Chapter 27

Derek's POV

He's my fucking boyfriend!!!!

Adrian's my boyfriend!!!

This feels so surreal. I can't believe he wanted to be with me. I seriously cannot fuck this up. Adrian is the only person I want to be with, and I will do anything for him. Literally, I will do anything for him that is not illegal. If he wants me to kill someone I will not, but I will do a lot of things that are legal for him.

Now I can hold him in my arms and kiss him all I want. Only if he says I can though. I don't want to be weird about it.

"What's got you so happy?" DeShaun asks as he walks back into the room from the bathroom.

"Nothing. Just saw a funny video," I lie. Obviously, Adrian is the only person on my mind right now. I want to give him the world. I want to give him all the romance that he never got in high school, for some reason.

"Nice. I'm gonna go to sleep," he says.

"Alright. Same."

I have a really tough time falling asleep because Adrian and I being a couple gave me so much more energy and now I can't fall asleep. My smile that DeShaun saw a little bit ago probably has not come off of my face, and I don't think it will leave my face. There's no reason for me not to be smiling all the time. I'm in a relationship!!!

I do manage to fall asleep eventually, and when I wake up, I shower and get ready for class. I want me and Adrian's first official date to be nice. I don't really know where we're gonna eat yet, but anywhere is fine with me. As long as I get to see my gorgeous angel. That's all that really matters to me. Seeing his face, his smile, his hair, his eyes, all that stuff.

On the way out of the building, I run into Adrian and smile at him.

"Hey," I say kind of awkwardly.

"Hey. Uh, how are you?" he asks, matching my awkwardness.

"Good. How about you?"

"Same as you," he replies.

"That's good to hear."

"Yeah."

"We shouldn't be awkward like this, it kind of just feels so weird." I lower my voice. "You're my boyfriend, we should be comfortable."

"Yeah, I agree. Anyways, where should we meet to go to the mall?"

"Your room. Just go straight there after class, and text me when you get there."

"Alright."

I look around, notice no one in the hall on either side and look down at Adrian, who's looking up at me. "Can I kiss you?" I ask. "Quickly?"

"Yeah. Yes, of course."

I cup his face and quickly kiss him, feeling his soft lips, which will undoubtedly get me through the day. I am dating this man that looks like a model. He could be a model for anything and look absolutely perfect for it.

"I'll see you later," I say, hugging him. "Have a good day."

"Uh, yeah. You too," he says, dazed. Is he dazed from the kiss?

I leave the building and get to my car, going straight to my first class. I don't even know if I even have the effort that it takes to still act straight. Obviously, if I don't, that could get me in huge trouble with my mom who is being way too overbearing considering I'm an adult in college, but I want to make Adrian happy. Seeing him smile is the best part of my day, and I want him to be smiling with me while we hold hands in public.

I have a very good day in classes, there's no practice today, and I am about to go on my first official date with a person I actually have extremely strong feelings for. I went on a couple dates with that girl in my senior year, but none of them were fun. She brought her friends along every time and kept gawking at other guys. I wasn't jealous, because I didn't even like her, but it was very awkward.

I have my final class of the day with Devin, and we talk on the way out of the building and on our way to the parking lot.

"Derek, I swear you've been acting so bipolar this year. Are you good?" he asks me.

"Uh, yeah, why?"

"Well, last week you were acting really weird. You looked uncomfortable literally everywhere, it was kind of crazy to see, because the few weeks before that, you were looking so happy. Now, you look like a ray of sunshine. You look like how Alicia tells me that I look."

"I don't know. I think I just took a hard look at myself and realized that I have better things to do than be sad. Obviously, that's better said than done, but I am seriously trying to change my attitude for the better. I am actively trying to be happier," I claim. Honestly, I did try that for a little, but it's seriously just so much effort to force my mood to change. I'm not lazy, I will put so much effort into football, but a lot of things I won't put as much effort into. My mood is different today because of Adrian.

"That's a good way to think about things. I'm proud of you," Devin states.

"Thanks. What are your plans for the afternoon?" I ask.

"Me and Alicia are hanging out. I know it looks like we spend all our time together, but it's really amazing. She somehow never gets annoying. She is the girl of my dreams and I'm so lucky. You'll find someone perfect for you too, Derek. I have no doubt. Any plans for you?"

