Nya's POV

Saturday had arrived soon, and Kai had dropped me off at the Mechanics' Fair; a large hall spilling out into an even larger field filled with amazing mechanical creations and technology. I'd waved Kai off and met up with Jay inside.

For now we were running around like crazy kids, looking eagerly at each invention and creation.

"And- oh look!" Jay tugged at my hand to where a mechanical dog was juggling footballs, before kicking them all into the goal set up a distance away. 

Needless to say, I was absolutely blown away at the workmanship and skills used to build it. I pulled him towards it, "And look at the craftsmanship!"

He turned to face me, "You know, I am so glad we got to do this. I'm...I'm having a lot of fun."

A blush crept across my cheeks, "Me too. We should do this again sometime."

"Oh, yeah, absolutely- hey look." He takes my hand again, kissing the back of my knuckles before offering me a rose made from a slim yet sturdy material.

"Oh my goodness, Jay-"

"I know, I know. I surprisingly have a good hand in metal manipulation and soldering so I was able to make this steel rose from sheet metal. I heard it was your birthday next week and I just wanted to give you something special and I got too impatient waiting so I decided to give it to you now."

"I-I don't know what to say..." I jump up and wrap my arms around his neck, engulfing him in a tight hug which he returns, his arms sliding around my waist.

This...feels right. It's not right but it feels right.

"This is the nicest thing anyone's ever done for me," I whisper into his chest. He pulls away from the hug and grips my shoulder, raising an eyebrow teasingly, "Nicer than what Lloyd's ever done for you?"

I sigh. Jay swoops in, linking his arm through mine and we walk along the pathway.

"Lloyd's never really been interested in mechanics and all this technical stuff."

My companion scoffed, "His loss."

I rolled my eyes and elbowed him, yet I couldn't resist the grin on my face, "He always gets me stuff that, I dunno...box of chocolates and flowers. I like those, but it's every year, and it gets repetitive...and I always like things with a bit of creativity and from the heart. His gifts are like...like...like-"

"Like he woke up late, forgot it was your birthday, and spent 5 dollars on a box of chocolates and flowers at the corner shop a few blocks away?"

"Yeah, pretty much. I just also expected he'd know that I don't actually like chocolate very much, it sorta makes me nauseous."

"I hope you don't mind me saying, but he sounds like a bad boyfriend if he doesn't even know your interests and dislikes."

"But besides all that, he and I were super close friends before we started dating. Fun fact, I used to suck at Math, and Lloyd somehow was a fricking Math prodigy, so he was obviously willing to tutor me which really helped out."

"You guys seem to have a lot of backstory," Jay stated observantly. I nod.

"Yeah."

"So um, forgive me if I'm wrong but when it comes to dating and relationships, I feel like...you stick to your comfort zone too much."

How was he able to tell that through my recaps? He was also pretty spot on about that observation, if I do say so myself. 

"Huh?"

"You know. You said it yourself; you and Lloyd were really close before you got together. You have yet to go out of your comfort zone and go for someone new, and not a longtime friend of yours. You stick to what you know best instead of taking a leap of faith and getting your hands dirty. You haven't broken out of that shell yet."

I gently nudged him, "I mean...I'm with you."

"But you're being held back by your comfort zone. Uh, not that you should break up with Lloyd, that is your own decision and um...oh no what have I done-"

He's cut off his ramblings by me chuckling, "Oh relax. This is a start though, right?"

"Hmm?"

"You and me. You know? We're friends, good friends, right?"

"Y-Yeah, yeah, of course! I just don't wanna be the guy who comes in between you and Lloyd."

"And you won't be," I promise, "Can't I have one good guy friend who isn't somehow linked to my boyfriend?"

Jay smiled again, his cheeks tinted pink, "You're right, though. This is a start. And I hope it won't be the end either."

I hope so too, Jay Gordon, because you are one intriguing man.