A/N: Feel free can play this song along while reading. Have fun reading!

Three Months Later

The feeling never changed whenever I was pulling up my car to the lobby of the condominium Claire was staying in.

My stupid heart couldn't calm down but always jumped in enthusiasm like a monkey. Claire meant it. Since that nice birthday celebration with her we did hang out frequently every Saturday and that became my favorite day of the week!

"Hi!" Claire beamed while getting into my car and she pulled me into a hug and planted a soft kiss on my cheek and I did that in return.

Are we together now? No, because I'm a coward!

I was still testing the water to see if it was the right time for me to ask. I would see if today we made it after our nice outing.

I suggested we get a long trip further from our town since today was a great sunny spring day just like her cute smile.

"Just in case you need a break time in the half of the journey," Claire took out a bag of lays cream and sour chips which was my favorite. This girl was pretty smart to trade what I like and dislike whenever we chat. Within these three months, I nearly shared almost everything with her and I felt so naked, but I wouldn't mind at all.

Except for my feeling for her as more than just a friend.

"That's sweet, thank you!" I beamed as I started driving my baby small blue car and began our friendly date.

Surprisingly, we shared the same favorite band, Savage Garden. Especially the song I knew I loved you. I knew some of the song, the rhythm, and the melody was soothing and nice, but the lyrics weren't really a matter to me. I knew the lyrics meant nothing like the music video I had watched but she and I thought this song was so romantic. I was glad she was thinking the same as me.

It was always content when you found someone sharing a few same interests as you. That's why Claire and I were getting close and so connected.

"Let's take a break," Claire suggested.

Seriously? We didn't even together she had already asked for a break? Just kidding. She was always a sweet girl because she wanted me to rest.

"I need a gelato, and a chocolate flavor for you?" I suggested with a smile at her since the place was only about 5 minutes away.

"Yes, please! Let's add peppermint chocolate chip please," Claire chimed in.

"Nuh-uh. No adding toothpaste flavor, please," I joked as I wrinkled my nose and mocked disgust.

Claire laughed, "I always like to hear this from you! That's why I always suggest peppermint chocolate chips flavor whenever we go out for an ice cream."

We always make this joke again and again like the first time, and it was really fun.

"It's kinda fun to hear you laugh too," I laughed and added, "I need this for a good laugh!"

"Then you have to trade more jokes with me, so you can get more laughter from me," I could see her grin cutely in the corner of my eyes.

"What if I want something aside from your nice laughter?" I smirked. I had no idea where the confidence I got. Well, she started it first.

"We will see what you want from me," she challenged me by the evidence of her tone. Seriously, I like that confidence from her so much.

"What about a kiss?" I blurted. Shit! no turning back.

"That's easy. It's not that we never kiss before," she said as she pecked my cheek I could feel heat rush my face. No surprise but very shocking in a good way. I could hear my own gay panic heartbeat since we had already fell silent. I inaudibly took a few deep breath as I smoothly switched the topic, "Well, we're arriving. I'm serious anyway. No toothpaste flavor later, okay?"

"Hmmm. I already did what you want, so peppermint chocolate chips it is," she giggled and it was so enjoyable to hear that.

Right, she wins.

She knew I loved peppermint chocolate chips, and the toothpaste taste was a joke from my friend. That was what they always said whenever I ate that. I was surprised this could make the cutie laugh for a long minute, and I was worried she would pass out.

I could help if she wouldn't mind I would be a volunteer to do CPR for her.

As usual, we prefer to share our food whenever we hang out, she did occasionally feed me. I didn't mean I did not enjoy or return her a favor. You know, I was always a coward never making a move, and most of the time she would be the one who started it.

******

"You're serious!" she exclaimed with a wide grin as she happily snaked an arm around my shoulder to side hug me and her dark eyes gazed at me, "Thank you."

She had told me she missed going to the beach. So, here we were. I couldn't help but smile at her cute face. The way she was smiling had already taken over the brightness of the sun, and I liked it very much.

"Let's grab a sausage sandwich," I suggested as she nodded her head at me eagerly.

