I pull to the side of the street and roll down the window.

"Hey, Kat," I call out to her.

"Are you going to offer me a ride?"

"I can't."

"Then, what do you want?" She keeps walking.

"To say 'hi.'"

"Hi."

"Where are you going?" I ask.

"Home."

"Nothing to do today?"

"Maybe something later."

"Something like?" Just tell me.

"It seems like you already know."

"You know he thinks he's going to get lucky."

Kat laughs, "get lucky?" She raises her eyebrows, "who knows? He might."

"At least make him buy you dinner first."

"This isn't the Stone Age. I don't need to be courted."

"No, but you like burgers...no pickles, onions, or ketchup."

"Should I be impressed that you remember that?" She gives me a look that shows she's obviously not.

"I'm not trying to impress you."

"Right, you're just saying 'hi,'

"Hi," I press my lips together.

"Bye, Danny."

"Johnny's has the best burgers you're going to find around here."

"Whatever."

"Don't let him take you to McDonald's."

"What if I like McDonald's?"

I sigh, "Kat..."

"I already said goodbye."

"This jacket is adorable," Lisa takes it off the rack and puts it on.

"Get it. It's on me, a thank you for coming with me on such late notice."

"It's really no problem. I was bored anyway."

"I think I've been programmed to never buy clothes without someone else's approval first." I show her a black dress. "Do you think this is too sexy?"

"Depends," she laughs, "what level of sexy are you trying to achieve?"

"On a scale from one to ten...I'd like at least a six. I don't think it would be appropriate to go any higher considering the occasion."

"Well, this is a ten...but maybe with a jacket?"

"Covered just enough for my parents not to complain."

"And uncovered enough for..."

I laugh, "Has Richard spoken to you lately?"

"Actually, yes."

"Oh, good. I wasn't sure Leo would actually say anything to him."

"Heather," her face pales, "you made him tell Ricky?"

"I just thought he needed the extra push?"

"To ask me out, maybe, but he was completely confident in every other aspect."

"Should I even ask?"

"We went out...hardly. He drove me around for a while and then parked somewhere."

"Romantic..."

"We were kissing and then he started hinting for me to— you know...go down. I wasn't sure I wanted to, but he pulled down his jeans, and the radio was playing 'I Want to Know What Love Is' by Foreigner so I kind of just did it."

"You kind of just-" I shake my head and sigh, "Lisa."

"When I see him now, he just waves like I'm anyone else and nothing ever happened."

"I feel partly to blame for this." Granted, I've never felt compelled to give a blowjob simply because Foreigner was on in the background, but... "Leo told me he was an asshole, I should've listened."

"If you would've told me, I'd still have to see for myself before I believed you."

"You couldn't have seen with your eyes instead of your mouth, Lisa?"

"He dropped me off at home after and said I was a 'cool chick' and we should hang out again sometime. New York boys are a lot like California boys..."

"Just with warmer clothes and a harsher vocabulary."

"I guess I should've asked if it was a date before I went with him..."

"What else would it have-" I sigh. "Oh, no...I should have told Leo what to say."

"Why?"

"Guys interpret things differently...and without the proper communication, Ricky probably thinks that what happened was exactly what you intended."

"...should I try again with him?"

Probably not.

"...let me talk to Leo first, then I'll get back to you."

"Normally, I think fountains of anything other than water is just tacky— but a big, chocolate fountain at the center of the dessert table could work...as long as no one tries to eat it."

This year's Valentine's themed event is The sweethearts masquerade. Maybe it's out of desperation for affection but there's always more traffic around Valentine's Day events at Addington than any other.

The headmistress banned the rose grams a couple years ago because it was too distracting to students, and yet, we still somehow manage to anonymously sneak roses to whoever we're secretly admiring.

I imagine Audrey and I were both sticking roses through the vent of Ethan's gym locker.

"Of course they'll want to eat it, Audrey."

"Well, tell them not to," she glares at me. "Also, I want a trail of rose petals leading into the room...God, I wish they'd let us have wine."

"Who knows if we'll be allowed half of this stuff, Audrey."

