I couldn't sleep that night. My stupid brain couldn't think of anything to do with Pucca. I barely knew what she liked doing! Where would Garu take her…?

No where, that's where. I'd have to do better than that.

By the time morning rolled around, I'd come up with approximately two ideas, both of them terrible.

As I started getting ready for the day, I continued to think. Her only rule was "not her house." That really narrows it down for me. It couldn't be anywhere that required too much walking, either. She wasn't exactly ready for a marathon right now, and I really didn't want to make any of her injuries worse.

So… close and stationary. What if… we just stayed here? Would she hate that? Maybe not. If she did, I could always play it off like a joke. How would I even go about that? I told her I had something planned, so it had to more than just watching TV on my couch…

Wait, brilliant idea. Indoor picnic. Not TOO romantic, not too minimal effort… Safe for her, not incredibly incriminating for me… I hated that I had to think about that. Last thing I'd want is for Pucca to get attention she didn't want from being with me… With me? With me. That felt weird to say.

Maybe this was my chance. The chance I never really thought I could possibly have. I'd have rather it NOT been a direct result of Pucca's scooter literally exploding in front of my house, but still.

I quickly laid a big blanket out on my living room floor. I had no idea what time she'd want me to go get her, so I better be ready just in case. I put a few snacks and things on the blanket, as well as a softer blanket I set on the couch. My house tended to be pretty cold.

What would she want to eat? I just got her a sandwich yesterday… Maybe she'd like more home cooked food? It wasn't very picnic-y, but I make pretty good tteokbokki. Or, at least, the Ninjas say I do. It was actually a little bit cold out today, so that might work. I did at least know she liked spicy food, and what spicy food fan could say no to spicy rice cakes?

I eventually looked at the clock ask I cooked. How was it already noon!? We didn't have a set time or anything, but I was so anxious about texting her and asking. I finally got up the nerve to pick up my phone, and it immediately vibrated in my hand. After a very quick, extra manly high-pitched yelp, I actually looked at it.

A single text from Pucca. "Open the door", followed by a smiley emoji.

I panicked and went to my door. No way. No way she came all the way here again. Do I have pants on? Yes. Okay. Door. Open it.

Doing as I instructed myself, I quickly pulled the door open.

"I heard that." She giggled, standing there. At my door. In the cold.

"Ahhaaaaaa no you didn't." I rubbed the back of my head. "I was going to come get you, you know." She smiled and went around me, walking… Crutching? Swinging? Getting herself from the porch to my living room with the use of crutches.

She shrugged a little. "I got excited."

I sighed and closed the door before turning around. I hadn't really gotten a chance to look at her. Her hair was in low, messy buns. She had on a bit of makeup, but only barely. Her cheeks were flushed a bit from the cold air outside, wearing only a pale red sweater dress, thicker tights and one black sneaker, the other foot obviously still being wrapped up.

She looked incredible. I couldn't help but stare at her for a moment.

"It felt nice to wear something other than pajamas." She smiled. How that smile didn't melt Garu into a puddle of mush is beyond me.

"Ah! Cooking! Excuse me for a sec!" I blurted out, realizing I was indeed in the middle of cooking, and didn't exactly want my smoke alarm to go off again.

The food was done. How I had managed to accidentally time that so well, I will never know. As I started grabbing some bowls, Pucca walked into the kitchen.

"Once again, you're cooking smells incredible." She said, trying to look to see what I'd made.

"I know it isn't much, but I figured it was cold, and anywhere with heat would require walking, so…"

"Did you set up a little living room picnic, just for me…?" Pucca asked, looking up with me with the most genuine, adorable facial expression.

"Well, I didn't set it up for just myself." I smirked.

"You're something else, Tobe." She said quietly, smiling to herself.

"Go sit down! I'll bring your food out to you in a minute, okay?" I told her, just as my phone buzzed on the counter next to her. She glanced at it, and I thought nothing of it. It was probably an ad for fast food or something.

Then she started laughing.

Oh no.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to read it! But…" She gestured towards the phone. I picked it up, and saw it was from a Ninja.

"She looks so pretty, boss! You must be so excited!" It said.

"Well, tell them if you're excited or not!" She said through her little laugh.

"This feels like a trap."