After we grabbed a sausage sandwich and a soda, she was eating the sandwich while I was holding the can of soda after a sip as I looked and admired her side profile.

I adored her heart-shaped baby face with a little puff on her cheek. She was so adorable whenever she was eating the food because her cheek would slightly puff like a chipmunk munching the food.

Don't get me wrong, she was graceful when she ate.

"Penny for your thought?" she held the sandwich for me as I took a bite without any delay. She might catch me looking at her. I was grateful the heat of my face was definitely covered up by the heat of the noontime sun.

"Watch out!"

I gasped and staring at the volleyball was flying toward Claire's back of the head. I just threw everything aside and wrapped my arms around her head to lay us backward down on the ground. A loud thud on the sand, followed by the volleyball dropped right an inch away from above of my head and bounced to further away again.

That was close!

"Are you okay?" I eventually asked after I calm down as I tried to loosen my arms from her head. I looked down at her and carefully used my hands cupped her face to check on it. Claire's dark eyes rises were gleaming and the adorable smile on her tinted face evidently that we had already walked too long under the sun even though we put on our caps.

"Yea, I'm fine. Thank you for saving us from the shot. If not I might get a bump on the back of my head," Claire chuckled as breath of the sausage ketchup fanning my face which remind me we might miss our delicious sausage sandwich.

In the meanwhile, I felt a pair of hands grasped my boobs and I quickly clamped my mouth to suppress my whimpered by her nice touching.

"Oops! I'm sorry!" Claire squeaked as she quickly removed her hands from my chest and tried to stand up and stretched a hand for me. I tried to carefully take her to not let her fall since I knew I was heavier and bigger than her a little.

"I think we might get another sandwich and coke again," Claire said as her free hand indicated the half-eaten sandwich and an empty can that spilled the drink on the sand. I just realize she was still holding my hand and I nodded my head in agreement with her. With that, we started taking the trash and throwing it into the bin before getting the sandwich and soda again.

I admitted I was a bad planner for setting the trip if compare to Claire. I knew she love and miss spending time at the beach, but it didn't mean we had to spend the whole day at there to get us barbeque. So, I suggested we go to a nearby cafe to chill and ate again. Yes, that was what girls would do for outing since they always look for food like us.

I was grateful Claire's reaction would never disappointed whenever I suggested the place we went for drink or dessert.

Spending time with Claire always too fast than I expected, but this time I wanted to keep her longer than we usually spent. Most of the time, I would send her home after a dinner, but this time I told her we would go for a bar to listen to the live band.

I did do a little research around the special event would have in this town. I was lucky I found out here had a nice open air bar at the seaside which would be Claire's favorite.

Not a surprise, Claire was thrilled when she reached this place. Again I earned a sweet kiss from her on my cheek which I would never get enough from her.

Since we early to reach this place, we had the advantage to order two mocktails for us and took at the far end of the seat which was more privacy and nearer to the beach for us to view.

I was a little smart this time, I took the seat was facing the stage at the meantime could see the sea view behind the stage. I suggested Claire sat next to me, so that we could enjoy watching the live band and view together.

We had spent an hour to talk and listened to the music, and the live band started perform their songs after an hour. The soothing music along the paddle pop rainbow ice cream color of the sky was more than perfect. I smiled to myself when I felt a light weight on my shoulder as I in lean closer to feel Claire next to me.

"Well, I hope you wouldn't mind I smell like apple cider after a long day at the beach," I joked.

"I like apple cider," Claire said with a soft sigh, "It's good to rest like that while watching the live band."

"I might fall asleep if you stay like that," I admitted since I felt a little tired after a long drive.

"Then just take a rest, we can overnight at somewhere around here if you're tired," Claire suggested with a hand slipped on my cheek and gently caressing my face.

"I would like to, but do your parents allow it?" I asked since she was living with her parents, and they might look after her like a baby even though she was already an adult.

"Don't worry, I had told them we might overnight somewhere tonight since we had a long journey today, and they agreed about it," she explained and gently squeezed my face, "Let's go find a hotel or homestay to stay, and I will text my parents."

I was so awaked after I heard this as I quickly asked, "Can we stay until they sing the song I request?"

