Vanessa

Ever since my epiphany about Matt, I felt more confident than ever to go full speed ahead with Devin. It was the evening of our first date and he was coming to pick me up in about ten minutes. The plan was to go ice skating so I slipped into a pair of skin-tight, fleece-lined leggings and a teal-colored sweater. I had debated on donning a swishy mini-skirt that would twirl around me as I did spins on the ice but quickly remembered that I wasn't a professional and the outfit choice would likely result in a peep show when I inevitably took a spill.

I hadn't expected Devin to arrive right on time which is why I nearly jumped out of my skin as I was applying the final coats of mascara a solid five minutes before he was set to show up. I glanced at the time on my cell phone. Scratch that. He wasn't just on time, he was early.

"Hey," I greeted him as I opened up the front door.

My insides instantly went jelly at his broad grin. "For you, cutie." He handed me a small bouquet of carnations in an assortment of vibrant colors.

I took a sniff of the flowers, locking eyes with him over the bunch. "Well, aren't you smooth? Something tells me this isn't your first date."

He guided me down the sidewalk, placing his hand on the small of my back. Be cool. Just focus on walking and don't trip.

Devin laughed. "What makes you think I didn't hit the library to brush up on my dating etiquette? Only a fool would allow themselves to blow their shot with you."

Giving him a smile, I slid into the passenger seat of his silver vehicle. "Such a charmer," I muttered teasingly. I looked around the interior of the car, taking note of the cream-colored leather and what appeared to be a convertible top. A Porsche logo adorned the steering wheel and I realized this wasn't your typical high school student's first car.

Where was the ripped fabric on the cushions, the mysterious stain that had been there for over a decade from the previous owner, and the persistent rattling that could only be drowned out by the music turned up at full volume?

Devin hit me with another heart-stopping grin before gunning it down the road. My knuckles turned white as I gripped the edges of the seat, nervously watching the dial on the speedometer make rapid advancement in a short amount of time.

"Nice, huh," he asked rolling down the windows. The chill from the winter air blasted me in the face and my hair began whipping wildly around me. So much for the hour I spent straightening and styling it.

Closing my eyes, I tried to let go of my thoughts and just let my sensations take full control. The sharpness of the cold pierced my skin and I could feel my cheeks ripple slightly as Devin continued to increase his speed. I no longer needed to see the gauge on the dash to know that we were flying on the asphalt but instead of being fearful, I somehow felt invigorated. Slowly, I loosened my hold on the fabric and cracked one eye open to glance over at Devin.

He looked sexy wearing a light blue-button up and a crisp pair of dark, denim jeans. His hair was windblown but instead of resembling a rat's nest, it gave him the effect of having just spent the afternoon sailing at the shore. His strands were perfectly mussed and the right amount of sun-kissed.

He pressed a button, letting out a whoop as the roof of the Porsche lowered itself to the back. Giggling, I threw my hands up in the air imagining that I was on a rollercoaster. Honestly, what had all the fuss been about anyways? This was easy.

But just as with a rollercoaster, the ride was over all too quickly. Before I knew it, we were pulling into the parking lot of the ice skating rink. Devin looked over at me, smirking as he caught sight of my hair.

Groaning, I smoothed it down with my palms. "Maybe next time give me a little warning so I can at least put it into a ponytail."

He sat back in his seat to study me, the smirk dropping from his lips. "You are still stunning, Nessa. Even if you had no hair, it would be impossible not to be captivated by your beauty."

I turned to fiddle with the door handle so he couldn't see the scarlet flush creeping up my neck. "How do you open this thing," I muttered.

Devin leaned over me to give the handle a quick pull but before he moved away, his eyes fell on me and our gazes locked. My breathing quickened and I could hear the sound of my heartbeat thudding in my chest. He was so close, his warm breath chased away the frost in the air.

"Your eyes are so mesmerizing, you know that," he whispered.

I tried hard not to roll them. "Please, they make the color of cow manure look attractive."

"I'm serious," he said reaching up to finger a lock of my hair. "They have this cool golden ring around the pupil and the faintest streaks of white running through the iris. They aren't your typical brown."

"Oh." I licked my lips. "Thanks. I guess."

Sighing, Devin pulled away from me. Whoops. And the award for ruining the moment goes to Vanessa Adams...

"You have to stop being so hard on yourself, Nessa. You're gorgeous. Did you know that I took notice of you the instant I stepped foot into Miss White's classroom on that first day? That's how magnetic you are."

