I looked at the small black digital clock that rested on my black bedside table. The numbers on the screen shone 17:03 in bright blue LED lights, I had twenty seven minutes until I met Austin. I was as nervous as hell, the entire day I had tiny little nervous butterflies beating their wings inside my stomach. I kept thinking things like, 'what if he doesn't like me?', 'what if he changes his mind?', 'what if I make a fool out of myself and he ends up thinking I'm just a loser?', you know, those typical first date thoughts. I'd been on dates before, but this time...this time felt so different. Before, I never got that nervous, sure I got a little nervous, but not like this, it had to go perfectly. Even my boss at work, Scarlett, who I'd known since I was little noticed, commenting on how I kept fiddling with my top, zoning out more then I usually did and how I was chewing on my bottom lip as if there was a world wide food shortage.

The second I walked in the door, once I bid a quick hello to Aaron, I ran to my room raiding through all my clothes trying to find something to wear, before going to shower. I'd opted for probably my only pair of black skinny's without massive holes in them, my black Pink Floyd tank with a white and black checked flannel top which I left unbuttoned over the top. For shoe's I wore my black Tom's and finished it off with a plain black sweat band on my right wrist and my watch on the left.

"MOTHER FUCKER!" I screamed as I turned on my hair straighteners, or well tried to, to discover they weren't working. Just my damn luck, I couldn't show up for my date, with these most handsome, perfect man I've ever met with my hair looking like a ginger afro. "AARON!"

A few seconds later Aaron appeared with a confused look on his face. "What's with the yelling dude?"

"I need your hair straighteners, like, pronto, matter of urgency!" I spoke so quickly, Aaron had to take a second to process what I just said.

"What's the rush...and why are you wearing your good clothes...oh my god!" Aarons eyes widened as he gasped. "You have a date! You so totally have a date, and don't say you don't, I know you, and you totally have a date! Oh my god is it Austin? Oh please tell me is Austin, because I totally ship that!"

"You what?!" I stared at him blankly.

"Ship it, you know like we totally ship Kellic, don't ask, Amanda started me on that term of phrase. It means I totally dig it, like you two together...ahhhhh! You'd be so perfect!"

"Why do you assume it's Austin?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Oh come off it, I saw the way you where looking at him at the bonfire, and the way he was looking at you. You both totally have the hots for each other. So comeeee onnnn tell me! Is it Austin? If you don't tell me, you'll be showing up to your date with a gingefro!" Aaron was lightly jumping up and down with excitement, last time I checked, it was me going on this date and should be jumping up and down like excitement, not Aaron, it was cute though.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. "Yes, It's Austin! Now will you pleaseeeeeeeeee lend me your hair straightners!"

"Oh my god this is massive!" Aaron practically lept at me, throwing his arms around me. "I'll be back in like two seconds!" And with that he dashed out of my room, leaving me a little dazed.

"What the..." I spoke to myself shaking my head a little in disbelief, I loved Aaron, but he was a strange one.

"Here!" He grinned as he handed me his GHD's. "Soooo, when did this happen? When did he ask you?"

"Bumped into him yesterday when I went out for a walk, we talked and yeah." I shrugged as I plugged them in and turned them on, breathing a sigh of relief as the red light came on.

"Don't try and act so cool, I know you, I can see it, you're totally nervous!"

"I'm freaking shitting myself!" I practically squeaked. "Oh my god when he asked me, I like...I thought I was going to die, or like I had died and gone up to heaven!"

"This is so awesome!"

"Jebus rice you two, you're like a couple of damn fifteen year old girls! I can hear you squealing from the living room!" Amanda laughed as she walked in my room.

"Shut up! Alan totally has a hot date with a totally hot guy!"

"I heard, you're being loud enough! Now Alan, just remember, be yourself and he'll love you. And Aaron? Honestly, if I didn't know any better I'd think you where gay!"

"You shut it woman or no sushi!"

"You wouldn't!" She gasped in fake horror.

"I would!" Aaron folded his arms and gave a single, sharp nod of his head. Amanda went to say something but I cut her off.