"Yes, anything for you if you prefer to stay, I don't want you to wear out," Claire said in concern.

"I would let you carry me home," I joked.

"Um, you know I'm tinier, right?" Claire chuckled as I laughed as well.

"So, here is a song request from Willow to her friend, Claire. It is Savage Garden's I Knew I love You! It is a great song! I hope you guys enjoyed!"

The male singer smiled before started strumming his guitar as he started singing and the girls started screaming when his deep and soothing voice echo surrounded the stage.

Claire remained still as she snuggled closer to me and I gradually slipped my hand on hers and gingerly entwined her soft and tiny fingers with mine. I was distracted to feel her soft and nice hand, and I didn't pay much attention on the stage.

Instead, I looked at our linked hands and I was smiling like an idiot whenever her hand would gently squeeze mine when the singer was singing the chorus.

"Do you have fun tonight?" I asked as I slightly shifted my face and looked at her.

Claire's dark eyes shifted to mine which were reflecting the nice evening view. The corner of her tiny lips perked up and nodded her head, "I do. I have so much fun with you since the first time we spending time together, thank you." Claire's lovely eyes were dancing as she added softly, "You had done many things for me, but I never do anything for you yet. Do you have anything in your mind? So, I can return a favor to you."

"If that so, can I still ask something from you?" I asked as I could feel my skin shiver.

"Sure," Claire replied with a small smile.

"Are you sure about that?" I inquired her.

"I trust you," Claire assured me.

I gently squeezed her hand and I could feel the heat rush my face as tried to say as calmly as I could, "I have told you I want a kiss this morning, I mean it. Are you sure I can do this to you?"

I felt she shift her head as I quickly lifted my head for her to move and looked at her. She was biting her lower lips as she gently cupped my face and shyly nodded her head at me, "I want that too, but I don't know how to ask that from you."

I was slightly relieved we were sharing the same page. I didn't want to make it too fast as I slowly but surely slipped my arms around her waist to pull her closer to me, holding our gaze with each other while her eyes eventually trailed to my lips and closed her eyes. I gradually leaned in with my eyes closed.

Within a beat, our lips met and we nibbled the tender flesh as we smiled in between our lips and synced in our blissful kiss. Neither of us wanna let go of our lips. It was too nice and feel safe keeping her in my arms. My hands gradually caressed her back while her thumbs gently caressed my cheek.

We eventually pulled away, panted softly, and smiling drowsily at each other. I chuckled and said, "I think I had skipped something before we jumped into a kiss."

"But action has taken everything," Claire said softly as she leaned in and pecked my lips. I couldn't help but grin like an idiot and blurted, "So, do you think your parents still allow you to sleep with me if they know we are a couple?"

"Who said we are a couple?" Claire chuckled as my eyes snapped wide and quickly put my hands on her shoulders and mocked in afraid, "No way! That was my first kiss. You can't just steal it from me and leave me behind!"

Claire laughed heartily as she wrapped her arms around my shoulder to pull me closer as she nuzzled my nose, "Do you think I will let you have a chance to kiss other girls after you claimed my lips?"

"What about boys?" I joked as she gently slapped my upper arms and mocked a stern face, "Don't let me see that!"

"What if you find out?" I asked with a smirk.

"Don't you ever think about it, please?" Claire pouted her lips and shot puppy eyes at me.

"Aww, I'll gonna love this face!" I grinned as I plant a soft kiss on her lips and I said softly in between our lips, "I have thought about what would you look like when you're kissing. Now I just find out you have that sexy lips, you know."

Claire's face tinted as she murmured shyly, "Stop it, Willow."

I chuckled as I slipped my hands from her shoulder as I took her hands and asked softly, "Shall we go now?"

Claire nodded her head at me with a grin and added, "We'll not go home tonight."

"Can we snuggle later?" I asked her with a hopeful smile.

She bit her lower lips and nodded her head at me timidly. I chuckled at her cuteness, holding her hand and walked us back to my car and ready to leave.

That it is! Today was 11th of Feb which was close to Valentine day, but it wasn't a matter. It would be the most remarkable day for me to remember that Claire Larson was officially my girlfriend.