First Time for Everything

by Andrea Speed

  The pale lavender sweater his mom picked out contrasted nicely against his dark skin. The outfit complete, he looked at himself in the mirror and he didn’t hate what he saw. He pushed up his sleeves and hated it even less. His mom came up behind him and brushed her hands down his arms. “See, look how nice you look. Now stop worrying. He’s going to be too focused on other things to care if your outfit isn’t perfect. Just relax. You’re going to have a great time.”

  Logan turned around and hugged her. “Thanks, Mom.” She gave him a good squeeze and then left him alone to wait for Jason to pick him up.

  Logan was sixteen and had a license but no car. His parents said they would help him get one once it was time for college. Jason was seventeen and already had his own car. He was the epitome of the spoiled rich kid—the one who played sports and was good at everything he did. At first glance.

  Logan knew him better than that.

  Logan looked at himself in the mirror again, going through a mental checklist to make sure he was ready. He was freshly showered, had clean teeth, and he hadn’t forgotten deodorant. He didn’t have to worry about styling his hair because he kept his head shaved close to his scalp. He had skipped out on cologne, too worried about overpowering Jason with the scent. He was as ready as he was going to be. All that was left for him to do was relax and enjoy himself tonight.

  The doorbell rang, and Logan jumped. He clutched at his racing heart and laughed at himself. “Get yourself together, Logan,” he muttered. “This is not the way to start the evening.” He took a couple of deep, steadying breaths and left his room to greet Jason downstairs.

  Jason was in a charcoal sweater and a pair of black slacks that fit him superbly. There was no way Logan wasn’t going to be losing focus of the conversation at some point during dinner because he was already drooling over Jason. Jason looked good.

  “Hey,” Jason said, running his fingers through his shaggy blond hair. He looked just as nervous as Logan felt, which made Logan feel a bit better.

  “Hey,” Logan replied, thankful that his dark skin didn’t show when he was blushing. Jason didn’t have that luxury, his own cheeks tinged pink.

  Logan’s father snorted and rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath about teenagers and dating, but both he and Logan’s mother were smiling at them. His sister was nowhere to be found. She had probably been told to stay in her room.

  “Mr. Bennington, Mrs. Bennington.” Jason nodded at Logan’s parents as they ushered the two of them out the door, telling them to have fun. It wasn’t the first time they had met Jason, which at least made things a little easier. They had done a school project together. It was what had led them to this date.

  The car ride to the restaurant was quiet and awkward, the tension getting to them both. Logan wasn’t terribly worried yet. They would eventually get to talking. They had time. He was thrilled they weren’t going somewhere fancy because he had a feeling it would only have made things even more awkward and uncomfortable.

  Things remained strained between the two of them until after they had ordered their food, when Logan decided he had endured enough silence. “Okay, I hate to be that guy, but I have to ask—what are you doing here with me? Why are you ruining a perfectly good stereotype by not dating the head cheerleader?”

  Jason surprised him by laughing. “I was wondering if you would ask me that or not. I always get asked why I’m not dating Amanda, or any of the cheerleaders for that matter. I mean, not all of them are terrible. I even made out with one of them once, but Amanda is not somebody I would ever be proud to be seen with. She’s horrible.”

  Logan raised an eyebrow. “So it isn’t because she doesn’t have a dick?” Then he remembered something else Jason had said. “Wait. Does that mean you’re proud to be seen with me?”

  Jason’s cheeks reddened, and he cleared his throat. He recovered quickly, smirking at Logan. “It isn’t because she doesn’t have a dick,” Jason replied, completely ignoring Logan’s second question. “I play for both teams, but I definitely prefer dick.”

  Logan snorted and shook his head. He decided to let Jason off the hook for not answering his second question. Jason’s bashfulness when Logan had asked made it obvious to him that Jason was proud to be seen with him. “It’s just guys for me. I used to think there was something wrong with me when all of the other guys talked about girls. I never got it.”

