After getting ice-cream, Dorian and I snuck into the deserted park that we'd bypassed on our way to the parlour. We were currently eating our dessert on the swings that had gotten even more rickety since the rare moments I'd come to the park with Mum when I was a lot younger.

"You know, we've been on you all night," I swallowed a spoonful of my Caramel Delight before proceeding. "How about you ask me a question? About anything."

"Really?" Dorian raised an eyebrow. "Anything?"

   I shrugged, trying to ignore his tone and the second thoughts threatening to surface. Okay, maybe I shouldn't have said anything.

"So long as it's not about my bra size or something creepy, of course."

   The ends of my lips lifted at the redness took over his face... then straightened at the impish glint that crept into his green eyes.

"Dorian!"

"Okay, okay!" he held up his hands, failing to suppress the laugh that erupted from him.

   What in the Rav was happening here?

   Maybe I was right to rethink this.

"Okay, first question," Dorian remarked, still smiling, "When was the last time you went on a date like this?"

"Honestly? ...Never." I admitted, then seeing his shocked stare, I clarified, "That's not to say I haven't been on any dates at all, but it was always with Talise and her date or some school function I didn't want to attend in the first place. But... I've never been on a date like this. One where I'm actually enjoying myself. And that's even counting the rare times I got to hang out with boys I liked."

"Boys you liked, huh?" Dorian's gaze shifted to the ground.

"Jealous?" I teased, poking the part of him closest to me.

   Seconds went by without him budging. Too many seconds. I found myself torn between doing something and just allowing this weird moment to pass. Hopefully soon.

"I was," Finally looking up, Dorian said. Then, upon noticing my knitted brows, he clarified, his voice a bare whisper, "Jealous, i mean. I was jealous when... when I saw you and Landon together."

   Oh, that. Now it was my turn to look down. He was referring to what happened between me and Landon last night while I waited with him for his Ride.

"It wasn't like I was stalking you guys or anything, believe me," he continued with the same soft tone. "I happened to be looking out my window when I saw you. I swear I really wanted to look away but I just couldn't and I'll admit I was super jealous when he hugged you the first time but everything else that transpired afterwards was clear proof that nothing is going on between you two. I hope you don't think that that's the reason I asked you out. I'd already planned on doing so that morning and I guess I'm just trying to say that I'm sorry."

   Lifting my head, I was met with Dorian's stare, which switched from guilty to bewildered when I smiled and said, "It's okay. I know you saw us. And that you were jealous."

   I really did, I told him. After Landon left in his car and I went up to Dorian's room, he wasn't too far from his window. But that wasn't what gave him away. It was the look he had on.

"The look?" Dorian queried, cutting off my narration.

   I nodded. "That was the second time I'd seen that look on your face. When I saw you yesterday, I suddenly recalled the time where Rav jumped into that river at the high school party we went to to search for Talise weeks ago. When he got out and gave me that long, wet kiss, your expression was the first thing I laid eyes on when he pulled away."

   The look was as clear as day now more than ever, I continued. Dorian's eyebrows had sunk so low, they created an almost precise 'V' and formed a perfect unibrow as he had glared holes into Rav. His rage had darkened his irises to a venomous green while his lips had been thinned out into a serious line.

   At that time, I was thinking that maybe Dorian had finally come to his senses and hated himself for encouraging Rav to jump into the water.

   But now, walking into his room to find him staring out the window–which gives a clear view of outside– with that look again plus that memory, it wasn't hard putting it all together.

"I was not jealous when Rav kissed you." Dorian scoffed as he stood up from his swing to stand in front of me.

"Tell that to your face." I snickered. "The look does not lie."

"Well, even if I was, that was the past. Just like with Landon. I'd rather focus on the now."

"Since when?"

"Since right now, which has you and me," Taking my ice cream cup from my hold, Dorian replaced it with his hands. "Not Rav and Beth or Landon and Beth. You and me. Dorian and Beth."

"Dorian and Beth," I found myself echoing, barely believing the words leaving my mouth.

"Dorian and Beth," he confirmed while intertwining our fingers.

   Even after Dorian said it again, it was still taking a while for it to sink in. If anyone told me weeks ago that he and I would eventually not just be able to stand each other, but actually get along to this extent, it would have taken everything in me to not yell at them to get their heads tested. And that would only last for five seconds before they got a piece of my mind.

   Yet here we were, on an actual date, trespassing a children's park after hours (did i mention we had to er...unclose the closed gate? No?) with our nearly finished ice-cream.

   Dorian and Beth did have a nice ring to it, I'll admit. And I had no doubt it would sound better when combined, like one of those over-the-top couples in Zavlon. I could imagine us when this whole Yunie thing was over; Dorian and I were walking hand in hand as...

"You're kidding." I chuckled to myself.

   Maybe I should circle back on this whole couple name thing.

"What?"

"Dorian and Beth when combined," I had to press my lip together to stop the next laugh threatening to escape. "is Deth."

"Wow," He winced. "We have to keep thinking."

   Or we could just go along with this morbid joke the universe was playing on us.

"I just realised something," Dorian spoke up after a while. "I owe you a dance."

"How come?" I frowned.

   Dorian, however, stayed silent, only fuelling my confusion as he drew me to my feet and threw my hands around his neck.

"The Virtual Reality Dance?" he grinned, his hands finding their way to my hips. "I was your 'date', remember?"

   That seemed like ages ago now. It was during that dance that Dorian and I had our first real conversation. He'd even sort of apologised for the rough way we'd started out. Although it had been weird seeing him acting all cordial, I remember looking at Dorian in a new light. A better light. And that I liked that light.

   Then everything went to hell, of course.

   The cold, night air between us was engulfed by Dorian's body warmth as he pulled me closer to him. Forgetting my jacket at the music store didn't seem stupid of me anymore.

   I tried to be as discreet as possible while taking whiffs of his signature coconut-lemon smell. I wasn't crazy enough to get caught.

"I would have never guessed that you danced," I whispered as our bodies began to sway. "Any wild moves up your sleeve?"

   An uncomfortable look crossed his face before he replied, "After the Aerobics Dance classes Rav's dragged me to all these years, how could I not?"

   I laughed at that. "I have got to see them someday."

"You'd have to use a placement gun on me before that ever happens."

"Not funny." I scowled and hit his chest with both hands for good measure.

   Great. Now I had to fight off the imaginative side of me trying to conjure up ghastly instances of that happening.

"Come on," Dorian groaned as I tried to pull away. "I only just heard myself now. I won't bring it up anymore, promise."

"Fine."

   Curse my being high on his scent.

   Upon melting into him for the second time, I noticed his grip was set firmer around me and pulled me so close that our knees kept bumping into one another as we moved. We were barely dancing anymore, but I knew I didn't want whatever this was to end.

"I'll never forget this night for as long as I live," Dorian broke the silence that had settled with time, creating some space between us to get a good view of me.

   His green eyes were unflinching as they appeared to be studying every inch of my face, like an artist would do to his muse to ensure even the most minute details were not overlooked. Normally, I would have cowered under a stare like this, but amidst its intensity was an affection I'd never seen in anyone else before. And the responsive feeling that sparked within me was on a fine line between thrilling and terrifying. My heart didn't feel like mine as it seemed to go at a faster, more dangerous pace with each pound.

I'd pick this look over any other look Dorian had.

"Neither will I," I murmured. "Neither will i."

   The space between us was sealed once more.

   But this time, with yearning lips.

A/N: Any better ship names for Dorian and Beth lol?

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