"Alright seriously, you two, I need to finish getting ready, I have to leave in like fifteen minutes so fook off and take you're debate elsewhere! Now out, out, out!" I shooed them out of my door and shut it behind them before dragging the hot plates through my hair.

"I'm staying at Manda's tonight!" Aaron called through the door. "We're going to leave now, have funnn, be safe...use a condom."

I grabbed a notepad off my desk, swung my door open and threw it at him. "That's not happening!"

"What, sex...or the condom?" Amanda burst out laughing.

"I swear to god!" I growled.

"Come on let's go before the ginger snaps...get it...ginger snaps?" Aaron howled out in laughter at his own pun. I went to turn back into my room to find something else to throw. "Alright, alright, we're going, byeeee!" and they where gone out of view before I even turned back around. I sighed in defeat before finishing getting ready, I loved them honestly, but sometimes they where as bad as parents.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

I walked across the pier, my heart pounding against my chest, feeling my breath become slightly shakey as I slowly approached the end. My breathing hitched a little as a tall figure turned around to face me, a bright white smile plastered on his face. He looked...perfect, dressed in black slim fit jeans, a white v-neck t-shirt, black leather jacket and black conversers. I had to wonder for a second, how he wasn't sweltering in the jacket, there was a nice breeze, but still, it was hot.

"There you are." Austin grinned, wrapping his arms around me in a hug, throwing me off guard for a moment, though, it didn't take me long to melt into his arms and return the hug. "I was...uh, a little worried."

"Why?" I looked at him confused.

Austin let out a quite chuckle, scratching the back of his head. "Well, uh, I'd kind of convinced myself you weren't going to show up, like that you'd change your mind or something."

I laughed. "Yeah, I'd been thinking the same, but, why did you think I wouldn't show up?"

"Because of what I do, I'm in the army, I'm always away, and I never know if I'm going to come home...alive, you know? A-And I thought, maybe, after yesterday you'd think that too, and decide that you, you know, couldn't handle something like that."

"Oh, well, it had crossed my mind, but I figured it would just mean we'd have to make the most of the time we do get." I looked up at him and gave him a small smile. "If it goes further then this date, then yeah, it might be hard, but we both seem pretty similar when it comes to us not wasting moments, we both know how precious life is, so, I think we'd be okay."

"Well I'm hoping this goes further then one date."

"Yeah but you might leave tonight thinking I'm a complete loser."

"Oh I doubt that, come on, stop number one awaits." There was his heart melting smile plastered back on his face.

"There's more then one?"

"Oh yes." He nodded and started walking off the pier, me following next to him.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Austin walked us into the small area about fifteen minutes from the beach. There wasn't much in this area, just a few little cafe's, a small tourist shop and a couple of resturants. It was beautiful though, and peaceful, everything was so well kept and clean, the streets where lit with small street lights that gave off just enough light, but not too much as to ruin the mood of the area. All the fronts of the cafe's, resturants and the shop blended in perfectly, as if someone designed them so they all fit together and look like they each belonged.

He walked me down towards the end of the street and I suddenly realised where he was taking me. He was taking me to the small italian resturant that sat on the corner. I'd walked past it a few times before and always dreamed of going in there, the smell from the food was intoxicating and always made your stomach growl. The decor in there was simple, but elegant, it only held about ten tables, each one only for two people, all spaced out perfect, with white cloths, sparkling silverwear and a single rose in the middle of each of them in a clear, small vase. The inside was lit by wall lights, dimmed perfectly and a few candles to give off that truely romantic feel. The walls where all white, with solid oak beams and various italian art of some of thee most romantic places in Italy placed on the walls. I've always dreamed of being taken out on a date here, and it was finally happening.

"Austin are we really going in here?" I asked as he stopped outside.

"Yeah, I uh, I was walking around yesterday, after seeing you, trying to find the perfect place to take you for dinner. I saw this place, and it was so simple, and elegant and something just told me, this was it, I-I hope it's okay?" He looked at me a little worried.

"Austin...it's...it's perfect! I've always dreamed of coming here, on a date." I beamed brightly, Austin visibly relaxed and smiled.

"Well, I'm glad I can make a dream come true, come on let's go in, the smell is making me hungry." I nodded in agreement and we went inside.

