Cookie: Okay for Fay's dress on the side, I chose this 2 months ago when a flood of suggestions was messaged to me. XD Thank you to everyone who participated. Out of all the pics sent, this one caught my eye. This was the only one sent that wasnt repeated. I forgot who sent it to me so if you know who you are...tell me >.<

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(Fay's POV)

 "They're staring at me!"

     "Pffft! Girl, you look like a total babe!"

      "This dress makes me look fat."

      "Honey, trust me, that dress does NOT make you look fat."

      I sighed. Okay, so Luis wasn't going to give in and take me back home where I could bury myself under the bed. I can't believe I had agreed to let him dress me. Hell, I hadn't even agreed to anything now that I think about it.

      I glared at him.

      He had just barged into my room and declared himself my "makeover" stylist. Pfft, I didn't think that I needed one but obviously he had thought I was lacking in the fashion department....Okay, so maybe I do.

      "Ugh, this dress is so clingy!" I wiggled, tugging the skirt down. "And why the hell is it so short? You can practically see my friggin' crotch!"

       Luis grinned and wiggled his brows. "At least no one call yell 'Fire Crotch!' at you, you don't have red hair."

      I snorted. Oh haha. Yeah, I didn't have red hair but I wasn't a brunette anymore either. Luis had talked me into dying it blond. Yeah, Fay Valentine with blond hair, imagine that. Looking the way I did now, no one at school would recgonize me.

      "Stop fussing!" Luis said, pushing me into the mall. "You look fantastic! Of course you do, I made you."

      "Hey!"

      He rolled his eyes. "Okay so I didn't 'make' you but I did give you a fabulous new look. If people are staring then it's because I had outdone myself."

      I glanced around. Yup, people were staring at me alright. I glared at them, itching to start swinging my fist but I had already promised Luis that I wouldn't try to knock out anyone staring at me. Man...I really wish I hadn't made that promise.

      "Where is he?" I snapped, looking around, "I don't see him anywhere. Oh god, what if he got tired of waitig and left? What if he wants to break up with me? What if-"

      Luis took my shoulders and shook me. "Woman, snap out of it! Austen wouldn't just leave and he'd probably chop his own balls off rather then break up with you."

      I took in a deep breath and let it out. "Okay...okay, I'm fine."

      Luis didn't look convinced so I placed a fake preppy smile on my face. The one I've seen Angela use countless of times.

      "Stop that," he blinked, "you look like barbie on crack when you smile like that."

      My face fell. Well damn! It had worked with Angela.

      "Vals?"

      I froze.

      "Vals? Is...is that you?"

      I gulped, eyes widening.

      "Turn around," Luis hissed but I just kept staring at him. My feet felt glued to the ground. Oh god, what if he didn't like what he saw? What if Austen preferred the old Fay and hated this new look? Oh god, oh god, oh god....

      Luis rolled his eyes. "Of for the love of-" He took the initiative and forced me to turn around to face Austen. I groaned. Yup, he didn't like it. His face said it all.

      I'm going to kick Luis' ass.

---

(Austen's POV)

I cleared my throat.

     "Wow...so it is you."

      Vals glared at me. "Yeah? So, what of it? You don't like it right? I told Luis that it was a stupid idea to dye my hair blond but-"

      "Vals," I cut her off, lips twitching, "I think you look great."

      I watched, amused as her eyes widened with shock then narrow with suspicion. "Really? You really think I look okay? You're not just saying that so I wont deck you?"

      I smiled. "I was wondering why I waited a whole two hours here for you but now I see why. Vals, you look beautiful."

      She blushed, her cheeks turning pink. I loved it when that happened. Vals wasn't one to blush but when she did she looked adorable. Right now she looked adorable all over. Luis had certainly outdone himself. I wasn't lying. Vals was beautiful.

      "I don't like the hair," she mumbled, looking away. "It's too blond. I look like Angela."

      Silly girl.

      "Vals, you look perfect."

      "I guess. If you say so." She still wouldn't look at me.

     "Vals?"

      "Hmm?"

      I took a step closer and placed a finger under her chin. Gently, I tilted her head up and made her look at me. Like I had expected, her eyes were wide with innocence and uncertainty. How can I not help but love this girl?

