24

24

After a long week, Keevan was getting a little lonely for Karkat. He didn’t share any classes with her during the week besides Homeroom, and he was always busy after school with catching up on missing work like Keevan had instructed him to do. Keevan had work half the week, too, so there was no time to see each other. She decided to ask him out on a date that Saturday.

KK: Hey, Karkitty!~ Are you free tomorrow?

KV: Uh, yeah. Why.

KK: I want to see you! We should go on our first date together, don’t you think? <3

KV: I guess we should. What will this date involve exactly.

KK: We could go shopping, or see a movie, or have lunch together...

KV: How about lunch.

KK: Great!!! Meet me at my house tomorrow at 11, okay? :3

KV: Okay. Love you.

KK: I love you too. Goodnight! <3

KV: Night, Keevan.

KV: <3

Keevan smiled and went to plug in her phone at her desk, then got into bed and closed her eyes. She was excited to go on her first date with Karkat, even though they had technically been “dating” for a little more than a week. She felt so happy to be with him. She wouldn’t rather be with anyone else.

The doorbell rang right as Keevan finished her makeup, looking in the mirror and touching up her mascara.

“Coming!” she called downstairs. She adjusted her scarf one last time and hurried downstairs, being careful because of her high-heeled shoes. Her parents were gone on business that weekend so she had to answer the door herself. She opened up the door and smiled at Karkat, then walked onto the porch with him.

“Hi!” she greeted him, giving him a kiss on the cheek. Karkat blushed and closed the front door for her, Keevan locking it.

“Hey,” Karkat said, taking her hand. “Are you ready to go?”

“Yes,” Keevan replied, squeezing his hand. “I was thinking that we go to the café downtown for lunch. Is that alright?”

Karkat nodded. They began walking together down the street hand-in-hand, Karkat looking a little embarrassed because he still wasn’t used to being so affectionate in public. Keevan thought it was sweet.

“How are things at home?” she asked him gently, nuzzling against him as they walked. Karkat glanced at her.

“The same,” he replied. “I don’t want to talk about it.”

“Are you sure? If you need to talk about it, you know I’ll listen...”

“Let’s just enjoy our date, okay?” Karkat blushed a bit. Keevan smiled and kissed his cheek again. “Sounds good to me,” she said.

Once they had ordered their food, Keevan and Karkat were left alone at the table in the café. Keevan ran her index finger along the rim of her water glass and looked at Karkat, who was fidgeting with his silverware.

“So,” she said, breaking the silence. “Tell me about yourself, Karkat.”

“W-what?” Karkat stammered, looking a bit embarrassed. “You already know about me.”

“Yeah, I know what you’re like and who you are,” Keevan said, “but I want to know more. What kinds of music do you like, what do you like to do, what’s your dream, stuff like that!”

“That seems kind of petty.”

“C’mon! If we’re going to date we should at least know each other well enough to be good friends. It’s easy, Karkat, just tell me about yourself.”

“O...kay,” Karkat began, clearing his throat. He paused for a minute, scratching the back of his head. “I guess I...am pretty boring, now that I think of it. I don’t know what I could say that would be at all interesting.”

“What do you like to do outside of school?”

“Uh...I guess I sort of like programming. And I watch movies. I have a ton of them.”

“What kind of movies?”

Karkat blushed and glanced away. “Er...mostly romantic comedies,” he muttered. Keevan found it hard to not laugh. She covered her mouth so she wouldn’t giggle.

“Romantic comedies?” she echoed, unable to stop her smile. “That’s sweet.”

“Sh-shut up,” Karkat stammered, blushing deeper. Keevan laughed. Karkat really wasn’t just an angry loner like everyone else had thought. He was kind of dorky, now that Keevan thought about it. It made her like him even more.

“What kind of stuff do you do?” Karkat asked, trying to shake off his embarrassment. Keevan smiled.

“I like to knit,” she said, “and I sing in the choir.”

“You sing?”

“Mm-hm. I’ve been singing since I was little.”

“I...used to play the French horn,” Karkat said slowly, seeming to be hesitant to admit it.

“You don’t play anymore?” Keevan asked.

“My mom wouldn’t pay for it anymore, so I had to quit band when I got into ninth grade. I liked playing.”

“I’m sorry, Karkat,” Keevan sympathized. “I would have liked to hear you play.”

“I wasn’t that good, anyway,” Karkat muttered. Keevan and he were silent for a while. The waitress brought their food and they began eating, still in silence. Karkat was the one that broke the quiet.

“Keevan, do you really like me?” he asked. Keevan was caught off-guard by his question. She set down her fork and looked at him.

“Of course I do, Karkat,” she said. “I love you.”

“Don’t you think we were...rushing it a bit with saying I love you? I mean, we just started dating...”

“I...I guess we don’t have to say that if you’re uncomfortable with it,” Keevan said, feeling her heart drop. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

“No!” Karkat suddenly shouted. A few of the others in the café looked over and stared at them. Karkat blushed and sank down in his seat. “No, I didn’t mean we can’t say that. I was just thinking that it seemed kind of sudden. Just...just forget I said that, okay?”

Keevan frowned. Karkat looked embarrassed again. He dug into his food and finished it all without saying another word. Keevan sighed and finished her salad, and then they both paid for their meals. Once they left, they began walking home together. Karkat had his hands shoved in his pockets and his head low.