"You know, when I was talking to Natalia about this, she said we should just host it ourselves."

"You and me?"

"No, me and Natalia."

"Oh."

Audrey starts to laugh, "she came up with this great idea where we'd give everyone a card with a location of somewhere in school and a time to go meet whoever had the matching card. I think it's a cute little Cupid game."

"Don't you think people are going to already be coupled up? It's a Valentine's Day dance."

"Well, they don't have to participate."

"I guess not...but then there would probably be way fewer people playing."

"You say that now...but watch them come back for a card," she says confidently. "Natalia said that there would probably be people sneaking off from their dates to meet their mystery match. The excitement is too much temptation."

"Or boys are just dogs," I speak too lowly to be heard...so I thought.

"Are you going alone now that Trevor's off to the races?"

"I'm not going."

"That's what you said last time, isn't it, hon?"

"And I learned my lesson about changing my mind, didn't I, Audrey?" I could've stayed home and spared myself the public humiliation, I will now.

"There's nothing wrong with going with friends. I'm bringing Natalia."

"Weren't you the one who said that going with friends is just a way for ugly people not to feel left out?"

"It's different if the friends you're going with could double as supermodels."

"Okay...are we coordinating outfits then?"

"We as in?"

"...you...me...Natalia. It'd be nice to meet her if she's as great as you keep saying."

"Another time, babe. Three's a crowd."

"You look handsome," my mom smiles. "Who are you getting all dressed up for?"

"I've got this thing," I shrug.

"What thing?"

"It's just...a thing."

"A date?"

"I don't think people get dressed up for dates anymore."

"I'm willing to bet that girls still do."

Well, Heather always looks dressed up to me.

"Okay," I stand back and put my arms out, "if I wasn't your son, and you were just meeting me— would you think I look like a nice, respectable guy?"

"You are a nice and respectable guy."

"Yes, but you know me already. Pretend you don't."

"Okay. Hi, it's nice to meet you, I'm your mom." I roll my eyes and turn back to the mirror. "You look great, jellybean. Very respectable, distinguished even."

"Distinguished," I nod with a smirk, "that's a good one."

"I want to meet her, Leo."

"Who?"

"Whoever this is for."

"...okay."

"I'll be nice."

I smile at the thought. "I know." You're already nice to her.

"Even if I don't approve, you won't hear a peep out of me. I promise."

"You'll approve, I'm not worried."

"Then why haven't you brought her here?"

"Because I don't want too much to change yet. So, can you wait...just a while longer?"

"Okay," she nods, "but if I start getting antsy, you know I can just ask Danny."

And he'd tell her, too. He can hide things from everyone else but struggles when it comes to my mom, I don't get it.

"Alright, I have to get going."

"Look at you, all grown up."

"Hardly," I glance down at the knot in my necktie, "Can you fix this?"

"Are you allowed to park here?" Kat asks when I stop the car.

"No...but I do it anyway." She nods and we sit in a tantalizing silence. "So..." I interrupt the quiet.

"So," she looks to me expecting something.

Something.

I lean over and press my mouth against hers, engulfing her in a sloppy kiss that shows I'm less concerned about technique and just eager to get her clothes off.

I move further onto her until I'm practically in the passenger's seat. My tongue grazes across hers and I'm kissing her hard enough that she's leaning against the door for support.

I let her up for air when my lips find their place on her chest, moving down her tight shirt she didn't wear a bra with. I cup her in my hand and-

She giggles and pushes my head back.

"Food first."

I sigh and climb off of her. "But then I have to wait thirty minutes before diving in."

Her jaw drops, "you are so-"

"Awesome."

I get out of the car and meet her on the other side.

"I was going to say perverted."

I smile and put my arm over her shoulders as we walk into Johnny's.

It's not too crowded. On Friday's it doesn't get busy until late.

There are a few tables of people, a group of middle schoolers, a family with two young kids, boy, girl, boy, girl, girl, girl, and Danny.

We make eye contact and I scrunch my face up in confusion as I wave. What are the odds?

"You want a booth?" I ask Kat and she nods, sliding into the closest one to us.

