Sebastian felt bad for ghosting Rayne the other day. How could he be so stupid? The girl of his dreams was right in front of him, and he couldn't even speak to her.

So, he decided to take her out that day. Properly. Not because one of them had a crisis. But because they were two young adults, who felt the need to explore the relationship between them. At least one of them did. He did.

He had texted her in the afternoon. He knew that she would be in the hospital. But he didn't want to risk chickening out later like he always does.

"Can we go out tonight? I have something in my mind."

To which she replied, "Sure, but what is it?👀"

Aw, even the emoji she uses is cute.

If Anthony was in Sebastian's head, he'd say something along the lines of "Someone is whipped."

Sebastian didn't want to spoil the plan by telling her now, so he texted back saying, "Surprise."

It would be a surprise. And he hoped it would be a good one.

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Rayne was sitting on her bed, contemplating what to wear. Sebastian didn't specify and Rayne being her dumb self didn't ask anything further. So, now she was left to decide on her own.

She took out her phone, in an attempt to text him regarding the details, but put it down because she didn't want him to think that she was overthinking this whole thing - which she totally was - but he needn't know that.

When Rayne was thinking about texting Sebastian, a flash popped up - notifying her of an incoming text.

"Would you mind picking me up?"

Rayne had thought that it was a date.

When Sebastian texted her that he had plans for that night, she'd really thought it was a date.

But who the hell plans a surprise date and asks the other person to pick them up?

Yeah, the person who didn't think of it as a date.

Rayne sighed and texted back - "Of course!"

Rayne blamed herself for thinking that it was a date - when he clearly had no such intentions.

It's not like I like him like that anyway. So, why does it hurt?

✵

When Rayne reached Sebastian's apartment, he was already getting out. He was dressed casually - not for a date.

See, he should've told me about this. What if I came in a dress? Thank god I didn't. 

Rayne matched his blue jeans. While Sebastian had a t shirt and an unbuttoned shirt on top of it, she wore a crop top.

As soon as he was in hearing distance, Rayne greeted him, "Hey, Seb."

"Hey, Ray!" he exclaimed and added, "See, that rhymed."

Rayne smiled to herself - Why does he have to be such a cute dork?

The sun was just setting. It left a beautiful glow on Sebastian's face. His cerulean blue eyes had little specks of green. Rayne took a moment to stop and stare at him.

But Sebastian didn't notice that. He was nervous about what was going to happen - also the thought of being near her in a closed space was getting to him.

The two were soon stood opposite each other - but not too close - and Sebastian broke the silence. "Can I drive?" He asked Rayne like a little kid.

Why was this even a question?  Isn't it obvious that I can't really say 'No' to this face?

"Be my guest," Rayne threw her keys at him. He caught them in a swift motion. With his legs glued to the same place, which only made it a thousand times more attractive. Rayne stared at him like he was some big movie star.

Ironic.

But let's cut her some slack - she was yet unaware.

Sebastian then walked past her and opened the door for her. In her own car.

Is he trying to impress me by being a gentleman ? If that's so, it's working.

Rayne could feel herself blushing. She rubbed her hands together and buckled in her seatbelt. She couldn't help but wonder how she'd react if he had buckled in her seatbelt for her. She felt heat rising to her cheeks again.

Sebastian was oddly oblivious to this as he occupied the driver's seat next to Rayne.

Rayne was an impatient person. She had to know what's happening around her at all times. So, she decided to ask about the surprise again, "Spill, where are you taking me?"

Sebastian chuckled, his laughter filling the space between them.

"That's for me to know and for you to dot, dot, dot," he jested and looked at her before buckling in his seatbelt.

Rayne was confused. She must've looked so funny, because Sebastian soon erupted into a fit of laughter.

"What?" She asked him nudging his arm.

"Nothing," he smiled, "I just can't believe that you didn't understand that reference."

"I'm sorry, I'm not much of a 'movies girl', I haven't watched anything in a very long time. I just don't enjoy it, I guess," she admitted.

"Well, it's a good thing I didn't surprise you with two tickets to a movie then," he laughed and inserted the key into its slot and started the car. 

"By the way, it's not a movie, but a show," he corrected her, as he skillfully reversed the car out of his driveway.

Rayne made a mental note to Google it later. If he'd liked it to the point where he quoted it, she must watch it too.

Sebastian told Rayne that it would be a bit of a drive to get there. So she suggested that they could play a game called, 'Tell me something that I don't know'.

Since she was the one who had suggested it in the first place, she started the game, "Seb, tell me something that I don't know about you."

"Uhm," Sebastian pretended to think, "I haven't smoked in about 7 or 8 years." He looked at her in his peripheral vision and saw it dawn on her - he could almost see a lightbulb glow over her head.

"But you had one in your hand, the day we met!" She exclaimed.

He laughed at that.

She was just like a kid sometimes.

"I did tell you that it wasn't lit, Ray. And I wasn't thinking about lighting it," he continued, not taking his eyes off the road, "Now, your turn. Tell me something I don't know about you."

"I am left handed," she stated, looking out of the window.

