his words brought heat to her cheeks again. gods, this had been a date. she hadn't been sure. she really hadn't been sure. but she dressed nice anyway, made sure to bring a present... maybe she had been hoping. and if it hadn't been, would she be disappointed? maybe. ok, yes. she did like Giona. that's what the whole thing was about really. she would be really disappointed if he didn't like her back. but -

now he was leaning in again. again. oh, no. no, no, no. did she miss a cue before? why did she think again? was she just so inexperienced in this romance department that she failed the first class? but Giona said he wasn't scared away. so she shouldn't be scared either. even though she totally was. Alice leans in too, the documentary on television and the Ivysaur forgotten in the heat of the moment. and -

she gently brushes her lips against his own. 

giona ferrara

he pulls back, and she does too. her eyes are wide but she daren't look away. she didn't want him to feel guilty about the whole thing by glancing to the side or away from Giona. instead she forces herself to stare at him. he's red. she's red. and she does not know what to say that wouldn't sound so, so stupid.

that was nice or don't look so shocked! or even holy shit that was my first kiss ever. a million things swam in her mind at the moment. she felt slightly lightheaded. Alice raised a pale hand to brush aside her own strands of blue hair to the side. even the gesture felt awkward and shaky. her hand went limp after that. everything felt heavy.

still, the hand that had grabbed at his previously still clutched his own. "I..." Alice bites her lip, still tasting him "that" fuck, why was it so hard? "you're" it wasn't possible to get any redder than they were "I'm sorry" she settles on "I... I don't know what to say" but it wasn't his fault or anything "because everything seems really stupid, what I wanna say."

and she didn't want to offend him with her stupidity. "but" she looks down at his hand in her own "I don't regret it."

hah... the 'coaching' she did with Aaron Faust seemed so far away now. her friend had more or less pushed her to be brave, to take what she wanted, but also repress her awkwardness and morbidity. now it was on full display. and Giona wasn't running. he even said it; she had been scared she would chase him away. but he stayed. all she had to be was herself. someone would bite eventually.

Giona took her hand, telling her she was brave. "I guess" she agrees, knowing she'd have never done it without some prompting on his part. Alice would have never gone in for a kiss if she didn't pick up those cues from him. why would she? she wouldn't want to put someone on the spot - or even feel rejection from them refusing such a thing "t-that was... my first kiss."

twenty-one years old and she felt like a hag sometimes.

she ducked her head, trying to bury her face in her hands, but knowing she held one of his and he held one of hers - impossible. "I-I mean, yeah it was my first ever kiss" she hurried along, fumbling "and it was nice. it was... all I wanted out of a first kiss" Giona seemed reassured by her truthfulness so she blurted out more "a-and I don't expect you... to do anything."

about it. about them. "b-but if you wanted, we could hang out more..." like a date they both realized was an actual date.

gods, he knew exactly what to say to make her turn pink even further. Alice was dimly aware of holding his hand, and him holding her own, but it seemed like... second nature to do it. how perfect did their hands fit in each other's. she barely registered even doing it - that's just how natural it seemed to her. I have never held a boy's hand before she would admit to herself it feels nice now.

"yeah" she says, her voice cracking slightly "I'll, um, call you." or text; whichever was easier for him. she wasn't used to non-business or non-job calls. maybe text would be easier. for her at least. she didn't let go of his hand; Giona did say he didn't mind. and he didn't let go of her own. I guess we were both lonely she thinks.

his forehead rests against her own, providing more heat and strange comfort. how strange, everything happening like it did. she quietly reflected on it before smiling gently. "all the time in the world" Alice repeats "that sounds nice."

"o-oh" she squeaks, attempting to wave her hands wildly while still holding each others. it was an awkward but funny movement "no, I'm okay" Alice affirms "nobody's... told me I was 'brave' before that's all" she shouldn't have sounded unwell "I... I didn't know how to really take it" so she only said 'she guessed' instead of thanking giona ferrara for the kindness "ha... y'know I had a friend try to coach me." she swallows an embarrassed lump in her throat.

"l-like in the dating department" Alice goes on "he said I had to be confident, but also... swagger" her eyes squinted "he wasn't trying to turn me into someone else, but it felt like he was" and she had been a bit offended "so it's just nice to know. y'know. that someone likes me for me." someone that cared about her enough to get to know her more. that wanted to know more. that she didn't scare him away.

Giona bends over, placing a gentle kiss on her brow. Alice hesitates a moment before leaning in after he backs, resting her head against his shoulder. she's pretty sure he could feel the heat coming from her cheeks. "and I like you for you." she says, slightly muffled. 

Giona scoffs and she turns even more red. "it wasn't" Alice begins, struggling to find the right words "he didn't do anything. I didn't do anything" was he jealous? was he mad? she was trying to be honest, to tell him it meant a lot that he'd stick around even when she wasn't trying to be... anyone else "you're the only boy I've kissed. or even held hands with." as if comforting him, she squeezed his hand a bit.

"he was just trying to help. in his own silly way" she adds "now I can text him and tell him to shove off" because Aaron Faust being her 'love coach' now was laughable "I thought I needed his help with understanding people..." Alice says lamely with a dry laugh against Giona, but he situated her better so she wouldn't hurt her back. he was considerate as usual and here she was, being uncool and self conscious.

"you keep saying; it means a lot. well, it means a lot to me" she goes on slightly stronger "I'm glad you asked me here. I felt like I was dead for a long time, just swimming along" existing without some sort of purpose "and I don't need to understand people - just one person. you" she glances up at him, worried "so, um. that's... all I wanted to say..."