"I'm ordering a chocolate shake."

"With two straws?" I move my eyebrows up and down.

"Are you trying to use me to live out your romantic fantasies?" Kat tilts her head to the side.

"That depends— how do you feel about long walks on the beach?"

"I feel like it's winter in New York."

I smirk. "So just one straw then?"

"Look who showed up here right as we're about to leave." Kat and I both turn to watch Danny walk up to us.

"How long have you been here?" I ask.

"Not long-"

"Way too long," Val crosses her arms.

"We're leaving now."

"Drive safe," I nod.

"Yeah, you too."

"See you tomorrow."

He nods and glances over at Kat who doesn't spare him even a small amount of acknowledgment.

"Alright, goodbye."

He holds the door open for Val to walk out of, and even when she's through he holds it a bit longer— his attention still on us, or more specifically, Kat.

I laugh as he lingers by the doors and windows, staring through like I'll pounce on her if he looks away.

Comical.

"Why are you laughing?" Kat asks.

I sigh, "because of fucking Danny, man."

"What about him?"

"I can't go upstairs with you when I drop you off."

"Did he say that?"

"Not in so many words." But his girlfriend could have caught on fire behind him and he still wouldn't have torn his eyes from you.

They're sitting at the table already. Her parents' back to me, and her on the other side seated next to an empty chair that's waiting for me.

And—

I can't go in.

Fuck. I run my hands through my hair as if my heart will stop racing if I pull hard enough.

Heather spots me and I quickly move out of her view. I can't do it, butterfly, I can't talk to them and have them analyze me like I'm subhuman.

She comes out from behind the doors and finds me leaning against the wall. "Leo-"

"I'm freaking out."

"No, it's okay," her voice is soothing, but not enough to calm me. I close my eyes and shake my head.

"I thought I could do it...I practiced...I prepared myself..."

She puts her hand on my arm."...You don't have to go in there if you don't want to. I understand." I open my eyes again and am met with sincerity. Her face says that I can run out of here right now and she'll cover for me. But I'd be the worst boyfriend ever if I did that— and I'm here to prove I'm not. I grab her hand, and she smiles. "I told them to go easy on you."

"What's their idea of easy?" I ask as she leads me into the restaurant.

"Our guest of honor has arrived," her dad says to her mom as we approach the table.

"Uh— good evening, Mr. Blakely," I reach out to shake his hand.

"Good evening, Leonardo," he accepts my gesture.

"Mrs. Blakely," I nod in acknowledgment, and she reciprocates disdainfully.

"Glad you could join us," her dad keeps the politeness.

"Wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Take a look at the menu. The chef here is one of the best in Manhattan."

"Wow," I say to show interest, but once I open the menu, 'wow' takes on a whole new meaning.

Heather leans over when she sees the expression on my face, "what's wrong?"

"You guys are eating sheep on bread rolls?" I whisper, "and paying thirty dollars for fries?"

She laughs, "that's a good price."

"I guess we should begin, shouldn't we?" Her father says aloud, bringing all the attention to him. "So, Leonardo, how are you?"

"I'm great, sir. How are you?"

"Just fine, thank you. Did you have any trouble finding the place?" He asks but then laughs like he told a joke, "who am I kidding? Of course not, you're here all the time."

"It's a big hotel...hard to miss."

"What do you think of it? I find it quite cozy."

"It's nice."

"And where do you live?"

"Madison street."

"Above one of those Chinese restaurants?" Heather's mom speaks lowly to Mr. Blakely, "they do that. I don't know how people get to their rooms."

"Uh— no, but there are Chinese restaurants nearby. There's one on Essex that makes great lo mein."

"Great," she smiles sarcastically.

"Do you like it there, Madison street?" Mr. Blakely takes back the conversation.

"it's cozy."

"What are your plans after high school, Leonardo? Are you going to stay on Madison street?"

I let out a deep sigh, "I'm not really sure yet. Heather thinks I should take some business classes...but I originally planned to just join the workforce, you know, manual labor."

"Hm, Madison street it is then."