Sebastian had guessed it already, but he couldn't say that to her. So, he played along. "Okay, I did not know that." Lying to her made him a little uncomfortable. Especially, after talking to Chris and Anthony the other day. But he didn't want to risk it all.

"Yeah, that's why it's called telling you something you don't know," she laughed. A laugh that sounded so contagious, that he joined in.

"You, go!"

Now that he thought about this, he felt like he was not that interesting. He was running out of things to say about and it's not even Round 2.

Actually, he could say a lot of things she didn't know. But there's a reason she didn't know yet, and he'd like to keep it that way, until he was fully ready for it.

He thought for a whole and settled on this, "I'm originally from Romania."

"What? Wow. When did you come here then?" She asked, her eyes lighting up. She had this intense thirst for knowledge, Sebastian observed.

"I came to New York when I was 12. Before that, I spent a very brief time in Vienna," he answered her, stealing a glance at her.

She looked surprised. "You are an international icon." He didn't  know why she said that, but it made him laugh. She continued, "I have never been anywhere out of the US."

This was something Sebastian didn't know before.

He was thinking about how nice it would be to travel with her, taking her to all the places she'd never been to. But he didn't mean to tell this to her. So, imagine his surprise when he blurted out, "I want to travel the world with you, Ray."

Rayne looked at him. He could feel her eyes piercing him, but he didn't dare to look at her. He clutched the steering wheel with all his might, hoping that he didn't just say that out loud.

"I'd like that, Seb," she touched his elbow. And he slowly loosened his grip on the wheel. Only then he felt that he could breathe again.

"Wait, while we're on the same topic, does that mean you speak Romanian?" She asked.

She's such a nerd sometimes.

"Yes, ma'am," he smiled, briefly looking at her before turning back to the road.

"I like that," Rayne laughed and a tint of red spread to her cheek, "Tell me something in Romanian."

"Te iubesc. Sunt îndrăgostit de tine de aproape zece ani, drăguţă," Sebastian finished that in one breath. He was pretty sure she didn't know Romanian, but he couldn't take a risk of her remembering his words and finding out the meaning later.

"Now, tell me the meaning."

"The deal was to tell you something in Romanian, I never agreed to explain it in English," Sebastian chuckled nervously and hoped that she would let this go. There weren't many vehicles on the road and it was a familiar place to him, so he took his time to look at her while she spoke.

"Can I bully you into telling me then?" She bobbed her head to one side.

If you're this adorable, I might not be able to control myself! A voice was screaming inside his head.

"I'm not scared of bullies, Ray. Also, someone who looks so innocent like you c-can never be a bully," Sebastian was scared to look at her, so he kept his gaze to the road.

"In that case, Mr. Stan," she shifted her whole body to look at him, "Can I seduce you into telling me?" She whispered the last sentence into his ear.

At first, Sebastian wasn't sure if that was what she said. He wanted to pinch himself. Then, he looked at her to see her shy smile. Rayne was usually closed up, but sometimes she had these intense bouts of courage. Sebastian was just glad that he had got to see it. While he was very much scared of the consequences, he wanted to see this side of her more. So, he decided to take her.

"I'd like you to try, Ray," Sebastian smirked with one hand on the wheel and the other grazing her chin.

Rayne's breath was shaky. Her lips were the deepest shade of pink and so plump that Sebastian wanted to kiss her - right away. For a second, he forgot everything - all about the road and the fact that he was driving the car - he was completely froze in his place and looked at her in pure astonishment.

"Fine, I give up," she declared, blushing to an extreme shade of red. Sebastian frowned that she'd given up too soon. He was really looking forward to how far she would go with this.

The time between Sebastian hand touching her face, and her giving up was maximum 5 seconds. But something happened. Her lips parted as if there was not enough air for the both of them there, and then closed almost immediately. Both of their eyes were locked in a trance. Sebastian was sure of the sexual tension there - you could've cut it with a knife. He only hoped that Rayne had felt it too.

It was good while it lasted. Sebastian sighed.

"Tell me something I don't know, Seb," she quickly broke the silence.

"I thought it was your turn, Ray," Sebastian complained, his eyes not leaving the road.

"Well, I feel like I have so much to know about you," she replied crossing her arms.

"What if I said I feel the same?" He shook his head and chuckled lightly.

"I'd say suck it up," Rayne laughed. She was getting braver by the second and Sebastian lived for it.

"Well, my birthday is in a few days."

"How many days, Seb?" She asked him, sipping on the water bottle.

"In 12 days exactly," Sebastian spoke and looked at her. Her lips were slightly wet, a few drops of water still present - making it look more plump. Right then and there, Sebastian wanted to kiss her.

"That means, it's on August 13th," she pondered after counting it on her fingers. "Well, I could be wrong, I suck at Math," she added, sticking her tongue out.

This girl is driving me insane.  Sebastian groaned internally.

✵

AN

"I love you. I've been in love with for 10 years, sweetheart."
That's the translation for what Seb said in Romanian. I'm sorry if it was wrong, I just used Google translate.

✵