1.8

The news spread like wildfire, the following Monday, everyone was staring at us, blatantly or sneaking glances at our entwined hands. But no one said anything, and when we went to our locker room to change for practice, everyone erupted into cheers and surrounded us, turning it into a group hug.

"KISS KISS KISS," Blake screamed suddenly and everyone joined in the chant.

Laughing, I leaned down and captured Kade's lips, I could feel his smile against mine. A few seconds I pulled away, but then Kade pulled me down again and the whistles got even louder.

"It's practice for god's sake, Zacharias, Kade, get a room, or not because you have to practice first," coach came in and shooed everyone out to the court.

On the way out, coach said quietly to us, "I'm happy for you guys, anyone gives you problem you come to me okay?"

"Thanks coach," I managed to choke out. I never imagined how much support we would have. I always thought everyone would shunned us, be disgusted but all our friends and family were so supportive, it was all so surreal.

Practice passed in a blink of eye, the pre-season would start in a month and our first competition was in within the first week. Everyone was nervous yet excited. Luckily, it was only against Etger Revan high school, one of the weaker schools. I was a hundred percent sure that we could beat them and probably keep their score a single digit.

After bidding goodbye to everyone, and receiving some teasing, we finally went back to Kade's car. The ride was a silent one, both of us still nonplussed, that everyone had accepted us and not a single judgement. Yes people stared but more out of curiosity, none were revolting.

Kade and I are together and everyone knows, no one minds. Kade and I are a thing now.

"We have never been on a date," I said, as we arrived to my house.

Kade gave me an amused look, "are you finally asking me out?"

"Kaden Zaveri, will you go on a date with me this Saturday?" I said dramatically, fanning open my arms, waiting for an answer.

"Hmnn, since I have nothing better to do, I guess I'll indulge you," he said nonchalantly. I rolled my eyes, typical Kade. He smirk and gave me a quick kiss before I got out of his car and he drove off.

Happiness was the only emotion I felt until I realised that I had no idea what to do for the date. "Fuck," I swore under my breath.

Back in my room, I paced around and desperately search on google. Kade and I had literally already did everything together.

Amusement parks? Every single year.

Movies? All the freaking time.

Drive-in movies? Currently there were no interesting enough movies.

Eating in restaurants? Almost been to every single one in our city, besides it was not special enough.

Arcade? We had already beaten every single game there.

Cooking? Been there, done that.

Swimming? It was getting colder, besides we just went last week.

Ice skating? Both of us were as good at it as we were at football. Not at all.

Star-gaze? I looked at the weather, it would be cloudy all week and might even rain. Great.

Laser tag? Paint ball? Too far away, besides only a group of people would be fun.

The problems of dating your childhood best friends were that there was nothing you could do as dates. What we normally would do were to play video games and make out; not exactly date worthy.

I groaned, why did I even brought it up? But then I do want a date with Kade. A date, an actual date.

I recked my brain for any idea, but couldn't come up with any. Defeated, I got out my literature homework and began on it. An hour later, I had finished all a homework, brain emptied and exhausted. Wanting a rest, I got out my art board and began working on it.

The familiar rhythm of sketching was therapeutic, I let my mind wander as I drew. Unknowingly, I had drawn the photo of Kade eating in our favourite restaurant. The picture I took after that fateful night. I couldn't stop the soft smile on my face as I traced his face, how he was looking at me. All this time I was too busy looking at him to notice that he was looking at me the same way.

Then an idea struck me and I knew exactly what we could do.

"So you won't tell me where we are going," Kade asked again for the millionth times.

"Nope,"

"Have we been there together?"

"Yeah,"

"And you won't even tell me what are we doing!" He whined, pouting in the passenger seat.

"Patience, my love, patience," the words slipped out before I knew it. I glanced at Kade's reaction, he was unfazed, but I did not miss the corner of his lips lifting up just the tiniest bit.

"Urgh," and he continued sulking, turning away as he looked out the window. Casually, I checked my phone.

Everything almost ready, how far away are you guys? Daisy texted me.

Fifteen more minutes

Ok

We drove comfortably in silence until Kade recognised the road, "we are going to the beach?"

I shrugged, Kade gave me a triumph smirk, "it's too cold to swim,"

"I know,"

Few minutes later, we arrived, before we got out of the car, I blindfolded Kade, whom complained a lot before reluctantly wearing it.

"If you throw me into the sea I am killing you," he threatened as he held onto my arms, almost tripping over some rocks as we descended down to the beach.

"Don't give me ideas," I nodded at Daisy and Emma, who gave me thumb-ups and then hurried away.

