now and deemed this date over, I wouldn't have felt unsatisfied.

With a genuine smile and a quick look of relief, he led me to the thin blanket. I left my shoes on the side, not wanting to stain the beautiful fabric. Fabian laughed at me before doing the same. It was like a scene from a romantic movie-- with a brightly lit bridge as a view across the river and a picnic under the stars and moonlight.

My stupid smile never fell the whole time as I carefully watched him dish out food that looked Italian and pouring the tiniest bit of champagne for each of us. We were a few months too young to be drinking, but I could care less. Fabian didn't have much since he was driving, but he surely made the most of everything.

I could tell that the food wasn't home-cooked, but I didn't care one bit. I wouldn't have expected him to cook and prepare such a perfect date, all in one day. Instead, I appreciated every bit of it. Just as I appreciated him.

We kept the conversations small, but it was just what we needed. So it wasn't too strained or forced. In fact, it wasn't strained or forced at all. That is why I love being with Fabian. He made everything so effortless and comfortable. There was never a moment where I had to feel awkward or weird— not after I got to know him.

The dinner was over far too quickly for my liking, and before we knew it, it was already nine pm. I watched in disappointment as he packed away the empty dishes and champagne glasses, but one glance in my direction, and he knew I wasn't quite ready yet.

"I have to get you home by ten," he pointed out when I stubbornly crossed my arms and ground my toes in the blanket.

"Ten thirty," I corrected, and he simply chuckled.

"It's okay. I wasn't quite done just yet." I cocked my head to the side in confusion at this as I watched him lift the sunflower from the vase and twirled it between his fingers. "I know this isn't the most ideal flower for a first date. I bought roses—a ton of them, actually. But when everything else felt right, they didn't quite ease my satisfaction like the sunflower did."

He paused for a while as he handed it to me. It was just as big as my entire face, maybe, but I loved how it seemed to have illuminated the night perfectly.

"Sunflowers thrive in the most unnatural and uncomfortable places. Even when the growing conditions aren't ideal, they always find a way to bloom. It reminded me of us, so forgive me for not gifting you with roses or lilies, but—"

He didn't get a chance to finish because I cut his speech short by bringing our lips together again. With all the love and gratefulness I could muster, I pushed it all into the kiss.

The sunflower was more than thoughtful, and it eliminated the cliché roses on a date thing that humans adapt from movies and books.

But flowers as a gift should be more than just the beauty and scent of the thorny buds, but what a relationship truly represents, and I understood ours completely. I adored it.

I carefully rested the flower beside us, being sure not to break the kiss as I climbed onto his lap in a straddling position. He was taken aback by my bold move, but he made no hesitation in wrapping his arms around my waist to hold me put against him.

I buried my hands in his hair as he hugged me to his chest, and it wasn't until I couldn't breathe that I finally pulled away. We panted heavily as we rested our foreheads against each other. And it was in that moment, staring intensely into his eyes, that I knew exactly what I wanted.

"Be my boyfriend," I whispered in an almost inaudible voice. Fabian's eyes widened a bit as he stared at me, and so I repeated just in case he didn't hear. "Be mine, Fabian. Be my boyfriend." My voice was more confident and stable as I said this, and to my delight, his face broke out in a beautiful smile.

"I was already yours, Paris," he said with a light laugh. I could see the happiness swimming in his eyes, and that made me happy too.

"So, is that a yes?"

"Undoubtedly and completely yes. You didn't even have to ask," he said before taking my lips in his again.

Joy—unspeakable joy filled my whole nerves as I accepted his kiss wholeheartedly.

Fabian was now my boyfriend. I was his girlfriend. Officially.

Our kiss became more heated this time, and my body lit a fire that blazed but never burnt. Every second it became more, and I could tell that Fabian felt it too. Without thinking, I began pushing him down flat against the blanket, but despite my blurry thoughts, it all felt right.

Fabian broke away for a second as he watched me with sceptical eyes. I knew what he was asking without him saying it aloud, and I gave him the answer without reluctance or resistance.

"Paris."

"Fabian."

That was all we said as we gave ourselves to each other ultimately. It was beautiful—magical, something I never really thought about until it actually happened. His fingers were gentle and caressing, making beautiful music against every curve and crevice they brushed. Despite the few moments of discomfort and pain, the tenderness and love made it utterly perfect, and I didn't regret it one bit.

And so, I lost my virginity that night. I lost it to the boy of my dreams—my boyfriend and the person I love.

It wasn't something I woke up thinking about, and it definitely wasn't planned, but I found it to be the most certain and unregretted moment of my life.

I wouldn't trade it for the world.

.

.

.

I hope you loved this as much as I did! Hey y'all!

I painted my nails silver, and I am loving them. I simply had to do the same for Paris.

Thoughts? Did you like that Paris asked Fabian the question and not the other way around? And she popped her cherry! Thoughts about that?

Sorry to my smut lovers. I write smut, but not in my teen fic books ;)

Love yall and your support! Until next time <3