Derek excused himself from the table to go to the restroom, and his heart thudded with a strange mix of excitement and nerves.

As he crossed the cozy coffee shop, the soft hum of conversation blending with the clinks of cups, Derek tried to push down the anxiety that had surfaced the moment she'd asked about TikTok.

How much should he say? How much should he reveal?

Vikki's voice—angry, venomous—was still stuck in his head from the last video, and even now, while he was here on a date with Stacy, his mind kept circling back to that ridiculous idea of making a comeback video. Maybe satire would defuse the tension Vikki created, but part of him wondered: was he ready to deal with the backlash? Again?

And were those the type of videos that he would want Stacy to stumble upon if she found his channel?

Inside the bathroom, he took a moment to study his reflection. The sharpness of his jawline, the muscular arms that filled out his shirt—things he'd never take for granted. There was a time when he couldn't even dream of seeing this man staring back at him.

To anyone looking, he was just a regular guy. But beneath that skin lay a complicated story—one he didn't know if he was ready to share with Stacy yet. He didn't want it to cloud her perception of him.

For once, he wanted to be judged for himself, not for whatever opinions someone had about transgender people.

He ran a hand through his hair, trying to steady himself. He knew Stacy deserved honesty, but he wasn't ready for her to look at him differently.

Not yet.

He splashed water on his face and stood upright, wiping his hands on his jeans.

Enough with the overthinking. He'd just enjoy this date. No need to unravel everything in one afternoon.

When he stepped back into the main area, Stacy was waiting at the table, her phone resting beside her coffee cup. She glanced up, offering him a warm smile that sent a flutter through his chest.

"There you are," she said teasingly. "I was starting to think you might've been ambushed in there."

Derek chuckled as he slid back into his seat. "No ambush. I don't have that big a following."

Her eyes sparkled, and she leaned forward slightly, her curiosity obvious. "So, are you going to tell me more about your TikTok fame now? I feel like you're holding out on me."

There it was again. That familiar tug of pride mixed with uncertainty. He didn't mind talking about his channel, but how much should he really share right now?

"Fame might be overstating it a bit," he said, flashing her a grin. "It's just a fun outlet. And people seem to like it."

"Yeah, a few hundred thousand people." Stacy raised an eyebrow. "You know," she said, her tone thoughtful, "it's kind of amazing that you've got this huge following. I mean, hundreds of thousands of people? That's a big deal. You should be proud of it."

Derek smiled, a little bashfully. "I guess. Sometimes it feels like too much, though. A lot of pressure to keep producing content, to stay relevant. And then there are the haters..." His voice trailed off, not wanting to bring up Vikki and her crowd of trolls. That would definitely kill the vibe.

"I get it," Stacy said quietly, surprising him. "It's the same with writing. You want people to like what you create, but at the same time, it's scary. Sometimes I wonder if I'm just throwing my stories into a void, you know?"

Derek nodded, feeling a strange connection at that moment. They weren't all that different. Both of them were trying to carve out their space in a world that didn't always understand or appreciate them.

"Yeah, I know," he said, his voice softening. "It's hard, but you just keep putting yourself out there. You never know who's going to connect with what you create."

Stacy smiled at that, her eyes lighting up in a way that made Derek's chest tighten. There was something magnetic about her, something he couldn't quite put his finger on, but it kept pulling him in.

"Maybe I should post some of my stories on TikTok," Stacy joked, breaking the tension with a laugh. "Get the Wattpad community involved."

"You'd probably get a ton of readers that way," Derek said, grinning. "There's a whole world out there for your stories."

Stacy's cheeks flushed as she glanced down at her coffee, swirling it with her spoon. "Maybe. I don't know if I'm ready for that kind of exposure yet."

"You'll get there," Derek said, meeting her eyes. "Trust me."

Their conversation continued, easily flowing between lighter topics and moments that felt deeper. Derek hadn't expected to feel this comfortable so quickly, but Stacy had a way of making him relax, her focus on him, not his TikTok fame.

At some point, they found themselves talking about family. It started casually, but when Stacy mentioned her mom, Derek noticed a slight shift in her expression—something she tried to mask behind a laugh.

"My mom's been traveling for the past few years," she said, swirling her coffee again. "She calls it her 'Eat, Pray, Love' phase. Every time we talk, she's in some new country—India, Italy, Bali. Honestly, I don't think she's planning on stopping anytime soon."