"I don't know. I might take a walk, I might go on TikTok," I lie. I am going to the mall with my angel.

"That sounds fun. Anyways, my car is over there," he points to a parking lot far from where I'm parked.

"Alright. I'll see you later, Devin," I wave.

"Yeah. See you later, Derek."

I get to my car, grinning like an idiot all the way back to the dorms, where I'll either go straight to my room or go to Adrian's room. If I get a text from him saying he's already in his room I'll go to his room first but I'm gonna go to my room first otherwise.

"Hey DeShaun," I greet him as I walk in.

"Hey."

"How have you been?" I ask.

"Alright."

"Any better?"

"Yeah. Much better. Aaliyah was starting to be weird and manipulative. I did the right thing in terms of breaking up with her. I hope I can find the right person for me," he says.

"You will, don't worry. You're a great guy."

"Thanks."

"No problem."

At that moment, I get a text from Adrian telling me he's ready to go to the mall. It takes everything in my mental power to not start jumping up and down in joy, but I am able to contain myself.

"I'm gonna go out for a little bit, I'll see you later," I tell DeShaun.

"Okay. Have a good time."

"Thanks."

I exit my room and go straight to Adrian's room, knocking on the door. I hear quick footsteps before Adrian opens the door, smiling up at me.

"Hi," he smiles.

"Hi."

"Do you wanna chill in here for a few minutes?"

"Sure," I reply.

We sit down on the couch, my arm around his shoulder. I lean down and kiss him on the lips, again, something I'm not used to doing to anyone. I hope I'm a decent kisser. Adrian's a good kisser, and even if he wasn't, it wouldn't matter to me because it's Adrian.

"Can I kiss you?" Adrian asks.

"Adri, don't even ask me, okay? Just go for it."

"Okay."

He cups my face and slowly moves in to catch my lips, both of our eyes closing. His lips taste like strawberries now. Is there any way Adrian cannot be perfect? I'm seriously starting to think that he is the most perfect, well rounded human being in the world.

We kiss for a few more minutes before deciding that we should go to the mall before it gets too crowded.

"Where are you thinking about having dinner?" I ask.

"I don't know. We can eat at the mall food court," he suggests.

"Adri, it's our first date. We should go somewhere nicer."

"Yeah, but I feel like eating somewhere kinda cheap would be more our speed. Restaurants that are fancier than the Cheesecake Factory are not places I would go."

"Really? Which restaurant?" I ask.

"Well, the Chinese restaurant we love is there. We can eat in the food court after grabbing our food."

"Yeah. That sounds good. We can definitely do that."

"Cool."

We get to Adrian's car and I get in the driver's seat, Adrian handing me his keys. I turn the car on and start driving to the mall. I think that Adrian deserves for me to be a good boyfriend to him in public. I will hold his hand in the mall if he wants, and even though I don't love PDA, I will go as far as to give him a quick kiss.

"So, what should I buy you today?" I ask.

"Let me pay for my own stuff," Adrian complains.

"You're my boyfriend, Adri, and as the taller one, it is my duty to buy you things."

"I'm not a girl," he points out.

"Okay? I still get to make you feel special."

"Thanks."

"Besides, I think that you deserve the world, and I want to give you the world," I state.

"Really?"

"Yeah. Why wouldn't I feel that way?"

"I don't know," he replies.

We get to the mall and we get out of his car, walking towards the mall. There are a lot of people here already. I don't really care that much if they see me and Adrian holding hands or hugging or something like that. I'm not ashamed of being with Adrian. I used to be filled with so much internalized homophobia, but now I really don't care that much. As long as I'm happy, which I am so unbelievably happy with Adrian, I will be alright.

"Do you wanna hold hands?" I ask.

"But, we're in public," he replies. "Don't you want to still be secret?"

"Adri, I don't mind if people see us. I care about you, and only you. Anyone else that bothers us for being together doesn't matter to me anymore. It's just you."

He blushes and then looks around, avoiding my eyes. I cup his face and make him face me. His eyes are so beautiful in the bright afternoon sun.

"I like you so much, Adri. I really don't care that much if people know about us anymore. Except for my mom. Her boyfriend will hurt us, but other than them, I don't care. You're my boyfriend, and that doesn't just change when we go in public. In public, you're still my boyfriend, I'm still your boyfriend," I tell him.