  “Seems like you figured it out okay,” Jason replied as he reached for his water glass. Logan didn’t know if Jason was distracted, nervous, or both, but while not known for klutziness, he managed to knock the glass over.

  “Shit,” Jason muttered, picking up his glass. He mopped the water up with his napkin as best as he could. Logan grabbed his own napkin and helped. He noticed that Jason’s cheeks were a deep red now. Logan assumed mostly from embarrassment, but perhaps also from nervousness.

  “Don’t worry about it,” he said as Jason cursed under his breath again.

  Jason huffed and ran his fingers through his hair, something that seemed to be a habit for him. “I’m sorry. I’m just… nervous.”

  Logan grinned and made the quick decision to share in the embarrassment. “Don’t worry, I’m nervous too. I changed outfits so many times that you couldn’t see my bed anymore. My mom finally took pity on me and picked this out for me to wear. So no matter what you do tonight, nothing can be more embarrassing than my mother picking out my clothes for our date.”

  Jason offered a small smile. “Thanks for telling me.”

  Logan shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Couldn’t have you thinking you were the only one who was nervous.”

  Jason ducked his head and took a deep breath. He seemed to be collecting himself, so Logan let him be. After a few moments, Jason lifted his head. The red in his cheeks was gone. He looked calm and collected, as if nothing had happened.

  “Your parents seem to be supportive,” Jason continued, clearly pretending that their conversation hadn’t just been interrupted.

  He was amazed at how quickly Jason had collected himself. He wasn’t sure he could pull that off if their situations had been reversed.

  “I’m lucky. They’ve been wonderful. And since you’re out with me tonight, I imagine your parents are supportive as well.”

  Logan’s smile quickly vanished when he saw the tick of Jason’s jaw and the way his eyes hardened. He couldn’t feel bad about asking, though. Jason had been the one to bring it up. It was only natural that he would ask the same thing.

  “Do they even know you’re here on a date with me?” Logan couldn’t help asking.

  “They do,” Jason replied through gritted teeth. “And they are far from happy with it.”

  “I’m sorry.” It wasn’t enough—and what did it really mean anyway?—but Logan didn’t know what else he could offer at the moment.

  Jason shrugged. “Don’t worry about it. It’s what we were talking about.”

  It wasn’t what Logan meant, and they both knew that. He didn’t know much about Jason’s home life. When they had worked together on their school project, they had always done it at Logan’s house. And though they had gotten to know each other, they hadn’t really gotten to know each other well. Just well enough to realize there was an attraction between them, and possibly something more. “Listen, if things get bad at home, my parents would be happy to take you in.”

  Jason smirked. “Asking me to move in with you on the first date? You’ve got balls, Logan.”

  Logan rolled his eyes. He knew Jason was just teasing, but part of him wondered if maybe he shouldn’t have made the offer. Maybe he had offended Jason. But Jason’s features softened, and he suddenly looked small and vulnerable, not at all like the school jock.

  Jason reached across the table to take Logan’s hand in his own and gave it a squeeze.

  “Thanks,” he whispered. It made Logan wonder just how bad things were at home for Jason. Nobody deserved that.

  The waitress came with their food. Perfect t
iming. Neither of them seemed to know what to say after what Logan took to be an admission of how terrible Jason’s home life was, so it was nice that there was a more natural halt in their conversation as they started on their dishes. Things had been going well until the mention of Jason’s family, and Logan hoped they could get back to that easiness.

  After a few minutes of enjoying their food in silence, Jason looked up and smiled at him. It was a relief to know their date wasn’t completely ruined. Even with the badness that had filtered in, he was enjoying himself, and he thought Jason might be too.

  “When I was over at your place working on that project, I noticed that your family owns all series, and seasons, of Star Trek on DVD. Does your entire family love that show, or is it just one or two people?”

  “My entire family enjoys it, actually. Though I don’t think any of them love it as much as I do.”

  Jason grinned. “Kirk or Picard?”

  Logan laughed. He couldn’t believe he was having this conversation with Jason. It was nice that he was. “Picard. You?”

