Work Text:
Aubrey's palms began to sweat. She swallowed, trying to settle her nerves.
"What's up, Aubrey?" Kel asked, leaning against the wall. God, he was...so handsome, and the Christmas lights only enhanced that.
Aubrey cleared her throat, averting her gaze. "I-I just wanted to say that I like you, Kel."
Kel grinned. "I like you, too, Aubrey."
Aubrey held back a squeal. "A-And...you know the Christmas lights that are hung all around the city twenty miles from here? I-I was wondering if we could look at them."
"Yeah, of course," Kel nodded. "I'll have to see if I can borrow Mom's car. Wanna swing by Sunny's, too? I'm sure he would like a visit."
Aubrey pursed her lips. "No, you dumbass. Who adds a third person on something like this? Well, if you're poly, maybe..."
Kel's eyebrows furrowed. "Okay...?"
Those events are what led Aubrey to this very moment.
"I don't get what you see in him, but I support you," Kim explained, using the brush to brush (heh) blush on Aubrey's cheeks. "What is it that you like about him?"
Besides Kel, Kim was one of the few people Aubrey felt she could open up to. Aubrey sighed, twirling a loose strand of pink hair around her finger. "I dunno...I mean, he's a complete idiot, but...he's also sweet and funny and doesn't judge people, no matter what they've done. I've known him for so long, and I just...I don't know. I've fallen for him."
"Fair, I guess. Now, stand and spin."
Aubrey did as she was told, smiling internally at the way her green skirt with the silver line flowed out when she spun.
Kim whistled. "Girl, you look hot."
Aubrey giggled lightly. "Thanks, Kim."
There was a knock at the door, and Kim grinned. "Your Prince Charming is here~"
Aubrey swallowed, her nervousness coming back with a vengeance. She fiddled with the French braid Kim did (and it was fantastic) and bounded downstairs, trying to put on her front.
There, standing in a loose green Christmas sweater and jeans, was Kel.
Aubrey swallowed again, trying to muster up words. Nothing came out.
Kel beamed, eyeing Aubrey up and down. "You look great, Aubrey."
Aubrey cleared her throat and crossed her arms, unable to tear her eyes away. "Y-Yeah. You too. But you really gotta learn how to compliment girls."
"Huh? Whaddya mean...?"
"I mean—" Aubrey stormed up to Kel and grabbed the front of his sweater, "—you gotta learn how to compliment girls! 'You look great' is trash! Use better words and mean them!"
"Okay, okay! Aubrey, your hair is pinker than the most beautiful rose. You fair skin is more delicate than—"
"I don't mean poetry!" Aubrey snapped, her cheeks turning redder than the bow only a few feet away.
"What do you want from me, woman!?" Kel exclaimed, exasperated.
Aubrey shoved him out the door and closed Kim's door quietly. "Nothing. Idiot."
Aubrey stomped to Kel's mother's car and opened the door. She plopped in it and slammed it shut, waiting.
Kel got in and started up the car. The two of them rode in silence. Finally, Kel cleared his throat.
"So, do you want to just drive around, or do you want to walk?" Kel asked.
"Walk," Aubrey mumbled, her heart not slowing its rapid beat.
"Alright."
The silence persisted, and when they finally parked and got out of the car, Aubrey sighed, watching her breath look like smoke.
Kel held out a hand, smiling. "Ready?"
Aubrey's own hand shook, but she placed on Kel's, and the two of them started their walk through the city.
There were couples everywhere, snuggling and kissing and being happy as can be. Aubrey's cheeks turned warmer, and it wasn't because of the cold.
"They're really pretty, aren't they?" Kel asked.
"Sure," Aubrey nodded, and they were. It's just that...well...Kel was looking amazing tonight, and everything else seemed to fall into comparison.
However, Aubrey would rather die than admit she feels such cheesy things about anything or anyone.
Okay, this tension was becoming too much.
Aubrey picked up the pace, and Kel stumbled behind her, surprised. "A-Aubrey! Slow down!"
"Keep up, you snail." Not her best insult, but she was distracted.
Her mind briefly imagined Kel as a snail, and she shuddered, forcing her mind to focus on the task at hand.
Aubrey led Kel into the park, and she let go of his hand. With her gloved hands, she picked up some snow, packed it into a ball, and chucked it at him.
"Hey, Aubrey, wha—"
SPLAT!
Aubrey covered her mouth, grinning. The snowball hit Kel's face. "Pfft—"
Kel wiped the snow off his face and spat it out. His own lips turned into a smirk, and he bent down, grabbed snow, and readied himself. "Oh, you're on!"
Aubrey let out a shriek and could barely dodge Kel's attack. He was already readying himself with another, and Aubrey knew she had to run.
