☀︎ ☀︎ ☀︎

“So you didn’t like it because it was too planned. You know what.” Claire nodded now like she finally understood. “I get it. You just need to kiss her. It’s time, I think. Normally I’d say don’t rush it, but you’re both so shy. If you don’t break the touch barrier now you probably never will.”

“The bar?” Claire narrowed her eyes. “What was special about the bar? And do not say it was because you got turned on.”

Austin raised his eyebrows in surprise. “Really? Damn. You can just wear fake ones, you know. But as my bee friends would say, that’s kind of,” he raised his hand to do airquotes. “’Extra.’”

“Yeah, for sure. I think they look cool.” Dalton said before letting out a laugh. “And nobody wants to be known as extra. Although that’s not a bad idea. I think I’d just wind up feeling like an imposter, is that weird? I could add I don’t know much about fashion either.”  

“You don’t sound very sure,” she frowned. “Dalton. I can’t help you if you aren’t honest with me. What did you want to happen?”

She smiled, seeing him blush. But she didn’t stop there. Leaning closer and holding his arm, Claire nodded at him knowingly. “See! Look at you getting flustered over it. Love connection. Mark my words. You just need to loosen up a bit more, I bet. You did want to kiss her, right?”

“Okay, uh. Don’t panic. You said you kissed her, right? That must’ve been exciting.”

“Because of Wolf?”

Claire tilted her head. “What do you mean? Was it underwhelming?”

“I am very helpful. It’s true. Yes. I know it might not seem like much, but to Cady, it’s a very big deal.” At his question, Claire shrugged. “I just… know these things.” Then she let out a hum. “It’s always good to ask at the end of the night when you’re saying goodbye. A simple ‘When can I see you again?’ usually does the trick. But. That doesn’t mean it’s too late. How do you feel?”

“Fun. We can chug it. Goes by much faster that way, which is what you want.”

She shook her head slowly, “I’m not sure your pure mind could handle the real definition.” She grinned, “Let’s just say it’s gross as hell.”

“How bad could it be?” He wondered, his parents did warn him about zodiacs once. “Like poor hygiene gross?” 

raising a brow as soon as the word fell from the other’s lips, the blonde nearly choked on her own drink but was quick to place a hand over her mouth as she began laughing. “dalton!” she barely managed to call out his name in the midst of loud laughter, her hand reaching over to shove him a little. “—a blumpkin! someone offered you a blumpkin! that’s so… oh my god! you do realize what that is, right? no? it’s an oral. but like… when you-” she couldn’t even finish since the thought alone of someone actually wanting to do it made her laugh even harder.