I cleared my throat. "I...uh...thank you," I finished lamely.

He treated me to another one of his dazzling smiles before patting me on the thigh. "What do you say we go showcase our finest Olympic skating skills? Maybe they will even recruit us for Team USA."

I rubbed my hands together. "Sounds like a plan. Rumor has it, I'm the next Michelle Kwan." Or so I thought...

The truth was, the minute my skates hit the ice, my feet went in two separate directions causing me to do a near split and almost rip my leggings as I hit the ground.

Devin covered his mouth as he stifled a laugh before extending his hand to help me up. "Ten out of ten," he announced in a broadcaster tone. "Ladies and gentleman, you have just witnessed Nessa Adams successfully completing a bold move that has never been attempted in Olympic history before."

I playfully swatted his arm. "Hush. I bet you would have let out a whistle tone that rivaled Mariah Carey's had you just done that."

"Touché," he replied skating circles around me. "Although, I doubt it would sound nearly as pleasing. Might snag me a Grammy for Best New Artist though." He stopped short in front of me sending a spray of ice into the air. "Now watch me and let me show you how it's done." He tossed a smile and a wink over his shoulder before gliding off. "The skating that is, not the split."

I looked on in awe as he gracefully maneuvered the slippery rink, completing figure eights and balancing on one leg before ending his routine in a quick spin. I knew I shouldn't have been shocked as the guy had a knack for athletics. He had confessed that in addition to baseball, he had also spent years on the soccer field as a center forward. Was there anything he wasn't capable of?

Scoffing, I rolled my eyes. "Oh, yea right. Keep dreaming."

He skated over to me, taking hold of my hand. "We'll start slow. You've got this, baby." He faced me as he began to move backwards, gently pulling me along with him into we fell into a comfortable rhythm. "There you go. That's my girl," he encouraged.

Baby. My girl. My insides lit up with a radiant glow as I tried the terms of endearment on in my head. I could get used to hearing him say those words.

"Alright," Devin announced as he let go of my hand. "I want you to try it without my help now. You're doing great. You've got this."

I shuffled across the slippery surface inch by inch but I was doing it. My movements were nowhere near as smooth and gracious as his were but at least I wasn't falling. "Olympics, here I come," I called beaming at him.

Instantly, I realized I had spoken too soon as my skate slid out from beneath me and I landed on my butt with a thud. The frigid moisture from the surface immediately seeped into the seat of my leggings sending a chill up my spine.

"Are you okay," Devin asked giving me his palm to help me up yet again. "Don't feel bad. That was an improvement." He heaved me towards him; the force of his pull knocking me against his chest and into his arms. Another shiver ran up my skin but this time, I wasn't so confident that it was from the cold.

He steadied me, his gaze meeting mine. His irises were so clear I felt as though I was looking at the bottom of the Caribbean waters on a still day. His warm breath tickled my ear as he nuzzled into my neck and whispered, "You're so beautiful. How did I get this lucky?"

Goose bumps prickled my arms and even though my heart was racing like a jack hammer, I didn't pull away. Not this time. Wordlessly, we stood there for several moments gazing into each other's eyes, the heat simmering between us and building into a spark that would soon become an uncontrollable fire.

Devin chewed on his lip and I suddenly wanted nothing more right now than for him to kiss me. He hesitated, his sights flickering down to my mouth before moving back to my unwavering stare. Kiss me. It was a foreign feeling not to be the one chickening out this time but it was a welcome change.

He cleared his throat, looking away. "Uh, why don't you try that move I showed you again?" Disappointment flooded my chest but I wasn't going to let it get me down. It was only our first date. Perhaps he was too much of a gentleman to attempt such a bold gesture just yet.

I gave him a small smile, turning away from him. "You got it. This time I'll even do it without falling." I began to shake my hand free of his grasp but he refused to let go and in one swift motion, he spun me back around until we were face to face. Placing his palms on either side of my cheeks, he lowered his mouth to mine and placed a feathery soft kiss on my lips right there in the middle of the skating rink.

He pulled away for a fraction of a second before instantly leaning back in again; this time deepening the smooch. Passerbys were staring at us as they whizzed by but I didn't care. At that moment, it felt like Devin and I were the only two people in the world.

