Ruben lasts until about nine pm that evening before he can't stand it anymore and sends Thomas a message, repeating how much he liked their date and asking when they can have another one – preferably the next day, but he knows that's unrealistic – berating himself immediately after for coming across too strong, too clingy, but nevertheless checking his messages every five seconds, as if he wouldn't hear the notification.

Thomas replies within a minute that he too liked their date very much and he'd love to have a second one, but he's not allowed to meet up with friends on school days, so maybe next Friday or Saturday?

Ruben's heart practically soars through his chest and his phone nearly slips through his fingers, because his eagerness to answer – yes, yes, YES, anything Thomas wants – is making him clumsy.

They agree upon Friday – because why not as soon as possible? – and they keep messaging throughout the week, all the while exchanging shy glances and smiles and greetings at school. Ruben is giddy and smiling and he feels light as a feather, light enough to walk on clouds or to float with them – he's in heaven, after all. His parents repeatedly ask if something happened, why he's smiling so much. Luckily, they don't question him when he informs them a friend is coming over on Friday after school.

***

Their second date has a less awkward start than the first one, even though they don't say much on the way to Ruben's home, but it's more of a comfortable silence since they've pretty much been talking all week long. He offers Thomas a drink, which he declines, offhandedly greets dad in the living room and pulls Thomas along to his room, before dad has the chance to properly meet him and ask annoying questions. Thomas finds his avoidance and haste to be alone quite funny.

Ruben starts up the game they have been discussing, vaguely worrying if his room looks okay – not too dirty or weird or nerdy – but trying not to pay that thought any attention, and soon they're playing, while casually chatting. They joke and laugh easily, complaining about school and admitting that it's not that bad and sometimes they actually like school (Ruben is relieved because it can be tiring to hide that kind of thing), but there are also long silences that don't bother Ruben at all and he prays that they don't bother Thomas either – because of course, he's not sure: it's only their second date after all, and he still has to make a good impression so he can land a third, and silences always feel uncomfortable when he doesn't know someone all that well, but they're here to change that, so the problem should be solved soon.

During one of those gaps in the conversation, Thomas shuffles his foot closer to Ruben's and then their feet touch. Even though it's not much – and Ruben knows it's ridiculous and he's just a lovesick puppy – all his nerve endings seem to be focused on that one foot, as if he can feel Thomas's skin through their shoes and socks – and yeah, he also knows he's just being overly conscious and imagining things, but he can't help that their feet touching feels like the equivalent of being naked together for now.

Eventually, dad knocks on his door and asks if Thomas wants to stay for dinner and Ruben realises with a jolt that, yes, it is possible for Thomas to stay for dinner since it's getting late – well, half past five – and he looks intently at Thomas, willing him to agree, as if Thomas will feel it if just he wishes hard enough – he doesn't want to think that Thomas knows how much he wants him to stay but still chooses not to.

"If it's not too much of a problem, I'd like to, but I have to ask my parents first."

"All right. Let me know when they answer. Ruben, will you walk Brownie before or after dinner? If Thomas stays, you can go together."

"I will."

"All right. Sorry for interrupting your game, boys. I'm going to start cooking then." Dad closes the door behind him.

Ruben glances at Thomas. "So, uhm ... Would you like to walk Brownie with me? If you are allowed to stay, we could go after dinner and otherwise, now."

"I'd like to. I hope my parents let me stay. Let me just text them." Thomas takes his phone, types a short message and puts it back in his pocket. "What kind of dog are they? I haven't seen them yet."

"A brown Newfoundland. She's still a puppy and we usually let her in the backyard, so she can play and run and everything."

"Nice. What's her name? I didn't understand your dad."

"Brownie."

Thomas laughs. "Really? Then I did understand your dad right, but I thought it was a nickname or something. Did you name her?" Ruben nods, kind of embarrassed, because it is cheesy and it was a spur of the moment thing and now it doesn't sound as funny anymore as when he first thought of it, but he was only twelve back then. "Are brownies your favourite food?"

"Yes." Ruben's voice is inadvertently softer than normal.

"Mine too. Well, maybe not my favourite – that would be my mum's cinnamon biscuits – but they're like second best."

Thomas's enthusiasm cheers him up, so he suggests shyly – and maybe also slyly because it's a way to ensure at least a third date: "If you come over again, we can make brownies together."

"You know how to make brownies?" Already, the unease and a sliver of embarrassment creep back, because how many fourteen-year-old boys know how to bake, and he should just stop being weird, but Thomas continues, oblivious to his feelings: "That's awesome! You can teach me, so I never have to ask my mum again."