      Bumping our foreheads gently together, I gave her an assuring smile. "I do say so." No one was as beautiful as my Vals. Whether blond, brunette or a red head...she shined brighter than all combined. She just didn't realize it.

      "Okay!" Luis grinned, making an OK sign with his fingers. "Well my job here is done. I'll leave you two love birds alone now." He winked at me. "Have fun."

      I found myself chuckling at him. "Thanks, Luis."

      "No problem," he waved, "ta-ta."

      "It was his idea for me to wear this," I heard Vals say. "I feel like a walking time bomb. I keep waiting for myself to trip over these damn heels."

      I took a step back and studied her. Yeah, she looked awkward with the black high heels on but that didn't make her stop looking great. The heels only emphasized her long graceful legs. The clingy black strapless dress outlined her body perfectly, revealing a figure that many would have not have guessed that she had.

      "Vals," I said, finding my voice. I met her eyes and let a slow smile form on my lips. "You were worth the wait."

      She blushed again and scoffed.

      I took her hand and entwined it with mine. I liked it. The feeling of holding hands with her. Sometimes I had to touch her just to make sure that she was finally really mine. "Ready?"

      "Um...yeah. I guess."

      The restaurant was connected to the mall so we didn't have to walk very long. Still, I felt myself tensing whenever I spotted another guy doing a double take just to get a good look at her. The thing about me is...I'm a possesive bastard. My hands were already clenching and unclenching, flexing the muscles to keep myself from punching the next guy who oogled her.

      "If one more guy looks at me funny," Vals hissed from beside me, "I'm gonna deck him."

      I threw my head back and laughed.

------

(Fays POV)

Austen laughed.

      I tried not to smile but failed. I liked his laugh. And I liked looking at him. He wasn't dressed as fancy as me but he still looked good. Why did he have to look so good? And the next damn chick who checks out how good his butt looked in those snug blue jeans was going to get a black eye.

      Possesive? Moi? Naaaw. Okay maybe a bit.

      I was barely paying attention when we entered the restuarant, glaring at any women who looked at him. I was glaring at some guys too. They wouldn't stop looking at me funny. What? Did they think that just cause I was wearing a fancy dress that I couldn't kick their ass? Pffft.

      "Vals?"

      "Huh?" I blinked and looked up at him. "What?"

      His lips twitched, eyes twinkling with amusement. "Would you like to sit down?"

      Eh? I glanced around and realized that we were already in the restuarant and Austen had pulled out my chair for me. Huh, wow I really needed to pay more attention. I sat down, trying hard not to blush. How embarrassing.

      Austen took the seat across from mine. The waiter handed us our menu so I had an excuse to bury my face into it, hoping that Austen wouldn't see the embarrassed blush I felt crawling up my cheeks.

      Great, Fay, just friggin' great, I mentally kicked myself. You're on your first real date with Austen and all you can do is zone off to lala land.

      "Vals?"

      "Huh?" My head shot up from over the menu. "What?"

      "Do you see something you like?"

      I stared at the menu. Nothing but fancy sounding food. Was that a french word I see? What the hell was an Escargo? I glanced at the patiently waiting waiter then at Austen. He was studying his menu but looked up when he felt my eyes. He smiled.

      I smiled back. He had such a nice smile. Straight, perfect white teeth. Man, those braces he had to wear during middle school sure did a banged up job. His teeth looked like they belong in a Colgate commercial. Actually, he looked like he belonged in a GQ catalogue.

      And he said I looked beautiful!

      I grinned, glad that the huge menu was hiding my goofy grin. Me, Fay Valentine...beautiful. I'm sure that he was just saying that but having him say it made me feel all funny inside. Like my legs turned to jello whenever he so much as smiled at me. God I was turning into a girly girl.

      "Vals?"

      "Hmm?" I looked up from my menu again.

      "Are you ready to order?"

      "Um..." I glanced at the menu. Okay...I don't want to embarrass Austen in front of the waiter. I'd never live it down. Straighting, I smiled my most charming smile at the waiter. "I would like the Escargo please. With the sauce."

      I saw Austen lift up a brow but didn't comment. I continued to smile at the waiter. "And I'd like apple cyder, if you please."

      The waiter nodded, joting the order down on his pad. He took my menu and turned his attention to Austen. He ordered his and handed the menu to the waiter. "I'll be back with your drinks," the waiter said before leaving.

