I am what some people would call a “Cinderella Case” because of my family life and the events that occurred at a ball just a few months ago.

My somewhat friend had confessed to me at the ball, and now it’s Summer—hot, humid, with beach trips galore.

And I am not entirely sure what to do now. This feeling of want and possessiveness is new to me. I like it, but don’t like it. It leaves a weird feeling in my stomach whenever I look at him.

I stare at the boy laying beside me on my bed, trying to figure out what he sees in me. And why he decided, right now, to visit. My stepfather is a work—yes, over the summer—and my stepbrothers are outside in the backyard, doing whatever twelve year olds do in the summer.

I may have only one friend turned…whatever we are now, but I still have my murder shows to watch.

When Tobias sees me staring at him, he gives me a lazy grin before putting his hand in my hair. “It’s pretty hot ain’t it?” He drags a finger across my sweaty forehead slowly, giving me shivers. “You wanna go in your tub?”

“Is this your way of asking me if I want sexual intercourse? If so, I politely decline.”

He sighs, flopping back to his backside on the bed. “Way to kill the mood Van.”

“Did you—did you just call me a van?”

“Uhm, no, but yeah,” Tobias flips back over to me, back to his usual spirits, “That’s my pet name for you. Sooo, how about you call me “Tobi” now?”

I respond as every confused teenager would.

“No. And please don’t call me a van.”

Tobias blinks, then smiles. “I don’t know what else I expected, really.”

The question rushes out of me before I can stop it— “Tobias, what exactly are we?”

Tobias shuffles closer to me, a smug look on his face as his arm drapes over my side. “Well, we are definitely more then friends. I’ve kissed you more times then I can count!” He laughs, a joyous sound.

“On the cheek,” I hiss, my face growing warm, “Always on the cheek.”

I sigh, then get back on track. “We aren’t “dating”, are we? Because it doesn’t feel like it.”

Tobias’ hand strokes the back of my neck, his fingers like soft whispers. “Well, I don’t really know how to date. The only couples I’ve observed are the ones that my mom watches on TV—and you know how realistic those are. I guess, we can just be like we always are, except kisses and stuff. Oh! And dates! Definitely dates!”

I think back to my murder shows for reassurance. The dates that happened were usually in a cafe or a restaurant and at the end of it, one of the people die outside in an alleyway. But I look at Tobias, animated as always and stroking my neck in a soothing manner, and I relax. “Okay.”

“Great! Now you gotta meet my friends!”

“Your…your friends?”

Wait. Oh no.

I slip off the bed and rush to my bathroom, but before I can make it, Tobias grabs my arm and pulls me back to him, my back against his chest. Under different circumstances, I would have blushed. Now, though, I wriggle and squirm in his grasp, desperately trying to find an opening or make one.

“NEVER! NEVER! They are all probably crazy like you!”

His palms against my chest pat it. “I’m not crazy! Come on, Evan, I know they’re most likely not your type of friend—but thinking of it right now, you don’t really have a type because I’m your only friend.”I can almost hear the smug smile that’s on his face right now. “But would you do it for meee? They wanna meet you, Evan.” His lips find my ear and my body decides that it’s a good time to rag doll. “Please, Evan,” he continues, knowing how I like my name on his lips, “Please. Evan, please. Just one afternoon. You can choose where we’ll meet up if you want, Evan.”

I mumble something that even I can’t understand out loud.

“Hmm?” He already knows he won.

“I said,” I raise my voice, turning my head a bit so I can see the ends of his blonde hair, “Just this once.”

Tobias grins, his face creasing more in delight when I huff at it. He kisses my cheek and rocks side to side with me still in his arms. “You’re wonderful, Evan, so so wonderful. I like you a lot.”

“Words aren’t going to get you anywhere with me.” But my heart is thumping in my chest, pleased at his words despite my mind telling it to stop. His hand is above my heart, so no doubt he feels it thudding against his palm.

“Yeah, yeah. So when do you want to meet them? Or, for them to meet you?”

＊＊＊

It’s even worse than I imagined.

They’re from my side of town. Crap. I thought he’d have some rich friends or something—I’m not prepared for this.

Tobias steers me into the booth seat of the cafe across from them—yes, I did choose a cafe, even though the murder in the alleyway still is stuck with me. I like their biscuits.

Two of his friends look like football players, and knowing that Tobias is on the football team, they probably are. There’s a girl as well, with glasses and looking at her phone eagerly, a red jacket obscuring her form.

“So you’re Evan? Your even smaller up close. I’ve see you around the neighborhood—you got two little brothers, right?” One of the football guys starts the conversation.

“Er, yes. Stepbrothers.”

“So…it’s nice to finally meet you, Evan,” the second football player says, his eyes smiling, “The rude large boy is my twin and annoying brother Da’Shawn. I thank everything holy that we aren’t identical.” He places a hand on his chest. “My name’s Darell, and this pretty lady over here,” the girl raises her head and waves at me, “Is my girlfriend, Lindsey.”

They all look back at me. Wait. I look at Tobias, who’s been watching this with a look in his eyes. When he catches me staring at him, he pokes my nose and straightens from his slouch. “Well my boyfriend,” he grins at me after he says that, “Isn’t all that used to social interactions.”

“Since his only friend was you, I thought he’d be used to chatter by now,”Da’Shawn teases.

They all laugh, I let myself give a little smile at it as well.

Well…this isn’t too bad.

＊＊＊

It’s eight o’ clock at night. I’m staying over at Tobias’ house/mansion, recalling all that happening today.

After the cafe, we went to nearby skating rink. There, I learned that Tobias had no idea how to skate. I have to admit, it was fun watching him fall on his butt serveral times. We all split up after the skating park, though, and Tobias brought me to an ice cream shop and both a sundae for us to share. It was large, five scoops of vanilla ice cream topped with peanuts, chocolate syrup, and sprinkles was the glorious thing. He fed me the cherry, desire a fire in his eyes which I quickly snuffed out by poking him several times in the cheek with my nails as he tried to kiss me.

It was fun. A thought comes into my mind—there’s lots of thoughts about Tobias in my head, nowadays.

“Hey, Tobias.” We are down, tucked underneath the sheets beside each other. My head is on his chest, our bodies are curled, sharing our heat, but it doesn’t feel sexual. It feels more than that really.

I can only think of the word “nice”, though.

It feels nice.

Tobias gives me a grunt, half-asleep but still awake to hear what I want to say.

“The ice cream place was our first date, right?”

He’s quiet for a moment, and I think he’s done to sleep, but then his hand is on my back and pulling closer to him. To his warmth.

“I’m glad,” he whispers, “I’m glad that you think that was our first date.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No. No, it was. But the fact that you’re acknowledging it—I dunno, Evan, it makes me happy and I like that feeling. I like this.” He kisses my forehead softly, settling back to go to sleep. “I like your voice. I like your eyes. And I even like your attitude—sometimes.”

He sighs. “I like you.”

It’s some time before I answer, before I have my thought back organized. But when I answer, he’s already deep asleep.

“I like you too, Tobi.”

But let me just tell you—

**I, respectfully, am not sure. **

Not yet anyway. But I am sure it’ll work out.