The next day, Andy couldn't concentrate.

When she woke up, she immediately grabbed her phone, checking to see if there were any messages from Rhysand. When she found none, she pouted, contemplated on sending one—even going as far as typing the good morning, have a nice day message—but deleted it immediately and left it alone. She didn't want to be needy. They haven't even talked yet.

So Andy spent her day as usual—going to lectures, daydreaming in class, doodling on her papers, trying very hard to ignore her phone. At least work at Baked! gave her the distraction she needed.

But then a message came from Rhysand, ten minutes before her shift ended. I'm outside. Stop bringing cheese tarts.

And that message sent a jolt through her system—and she found herself nervous. More nervous than she's ever been knowing he actually likes her. And kissed her.

When Andy met him, she didn't look him in the eye. "Hi!"

Rhysand opened the passenger door. "How does takeout and a movie at home sound?"

Andy grinned. "That sounds amazing."

And it did. Until Andy realized that Rhysand meant—takeout and a movie alone. Without Jenner.

His roommate wasn't home when the pair of them walked in with their bags of food, and shakily, Andy asked, "Um, where's Jenner?"

"Not joining us," was Rhysand's short response, taking the food to the living room.

Andy had to spent two minutes in the kitchen trying to calm her heart.

And now, seated on the couch with the lights off, having finished dinner twenty minutes ago, she still can't concentrate on the movie. She doesn't even know what movie they're watching—not when her heart is beating so quickly because Rhysand is seated next to her.

Seated next to her—but not touching her. Still, she's sure he can hear her pulse.

Rhysand keeps his respectable distance, and there hasn't been any changes with the way he treats her. He hasn't tried to hold her hand, or kiss her cheek, or make her blush at all.

Was she dreaming last night? Or is she just expecting too much?

"Stop thinking so hard," Rhysand drawls lowly. "I can hear your brain screaming. You're not even paying attention to the movie."

Andy sags against her seat on the couch. "Sorry."

Rhysand pauses. And then, "Let's date. Exclusively."

Andy chokes on her own saliva. She coughs, and hammers her hand into her chest. "H-huh?" she stutters, eyes wide.

Rhysand only watches her, raising one eyebrow as he puts his head on top of his fist, arm slung around the back of the couch. "I'm not going to repeat that again."

She takes a deep breath and looks away. "Okay."

"You don't sound like you particularly want to."

Andy huffs. Her cheeks are pink, she knows. She doesn't want to talk about this, but—"I don't know. I mean, you kissed me last night, and you told me that you like me, oh, I like you too, by the way, I don't think I said it back last night. Did I? Oh, I don't think I did. Anyway, but, um—"

"The only reason why I haven't been touching you," Rhysand cuts her off, giving her a piercing stare, "is because I'm not sure if you changed your mind after last night. And I didn't want to pressure you. Or scare you off."

Andy blinks at him. "Oh."

Rhysand shifts, so his upper body is facing her completely. "So I want to make shit clear. And give me an honest answer, sunshine."

Andy swallows hard. "Okay," she whispers, barely audible against the volume of the movie.

"I'm five years older than you," Rhysand says.

"It's fine," Andy immediately says. "Five years is nothing."

"It's not 'nothing'," Rhysand muses, but his lips curve up—the smallest hint of a smile. "You're a freshman in college. I'm working."

"It's fine," Andy answers again, frowning now. "Unless it's not fine with you? Unless that creeps you out?"

Rhysand only raises his eyebrow again. "I wouldn't have asked you out if it did. I don't care, but you should. You meet a lot of people in college. You don't want your first to be in college, too?"

Andy doesn't even think about it. "No."

Rhysand reaches over and takes her hand. Andy's heart races at the contact. "I curse a lot."

"It's fine," Andy murmurs, scooting closer to him as he tugs her arm. "I'll get annoyed sometimes, but it's fine."

Rhysand keeps his gaze locked with hers as he intertwines their fingers. "I have tattoos."

Andy gasps. "You do?"

"On my back," he says, mouth twitching. "Still fine, Sanford?"

That's...Andy bites her lip as she takes a look at Rhysand's piercings. She really didn't find them attractive before...before him. She really likes those. And tattoos on his back. God.