"Okay. Yeah. Yeah, I wanna hold hands."

"Great."

We keep walking, and our hands lock as we get closer and closer to the crowded mall. I look down at Adrian, and he is smiling. I smile as I turn back to the mall in front of us. I'm holding hands with my boyfriend. This is crazy. I am experiencing romance for the first time in my life.

"So, where should we go?" I ask.

"We can just walk around a little, just find something that seems interesting for me to buy for myself and for you to buy for yourself."

"Oka-wait. I'm paying."

"Please let me pay," Adrian begs.

"Fine. But I'm paying for dinner."

"Okay."

Me and Adrian start walking around, looking for stuff to buy. We are still holding hands. I feel comfortable with his hand in mine. This just feels right somehow. If it were with damn near anyone else, I wouldn't be as comfortable, but somehow Adrian can just calm my nerves, make me feel way more chill, and makes me happy. He's been making me happy for a very long time, well before I even started having feelings for him.

"Do you want some shoes?" I ask.

"Are you implying my shoes are bad?"

"No, just get another pair of shoes. I have two pairs, you only have 1."

"Shoes are shoes, Derek, as long as it gets me from one place to another, I'm fine," he states.

"That's fair. DeShaun's shoe collection is insane, he doesn't keep it in our room, but I've been to his house plenty of times and his closet is full of them."

"Damn. One pair of shoes is literally enough, two shoes is very good," he says.

"Exactly. Want some new clothes?" I ask Adrian.

"I don't know."

"Well, I kinda want some new clothes, we can go in and you can see if you want anything, kay?"

"Okay."

We walk into the store, looking around for clothes. I grab a pair of jeans, which are not usually in my wardrobe, but it wouldn't hurt to have some sort of diversity in my closet. I can't be wearing sweatpants and tank tops all the time, that's not always gonna work.

"These look good," Adrian says, examining a pair of jeans in his size.

"Yeah. You would look good in that."

"Thanks. Maybe I'll get some tank tops as well, you look really good in them."

"Get a black one. Us white people don't look good in white tank tops," I tell him.

"Is that from experience?"

"Yeah. Saw myself in the mirror in a white tank top for the first time and put on a sweatshirt for the rest of the day. It did not look good. The thing is it probably looks worse for other white people, you and me have amazing tans, but it still doesn't work."

"Yeah. I'll get a black one."

Adrian's hand slips out from mine and I kinda get sad for a sec before remembering that he's still right here and will be back in a second. We've only been 'together' for a day, but I already feel so comfortable with us being boyfriends. I am falling in love with him, and I'm not afraid of that. If I'm falling in love with someone, Adrian is the best person to be falling in love with.

Adrian comes back holding a black tank top, looking at the tag for the price and gritting his teeth. I buy so many for myself from Amazon usually, and they're all low quality but I can get a lot of them for cheap.

"Would I look good in this?" he asks.

"What size is it?" I ask.

"I just grabbed a small. It should fit, right?"

"My size for normal things, like sweatshirts, is double XL but when I buy tank tops I get them in just normal XL. What is the normal size for your clothes?"

"Small. Only because I work out, if I was skinny and 5'9, I would barely be in men's sizes," he says.

"I would get an extra small if they have it here," I say.

"I don't really feel like dressing slutty," he laughs.

"You're right, you're right. Get small. You'll look beautiful in it either way."

"Thanks."

He grabs a tank top in his size and we go to the checkout and pay for our stuff. Adrian was blocking me from paying for his stuff. I just want to spoil him, and I know I don't really have the money to be doing that, but I feel like he deserves every good thing in the world.

We keep walking around the mall, not really finding anything more that we want. I would say that so far, this is a pretty solid first date. Me and Adrian acted like a real couple in public, which I felt really comfortable with, and I could tell that Adrian was happy with it too. His smile was so radiant and I could feel people looking at us. Mostly Adrian though. It really throws people off when they see an angel for the first time.

"So we can get some Chinese food?" Adrian asks.

"Yeah. Of course."

"Thank you."

"No problem," I say before bending down to kiss his forehead.

"Derek. We're in public," he says.

