Chapter twenty-four: Kodak (Alex's POV)

I had a date planned today and I still hadn't told her. 

"We'll see you soon, Alex!" Mrs. Hughes waved goodbye. 

"So I'll see you Monday morning?" Faith asked while walking me to the end of her driveway as if I wasn't just living ten feet away. 

"You will see me in three hours," I smiled. 

"I will?" she questioned. 

"I'll pick you up at noon. It's a date." I leaned in teasingly. 

She looked at me suspiciously with a scrutinizing gaze. "And I dress formal or casual?" she inquired.

"Wear something pretty but not too formal," I replied. 

"Okay, I'll see you at noon," she kissed my cheek goodbye. 

I got home to my parents talking at the kitchen counter. "Hey," I said sheepishly. 

"Did her dad grill you?" My dad asked while sipping on his coffee. 

"Nope, he was just fine with it. Mom, can you make me a coffee while I go shower, please?" I asked. 

"Of course, honey," she smiled. 

I got upstairs and headed straight to my bathroom to shower and freshen up. I came out with my towel around my waist and began looking for something to wear. I grabbed a pair of sweatpants for now and headed downstairs. "Hi," I kissed my mom's cheek quickly while taking my coffee from her. 

"Put a shirt on, Alex. You'll catch a cold," she huffed at me. 

"I will, I will," I waved her off while sitting at the counter with my parents. 

My mom stomped upstairs and into my room, probably to get me a shirt. 

"I hope you're serious about Faith, son. She's a nice girl, different than the ones you're usually seen with. In a good way. Do you like her?" he arched an eyebrow at me. 

"I do, dad." I nodded while sighing. "I just don't know if she does," I huffed. 

"She does, just in case, keep your tricks up your sleeve and pull them out when needed. You happen to be a charmer like your mother," he rolled his eyes. 

My mom came down and threw my shirt at my face, "There you go, sweetie," she smiled sarcastically. 

I hung out with my parents for a while and watched some shows before deciding to go and get ready. I wore black jeans with a white button-up and I left the first two buttons down to keep it a little more casual. I rolled the sleeves up to my elbows before heading downstairs. "Bye, you guys!" I exclaimed. 

"Honey, wait!" My mom came running out. "Look what we found!" She panted a little. 

It was an old fashioned Kodak camera. The one that requires the photos to be developed in a certain way after the films are used up. "How old is that thing?" I laughed. "Last time I used that was when I was a kid," I ran my hand through my hair. 

"I think you should take it with you tonight. Use it. You can get the pictures developed later. There's a brand new film in here, not one picture has been taken," she handed it to me. "Plus, you're dressed like you're going on a date in the '90s anyway," she shrugged nonchalantly. 

"Sure thing, bye," I took the camera and kissed her cheek before heading out. I got to her door and rang the doorbell. 

Her dad answered the door and let me in. "She's not ready yet, feel free to make yourself at home," he said before disappearing into a room. 

I sat down on their couch in the living room before I heard someone running down the stairs. "Yes, mother! I love you, bye!" I heard his voice before she came running down, breathing heavily. She looked around before spotting me when I stood up and made my way over to her. 

"Hi," she breathed. I looked her up and down and took in her outfit. She was wearing a baby blue sundress with sunflowers printed across it. Her hair was in perfect but careless waves with the front sections twirled and pinned back. She had a little makeup on and I've never seen her look more perfect. 

I'm sure I will in the future but right now, she looks gorgeous. 

Holy shit. 

My eyes met hers and she looked at me with confusion dancing in them. 

"You look gorgeous," I stared into her eyes. 

"Really?" Her eyes sparkled as she blushed. 

Oh my god, I'm falling for her, hard and fast. 

"Yeah, you look amazing," I chuckled. 

"Thanks," she looked down at the ground. 

"Let's go?" I asked. 

She nodded before heading out with me. We were in my car and I was driving to the place when she saw the camera. "You brought a Kodak?" She looked at me with excited eyes and a grin. 

"Yeah, my mom found it somewhere. She thought we could use it today and get the pictures developed," I shrugged.

"That's so sweet of her. It's a good idea, we should do that," she agreed while I pulled up into the place. "Oh, no," she whispered to herself. 

I should have asked if she liked this place. 

"You brought me roller skating?" She looked at me in disbelief. 

"Is that bad?" I questioned. 

"No," she laughed. "I haven't been here in ages! I used to come here all the time!" She danced in her seat. I laughed before stepping out and getting the door for her, leading her in. "Just one question, why did we dress semi-formal for this?" she narrowed her eyes at me. 

"So it feels more like the '90s," I admitted. 

She stopped walking and gave me a huge kiss on the cheek before skipping inside. I chuckled and shook my head while following her in. 

"The Kodak blends right in with the theme then." We looked around and saw a galaxy lamp lighting up the entire place. We got the skates in our sizes before going to the rink when we both pretty much immediately fell. 

She managed to get herself up but me? Not so much. 

"It'll come back to you, come on," she helped me up while laughing. She had her hands locked with mine while we skated around, talking and laughing, taking a bunch of pictures. Most on the Kodak and a few on our phones. 

Not that I've been on many genuine dates, but this is the best date I've ever been on and I am so glad I made it happen. 

x-X-x 

"I had a lot of fun, thank you for today," she smiled while we stood at her front door. 

We spent the entire day together, after skating I took her to walk around town and then we had dinner together and now we were back here. "Would you do it again sometime?" I arched an eyebrow at her. 

"In a heartbeat," she laughed wholeheartedly. "Thank you," she hugged me. 

We stood like that, just taking in the moment before slowly pulling away. Her arms didn't fall from around my neck and mine didn't fall from her waist either. Her eyes flickered between my eyes and lips before she pecked them really nervously and quickly. 

"Bye," she squeaked before turning around to leave but I pulled her in and kissed her. This is one of the few times we're kissing without a crowd and it just keeps getting better. 

I hope I don't jinx anything. 

We pulled away eventually and I caught the ghost of a smile playing on her lips. "See you Monday?" she whispered. 

"See you Monday," I nodded before stepping away while she entered her house. 

I got into my house and room and took the shirt off. I looked out the window to see her leaning against her closed door while her fingers brushed against her lips as she smiled to herself. 

She is consuming me. 

I cleared my head and went into my bathroom to change and brush my teeth and came out, going straight to bed. Or well- trying. The thought of her wasn't leaving my head. I kept replaying the kiss in my mind and how there have been so many times where I wanted to do that so desperately but something or the other always seemed to get in the way. 

The rules, the crowd, the people, our own thoughts and pathetic reasons. It all went to hell today. We both let it happen and it felt amazing. The thought of whatever it was I felt being one-sided still loomed in a corner of my mind but the satisfaction and happiness I was feeling overwhelmed the doubt.

My phone dinged and I glanced at it but what caught my eye was the date. Valentine's day was in a week. I have to do something big for her. 

I want her to realize that it's not all just for show. I genuinely like her and I'm willing to try to be with her if she is. I then looked at the text. 

'Goodnight, Alex <3' 

I smiled before texting her goodnight with a heart and finally letting my eyes close, allowing the sleep to engulf me. 

I can't wait to see her on Monday.

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I am so single. ha.