      I cleared my throat. My face was beginning to hurt from all this damn smiling but I wanted Austen to see that I too can be a lady. Yup, a sweet, sophisticated lady...

      "Vals?"

      "Yes, Austen?"

      "Do you need to...uh...go to the ladies room?"

      I blinked, smile faultering a bit. "No...why?"

      Austen's lips twitched again. "You look...funny."

      My smile vanished and I glared at him. "Austen you ass."

      He laughed. "Sorry, sorry, I'm just messing with you."

      I kept glaring at him.

      He chuckled. "You don't have to act around me, you know. I like you just the way you are."

      I snorted. Oops...guess that's not very lady-like.

      "And Vals?"

      "What?"

      His eyes twinkled at me. "Do you know what Escargo is?"

      Aw shit. "Maybe. Why?"

      "Nothing...just wondering. Have you ever eaten snails?"

      "Ew, snails? Thats sick." Who eats snails?

      Austen's smile widened. "Oh."

      "Oh?" I looked at him suspiciously. Okay, why did I have a feeling that he was laughing at me now? "Oh what?"

      He shook his head. "Nothing, nothing. Forget I said anything."

      "Austen."

      "You ordered it."

       "What?"

       "Snails. That's what Escargo is."

      My jaw dropped. "What!?" I had ordered snails? UGH! No wonder he was laughing at me! Now I felt stupid. Really, really stupid. I mean, there I was trying to act all cool and grown up but I only succeeded in looking like an ass. Fantastic.

      "Vals?"

      I stared at my hands on my lap, refusing to look at him. I didn't care how soft and coaxing his voice sounded when he had called my name. Don't care how it made me wanna melt like butter. I was too embarrassed to look up. The waiter was probably in the back laughing his ass off at me with his friends.

     "Vals."

      My eyes remained stubbornly fixed on my hands. I heard his chair scrapping back as he stood and still I didn't look up even when he knelt beside me and took my hands. "Vals, look at me."

      I blinked. Damn, why was my eyes burning? Ugh...I felt like an idiot!

----

(Austen's POV)

I shouldn't have laughed at her.

      Kneeling beside her now, I felt like kicking myself. It had been amusing to watch her attitude suddenly change, ordering snails like she knew what she was ordering. I should have warned her but I couldn't help but want to tease her a little. Now her feelings were hurt.

      "Vals, look at me."

      "I feel like an idot," she mumbled.

      "I'm sorry, it's my fault. I should have said something before."

      "It's not your fault that I'm stupid."

     "You're not stupid."

      Her lips tightened. "Yes, I am. I can't even read a friggin' menu."

      I reached out and caressed her cheek, not caring if the whole damn restuarant was watching us. "Do you want to leave?"

      She finally looked at me, eyes glittering with unshed tears. I could see that she was desperatly trying not to cry and it made me wanna shoot myself. "Why? Are you embarrasssed to have me here?"

      I frowned. "That's not true and you know it."

      Vals looked away. "I don't care if we leave. I knew this was a bad idea in the first place."

      "Not to me. Anywhere you are is where I want to be. If you want to go some place else I'll be right beside you."

      Vals shrugged. "Whatever."

     I sighed, standing. Damn, this wasn't what I had planned. I just made her feel even more insecure with herself. Why couldn't she see that I wanted to gloat with pride? That being with her didn't embarrass me but made me feel like the luckiest guy on earth? I didn't give a damn about what others thought of her. To me, Fay Valentine is perfect.

      "Come on."

      She looked up at me. "What?"

      I took her hand and pulled her up to her feet. "Let's go. We're getting out of here."

      "W-wait," she sputtered as I dragged her with me. "Where are we going?"

      "You'll see."

      I guided her outside to my car, opening the door for her and urging her inside. I ignored her questions, taking my seat on the drivers side. I drove us to Burger King and ordered some burgers with fries and drinks. I stopped by Wallgreens to grab a lighter and some fancy looking candles and left. I still didn't answer her demanding questions when I drove us out of town into the next until we reached the beach.

      "Austen?" Vals huffed, getting out the car and slamming the door close. "What's going on?"

      "Haven't you guessed?" I said, opening the trunk and grabbing the large picnic blanket that my mom had left inside. "We're having a picnic."