"I know."

Adrian looks at me in awe before we keep walking normally until we get to the food court. I really want to make him happy and make him feel so important, because that's what he is to me. He's the most important person in my life right now, and I want him to know that he means so much to me. He has meant so much to me, but now that we're dating, he means even more.

I pay for dinner (thank God he didn't try to pay) and we found a booth to eat.

"I like you a lot, Adri," I tell him.

"Thanks. I like you a lot. I liked you longer."

"Yeah, and I'll accept that. I would've said yes to you if you asked me out during high school, and I would've quickly fallen for you. You're quite literally the most perfect person I know. You have such an amazing soul and a perfect personality. You're also really beautiful," I state.

He blushes a little bit. "You're uh, you're very cute too."

"Thank you."

We finish eating pretty quickly and walk out of the mall, holding hands and smiling like crazy. I'm so happy he's happy right now. Like I said, it's only been a day, but I feel so comfortable with him being my boyfriend. I feel the internalized homophobia leaving from me every second I'm around Adrian. He makes me feel so confident about my sexuality.

We get back to the dorms and go to his room. We sit down on the couch in silence for a little while before he turns to me and opens his mouth to ask something.

"Can I kiss you again?" he asks.

"Adri, of course. Of course."

"Okay. Thanks."

"Don't thank me."

He cups my face and stares at me for a moment before bringing his head up to mine and planting a kiss on my lips. Butterflies again flutter through my stomach as my hands find his waist, softly gripping his sides. His waist is so perfect.

Adrian pulls away but keeps his hands on my face. His eyes look over my entire face, looking at my features. I watch as his eyes meet my eyes, his face beginning to beam. His eyes move down to my lips, and he again smiles at me.

Out of nowhere, he smashes his lips onto mine and holds us there for about 30 seconds. We pull away and I'm more flushed than I've ever been in my life. He's out of breath but still insanely gorgeous. He kisses me on the cheek quickly and hugs me.

"Thanks for being so good to me in public. I didn't realize you would actually hold my hand," he says.

"Your hand looked lonely, and my hand was lonely. I needed to hold your hand too, it just felt so comfortable."

"I have a question."

"Yeah?" I reply.

"Do you actually think I'm hot?"

I hold his head in my hands and connect our foreheads. I close my eyes and softly rub his cheeks. They're so soft and smooth. The fact that he doesn't really use a skincare routine is actually crazy. His genes must be insane.

"Of course I think you're beautiful. It wouldn't matter either way. Your personality and your soul overpowers any reason for me to need you to be beautiful. You being beautiful is another amazing thing, and I couldn't care less. I would've still fallen for you even if you weren't as gorgeous as you are," I ramble.

"Thank you."

"It's kind of getting late. I should go to bed. I'll see you tomorrow?"

"Yes. Of course. Goodnight, Derek," he says.

"Goodnight," I say, kissing his forehead and standing up to leave. "I'll see you tomorrow."

"Yeah."

I leave his room smiling like an idiot as I practically skip to my room, without a care in the world. Adrian is all that I can think about, and obviously, that's not a bad thing. He's a good person to be thinking about constantly. It's normal for me to be thinking about him all the time also, because he's literally my fucking boyfriend. I can't believe he had a crush on me for years before I even started seeing him like that. He's wanted me for years and I thought I was whipped. He was able to hide his feelings from me for so many years. I was so oblivious.

I'm glad he's not being secretive about his crush on me anymore, because without that we probably wouldn't be together right now. I just want to make him happy and I hope I'm doing that so far, through literally just 1 day. I like him so much.

A/N: Okay I don't really have a great plot remaining for the rest of the book, because I've decided that at least a little bit of angst would make this book better, and I don't really know how to work that in. I have some plot points I would like to hit before the end of this book, and those will be coming up soon, but angst is still going to have to be put in somehow. I will figure out how to put angst into this and I'll keep writing this. How would you guys feel about the angst just being between Derek and his mom and her boyfriend? But with Adrian and Derek staying together? I feel like with what they've gone through, Adrian kind of needs Derek in a sense and Derek is not gonna leave Adrian because he cares too much about Adrian. I don't know, let me know if angst not between Adrian and Derek is a possibility for you guys. Thanks for reading!!!