Shooting Stars | Lo'ak¹

Chapter 23: First Date Plans

Italicize - someone's thoughts or a story from the past

Bold - sign language 

Lo'ak and Ja'lia were walking hand-in-hand back to the pod as the Eclipse had happened a little over two hours ago. Neither of them had talked after they confessed to each other, however, no words needed to be spoken.

Ja'lia loved Lo'ak, and Lo'ak loved Ja'lia.

It was all either of them could have ever wished for. All their fears, worries, and anxieties went down the drain when both said, 'I love you.'

Of course, they had said 'I love you' to each other before, but this time was different. When they said it moments prior, they didn't mean it as 'You're my best friend, and I love you', they meant it as 'I'm in love with you, and I will be for the rest of my life.'

It had amazed Lo'ak and Ja'lia that their feelings were reciprocated by the other.

Although, if you would have asked anyone from back home, it was only a matter of time before feelings developed between the two. The two teens were often asked if they were waiting until they were of age to make their relationship official because everyone was convinced that they were together, even though Lo'ak and Ja'lia firmly disagreed with the notion.

Back home, they constantly had to tell everybody, besides their own families, that they were only friends, and that's all they were ever meant to be, even if Ja'lia hadn't felt that way for the past few months.

If only their past selves could see them now.

In all honesty, Lo'ak and Ja'lia from the past would probably laugh if someone's face if they told them that the two had kissed not once but twice and also confessed to each other. Ja'lia felt like she was on cloud nine with a dazed smile on her face as she walked back with Lo'ak.

He was holding Ja'lia's hand, and this time, it was in a romantic sense. The boy was thankful that it was dark because he would be embarrassed if Ja'lia could see the blush on his cheeks or hear the way his heart was pounding against his chest.

This was not the outcome he was expecting to happen.

When he originally decided to confess to Ja'lia that night, he thought that she would immediately reject him, laugh at him even, but she had been the one to say the words first. She loved everything about him. She loved him for him, and that's all he'd ever wanted. Lo'ak truly couldn't even begin to describe his feelings for Ja'lia at that moment.

At first, he was at a loss for words, but as her beautiful words started to register in his mind, it was like his body had a mind of its' own. He kissed her again. And this time, there wasn't any doubt in his mind that she kissed him back because Ja'lia did. Ja'lia put her entire mind, body, and soul into that kiss, and as Lo'ak licked his lips, he almost wished he could kiss her one more time before they returned to the pod.

So, that's what he did.

Lo'ak turned in a different direction so he could find somewhere more private to steal one last kiss before they finally went home for the night. The notion confused Ja'lia, however, she didn't pull out of his grip as she decided to follow him to see what he was doing.

"What's wrong?" She asked, and Lo'ak remained silent as he continued to walk away from his family's pod over to some palm trees that would give him and Ja'lia the cover they needed.

Once they were at the palm trees, Lo'ak stopped walking to turn and look at Ja'lia.

"Are you okay?" Ja'lia questioned.