"Dad," Heather shoots a glare at him.

"Oddly, that eases some of my concerns because Heather will be in college. Until then, I'm not going to ask you what your intentions are with my daughter because I think that's a dead-end question. No father would get the truth from that question."

"I don't think that's fair to say. If you asked me what my intentions with Heather are, I'd tell you the truth. My intentions are to be with her until she doesn't want me anymore, and maybe that's when she's off at college, but then again maybe it's not. Who knows? But one day I'll probably read about her in a magazine or see her on TV and...I'll just be happy that she's okay."

"Is that the textbook answer?"

"Trust me, Mr. Blakely, if there was a textbook on this I wouldn't have spent the past few days dreading coming here tonight."

"Oh, you don't want to be here?"

"No, we are an inconvenience, dear," her mother adds.

"No, not at all. I didn't mean it to sound like that. I was just nervous-"

One of the servers rushes up to the table and saves me. I must've sent out a distress call. "Can I interest you in tonight's selection of wine?"

"Will you be drinking, Leonardo?" Mr. Blakely asks.

"No, sir."

"He must be driving," her mom retorts.

"Uh— no, I took the subway here...I'll take the subway back."

"I could have sent for you," Mr. Blakely replies.

"He dreads seeing us but not the filthy underground trains." You really want to undermine me.

Heather sighs, "They're really not how you think they are, mother. When I was-"

Her dad's voice cuts through like a steel knife, "You had my daughter on the subway?"

"I— well, yes, but I swear she was safe. She was with me."

"People take the subway every day. Children are on there," Heather says defensively.

"Children that aren't mine," her dad argues.

"We are really the 1%, there's a subway station 5 minutes away from here because everyone uses it," Heather continues.

"Everyone but you."

She finally backs down, crossing her arms and glaring— but having nothing left to say.

Her dad pours wine into his glass

The waiter stands uncomfortably by the table, "Have you decided on an entree?"

"The Cobb, light dressing— actually, no. Put the dressing on the side," her mom orders. "A salad for you as well, Heather. You tend to overdo it in the winter. Your clothes are starting to fit you tighter, I can tell."

"That's bullshit."

"Leo," Heather gasps along with what felt like everyone in the restaurant.

I stare at their shocked faces and feel mine heat up in a surge of anxiety.

"I'm sorry...I-" I take a deep breath to keep from stammering. "I don't mean to be disrespectful or anything, but she looks great. You're crazy if you don't think so. Her clothes aren't getting tighter, she's wearing a tight dress and it looks so-" her father and I make eye contact, and I take it as a warning to change the direction I was going in. "She can order everything up here and nothing will change the fact that she looks good...none of that winter bullshit."

Her dad clears his throat and hands the menu back to the server, "I'll have the salmon."

"Excellent choice," the waiter nods. "And for you?"

I shake my head, "I'm not that hungry...can I just have some more water, please?"

"I'll bring that right over." Finally, he looks at Heather, "for you, miss?"

"The check."

My dad reaches into his wallet and pulls out a hundred dollar bill, "Here, take a cab."

"Oh, no, I'm fine-" Father puts it in his hand.

"Goodnight, Leonardo," he nods.

"Goodnight, Mr. and Mrs. Blakely."

I wait until they're out of the door before I roll my eyes. "I thought that would never end."

"Yeah," Leo says while staring down at the ground. "I guess I'll see you later, butterfly."

"Wait, you're leaving," I grab ahold of his arm and pull him closer to me. "Why? What's wrong?"

"That didn't go the way I wanted it to."

"You know how they are. What did you expect?"

"I know...but I guess I had hoped something would change."

"Nothing changed between us...right?"

"How long can you really stay with a guy your parents hate?"

"Hm, What was it that you said in there," I smile, "until you don't want me anymore?"

His lips pull into a smirk and he tries to hide it. I wrap my arms around his neck and place my lips on his, hiding his smirk in our kiss.

He pulls back a little, "you're just trying to make me feel better."

"Is it working?"

"Yes."

I smile and kiss him again. "Stay."

"I told your parents I would go home."

"I didn't."