I had been hoping Josh would ask me that since we'd kissed, but I was nervous. I'd never dated a boy before. Was it that much different from dating a girl?

Then again, I didn't have a whole lot of experience with that, either.

"I mean, you don't have to," Josh rushed quickly. "I know we haven' tknown each other very long, but I like you. I don't even know if you're into guys...I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't have asked."

I wanted to kiss him like they always do in those romantic movies, but I was too shy. I held his hand instead, and he looked back over at me.

"I'm pansexual," I said, "and I'd love to go out sometime."

Josh's eyes lit up. "Really?"

"Really."

"What would you like to do, then?" Josh squeezed my hand. "I mean, I do have some sort of idea, but I want to be sure and do something you're comfortable with."

It warmed my heart how he treated my anxiety. He didn't make it seem like a problem, or a big deal at all. He treated it like it was a part of me, but not wholly me, you know? Like there was more to me than just my issues. "What were you thinking of?"

"We could get coffee, maybe?" Josh laughed a little. "I know, stereotypical."

"No, no, it sounds fine, just that I dont' drink coffee." I smiled.

"There's a cafe a couple of blocks away from my place, and I think they have hot chocolate there sometimes." Josh smiled too. "Maybe you could meet me at my place, and we could walk there together?"

"That sounds fun." I giggled a little bit, and it was so completely unlike me that it felt weird. I was too happy to care. "When?"

"Is tomorrow too soon?"

I shook my head. "No, of course not. What time?"

"Six? Before classes?"

"Six is fine," I promised. Josh smiled at me, and I smiled back. He moved our hands, which were still intertwined, to his chest, and held them there, over his heart. 

It was probably one of the sweetest things anyone had ever done for me.

Dallon knocked on Josh's car door, and we both jumped. "Just kiss already!"

So we did.

Art credit to [email protected]