Stay on the Boardwalk

You glance briefly toward the quieter overlook beside the boardwalk.

Then back toward Jane again.

For a second, the golden sunlight catching against her hair and the soft look in her eyes makes the moment feel like it could turn into something deeper if you let it.

But instead, you gently squeeze her hand once and keep walking beside her down the main boardwalk.

The smallest smile pulls at Jane’s mouth almost immediately.

Not disappointed.

Just soft.

Comfortable.

Like she’s happy simply being close to you anyway.

The two of you continue wandering slowly through the thinning crowds while the evening sunlight paints everything gold around you. Shops begin turning on their lights one by one while music drifts softly through the ocean air from nearby restaurants and bars.

After all the noise from the arcade, the slower pace feels nice.

Relaxing.

Jane stays tucked close against your side while your joined hands swing lazily between you.

“You know,” she says after a moment, “I think today healed me emotionally.”

“That’s dramatic,” you tease softly.

“I’m serious,” Jane says with a laugh. “I haven’t thought about school once in like three hours.”

“That might be a personal record,” you joke.

“Honestly?” she asks while looking up at you. “Probably.”

You smile quietly while the two of you continue past another row of beach shops.

A group of teenagers rushes past laughing loudly while someone nearby plays acoustic guitar outside one of the restaurants overlooking the ocean.

The whole boardwalk feels softer now compared to earlier.

Less crowded.

More intimate somehow.

At one point, Jane suddenly slows slightly beside a small dessert stand near the edge of the walkway.

“Oh no,” you murmur knowingly.

“What?” she asks innocently.

“You’re about to want something,” you tell her.

“I always want something,” Jane replies proudly.

Unfortunately, that’s true too.

A few minutes later, the two of you end up sharing a funnel cake while sitting on a wooden bench overlooking the beach.

The paper tray rests between both of you while powdered sugar gets absolutely everywhere.

“This is aggressively unhealthy,” you say after another bite.

“And yet,” Jane says while immediately stealing another piece, “you continue eating it.”

“That’s because you keep handing it to me,” you reply.

“You act like you have free will here,” she teases.

You laugh quietly while brushing some powdered sugar off your hand.

A second later, Jane suddenly starts laughing.

“What?” you ask immediately.

“There’s powdered sugar on your face,” she says through another laugh.

“You’re lying,” you accuse.

“I’m literally not,” Jane replies while smiling.

You narrow your eyes suspiciously while she continues looking at you.

Then before you can react, she leans closer and brushes her thumb softly against your cheek.

The touch lingers slightly longer than necessary.

“There,” Jane says more quietly now.

For a second, neither of you moves away.

The ocean breeze shifts softly around both of you while warm sunset light spills across the bench beneath you.

Then naturally she ruins the moment herself.

“You looked concerned,” she says while trying not to laugh again.

“I was being attacked,” you reply.

“By powdered sugar?” Jane asks.

“Very dangerous stuff,” you say seriously.

She snorts laughing before leaning lightly against your shoulder afterward.

And honestly?

The quiet warmth of her beside you feels just as intimate as anything else could’ve.

The rest of the walk back down the boardwalk feels slower after that.

Softer.

The sky gradually turns shades of orange and pink above the ocean while lights flicker on beneath the awnings of nearby restaurants. People pass around you in small groups while music and distant waves blend together beneath the evening air.

At some point, Jane slips both hands deeper into the sleeves of your hoodie again before leaning fully against your side while walking.

“I don’t want today to end yet,” she admits quietly.

You glance down toward her.

“We still have tonight,” you remind her softly.

A tiny smile returns to her face instantly.

“Oh yeah,” Jane says softly. “We do.”

You chose to stay on the main boardwalk together:

Relationship Status: +1%

Boyfriend Points Gained: +1

The slower evening together leaves Jane feeling warm, relaxed, and close to you.