Rhysand pinches her wrist. "Ah, you do have a dirty side."

"I don't!" Andy protests, face flaming, as she pulls back her hands and covers her face. "I mean, yes, it's fine. Oh, jeepers, please, I can't do this."

He's taking her hands away from her face with one hand, and the other tips her chin up. He's not laughing, but there's a hint of a smile painted on his lips. "I smoke. A lot."

Andy looks at him. "Then you better try and quit."

Rhysand brushes his thumb across her cheek, and Andy wants to turn away. "This is your first relationship," he reiterates slowly, eyes searching hers, "you really wanna have it with me?"

The way he says it makes Andy frown. "I like you. I like you so much. Why wouldn't I?"

His lips curve upward. All the way. A smile. He has a dimple!

Andy wants to kiss him—feel his smile on her lips, that dimple beneath her fingers, but she's not bold enough to do that yet. Instead, she stares at him, and presses a hand to her chest. "I'm going to die before you can date me. Please."

"So dramatic," he says, flicking her nose. The smile is gone, but Andy has it committed to memory. She grins and leans closer to him. "How long have you liked me, huh?"

"How long have you liked me?" she counters, pressing against his side.

"Shut up and watch the movie," he grumbles, swinging his arm around her shoulders, lacing their fingers again. "You don't even know what this is called, do you?"

Andy's pulse is still racing—she can smell his cologne this close, and if she turns her head, her lips can press against the curve of his neck. Andy takes a deep breath, brushes her thumb against his skin. "Was I that obvious?"

    Rhysand only hums and presses his lips to her temple.

    Jenner comes home, a half hour later, and smacks Rhysand behind the head. "Do not stain this couch, dickhead."

Andy's face is red as she clears her throat, and Rhysand flips him off with his middle finger, but Jenner only cackles and heads upstairs. "Night, lovebirds!"

That night, after Rhysand takes her home, MJ is waiting for her in their dorm room.

Andy holds her hands up. "I can explain."

The redhead shakes her head and slumps down on Andy's mattress. "Are you alright now?"

The younger blinks and sits down next to her. "Yeah. I'm happy. Are you?"

"Just things with Adrian," she mumbles, closing her eyes. "I'm so confused, but I want to figure shit out. But I don't want to talk about that—what about you? Is this the same guy who made you cry last night?"

Andy wraps an arm around MJ's torso, trying to hide her smile. Her heart is still pounding. "Yeah. But it was a misunderstanding. We're good. And...we're dating. Exclusively."

MJ hugs her tighter and grins. "For real this time? None of that Luke bullshit?"

"No," Andy says, biting her lip. "No. He...he's different. My heart is so loud all the time when I see him. Pretty sure he can hear it."

"Cute," MJ muses, ruffling her hair. "I'm happy you're happy, bub. Just be careful and make sure you know what you're doing, alright? I don't want you hurt again. Not after Luke."

"Rhysand is different," Andy mutters again. "But thank you for looking out for me."

"Always will, bub."

"Me too. You know you can tell me anything, right?"

"Yes. I know. Love you."

"Love you back. Want me to turn on the television for you and grab you chocolate milk? I have homework, but you don't have classes until two, right?"

The older covers her face with her arm as she releases her. "Yes please. You're an angel, thank you."

Andy does so, and when MJ is settled in her blankets and watching a cartoon show with milk in hand, she heads to her desk and gets started on her homework.

Pausing only when her phone buzzes with a text. I'll pick you up after school tomorrow if you're free. Let's go on that first (not so first) date.

Andy squeals loudly and kicks her feet in the air, hugging her phone to her chest.

"You scared the shit out of me," MJ complains, exhaling heavily. "The fuck was that?"

"Sorry. And nothing," Andy says giddily, typing her response. Okay!!! :D (And yes, this is the first) And follows that up with a line of cute emojis.

"You're crazy," MJ says, shaking her head.

The other night counts.

It doesn't if I didn't know it was a date >:(

Cute. Goodnight, sunshine.

Goodnight!!! :D

When she goes to sleep that night, Andy's cheekbones hurt.