Once they disappeared into my parents' car - god blessed my parents, I was seriously the luckiest child ever - I took off Kade's blindfold and didn't miss the sharp intake of breath he took.

"How?" He looked so awestruck, I couldn't help but laugh.

"Daisy and Emma helped me," facing the sea, right in front of us were a large blanket was spread on the sand with a cooler and huge basket with all kinds of food in it. Dumplings made by Mami, classic peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, Cheetos, Doritos, homemade chocolate muffins with extra chocolate chips just the way Kade liked it. The cooler was filled with Ben and Jerry's ice cream kept with dry ice, and mango smoothies.

"Is it too early to say I love you?" Kade turned towards me. His hazel eyes glistened under the sinking sun, turning those green freckles into a dark shade of blue, reflecting the sea and skies.

I laughed again, "we haven't even begun our first date yet,"

"And yet l love you, I have fallen in love with you before I even understand what love is,"

"And I am the one that's suppose to be good at English," I said softly, the only sound was waves crashing gently onto the shore, breezes blowing lazily, slightly messing up Kade's hair, making it even more cute.

He laughed and went on his tiptoes to kiss me. Closing my eyes, I relished those soft lips moving on mine. Too soon, he pulled away and sat down on the blanket.

As I reached for the dumplings, he slapped my hand, "I need to post this first," then he got out his phone, took a short video of the food, view and me, and then posted it in his Instagram story.

"Showing off?" I said before stuffing my mouth with Mami's delicious dumplings.

"Hey, save some for me," he took the chopsticks out of my hands, "of course," he answered.

As the sun set, turning the cloudy skies and sea momentarily golden, the exact same shade as Kade's hair, I couldn't help but said, "I love you,"

Kade paused his attack on the muffins, "I know," his answer were muffled by the muffin but I understood it well enough.

I leaned over and kissed the corner of his lips, "you got some chocolate over there,"

"You missed," he said deadpanned and kissed my mouth. My tongue flickered out and tasted the chocolate on him, somehow it tasted sweeter than usual.

"Mm," I leaned away, letting the calming sound of waves filled the silence, interrupted occasionally by the sound of chips opening and munching.

I had settled between Kade's legs, leaning against his chest. I reached for the sketchbook and pencils at the bottom of the basket and opened to the first page. I tilted my head back, Kade's eyes were closed, his chin resting on my head.

Good he is sleeping.

I began to draw.

"Shit," a big fat raindrop splattered on my head, carefully, I removed myself from Kade - thank god he was a heavy sleeper - then ran towards my car and hide my sketchbook in the dashboard, then ran back out.

Slightly out of breath, I sat back down and packed our things, throwing everything back into the basket. Kade stirred and finally woke up, "hmn? Oh shit I fell asleep?" He sounded embarrassed, then he noticed that it was drizzling. Just as we finished stuffing the blanket into the basket, the rain finally poured and we were soaked within seconds.

"Great," I said, shivering slightly. Kade was grinning uncharacteristically. I raised an eyebrow, "you are soaking wet and you are grinning?"

"Dance with me," he held out his hand.

Laughing, I dropped the basket and took his hand, wrapping my other arm around his waist as he wrapped his around mine. "Never take you for a romantic,"

The smile he gave me was enough to shut me up. We swayed together in the rain, soaked to our bones, the waves crashed loudly behind us, the only music we needed.

I twirled him and when he came back into my arms, he pulled me down and kissed me, tasting like rain and the sea, the saltiness diluted by the rain. We were both shivering yet I could only feel his warmth. His lips were cold but his body was radiating heat.

Kade pulled away abruptly, turned and sneezed. I bursted into laughter, "let's go back before we catch a cold,"

Kade nodded. I grabbed the basket and wrapped my other arm around him, trying to keep warm as we walked back to my car. I turned the heater on yet we were both still shivering. We didn't stop until we arrived to my house and by then the rain had stopped completely and the stars shone brightly down at us.

Mami greeted us and she just shook her head exasperatedly, "come in quick, Kade you better stay the night here. Please keep it down, the rest of us have to sleep." And with that she left us.

Kade shook in silent laughter besides me, slapping his shoulder lightly, we went up to my room. He didn't need any directions. He opened my wardrobe got his sweatpants and my sweater then went into my bathroom.

"Please hurry up," I said as he closed the door.

"You are welcome to join," he called out.

Rolling my eyes, I went back down to the car and got my sketchbook. Knowing that Kade would take at least half an hour, I turned to the second page and began to draw again.