      She gapped and looked around. "Here? Now?"

      "Why not?"

      The sun was just beginning to set behind the ocean, giving us a fantastic view. The air smelt like the ocean and was a bit chilly but that didn't stop me. I was on a mission. I went down the beach and found a perfect spot, spreading the blanket on the sand. I went back to the car and grabbed the food and Wallgreens bag.

      "You're serious," Vals said, staring as I prepared our little 'picnic'. "We're really having a picnic here."

      "That's what I said." I lite the candles and stood, examining my work. I looked at her and smiled. "Done."

      Vals blinked, opened her mouth, shut it and blinked again.

      My smile vanished. Okay...maybe she hated the idea. Great. I ran a hand through my hair, suddenly frustrated. Well hell. It seemed like a good idea at the time. A romantic picnic at the beach...why not? I eyed the Burger King bag and grimced. Okay...so maybe I should have chosen something else.

      "I love it."

     My head snapped up. "What?"

      Vals grinned. "I love it!' She kicked off her high heels off and laughed. "Now this is my kind of date."

      I found my smile returning. "Really?"

      Vals nodded, plopping down on the blanket. She grabbed a burger an unwrapped it, taking a big bite. "Yup."

      I laughed. Yeah...this was more like Vals.

-----

(Fays POV)

I chewed, watching Austen watching me.

      Burger King wasn't the most romantic food to bring in a picnic on the beach with candle lights but what the hell? Why not? To me, this was the most romantic thing that anyone had ever done for me. Leave to Austen to be the one to have thought of it. He knew me so well.

      He sat down beside me, looking out into the ocean. There were only a few people on the beach, most of them couples holding hands and walking. Some glanced at us but otherwise kept on walking. I followed Austen's gaze out into the ocean, watching the sun set. The waves moved, sparkling under the setting sun.

      I took another bite of my burger and chewed. It all had happened so fast but I liked it. I like this date, burger, sun set and all. And I loved the boy...no...man sitting beside me. I can't believe it took me so long to realize that. I'm an idiot.

      "Must be good."

      "Huh?" I glanced at him, still chewing.

      Austen nodded to the burger in my hand. "That."

      I smiled and shoved it in his face. "Want some?"

      He took a bite, a really big one that had me saying, "Hey!"

      Austen smiled, chewing. The juice from the tomatoe and sauce dripped from the corner of his mouth and before I thought too much into what I was about to do, I leaned forward and licked the juice off. Austen stiffened, smile vanishing.

       I pulled back, grinning. "Get your own burger." I bumped my shoulder against him playfully. I looked away from the intense look in his eyes, pretending to dust off sand from my dress. Oh god...what made me do that? Geez.

      "Vals?"

      "Hmm?" I turned to look at him. Before I could react he swooped his head down and kissed me. I pulled back, feeling myself blush. Yeah...I've been doing that all day. This guy could make a nun blush.

      "I should charge you for that," I joked, trying to pretend that I wasn't affected by the simple kiss.

      "I'd pay you whatever you want."

      "Even if you have to rob a bank?"

     "I'd rob a thousand banks if I have to."

      Wow...he was serious. I looked away again. Can he hear my heart pounding? Cause right now, it was going a thousand miles an hour. "So..." I cleared my thoat, "you're saying that you really really love me."

      "Yeah."

      I bit my lips, toying with the strings on my dress. "Always?"

      "Vals, I'll cherish you til I'm dead. Probably even after that."

      I glanced at him. "We're totally having a corny moment."

      Austen grinned. "Yeah but I meant it." His smile disappeared again. "How about you, Vals? How do you feel about me?"

      I scowled. "You already know."

      "Yeah, but I'd like to hear it."

      I gulped. Geez, didn't he know that I sucked at showing my emotions? "I...I like you."

      He lifted a brow. "Just 'like'?"

      I glared at him. "No, not just 'like'". He kept staring at me, waiting. I sighed. "I love you, okay?"

      "You don't sound happy about it."

       "Not true. I do love you."

      "Prove it."

      I eyed him. "What do you mean, 'prove' it?"

      His eyes twinkled at me. "Kiss me."

      I rolled my eyes. "Thats it? Really? A kiss?"

      "Yeah."

      I leaned