  Jason scoffed. “Kirk, obviously, if I must choose, but I’m a Bones man at heart.”

  Logan bit his lip to keep from laughing, wondering if Jason realized what he had just said and hoping he figured it out. Jason cocked his head and eyed Logan. He seemed to be working out why Logan was trying to keep from laughing. He knew Jason had gotten it when his eyes widened and he laughed. Logan gave in and laughed with him.

  Logan could feel more eyes on them now. People had been watching them all night. It was obvious they were here on a date, but he had been able to ignore the looks. It was unfortunate, but he wasn’t surprised. There was still bigotry and discrimination when it came to race and homosexuality. As half of a gay, interracial couple, he wasn’t surprised by the stares, but he was saddened by them.

  It was a problem they would have to face if they continued this relationship, which was something he wanted to do. He was really enjoying his time here with Jason. He hoped Jason felt the same way.

  Their laughter died down, but Jason’s eyes were still sparkling. “Well, I clearly did not think that sentence through, but I think you know what I meant.”

  Logan snorted. “I had no idea you were even a Star Trek fan.”

  Jason shrugged. “Most people don’t know. None of my friends are into it. I don’t really have a lot of things in common with any of my friends.”

  Logan arched his eyebrows. “No wonder you’re here with me. Do you at least like your friends?”

  “Well enough. I could certainly never date any of them. I mean, I like them just fine, I just….” Jason trailed off, clearly at a loss. Logan waited patiently, wanting to hear what Jason had to say. “I really do like them. It’s just that I grew up with them. My parents are friends with their parents.”

  “You didn’t choose them,” Logan supplied.

  “No, not really.” Jason scrubbed a hand over his face. “This is making me sound like a complete asshole.”

  This time it was Logan who reached across the table to take Jason’s hand in his. “I don’t think it does, but even if it did, I still wouldn’t think you were an asshole.”

  Jason squeezed his hand and then brought it to his lips, brushing them over Logan’s knuckles. Logan let out a breath, flushed, and was once again thankful it wouldn’t show. Jason knew the effect he was having on Logan, though, if the smirk was anything to go by.

  Jason held his gaze until their waitress came back, clearing her throat and taking their dishes, asking if they needed anything else.

  “Dessert?” Jason asked, not letting go of his hand.

  “I’m kind of full. How about we just get out of here.”

  Jason nodded. “We could go for a walk,” he suggested.

  Logan smiled. “Yeah. Sounds good.”

  The waitress cleared her throat again. Jason turned to her and asked for their check. She walked off in a huff.

  “Well, there goes her tip,” Jason muttered. Logan had to agree. He didn’t know what her problem was, though he had his suspicions. They couldn’t be the only couple she had ever served who got cuddly with each other. She’d probably seen worse than the gazing they had been doing.

  It didn’t matter. Well, it did matter, but it wasn’t something he wanted to deal with right now. He just wanted to enjoy his night with Jason. Besides, you couldn’t change stupid.

  The waitress came back with their check. Jason paid and Logan let him. Jason was the one who had asked him out for tonight. Logan would pay the next time they went out, which would hopefully be soon.

  Jason drove them to the lake. They parked and started walking the path around it. The weather was cool without being chilly. The moon was full, and there weren’t any clouds in sight. It was a nice night out for a walk, and it was the perfect way to end the evening. Logan just didn’t want it to end.

  Jason linked his fingers with Logan’s and smiled shyly at him. Logan grinned and decided to make sure there would be a second date. “So, would you like to catch a movie with me tomorrow night?” Logan laughed at himself. He had tried to go for casual and was pretty sure he had failed. “Wow, I sound way too eager, and that was not at all as smooth as I was hoping.”

  Jason laughed with him. “It’s okay. I was thinking of asking you out for tomorrow night too. And I haven’t exactly been Mr. Smooth myself tonight either.”

  Logan offered a small smile. “Does that mean you’ll go with me to the movies tomorrow night?”

  Jason brought Logan’s hand up to his mouth and kissed it. “Oh yeah. Definitely. How could I say no to getting you alone in a dark theater?”

