6.

As he approached Giada, Kye's heart hammered. He'd been preparing for this moment for weeks, and it was finally here.

"Giada, wait up!" His voice caught in his throat as he called out.

Giada returned his smile. "Hey, Kye." "How's it going?"

"I was wondering if you'd be free tonight," he explained, taking a long breath. "I'd love to take you to the movies."

Giada's mouth sprang open in amazement. "Really?"

Kye simply nodded. "Yeah. I've wanted to ask you out for a long time but was too nervous."

“ The Kye Smith, nervous?" She teased, making Kye blush.

Giada grinned once more. "I'd love to go with you."

Kye's heart was racing. He had never been this excited.

"Wonderful!" he exclaimed. "I'll pick you up at 7:00."

Giada agreed with a nod. "Sounds good."

"Wait?" she called as he turned to leave.

"What movie will we be watching?” she inquired.

"It's a surprise, Giada; I’ll see you at 7 p.m."

~

"Calvin stood in front of the house that once brought him joy. It had been over 2 years since he lost his wife and kids to that terrible accident.

‘ It’s time to move on, Calvin. That’s what she would have wanted for you,’ his conscience pricked.

The words pricked at the wounds of his heart, urging him to confront the haunting emptiness within.

“ Moving on may not necessarily mean finding me another wife, no. Heck! I’ve become a shadow of myself. I can’t function properly living in this town; maybe it’s high time I left town. Heal properly, and maybe come back," he said to himself, standing at the foot of the stairs.

~~

"The chill is real, and a dress is out of the question. I mean, I'm all for fashion, but freezing to death? Not on my agenda.” Giada said to her friends on FaceTime.

As she stood in front of her closet, running her fingers along the edges of her favorite sweater, her mind raced to come up with the perfect look for her next movie date. 

She scanned her closet; her eyes fell on a classic white top. Fresh and clean, it was the epitome of timeless chic. It could be dressed up or down for any occasion. 

Then she spotted a knit caramel sweater. The warm color promised comfort and warmth, perfect for the cold winter days ahead. The oversized fit flowed effortlessly over her figure, adding a touch of sophistication to her look.

Giada chose a pair of black-wash skinny jeans for her bottoms, which featured a slimming fit that showed off her curves without compromising on comfort. These jeans were a staple in her wardrobe, allowing her to transition from day to night effortlessly, and they were always ready to match her ever-changing style. 

To complete the look, Giada added black ankle boots, which featured a sleek silhouette that added a touch of sophistication to the ensemble. These boots were both fashionable and practical, allowing her to easily navigate the city streets while still maintaining her urban chic.

“ How do I look?” she asked, showing her outfit to her friends. 

“ You look amazing as always, Gia,” Ayanda added.

“ Don’t forget to tell us how the date went,” Ximena chimed in as Gia sat at her desk to touch up her face. She was going for a natural look and nothing too extraordinary.

“ I’ll call you girls later,” she said as she heard a knock on her door.

She took one more look at herself in the mirror and headed to the door. He smoothed down his gray casual button-down shirt, which was tucked into a pair of slim-fit gray chinos. His black and gray Nike Air Max Pulse sneakers added a touch of streetwear style to his outfit without him realizing Giada had opened the door.

She stole a couple of glances at him as a warm-up for her planned throat-clearing maneuver to gain his attention.

"Hi," she murmured with a sneaky grin on her lips.

His reply was as smooth as silk in the air. "You look cute," he observed as they headed towards his car, the world growing silent as she shut her door.

"You look pretty good yourself," she replied as he courageously opened the car door for her.

"Thank you," he said, his voice tinged with vulnerability. "I wanted to make a good first impression."

"You didn't have to," she whispered, almost losing herself in the evening breeze.

“ You still didn’t say what movie we’re going to see. What if I don’t like that genre?" Giada spoke up a few minutes into their drive.

“ You will like this genre; I did my research before asking you on this date, Starlight,” he replied, making her melt at the tone of his warm and inviting voice.

“ Starlight?”

“ Yeah, that’s my pet name for you,” he said as he parked in the lot of the cinema.

“ Why Starlight?” she further probed.

“ Because you're as beautiful and captivating as the stars at night."

“ Really?”

“ Of course, shall we?”

“ Yes, we can. I can't wait to see the movie we will be watching tonight."

“ It’s a surprise,” he said, taking her hand, closing the door behind her, and locking the door of the car.

They walked into the cinema hand-in-hand, grabbed a big bucket of popcorn, some drinks, and candy, then proceeded to watch their movie.

“ Teenage Kranken?”

 “ Surprise,” he smiled at her.

"Wait, how did you know I love animated films?" Giada inquired, and her curiosity piqued.

Kye had a sly smirk on his face. "A little birdie told me," he replied, his voice filled with amusement.

Giada couldn't help but laugh at his cryptic remark. "Oh?" "And who could this little bird be?"

Kye leaned in closer, his eyes twinkling with delight. "Well, let's just say that I have my sources," he muttered, his warm breath tickling her skin.

Giada's heart rate increased, and her cheeks flushed pink. She couldn't deny that his mocking demeanor was both entertaining and irresistible.

Giada instantly extended out and placed her finger on Kye's soft lips as the lights lowered and the first frames of the animated movie flickered on the screen, a subtle signal to quiet his naughty chatter.

Kye's eyes widened in surprise; his gaze locked with hers for what seemed like an eternity. The air was charged with excitement, and the tension between them was evident.

Giada quickly withdrew her finger, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment, as if comprehending what she had done. "Sorry, I didn't mean to do that," she apologized, barely audible.

Kye's heart was racing in his chest as he smiled reassuringly. "No worries," he muttered, his gaze locked on hers. "I just think you got a little carried away in the moment."

Giada's lips twisted into a tiny grin, her shyness fading beneath his kind gaze. She couldn't help but feel a glimmer of excitement within her, a glimmer that promised more than just a simple movie date.