Zaden dinner (PRIVATE)

Kaden and Zalia were in a cab, going to a fancy diner. Kaden was elated; they had not had a date for a couple weeks. It had been nearly two months. He smiled at her. "So, Zalia, want exactly do you hope to be when you get out of camp?"

Zalia sat in the middle seat next to Kaden. "When I leave camp, I want to be alive." Zalia kept looking out the windows and shifting in her seat. Being out of camp made her nervous.

"Are you OKay?" He put an arm around her.

"I'm fine." She leaned on Kaden.

They stopped. Kaden escorted her out.

Zalia blinked as the sun flooded her eyesight.

Kaden went into the diner and sat himself and Zalia.

Zalia reached her hand across the table and held his hand. The waiter came by and asked what they wanted to drink. "I'll have water."

"Water's fine." He smiled at her. "So, what do you think about Jason and Tara?"

Zalia rolled her eyes, "Jason's a giant jerk that thinks he's a hot shot and Tara's too weak to handle her own business. Why?"

"I was just wondering." Kaden smiled. "I bet you had crush on Jason at least once. It seems every girl has." He joked.

"Do you think I would have a crush on someone like that, then go for someone like you? Come on Kaden. I hit him with a stick." Zalia rubbed Kaden's hand with her thumb.

"Oh, thanks. Now I know I'm less worth than Jason." He laughed.

"No, just not as stupid." She smiled at Kaden, "you know he has the IQ of a potatoe."

"I think he tries to hide his brain to be honest." They got their water. "Thanks." He took a sip. He looked around. He saw a picture of a small nerdy kid holding up some award. Hey, that looked like...

"I think that's Tara in that picture." Kaden chuckled. Then, he starting staring at Zalia. It had been so long since they had kissed, he honestly kind of wanted to just kiss her right now.

Zalia laughed and shook her head at the picture of Tara. She turned back to Kaden. He seemed to be intent on staring at her. "You getting a good look?" She pulled her cup closer and sipped through te straw slowly. "You seem... Focused on my face."

"Yeah, sorry." He blushed, stopping. "I'm...sorry." He quickly took a drink of water.

Zalia smiled and scooted her chair closer to the table and leaned closer, "you're not terrible to look at either."

Kaden almost kissed her, then the waitress came. "What would you like to order tonight?"

"Chicken parmesan, please."

Zalia moved back to the back of her chair. "I'll have the house salad."

The waitress went away.

Kaden smiled at her. "I love you."

Zalia smiled an looked at Kaden. "I love you too."

After the dinner, they went into the cab.

Kaden put an arm around her, letting her lay on his shoulder.

"So, what do you think of Jason and Tara?"

"Well, Jason's cool, but he can be a bit of a jerk. Tara's a pretty girl and stuff and...NO, no, I meant like, she's cool and stuff, a little dorky, but like...like..I want you to be my girlfriend more..well, not even more, just, I mean, I want you, and only you...yeah." He was blushing hard.