  Logan bit his lower lip, trying to hold back a smile, but failing miserably. It was a nice thought, and he certainly felt the same way.

  When they were back where they had started their walk, they glanced at each other, and without a word, they decided to walk the path again, prolonging their date just a little longer.

  Along the way, Jason started humming under his breath. Logan strained to hear him, but he soon picked out the tune.

  “Katy Perry?” he asked.

  Jason flushed, but started singing instead of just humming. Logan laughed and joined the singing. They got funny looks from other people along the path—they were all here to exercise—but he didn’t care, and it didn’t seem like Jason did either. Jason’s face was red, but he was smiling as he sang.

  Back at the car, Jason pushed Logan up against it. Instead of the kiss he thought might be coming, Jason wrapped his arms around Logan. He wound his own around Jason as Jason buried his face in Logan’s neck. He stroked Jason’s back gently. Other than that, they didn’t move for a few minutes.

  Jason pulled his head back, but kept his arms wrapped around Logan. “Sorry. I just… I just really like you, and I’m really happy you’re here with me.” Jason smiled shyly and then rested his head on Logan’s shoulder, holding him even more closely than before.

  Logan’s heart pounded. “It wasn’t like I was complaining. This is nice.”

  Jason let out a choked laugh. “You know, I’ve actually been wanting to do this for a while. I was too scared to say anything. The school project really worked to my advantage.”

  Logan laughed and cupped the back of Jason’s neck, leaning in closer to whisper in Jason’s ear. “I’m really glad that things worked out the way they did, then.”

  Jason shuddered and sighed. He pulled away, a smile on his face. They got into the car, and Jason drove Logan home. Sooner than Logan would have liked, they were pulling up to his house. He was surprised when Jason actually turned off the car.

  “Are you walking me to the front door?” Logan couldn’t keep the shock out of his voice.

  Jason shrugged. “Figured I’d make it a proper date. Or is that too much?” Jason looked worried, like he had somehow, with this one gesture, screwed up the entire date. It was adorable.

  “It’s okay. I like it.” And he did. He liked the idea of being courted and woo
ed. It wasn’t something he was quite ready to tell Jason, but he figured Jason would probably figure it out on his own anyway. And probably pretty quickly.

  They both got out of the car and walked the short distance to Logan’s front porch.

  “Thanks for dinner.” Logan figured he would start talking so they could hopefully avoid standing there looking at each other awkwardly.

  “It was my pleasure.” Jason was smiling at him. He looked bashful. Logan didn’t think he would ever tire of seeing that.

  “I really had a good time.”

  Jason grinned. “That’s good. I was worried that I would screw this up completely.”

  “How could you possibly have screwed up as badly as you seemed to think you would?”

  Jason shrugged and didn’t answer. Logan managed to keep himself from rolling his eyes. “Well, I really did have a good time. I wish we didn’t have to say good night already.”

  “But at least we have tomorrow night now.”

  “That we do,” Logan murmured.

  Jason leaned in. Logan once again thought he was going to be kissed, and he was, but not where he was expecting. Jason brushed his lips against Logan’s cheek. Logan’s breath caught, and there was a definite fluttering in his stomach. His brain seemed to stop functioning, and words failed him. Jason left him standing there, whistling his way back to his car, and Logan could only watch as Jason drove off into the night.

  Though he didn’t have much experience with dating, Logan didn’t see how a first date could have gone any better than that. He didn’t bother fighting the smile as he walked into his house, bracing himself for the barrage of questions he knew was coming. He would be thrilled to tell them about how wonderful his date had gone.

  The only problem Logan had now was how long he had to wait until he saw Jason again the following night. At least a dark theater promised more than just a kiss on his cheek.

  NICOLE MCCORMICK lives in Austin with her husband and two rascally kitties. She typically writes m/m romance, but occasionally other stuff manages to sneak in. When she’s not writing, she’s either reading or knitting. If it’s March, you can find her at the rodeo. She’ll be the one wearing the large unicorn necklace.