"AUBREYYY! COME BAAACK!" Kel sang, and Aubrey ducked behind a tree. She tried to assess the situation—Kel was looking for her with several snowballs in his arms, and Aubrey had nothing. If she tried to fight back, she would suffer immensely. However, if she didn't, she would be a coward, and Kel would automatically win.
She was lucky that the tree she was behind had quite a few branches, making it easier to climb.
She scurried up the tree and sat on a thick branch, scooping some of the snow. Kel was coming closer, still not noticing Aubrey's position.
Perfect.
She threw it down, making him jump with a yelp and drop all his snowballs in surprise. He looked up, and Aubrey knew she was in deep trouble.
Kel began to climb the tree, and Aubrey looked around for a safe way to get down. If she fell from where she was, she would be fine, but she would also be a little sore.
Aubrey grabbed as much snow as possible, balling it up and chucking the snowballs at Kel. She had to admire his persistence—he didn't even falter a little, even when snowballs hit him in the face. Soon enough, he was on the branch right below Aubrey.
"You thought you won, but I, Kel Alvarez-Lopez, will strike you down!" Kel exclaimed, and he threw a snowball at Aubrey.
Aubrey, the unsuspecting victim she was, lost her balance and fell into the snow below.
It was cold. And the fact she forgot the coat Kim loaned her in the car did not help matters.
"Oh my God!" she heard Kel cry, and Aubrey sat up, wincing. It was so cold, and she felt as though she had a terrible workout.
"Oh my God. Aubrey, are you okay?" Kel asked, ever so thoughtful and caring. "Here."
"Careful," Aubrey warned, and Kel was kind enough to help her stand on her own two feet. Aubrey hissed as his hand slipped to the tender spot on her back, and he recoiled his hand quickly.
"I'm so sorry. I-I didn't mean to—"
"It's okay," Aubrey replied, then punched his arm with decently rough force. "Let's just get somewhere warm so that snow doesn't kill my ass."
Kel let out a strained chuckle, and the two of them hobbled over to a café that was somehow still open. Kel's stomach growled loudly, eating a chuckle from the two of them.
"Wanna eat?" Kel asked.
"Yeah," Aubrey nodded."
Kel shrugged off his trenchcoat he was borrowing and handed it to Aubrey. "Here."
Aubrey blushed a little, taking the coat. "Thanks."
Kel went to the restrooms, and Aubrey sat in a booth, looking out at the Christmas lights that were up and down this street. It truly was beautiful...
Kel came back, holding two mugs of hot cocoa from the cashier. He plopped down across from her, sighing.
"Sorry about that," Kel apologized. "There was toilet paper stuck up my ass. I'm sure you understand—we both know that's uncomfortable."
Aubrey facepalmed. "Kel."
"What?"
"What are we doing right now?"
"Uh...sitting in a café with hot chocolate?"
"And what else are we doing?"
"Uh..."
"We are on a date, Kel. You don't talk about toilet paper and your ass on a da—"
"WAIT, THIS IS A DATE!?"
"YES!? WHAT THE FUCK DID YOU THINK THIS WAS!?"
"US HANGING OUT!?"
Aubrey stared in disbelief. "Seriously??? Even after I said 'I like you'??"
"I thought you meant platonically!"
Aubrey facepalmed again, sighing. "You are such a dumbass."
Kel looked at his hands, his cheeks red. "So...you like me? In a romantic way?"
Aubrey looked away, hesitant. "Y-Yeah. Do you...happen to feel the same way?"
Silence followed. Finally, Kel mumbled, "Y-Y...yes."
Aubrey took a deep breath, trying to calm her racing thoughts. "Okay, then. So...shall we continue this as it was supposed to be? A-A date?"
"Yeah."
Silence continued, and Kel groaned, faceplanting into the table.
Aubrey shrieked. "K-Kel!?"
"It's all so awkward now," Kel grumbled. "Why is it so awkward? We've known each other since were seven."
Aubrey nodded. "No kidding. Why is it so awkward?"
"I dunno."
They thought for a moment. Finally, Aubrey snapped her fingers.
"I've got it. How about we forget this idea? Let's just go to the movies or play video games in your room? Hero's out for the night with the rest of your family, right?"
Kel nodded. "Yeah, but...are you sure?"
"Look, Kel...I don't mind sappy dates and stuff, but now that we know we like each other, I'm sure there are many more of those to come. I'm happy just to do what we always do tonight."
"Okay." Kel smiled. "Can we still hold hands?"
"Can we? It's a requirement, mister."
Kel grinned, and Aubrey grinned back.
This was officially the best Christmas ever.