His tongue caressed mine as I sank my fingers into his silky soft hair. My skin tingled and my legs felt like jelly but I refused to be the first one to end our kiss. It hadn't felt this amazing to lock lips with Chris and a flutter of a thought crossed my mind. What would it have been like to do this with Matt? The idea was incomprehensible as I knew it would have been unlike anything I could have ever dreamed of.

Just then, a small boy bumped into us and reluctantly, Devin pulled away. Giggling, the tot waddled off. Devin chuckled softly. "Cute kid. You...um...hungry?"

I glanced down at his now swollen lips, craving more than just food. "Simply ravenous," I replied.

"What are you having," Devin asked turning in my direction.

Furrowing my brows, I studied the glowing menu above the concession stand. I was still feeling the high from our lip lock but could no longer ignore the low grumble that called for attention in my stomach. Fries would hit the spot. God, Devin is such an amazing kisser. Ooh, maybe some chicken wings. I wonder how many girls he's made out with before.

I realized that Devin was staring at me as he awaited my answer. A giggle erupted from my throat. "I think I'll have the hotdog. With ketchup. And mustard. Oh, and some relish too, if you have it." Another giggle. "With a side of potato chips," I added.

Grinning, Devin reached into the back pocket of his jeans and pulled out his wallet. "Is that all or would you like to add the hamburger combo in there as well?"

"Well, now that you mention it, the chocolate chip cookies smell delicious." I patted my stomach causing Devin to laugh.

He nodded. "Sounds good. I'll have the same," he said turning his attention to the cashier. "Throw in some popcorn too." He gestured towards me. "Gotta love a girl with an appetite. I'm tired of all these other prissy females ordering one lettuce leaf as their meal."

I twirled a strand of hair around my finger, giving him my best sultry gaze. "Pssh. Salad? What's that? Never heard of it."

Devin and I were seated in the bleachers, chomping down on our food as we spoke about our favorite movies. We ping-ponged films at each other that we couldn't live without and I realized that it was almost like being back with Matt again on a Friday night discussing the latest sloppy behavior we had just witnessed onscreen.

Devin tossed a piece of popcorn at me, aiming for my mouth and I squealed with delight when I caught it on the first try. He whistled. "And she's an athlete too? I really scored the whole package with this one, didn't I?"

I laughed and it occurred to me that I was actually having a really good time. I can't believe I allowed myself to miss out on dating for so long because of how hung up on Matt I was. At the thought of him, I wondered what a first date with him would have been like.

Maybe our shared love of astronomy would have found us out in the middle of a field, gazing up at the inky night sky. Perhaps we would have cozied up underneath a fleece blanket, drinking hot chocolate as he pointed out all the different constellations to me. Afterwards, we would lie on the grass and just talk for hours about our favorite books until the horizon started to lighten to a whimsical pink from the first rays of dawn.

Neither of us would have wanted the date to end, so we would have gone for breakfast at the diner, indulging in a fluffy stack of pancakes and mouth-watering bacon strips. We would have spoken nonsense and giggled the entire time; delirious from lack of sleep. I shivered at the sheer perfection of it all. It would have been amazing. Keywords being would have.

"Earth to Nessa," Devin called waving a stub of a hotdog in front of my face.

"Sorry," I replied shaking my head and clearing any thoughts of Matt from it.

"Where did you go?" Devin smirked at me his eyes alit with a twinkle.

I fluttered my lashes at him, giving him my best mischievous grin. "I was just thinking about our kiss and how I would really like to do it again."

"Well, that can most definitely be arranged." He leaned forward brushing my hair from my face. "I don't think I'll ever grow tired of smooching you," he whispered before planting a gentle peck on my lips.

He moved away wiping up a drip of ketchup that had fallen onto the bleachers. Glancing over at me, he crumpled up the napkin. "I'm really happy I met you, Nessa. You aren't like the other girls at our school. You're so down-to-earth and not afraid to be yourself."

I stared down at my tight sweater, aware of the false lashes in my vision line. If his words were true would I have really chosen this look for a first date to a skating rink? Or would I have tossed my hair up into a messy bun, picked out an oversized, faded t-shirt and my favorite pair of worn-in black jeans with the rip in the knee?

Suddenly, a nagging question popped into my head. Would Devin still have liked me if I had? Would he still insist I was beautiful or would he have not even noticed me; the plain girl with the mousy brown hair?

A/N I am so excited for the next part as I can promise it's the beginning of something major. Something you've all been waiting for. Get ready for Winter Formal!