❝Nothing feels better than this❞
- Khalid, Better.

"I passed my test!" I literally screamed and unconsciously flung my arms around River, catching him off guard, but my heart melted when he chuckled.

It was a week now, and Mrs Colton returned our test results today. I had a B. I couldn't remember the last time I had a B in my test.

I realized my arms were still around him, immediately and awkwardly, I took a step back, pushing my hair away from my face, "I'm just so excited. It's been long since I had a B in any test."

He had a smile on his face, "It calls for a celebration, doesn't it?"

I shrugged, "Not really. It wasn't a major test. It was only a short test based on what my teacher had asked us to study. The major ones start this week. I have one tomorrow, in fact," I rambled.

"Well, you said it yourself that it's been long since you had a B in any test, right?"

I nodded slowly, "Mhm."

"Yeah, that's worth celebrating."

I chuckled and asked shyly, "How?"

He thought for a while, "Dinner."

I shook my head, "No, that's not necessary."

"If it'll push you to ace your other tests plus if it means spending extra time with you, then yes, it is necessary."

I felt my cheeks burn as colour rose to them, "What about your work?" My eyes dropped to his sketchpad and pencils which laid on the table.

"I still have time to complete it," he answered, "So, yes or yes?"

I nodded, "Yeah, fine."

"Perfect, "he grinned and started packing his things up. While he did that, I texted Tanner.

*Hey, I'll be coming in late. Don't leave any dinner for me. I love you.*

*****

The Little Door was my favorite place to eat. I came here lots of times with Tanner, and I also remembered that he usually brought Zee here as well. He would bring us here for dinner sometimes. Nothing much had changed about the place. It was so beautiful and colorful at night.

I threw a glance at River, "I love this place."

"Yeah? I've been here just once but I found myself wanting to come back. How often do you come?"

"Not so often of late. I used to come with my brother and his ex girlfriend. Or I get stuff when he brings her alone sometimes."

His eyes sparkled, "It's romantic, isn't it?"

I flushed and nodded before replying in a quiet voice, "Very."

We both took our seats and a waiter came to us, handing us a menu each. He left us to decide what we wanted and together, River and I looked through the menu.

"The grilled steak here is great," I told him.

"In that case, we could have the grilled steak and the Greek corn salad," he said.

"And the sweet lemon iced tea, it's lovely too."

He nodded and when the waiter came back, we told him what we wanted. While we waited for our food to arrive, a song by Khalid came on and played softly in the restaurant and I recognized instantly that the song was 'Better'. Humming softly, I bobbed my head to the music.

"You'll know this voice anywhere," River spoke. "Khalid fan, huh?"

"Die hard," I answered. "And this has to be one of my favorite songs in the Suncity album."

River looked at me amused.

"What? You don't listen to him?" I looked back at him in surprise.

"I think he's alright. I'm more of a Shawn Mendes guy."

I burst out laughing, "You? Shawn Mendes?"

"I know what you're thinking," he chuckled. "It's mostly girls who love him, but you have to admit the guy sings really well."

"I was thinking you'd be more of a Lil Pump guy."

He laughed, "No offense, but rappers these days look funny as fluff."

I chuckled and nodded before asking, "Why don't you swear?"

He looked at me, "Why don't you swear?"

"Well, I grew up with my brother. He pretty much raised me not to."

He was quiet for a while, then finally spoke up, "You're always talking about your brother. What about your parents?" I could sense the manner in which he'd asked that question. He asked carefully.

"Oh, they're good. They're both lawyers and they live less than an hour away. Just that I'd grown up attached to my brother who's now out of the university and has his own place to live, so I live there with him."

I paused, "What about your parents?"

"My dad works in the UAE as a construction director and my mom is an interior designer and part time editor."

"That's pretty neat," I countered. "Do you get to see your dad, though? Or you call or something?"

He shrugged, "Yeah. We see him like five to six times a year."

"That's—" I started saying when our food arrived and we spent the next thirty minutes talking and laughing quietly over our food.

I didn't know how much deeper I could fall for River again. The last few weeks with him had been my best moments, and every moment with him, I realized that I always discovered something new about him, and not just him, but myself too. I couldn't help but wonder sometimes if he felt the same way I felt for him and something told me he did. I hoped he thought of me the way I thought of him because he was always in my thoughts. The way he raked his fingers through his thick, brown hair, the wag his black eyes sparkled especially when he smiled, even his scent.

I looked to see that he was paying for our meal, and I opened my mouth to sat something, but he flashed a smile at me that shut me up.

His smile was killer and had an effect.

I knew he knew that.

"It's so beautiful at night," I said.

Me and River had left the restaurant and we were back into his car. I looked out of the window, looking at the sky as I stared at the stars.

"Can we look at the stars, please?" I turned to look at River who's eyes were focused on the road.

"You seem excited about it," his eyes didn't leave the road, a smile playing on his lips, and I smiled, shrugging as I rolled my eyes playfully.

He kept driving, and then, he pulled up to a park, killing the engine, but leaving the headlamps on.

"Come on," he said, and I grinned and got down from the car and so did River. He sat on the hood and I repeated his action.

We were quiet as I gazed up at the sky. I threw River a quick glance to see him looking at me.
He licked his lower lip in a swift motion, "Have you seen any constellation?"

I shook my head, "Nope."

"I heard there's one shaped like a bear?" He chuckled lowly, "I don't know. I think I just made that up."

I laughed, "No, you didn't. There's the Ursa major, that's the great bear. Then, there's Ursa minor, the little bear."

"I told you you're smart."

I pressed my lips together before biting my lower lip, "I'm pretty scared about my test tomorrow."

"Why?" He asked and I shrugged.

"Hey, we just had dinner celebrating the fact that you had a B in your test."

"I told you that one was different."

"There's no difference. You did it, you can do it again."

I tucked my hair behind my ear and remained quiet.

"Do you have your text with you?" He asked after a while.

"No, it's home," I answered.

"Do you want to read out to me? Like you did the last time," he looked at me.

I nodded, "But, I don't have my text with me."

"I know. You could read it to me over the phone. I'll give you my number. When you're ready to study just call me."

I grinned and in disbelief, I said, "I can't believe you'll do that for me. Thank you so much, River."

"It's nothing," he chuckled.

I looked back to staring at the stars and let out a sigh.

"What?" I heard River say, and I looked back at him, a smile on my face, "What?"

"You sighed, why?"

I shrugged, still smiling. "The sky's just beautiful," I looked at him and he looked back. That was before he started to lean in and my heart was beating fast. His eyes were still on mine and they briefly dropped to my lips. He slowly raised his eyes to mine and our lips were only inches apart when I said quickly, "Wait."

He looked at me.

"I- I haven't done this before," I told him and he looked amused, "It's okay. Just follow me." He gave me a look to let me know he was going for it again and I let him.

The moment his lips met mine, I closed my eyes and the butterfly feeling in my stomach returned. His lips were soft and they molded into mine. I didn't know what to do when he ran his tongue over my lower lip, but I parted my lips and tried to follow his lead, but shortly, I felt him flinch and immediately pull away, a finger on his lips as he winced, and then chuckled lowly.

I had bit him.

"Oh my God, River, I'm so sorry," I said in so much embarrassment, my face felt like it was on fire. "That's why I told you. I've never actually..." My voice trailed off when my eyes met his.

"It's fine," he smiled lightly before raising a finger to my chin and kissing me again, slowly and passionately.

After a while, he pulled away, his eyes never leaving mine.

It was my first kiss and even if I had embarrassed myself, I loved it.

●

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