Ruben doesn't really know what to say, so he shrugs. "I guess I could teach you." His tone is light enough not to evoke any reaction in Thomas, and really, he would love to teach Thomas, but he couldn't help that the words that came out of his mouth, were not the ones he'd meant to say.

Thomas's phone chimes. He checks the message. "My mum says I can stay, as long as I'm home by nine."

Ruben can't contain his smile and his glee colours his voice: "Let's go tell my dad. And maybe we could walk Brownie now? We've stopped playing anyway."

"Okay. Uhm ..."

Ruben jumps up to lead the way, feeling uneasy and overly aware of Thomas eyes on his back – or at least he presumes they are on his back. They pop into the kitchen and Ruben fetches Brownie from the garden, grabbing her leash in passing.

Brownie immediately takes to Thomas and he to her, all bouncing, playful energy. After a minute of Thomas trying to pet her while walking and Brownie bumping her nose into his legs and chasing after his feet – and what a sight it is, because the broad smile and the childlike enthusiasm and red cheeks make Thomas impossibly cuter and it's just not fair anymore, because Ruben's heart is palpitating and he feels as hot as if he had a fever – Ruben hands over the leash, so Thomas can walk and play with her however he likes.

"Do you have any pets?"

Thomas doesn't even look away from Brownie. "We have a cat, but she only comes inside to eat and she sometimes drops dead mice at our back door." Ruben grimaces. "I've been asking for a dog for years now, but my parents say it's too much work and they don't believe that I would stick to walking it every day."

"Oh." Ruben doesn't know what to say to keep the conversation going, but it doesn't matter since Thomas is enjoying himself and busy enough entertaining Brownie.

***

Dinner is a little awkward, like always when he brings over a friend for the first time, with mum and dad asking all kinds of questions about school and Thomas's favourite subjects and telling embarrassing anecdotes about Ruben's forgetfulness – not that he has a bad memory, since he has no problem remembering things on tests, on the contrary rather, but when it comes to doing or bringing things, it seems to go in one ear and out the other.

Thomas just chuckles and smiles at him. "Doesn't that happen to everyone from time to time?" Ruben is sure a fireplace has just been lighted inside his chest and he tries to convey that through his own smile – at the same time hoping their shared smiles don't betray their true feelings.

After dinner, they go back to playing games for a while, occasionally chatting and Ruben hardly realises he has relaxed as much as possible while being in Thomas's presence. Still, his jitters flare up from time to time and paralyse his tongue or thoughts and every time, he feels stupid and frustrated, but Thomas doesn't seem to mind and every time he is the one to stay silent, he blushes and it makes Ruben want to touch Thomas's cheeks, feel how warm they are.

Around twenty to nine, when both their game and the conversation have died out, Thomas says: "I think I should leave if I want to be home by nine."

Ruben gazes at him for a second and looks back down at his bed, where they're sitting on. "Okay." He nods as well, not really knowing how to behave.

"I'm sorry. It's just my mum ... I mean, if you wanted me to stay longer ..."

"No. I mean ... I understand. My mum would be like that too." Thomas doesn't say anything nor does he get moving. His eyes just dart from the bed to Ruben and back and sometimes their gazes lock and then they both smile shyly, as if they're mirroring each other. In the end, Ruben is the one to stand up first, even if he much prefers to stay like this all evening and all night, because although all the flutters those glances cause, make him restless, they also heat him up, just like a crackling fire and flying sparks.

Thomas grabs his bag and they make their way downstairs. Ruben studies him while he puts on his shoes and jacket, though he hopes it's not too obvious. He walks Thomas to his bike, at the side of the house, and then they are both fidgeting and looking at the ground.

Thomas breaks the silence. "Well, uhm ... I'll see you on Monday?"

"Yes. Uhm ... Sure. I mean, of course. See you on Monday." Ruben shifts his weight and bites his lip. "Will you text me when you're home?"

"I will." Thomas walks down the driveway and brushes against Ruben and then he's riding down the street.

Ruben takes a deep breath to fully enjoy the – no doubt imaginary – tingles in his arm. He utters a "Bye" as an afterthought, but the word comes out too soft for Thomas to hear it.

Back inside, even before Thomas has let him know he's home, he sends: 'I really liked today. Goodnight.'

The answer pops up on his phone ten minutes later: 'Me too. Goodnight.'