Chapter 9 by Storier

What's your first date with Ris going to be?

The mall of course, duh

Finishing your drinks with the new Ris, you reflect on how things have changed.

This all started because Christina wanted to drag you along on a horrible mall date. But now, what's the harm in going to the mall together? It doesn't have to be the one that's an hour away, since Ris couldn't care a rat's ass about Macy's inventory refresh. And you won't have to spend hours mind-numbingly bored while your girlfriend window shops. The ball is in your court.

On the way out of the cafe, you take Ris's hand (which makes her blush up to the ears, her hand is sweaty and fidgety in yours, but she doesn't pull away), and turn to her when you're outside. The Rulebook is tucked secure in the back of your pants, though it's uncomfortable with how bulky it is. Another rule might fix that, but for now you've got more urgent fish to fry.

"I want to take you to the mall," you tell Ris. "Just you and me."

"What? Why?" Ris still can barely believe you're holding her hand. Her fingers grasp yours tighter, almost painfully, like she's worried you're about to run away from her.

You smile tenderly at her, admiring the worried expression on her cute face. "I'm asking you on a date, Ris."

She swallows. "O-okay. Um. Okay. Is there - do I need to put on makeup or - I-I should change clothes or something I -"

You shut her up with another kiss. Ris goes rigid as a piece of wood, and is left flushed and swooning when you break contact.

"You're perfect like this," you say, squeezing her hands. "Come on, my car's around the corner."

You lead Ris away. She followed in a daze, touching her lips where you kissed her and murmuring under her breath. "I'm p-perfect...?"

The drive to the mall is very quiet. Ris doesn't know what to say or where to look. She sits with hands balled into fists pressed hard atop her thighs. Every time you smile at her, she ducks her head and looks away with a tight, closed-mouthed smile on her face.

Ris doesn't seem to know if what's happening is real, or if it's a part of some big joke, or if she's dreaming.

You park at the mall and walking inside hand-in-hand with your new-old tomboy-transformed petite girlfriend. Implicitly, you understand that before this date is done, you'll need to find some way to convince Ris of the reality of your feelings.