“I’m sorry for ruining our first date, Keevan,” he said quietly.

“You didn’t ruin it,” Keevan said, looking at him. “I had fun, Karkat.”

“No you didn’t, I made it awkward. I’m not a very good boyfriend, I know. I’m sorry.” Karkat looked unbelievably disappointed in himself. Keevan felt awful for him. She hugged his arm tightly.

“Karkat, you’re a wonderful boyfriend,” she assured him. “You’re sweet and caring and I...I love you.”

“I love you, too,” Karkat whispered. He walked closer to her as she kept her hold on his arm. Keevan leaned her head on his shoulder.

“Come back to my house with me,” she said. “We can watch a movie together. I don’t want you to leave yet.”

“O-okay,” Karkat said, blushing again. “I...want to spend all day with you, Keevan.”

“How about this one?” Keevan asked, holding up a movie case.

“Valley Girl?” Karkat said, observing the case. “I’ve never seen that. It looks kind of lame.” He took the case from her. “Ugh, Nic Cage is in this?”

“Come on, Karkat, this is my favorite movie!” Keevan said, pouting and making puppy-dog eyes at him. “Pleeeeeease?”

“Fine,” Karkat said, rolling his eyes. “Just because it’s what you want.”

“Yay!” Keevan chimed, taking the case back. She carefully took out the disc and placed it into the DVD player under the living room television. “It’s not a romantic comedy�"” Karkat grimaced when she said that�" “but it is romantic!”

“Great,” Karkat said sarcastically. He sat down on the couch and slumped down, watching the opening previews. Keevan grabbed the remote and sat down beside him. She hit the play button and the movie began. Karkat sighed and Keevan giggled.

“You’re going to like it,” she assured him, patting his shoulder. Karkat sighed again.

“I’m so sure I will,” he muttered. Keevan snuggled up to him and rested her head on his shoulder, hugging his arm. “Does this make it any better?” she asked, smiling. He blushed.

“A little,” he said in a low voice. Keevan grinned and kissed his cheek. She trailed her kisses to between his eyes, then down his nose and to his lips. Karkat was turning beet-red. He jumped a bit when Keevan snuggled closer. “How about now?” she giggled. Karkat bit his lip and his eyes were wide.

“U-uh,” he stammered, unsure of what to do. He slowly put his arms around Keevan and hugged her close to him. She wrapped her arms around his neck and stroked his hair out of his eyes, feeling warm and safe in his embrace.

“I like your eyes, Karkat,” Keevan said quietly. He blushed deeper. “I like yours,” he said back. Keevan smiled and found his lips again. Karkat kissed her back gently, tightening his hold around her waist. He seemed to still be a bit nervous. Keevan deepened the kiss, becoming more passionate as Karkat became more comfortable with her. He closed his eyes and kissed back just as fully, their lips smacking together gently and their teeth beginning to rub together. Keevan knew that Karkat was inexperienced in kissing, so she tried to lead as best she could. He seemed unsure what to do besides to repeat the same kiss, so Keevan gently found his tongue with hers. Karkat flinched but let her continue what she was doing, and eventually pressed his own tongue back onto hers. He wasn’t sure what to do, but Keevan led him.

“Don’t be shy, Karkat,” Keevan whispered against his lips. She pressed her lips onto his again and made the kiss even deeper. Karkat kissed back and then Keevan was surprised when he started sliding his lips down from hers and onto her neck. Keevan dug her fingers into his hair and bit her lip as he kissed her neck, using his tongue gently. He began to kiss deeper, sucking her neck and holding her waist tightly. Keevan blushed.

“Karkat...” Keevan whispered, grabbing fistfuls of his hair. He continued sucking her neck and Keevan squeezed her eyes shut. She had to keep herself from making any noises. After a while, Karkat stopped and gently kissed her neck once more. He trailed his kisses to her lips and then just hugged her tightly. Keevan smiled and hugged him back. She knew that it was probably too new to him to go any longer, and she was okay with that.

“I love you, Keevan, I really do,” Karkat whispered, his face buried in her shoulder.

“I love you, too, Karkat,” Keevan whispered back, holding him and stroking his back gently. She softly kissed his cheek. Suddenly, Karkat pulled back. He moved Keevan’s hair from her neck and his face went red again. His eyes widened.

“What’s wrong?” Keevan asked him.

“I-I...gave you a h-hickey!” Karkat shouted. He looked terrified. “Your parents will kill me if they see!” Keevan blushed deeply, but then she just laughed. Karkat looked confused. “What’s so funny?” he asked.

“They’re gone on business this weekend, Karkat,” Keevan said, smiling. “And I always wear scarves; they won’t be able to see it anyway. Don’t worry about it.”

“I...I guess,” Karkat said, calming down a bit. He took a deep breath. “I just didn’t want your parents to think we...uh...”

“They trust that I’ll be responsible,” Keevan assured him, her face still darkened by blush. “And you promised them that you wouldn’t hurt me, so they trust you, too.” She kissed his forehead.

“I never will hurt you,” Karkat said, putting a hand on her cheek. “I’ll always be good to you, Kee. I’ll never ever hurt you.”

Keevan liked when he called her by her nickname for the first time. “I know you won’t,” she said softly. “I know you won’t, Kar.”