Cy's perspective
My mom and dad nervously assisted me in choosing an outfit, and as I descended the stairs, I felt an overwhelming sense of anxiety – my heart practically lodged in my throat. I had applied cologne, hoping it would hide the fact that I was this nervous.
"Hmm, you smell so good," my mom remarked, embracing me.
"Nice choice, bud," my dad nodded approvingly.
"Oh, also, these are for Mari," my mom handed me a small bouquet of roses.
"Ohhh, she'll love these," I managed to say with a nervous smile. "Thanks for everything," I added, hugging them tightly.
"Of course. We love you, and we hope you have fun tonight," my dad said with a reassuring smile.
After bidding my last goodbyes, I set out to pick up Mari. On the way there, nervousness intensified; I really liked her, and I was acutely aware that she liked me too. This was our first real date.
Pulling up to her house, just 10 minutes away, roses in hand, I rang the doorbell. Mari opened the door, stunning in a blouse, black jeans, and cute sandals. Her beauty left me speechless.
"H-hi..." I stammered, completely captivated.
"Hi Cy bear," Mari smiled, taking the roses as I handed them to her. She said goodbye to her parents, and we left together. Opening the car door for her, she smiled.
"Thank you," Mari said, stealing a nervous yet sweet kiss before getting in.
I kissed back, smiling at her, closed the door, and took a deep breath as we drove off to the restaurant.
"So, what's your take on Italian food?" I questioned, as I felt calm in her presence, I gained the confidence to hold her hand.
At a red light, I turned to meet her gaze, and in a flirty tone, Mari leaned in for another kiss, responding, "I'm all about Italian... you've got me figured out already."
I kissed back and blushed softly. "Okay." I nodded softly.
As we enjoyed the quiet moments together, a sense of peace enveloped us, creating a serene atmosphere filled with the warmth of love. The ride to the restaurant was accompanied by sweet melodies, making each passing moment a delightful preview of the evening.
Upon arriving, I smoothly parked the car, took the lead, and stepped out with growing anticipation. Opening Mari's door with a courteous gesture, I admired her graceful poise in the ambient glow of streetlights. As she emerged into the night, I closed the car door gently behind her. Drawing her close, I whispered in her ear, expressing sincere admiration as my fingertips traced the subtle contours of her sides. "You look beautiful tonight, just as gorgeous as any other day."
Mari blushed deeply, pressing her forehead against mine, our eyes locking in a shared gaze as our matching heights brought us eye to eye. "Thank you," she whispered, and with that, she kissed me. Returning the kiss, I gently rubbed her sides, enjoying the tender moment between us.
Hand in hand, I guided Mari into the restaurant, confidently requesting, "Table for two, under Affleck," to the nodding hostess who promptly escorted us to our designated table.
Mari looked around, visibly impressed by the restaurant's charm. It was a modest yet elegant fine dining establishment, creating a perfect ambiance for our evening together.
"This is just perfect," Mari beamed as we settled into our seats across from each other. I nodded, completely agreeing, as we decided on our drinks.
Mari chose tea, and I went for a Diet Coke. After the waitress left, I couldn't help but gaze at Mari, enchanted by her beauty and how utterly perfect she looked.
"What?" she asked softly, meeting my gaze.
"Nothing," I replied with a smile, savoring the adorable moment as she blushed and shifted her attention to the menu. We exchanged cute glances every now and then while looking at our options.
"Anything new?" she asked once she had decided on her order.
"Hmm... not much," I replied, my mind momentarily blank, grappling with an internal struggle not to stutter, especially with her perceptive gaze fixed on me. We've been best friends since childhood.
She could tell I was nervous, and to break the ice, she asked, "If there was one thing you learned in life, what was it?"
"Communicate with the person you love, because if not, things will fall apart, affecting everyone," I said. Her surprised expression revealed that my answer resonated.
"I like that answer too," Mari smiled warmly, reaching over to touch my hand. She held it, playing with my fingers and bracelets. Eventually, she moved her chair closer, cuddling my arm softly, placing multiple kisses on my cheek. I blushed and smiled, turning to kiss her. She kissed back, giggling softly.
"See...? I don't bite," she teased.
"I know, I know... I was just nervous," I admitted softly.
"Why, CyBear?" she asked, caressing my arm gently.
"I don't know... I really see myself dating you, but I'm afraid of ruining our friendship," I confessed, looking into her eyes.
"We won't because there never was just a friendship... I've always liked you and considered you more than a friend," Mari bit her lip softly.
I nodded softly, smirking, the unspoken understanding between us growing.
The waitress returned with our drinks, noting our choices. Mari eagerly ordered spinach lasagna with ricotta, while I chose tortellini with brown butter and sausage. With our orders placed, the waitress left, allowing us to enjoy our time together.
"I had the most incredible tortellini everrrr when I was in Italy over the summer" I shared.
Mari's eyes sparkled with excitement. "Oh, Italy! I absolutely love their spaghetti," she added, recalling her family trip. "We went about a month ago, and everything—the flavors, the atmosphere—was just amazing." She smiled wide.
"Would you go back again?" I asked with a curious smile.
"Oh, absolutely," Mari replied, her eyes lighting up as she shared more about her favorite things in Italy. She expressed her desire to move there, and I couldn't help but smile, completely enchanted as I watched her speak so passionately about it.
One of my favorite things about Mari is that when she speaks so passionately about something, it's just so attractive.. I have a feeling after dinner we are going to edit her vision board and add a trip for our families to go to Italy together. I would be so excited to see Italy with a different perspective.. to see it again with Mari..
As the night unfolded and our food finally arrived, we found joy in conversing and sharing stories. Our connection seems endless, with a constant flow of topics keeping our discussion lively.
After dinner, I took care of the bill, returning to escort Mari back to my car. Opening the door, she playfully pulled me in, ensuring I avoided any head bumps. Our small make-out session unfolded, and we reluctantly pulled away, realizing it was time to go. I closed the door, lips slightly swollen and coated in lip gloss. Taking the driver's seat, I checked the time.
""Perfect," I smirked, stealing a glance at the time.
"Huh?" Mari asked, intrigued.
"Don't worry; it's nothing," I winked, igniting the car and steering towards the drive-in movie theater.
Within 30 minutes, we pulled into the drive-in.
"I've never been here... a year living in Georgia, and I never knew about this place," Mari remarked, surveying the surroundings as I parked among others.
"Neither did I," I chuckled.
I tuned the radio to the required station, syncing it with the movie.
"Want some popcorn and candy?" I offered.
"Hmm... I'm okay," she said, hopping into the back and giving me a mischievous grin.
"I wanted to watch this movie. They're playing Nightmare on Elm Street," I mentioned, looking at her.
"We can watch it from here," she smirked, and I signaled her to join me. She playfully lingered, just looking at me.
Let's just say... we enjoyed the movie.
When the movie was over, I took her home and then returned to my place. Upon entering, my parents were in the living room, cuddling while watching TV.
"Hi honey! How'd it go?" my mom eagerly asked as I walked in.
"Great! Really good," I smiled, joining them. My dad subtly noticed the hickey on my neck, exchanging a soft head shake with me while my mom remained oblivious. After having a conversation about the date, my dad later gave me a fist bump, and I chuckled, fully understanding his silent message. He shot me a look, touching his neck, and I excused myself, heading upstairs.
"I'm so glad my baby had fun," my mom remarked to my dad.
"Oh, they definitely had a great time," my dad chuckled softly.
To be continued...