"Well, if you're not going to tell them, I'd love to know the answer." She said, as the laughter subsided, and her face now just wore a cocky smile.

"I. Uh. I. You. I'm… Very bad at this."

"Bad at what?" Her smile grew larger by the second.

This girl was going to be my end, I swear. My brain felt like the equivalent of dial up internet noises.

"I'm joking, Tobe." She giggled to herself, walking back out to the living room.

"Ahhaaa! Joke. Haaaaaa… me too.." Smooth as silk, me.

I filled the bowls, and promptly went to go sit by Pucca, who was now sitting on the floor with one leg crossed and the other outstretched.

"Uh, here." I said awkwardly, handing her the food. "Be careful, it's still hot."

She thanked me and took nearly no time to take her first bite. She did a little tiny happy dance to herself as she went in for another. She was so cute.

"This is delicious." She beamed.

"Thanks! Old family recipe." I smiled back at her.

I couldn't feel more awkward right now. I didn't know what to talk about. But I knew I wanted to talk to her. I didn't know what to do. But I knew I wanted to be around her. It was somehow torcher and pure joy at the same time.

Pucca ate her food remarkably quickly. We sat there for what felt hours, just call talking about nothing. She talked about her friends. I talked about the ninjas. We talked about ourselves. Garu was mentioned a time or two. Not weird for me or anything.

At some point, she got closer to me. Or maybe I got closer to her. I didn't know. But all I knew, was that now, she was so close we almost touched. My heart was going a million miles a minute. The only thing between us was her hand, which was flatly placed on the blanket, only millimeters from my leg.

"Tobe?" She said, looking over at me. "Can I tell you something?"

I nodded.

"I like you."

My chest felt like it was going to explode. How do I respond to that!?"

"I like y-" I was cut off by her phone ringing.

She sighed. "I need to move out." She picked up her phone and answered it. She didn't really say much. It was a lot of "Mhm" and "Okay."

"They noticed I left." She said, after hanging up. Throwing her head back.

"On a scale of thrilled to livid, where are they?"

"Uhhh…Grumpy?"

"Well, that could be worse." Man… I'm going to get noodle whipped again…

"I have to go." She said, sounding genuinely upset. "I'm so ready to be back to normal, so they'll leave me alone."

I got up to help her stand. "Well, to be fair, their niece DID just get into a horrific accident that was out of their control. I kinda get why they're terrified."

She paused for a second. "You know… I didn't actually think about that… Stupid scooter. I'm about to get some CARDIO in when I can walk again, no more scooter for a while."

"Hey, are you alright?" I asked her, not even thinking.

She took a deep breath, before she quickly wrapped her arms around my torso and gave me a tight hug. "Yeah. I think so." She said. I crouched down to return the hug. There was no way she couldn't feel how fast my heart was racing.

I made eye contact with her as I pulled away. It felt like I was supposed to do something here. I just wasn't sure what.

She smiled a little. "Sorry, it's just been, uh, a weird few weeks for me." She said awkwardly. Still cute. "I really do have to go, though. Don't worry about walking me home, though! I'll be fine! We don't both need to be cold.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah! Weather doesn't tend to bother me, much. Besides, I'm sure you're not looking to be around my uncles again." She smiled. "I insist, stay home!"

"Well, okay… Text me when you get home, okay?"

"I can do that." She smiled. "Thanks again, Tobe. We need to do this again. I love hanging out with you."

"And I think I can do that."

She waved and went out the door, closing it behind her. I sat back on the floor, not really knowing what do with myself. There was a feeling in my stomach I couldn't get rid of. It felt like I was going to be sick and cry at the same time. But it didn't feel… bad?

After maybe thirty seconds of sitting, without thinking, I shot up and ran out the door after her.

I had to do it.

Pucca was still close enough that she was in my yard, so she turned around when she heard the door open.

"Oh, did I forget somethi-" She began to ask.

She stopped talking as my hands, as if on autopilot, grabbed her waist and pulled her towards me. I took a second to catch my breath, and just looked her in the eyes for a moment. She didn't look upset, so I went for it.

I kissed her.

The feeling in my stomach somehow felt like it went away and got worse at the same time. But the feeling melted away entirely as I felt Pucca's arms wrap around the back of my neck, letting her crutches fall to the ground.

She actually kissed me back.