He was nervous. He didn’t know what to expect. Waiting in silence was eating him up inside, it left him alone with his own thoughts. They weren’t necessarily bad or good, just nerves. Overthinking everything, even this car ride. This was his first date, so he wondered why the car ride was so quiet. His friends got him all ready for the date, dressing him in nice yet comfortable jeans, a light blue short-sleeve shirt, nice white convers that had little designs on it; and a black hoodie that he held in his arms. They were all excited for him, reassuring him that it was all going to be fine. 

How was it going to be fine? He kept thinking. He’s sitting in the car with his date- who happen to be his crush -going to a surprise location. Was he going to die? Was he being driven to his death? The thoughts kept coming as he was left in silence. 

“We are almost there. I didn’t think the drive would be this long, sorry.”

He was brought out of his thought’s by the other boy. 

“I- oh, no-you. Umm it’s fine.” He managed to say. 

This stumble of words made the other boy chuckle. Easing some of the uneasy feelings in his stomach. He smiled. He made him smile, no he made him laugh. He couldn’t help but feel a blush come onto his face. He had made his date laugh. Staring a little longer at his date, he took in his attire. Black jean jacket, white tank top, dark jeans and black shoes. His outift was dark compared to his own. 

Looking back at his own clothes, he thought that maybe he shouldn’t have worn so much color. His friends did explain that he looked better with color, or as long as he had a bit of color on his outfit. He started feeling self-consious about himself. Bring back the thoughts, was this okay? Did he look okay? Did the outfit work? He was so caught up in his thoughts, he didn’t notice that they had pulled up into the parking lot. 

When the engine stopped, he looked around and saw that they were at an Aquarium. He got all excited. Sea creatures were fascinating to him and his favorite thing in the world. All the nerves had disappeared instantly when he saw the Aquarium, he wanted to run out of the car all the way up to the door. 

“You coming or not?” His date chuckled. 

“Huh? Oh yeah! I’m coming.”

His date was still on the driver side of the car but was standing outside, waiting for him. When he got out, the urge to run inside had subsided. Not wanting to embarrass himself, he waited for his date till they were walking side by side. 

The entire walk to the main door, he kept his hoodie in his hands. Not knowing what to do with them if they weren’t carrying the hoodie. As they entered the Aquarium, he couldn’t help but look around. He slowly started walking over to the little ‘kids zone’ Where you are allowed to dip your hands in and touch the sea creatures. He didn’t put his hands in but just observed the bamboo sharks swimming around. He watched as some of the sharks swam over the ones staying still, as if they were sleeping.

Walking a few steps away, he saw little kids as they put their hands in; touching the sharks backs as they swam past. He looked down at the sharks infront of him, all staying one spot. He decided to put his hand in and touch them. He kept his hoodie in his other arm as he brought the other one to the water. He placed two fingers on the back of a bamboo shark- it didn't flinch at all- and stroked it. The skin was rough as his fingers went down it’s back. 

“They’re cool aren’t they?”

“Huh?”

His date laughed at his confusion, coming up to stand next to him. The other boy left his hands in his pockets. He noticed this and looked up at him. 

“Do you want to touch one?” he asked

“I-um, sure.”

The boy didn’t seem comfortable with touching them, but brought his hand out of his pocket anyways. His date touched the bamboo shark, his face lighting up at the fact about how rough their skin is. He chuckeled at his reaction, finding it cute. 

“They’re scales point towards their tails which helps reduce the friction from the water when they swim around. So if you go back up towards their heads it feels like sandpaper.” He pointed out. 

Knowing a lot about sea creatures was something he was fascinated about. The idea of a marine biologist was something he wanted to become in the future. His date just whispered an ‘ohhh’ like the fact was shocking. He shook his head and went back to observing the sharks. 

When they were done petting the sharks, there were sinks to wash their hands with. He still kept his hoodie in his arms, even when it threatened to get wet. Finally washing off his hands, he looked around the aquarium. Noticing a big circular tank, he grabbed his date’s forearm and headed over to it. Dragging his date behind him as they weaved around kids and strollers. Getting to the glass, he put his hand on it and started searching. Obviously he was looking for the Royal blue tang fish and the Ocellaris clownfish; also known as Nemo and Dory. He kept searching and searching until he saw a Dory then a Nemo. When he found them he pointed them out to his date, not knowing that his date was watching his reactions to the fish. 

Satisfy that he found the two famous fish, he started looking at all of the other ones. The ones swimming in pairs, by themselves, a whole school of them or the little crabs on the sand floor. He wandered a few steps away from his date, following a pair of fish as the swam around the tank. He had walked around the entire tank with the pair of fish and stopped somewhere since the fishes swam into the coral in the middle of the tank. 

Becoming aware of his surroundings he looked around the aquarium and didn’t see his date anywhere. A little panic started to rise inside of him. Was he lost? Or did he leave him? Where could he have gone? He didn’t look at the fish that long, did he? He felt a hand on his shoulders, making him jump away from them. Only to find that the other boy had found him. 

“Lost ya there for a second.” His date said nervously. 

“Here.”

His date stuck out his hand, offering an empty hand to him.

“Oh no, it’s okay. I can hold it.” He answered, thinking that he wanted to carry his hoodie for him. 

He tied his hoodie around his waist, noting that was much easier than carrying it around. He looked back up at his date, who still held out his hand for him. Confused, he slowly put his hand into the other boy’s. Once his hand was in his, his date closed his hand. Intertwining their fingers together.

“Now I won’t lose you.” His date smiled. 

He felt a blush forming on his face, looking down embarrassed. Making his date chuckle at his reaction. Not really knowing what to do next, his date led him around the tank to a different spot in the aquarium. His mind was occupied on the fact that his hand was in his. 

They were holding hands.