“An actual date?”
Tesia froze completely, and her cheeks slowly began to turn red.
Jean nodded.
“Yeah. A date.”
Tesia stared at him.
Jean took a deep breath.
“I’ve been thinking about it a lot because after what happened with Jess… honestly, I didn’t really feel like dating anyone again.”
Tesia lowered her gaze slightly.
Jean continued.
“I had convinced myself that being alone was better. I didn’t have to worry about anything, I didn’t have to explain myself to anyone, and honestly, I was pretty comfortable that way.”
He paused for a moment.
“But then you showed up.”
Tesia slowly looked up.
“And the more I get to know you, the more I realize that…”
Jean smiled slightly.
“The way you are, the way you talk, the things you do…”
Tesia began to smile.
“I…”
Jean was about to say it.
Those two words he had been avoiding for weeks.
I like you.
But then he realized something.
“Tesia?”
There was no answer.
Jean blinked.
“Tesia?”
He looked to one side.
Nothing.
Then the other.
Nothing there either.
“Huh?”
Then he looked down.
“…”
Jean went completely pale.
The vampire was lying flat on her back, wearing an enormous smile, her cheeks completely red.
“TESIAAAAAA!?”
Jean rushed toward her.
“Tesia! Tesia, wake up!”
Indeed, the vampire had fainted from excitement. He carefully grabbed her by the shoulders.
“What happened to you?!”
Tesia slowly opened her eyes.
“Jean…”
“Are you okay?!”
“Y-yeah…”
She smiled.
“What happened?”
Tesia closed her eyes again.
“I think I fainted.”
“I noticed!”
“I’m sorry…”
“You don't have to apologize for fainting!”
Jean sighed.
“Oh my God… I had no idea vampires could faint too…”
///
A few minutes later, they were both sitting on a bench.
Tesia was fanning herself with one hand, desperately trying to regain her composure.
Jean watched her with concern.
“Are you sure you’re okay?”
“Yeah…”
Tesia took a deep breath.
“I’m fine.”
“Tesia, you fainted. We should probably see a doctor… Do vampires have specialized doctors?”
“Noo!! Don’t worry, it’s just that…”
It’s just that I have absolutely no idea how to make my body react normally like when I’ve dreamed about this exact moment so many times.
Tesia covered her face.
“It’s just that… Ireallylikeyou…”
She said it so quietly that Jean couldn't understand a single word.
Jean let out a small, nervous laugh. He hadn't understood anything the vampire had just mumbled.
“I know! Are you hot? It must be that…”
“A little…”
“Want something to drink? The weather’s been kind of weird, honestly. It suddenly got really hot this afternoon. I totally get it.”
Tesia nodded.
“I’ll go get something. I won’t be long.”
Jean stood up.
“Want anything specific?”
“I don’t know… anything is fine. Except anything that says ‘diet’ or ‘light’ on the label…”
///
Jean went to get them something to drink and came back with two bottles of the same cola practically all of us know. For obvious reasons, we won’t mention the brand to avoid any trademark issues… sorry. BUT IT’S A CO—
“Here.”
He handed one to Tesia.
“Thanks…”
The vampire held it with both hands and asked Jean if he could do her a favor and open it for her. After he did, she took a small sip.
Jean did the same with his own, and for a few moments, neither of them said anything.
Night had begun to settle over the city, and the park had become much quieter. The streetlights illuminated the paths with a yellowish glow that barely reached the treetops, while a few dry leaves slowly broke free from the branches and drifted toward the ground, eventually being carried away by the wind.
In the distance, the sounds of the city could still be heard: cars passing by, people talking as they made their way home, and, every now and then, the laughter of couples enjoying their evening together.
Jean glanced at Tesia.
She had her bottle resting against her legs as she watched the leaves falling in front of them.
Her blonde hair moved gently in the breeze, and the light from one of the streetlights made a few strands seem to glow on their own.
Jean smiled.
She looks so peaceful…
Tesia, meanwhile, was desperately trying to calm her racing heart.
A date… What am I supposed to do???
She still couldn't believe it.
Jean had actually said he wanted to go on a date with her.
After all this time together, after all the times they had gone out, talked, and laughed as friends, he had finally been the one to take that step.
Tesia lowered her gaze slightly.
I'm happy…
Indeed, the vampira was so happy BUT she was nervous, too.
In fact, very nervous.
It’s not like I dreamed it would be, but…
“I…”
“I…”
They both spoke at the same time and turned their heads at the same time.
Their faces ended up far too close.
Their eyes met for barely a second.
“…”
“…”
Tesia turned red, and so did Jean.
They both immediately looked away.
“Uh…”
“Well…”
They tried to speak at the same time again.
“You first.”
“No, you.”
Jean let out a small laugh.
“Is asking someone out always this difficult, huh?”
Tesia smiled shyly.
“Probably.”
They fell silent again.
Jean stared at the bottle between his hands for a few seconds.
Finally, he took a deep breath.
“Would that be okay?”
Tesia looked up.
Jean continued, speaking with a hint of uncertainty.
“I just assumed you’d want to go on a date with me, too.”
He scratched his cheek slightly.
“I know we’ve already been going out quite a lot, even if it’s always been as friends, but… maybe I didn’t really take into account what you wanted.”
Tesia watched him closely.
“Maybe you want us to keep things the way they are.”
Jean lowered his gaze.
“And if that's the case, that's okay. I don't want to pressure you.”
He paused for a moment.
“But if you want to, too… we can go on a date.”
Tesia felt her heart begin racing again.
Jean smiled.
“Like I told you, I’d like to go somewhere you want to go. I want to get to know you better, and…”
Jean paused for a moment, thinking.
“I…”
Tesia gently tightened her grip on the bottle and said softly, “I… I don’t know.”