Derek raised his eyebrows, leaning in a little. "That's... a lot. Are you close?"

"Not really," Stacy admitted, her fingers tracing the rim of her mug. "She's not the 'mom' type. It's been that way since I was a kid. I mean, I have my dad, and he's great, but he doesn't really get me, you know? Especially when it comes to writing. He's more of a practical guy."

Derek chuckled, feeling an unexpected kinship with her. "Yeah, I get that. My folks... well, they live a few states away, but even when I lived at home, we weren't really... connected. We're not estranged, exactly, but there's a lot of distance, if that makes sense."

Stacy's eyes softened, her curiosity piqued. "Were you close when you were younger?"

Derek hesitated for a split second, considering how much to reveal. He hadn't meant to touch on this topic, but the way Stacy listened—how she didn't press, didn't push for more than he was willing to give—made him feel safe enough to share at least a little. "We were closer when I was a kid, I guess," he said, keeping his tone light. "But they didn't really agree with... who I grew up to be."

She nodded slowly, like she understood more than he was saying. "That's tough."

The unspoken truths lingered between them, but instead of making him uncomfortable, it felt like another small bridge they'd crossed. It wasn't a deep dive into their pasts, but it was enough. For now.

Derek found himself studying her as they talked, the way her focus never wavered, the slight tilt of her head when she listened, like she was genuinely trying to understand him and not just making conversation. It was refreshing, and it disarmed him in a way he hadn't expected. This wasn't someone looking for clout or a fun story to tell her friends later.

"Anyway," Stacy said, her lips quirking into a smile, "I guess that's why I'm back living with my dad for now. I just need to figure out what's next, and maybe try to, I don't know... convince him that writing could be more than just a hobby."

"You'll get there," Derek said, his voice steady. "It sounds like you're already on the right track."

They were so wrapped up in conversation that neither of them realized how much time had passed. It wasn't until Stacy glanced at her phone, her expression one of mild surprise, that the bubble they'd been in seemed to burst.

"Wow," she said, sliding her phone back into her bag, "it's getting late. I should probably head out before my dad thinks I've disappeared."

Derek blinked, startled by how quickly the afternoon had slipped away. The coffee shop had thinned out, and outside, the sun had dipped low in the sky, casting long shadows across the sidewalk and painting everything in a warm, golden hue. He wasn't ready for the date to end, but he nodded, standing as she gathered her things. "Yeah, the time really flew."

As they stepped outside, the cool air greeted them, the bustling sounds of the neighborhood mixing with the fading light of the afternoon. The sun hung low, the last rays reflecting off the windows of nearby shops and homes, giving the street a kind of ethereal glow.

They walked in a comfortable silence for a few minutes, the kind that didn't feel awkward or forced. Derek stole a glance at Stacy, her hair catching the soft light, her expression relaxed but thoughtful. He wondered what she was thinking. Was she as surprised by how well the date had gone as he was?

When they reached her car, parked in a small side street just a block away, Derek hesitated. He didn't want to overthink this moment, didn't want to ruin whatever connection they'd built today. He glanced down at her, and for a moment, their eyes locked, the unspoken question hanging in the air between them.

And then, without thinking too much about it, Derek leaned in and kissed her.

The kiss was soft, tentative, giving her plenty of time to turn her head and give him her cheek.

But she didn't.

His lips brushed hers gently, and for a brief, electrifying second, the rest of the world disappeared. There were no nerves, no second-guessing, just the warmth of her mouth against his and the steady rhythm of his heart pounding in his chest.

When they pulled back, Stacy smiled up at him, her cheeks flushed, her eyes sparkling with a mix of surprise and delight.

"I had a great time," Derek said, his voice low but steady, a bit of relief settling in his chest.

"Me too," Stacy replied, still smiling. "We should definitely do this again."

"I'd love that," Derek said, feeling a warmth spread through him, grounding him in the moment.

They lingered for a second longer, neither of them quite ready to say goodbye, but eventually, Stacy unlocked her car and slid into the driver's seat. "Goodnight, Derek," she said softly before closing the door.

Derek watched her pull away, the sound of her engine fading into the distance. As he stood there in the quiet evening, a smile tugged at his lips.

_____

A/N: A kiss on the first date... too fast? Or just right? And do you think Derek should've told her he was trans first??? Hopefully Stacy isn't the kind of person who will hold it against him.

Don't forget to vote <3