-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

Everything about our dinner was perfect. The food was cook and made to perfection, each bite made your mouth water. Our waitress was kind and polite, with a bright, kind smile, attentive of our care while we dined there and ensured we where 100% happy. But what really made it perfect, was being there with Austin. The coversation flowed freely and easily, talking about everything, and nothing at the same time. We learned each others likes, and dislikes, I found out Austin's favorite colour was green and his favorite movie where the star wars films. I also learned that he was also partical to the occasional chick flick when he couldn't sleep at six A.M, I found it completely adorable. I also managed to find out his surname was Carlile, Austin Carlile, a soul and being almost too perfect to be true.

After the meal, Austin took us to a small diner along the beach to eat ice cream cones and we took a stroll along the beach, watching the sun set along the horizon. The sky painted flawless shades of red and gold and the reflection of the bright golden sun turned the water into the colour of a beautiful liquid fire.

"So, here's a question for you." Austin spoke after we'd strolled silently for a while, just enjoying the peaceful sounds around us, the tree's rustling lightly in the gentle breeze, the waves beating gently against the shore. The silence with Austin wasn't awkward, it was comfortable, leaving me with a happy and content feeling inside as we walked along, taking in our surroundings.

"Fire away." I smiled up at him.

"Do I get a second date?" He asked hopeful.

"Ohh that depends really." I shrugged, desperatly trying to hold back a smirk, I knew I was going to say yes, but this little ginger wanted something, and he was going to get it.

"And what does it depend on?"

"Well, I won't deny, tonight has been more then perfect, like if you asked me what my dream first date would be, this would be it. Do I want to do it again? Well, there's no doubt in my mind I would, but there's just one thing..."

Austin stopped in his tracks, worry filling his face as I turned around to face him. "Did...did I do something wrong? Oh god, it's because I'm in the army isn't it? You've decided you can't handle...Alan please just give me a chance, I'm begging you, w-we can make it work, I can't promise it'll be easy, but I promise we can make it...just-"

"Austin? Shut the fuck up." I chuckled before taking his perfect face between my two small hands, bringing it down to mine and pressing my lips against his. It took him a short moment to respond, but when he did, it felt like fireworks where exploding in the background, goosebumps covered my body as an electric like surge ran through my veins. It felt like our lips where tailor-made, only to fit each others as they worked in sync, my hands moving to the back of his neck while his wrapped themselves in my hair. Too soon we pulled away from each other, Austin's forehead resting against mine. "I don't care who you are, or what you do, I just reallly wanted to kiss you."

"So instead of just, oh I don't know, asking? You had to scare the life out of me?"

"Yup!" I grinned, popping the P at the end.

"You're paying for that." Austin chuckled, and before I could even blink, his hands where on my side, his long fingers causing me to let out loud howls of laughter as they tickled.

"NOOOOO! Stop!" I begged, trying to make a brake for it, but he was too fast, wrapping his arm around my waist in a vice like grip and carried on his assult. I tried to squirm but ended up causing us to fall to the sand, me on my back with him on top of me. We looked at each other silent for a moment, before we both burst out in laughter. "Well played Carlile."

"Why thank you Ashby." He grinned victoriously before pressing his lips back on mine. "How about we sit here and enjoy the rest of the sun set before I walk you home?"

"Sounds perfect." I smiled, and we did just that, with his arm around my waist, my head on his shoulder, in silence, stealing the occasional quick kiss until the sun set and the moon rose and it was time for me to get home.

That moment when we kissed on the beach, with that faultless sunset behind us, that was the moment I fell in love with you. That first kiss is one I cherish and hold in my heart under lock and key. How could I forget it? Even still, every time we kiss, it's like the first time, the goosebumps, the fireworks, they're always there and I know, no matter what, they'll never go away and no one will ever be able to make me feel the way you do with just a simple kiss.

You made not just one dream come true that night, you made many come to life. And since then, you've made so many more of my dreams become reality and I'm truely am lucky to say I have you in my life. No matter where you are, or how far you may be, I will always love you with my whole heart and I count my blessings you decided to spend that summer in Florida, because, without you, I wouldn't be where I was today.

Dedicated to kaytheturtle, thanks for the support hun :D