After the dance, Jaime and his friends all walked towards Paco's car. Paco was the only one of them who had a one, so they would all have to squeeze in order to fit. Tye and Paco sat in the front, while the rest of them filed into the backseat. Bart automatically crawled onto Jaime's lap to give Brenda and Blanca more room to sit, and Jaime couldn't say he minded having Bart in his personal space.

"So, a dónde vamos?" Paco asked everyone while he started his car.

"Somewhere cheap. I'm broke and really hungry." Brenda commented.

"Same." Bart, Tye, and Blanca all said in sync.

Jaime was relieved someone else said it. He knew he would probably end up paying for Bart, because that boy never had any money. And Bart could really eat.

Bart played with Jaime's fingers while everyone argued about where they should eat. Neither of them really paid much attention to the conversation after that. Bart had a playful smile on his face as he turned to whisper something to Jaime. He brought his lips to Jaime's ear and paused almost teasingly before finally whispering something.

"Can I kiss you?"

Jaime bit his lip and nodded, trying to conceal his excitement. He was really glad for another chance to kiss Bart, even if it was in the crowded back seat of a honda accord. Everyone was still arguing about where to eat, so it was likely no one would even notice if they did kiss. Bart didn't lean in, though, he was still fidgeting with Jaime's fingers.

Finally, Bart smiled again and took Jaime's index finger, and pecked the tip of it with his lips, then kissed the rest of Jaime's fingertips one by one.

Jaime let out a breath of air from his nose that was something like a soft laugh. He figured this was what Bart must have felt like at the dance when Jaime kissed him on the cheek instead of the mouth. This must be Bart's way of trying to get back at him. Still, that was…. super adorable.

The group apparently decided on Denny's, and the car backed out of their parking spot and onto the road.

…

They were all seated in a booth in the back of the restaurant. The booth was a little crowded, so Bart and Jaime once again happily sacrificed their own personal space for the greater good. Jaime sat in the edge of the booth, and Bart scooted halfway onto his lap, so that one of Bart's legs was resting in between Jaime's knees, and Bart slipped his fingers into Jaime's hand under the table. Having someone's leg in between his thighs like that would usually make Jaime really nervous, but with Bart, it felt natural. If anything, the closeness made him feel more relaxed.

Everyone seemed to already know what they wanted, so they ordered their food and drinks right after being seated.

After ordering, Paco eyed Bart and Jaime thoughtfully.

"Hey, hermano. Can I ask you something?" He was looking at Jaime.

"Sure, ese. What's up?"

"So…" Paco fidgeted with his place settings. "How come you never told us you were gay? Don't get me wrong, I'm happy for you. It makes no difference to me, but I just thought you would have said something."

Jaime looked at Brenda, who gave him a reassuring smile. She was the only one out of their group who knew.

"I'm not gay." Jaime said matter-of-factly. "I'm, uh, I'm bi, I think… I don't know, man. I guess I just didn't think it mattered." Jaime hadn't really realized how nervous he was to come out to his friends until he asked Bart to the dance. He figured, at least with Bart there, he wouldn't have to be alone if his friends didn't accept him.

"It doesn't." Paco reassured.

Tye nodded in agreement. "Yeah, Jaime. Besides, it's normal to not know. I'm straight, but at one point I questioned that for myself, too."

"I thought I was straight until high school." Brenda added.

Jaime smiled. He really loved his friends, and he was relieved they weren't making a huge deal of it. Jaime hated having all the attention focused on him.

"What about you, Bart?" Brenda asked. Bart had been really quiet during this conversation.

After a bit of a pause, Bart just shrugged. Jaime realized then that Bart probably had no idea what they were talking about. Bart didn't know the first thing about dating, so modern sexuality lingo was probably not something he was familiar with. Jaime would have to tell Bart about it later. Everyone was still looking at Bart, thinking he would elaborate. Instead of answering the question, though, he perked up and shouted joyfully.

"FOOD!"

Just then, the server came to the table with their orders, and Bart apparently completely forgot that he'd been asked a question.

Everyone else seemed to forget, too, as they all immediately dug into their food like starved animals. Bart got the endless pancakes, and was ready to refill his order in no time. Soon enough, the conversations started back up again, but Jaime had a hard time concentrating. Bart was resting his head on Jaime's shoulder and trying to play footsie with him under the table. Jaime thought it was funny that they were doing 'couples' things in a way that no one could see. It almost defeated the purpose of the whole thing, but it somehow felt right. They were both fully committed to the cause.

Everyone else was pretty deeply invested in a conversation about superheroes. They were all arguing about who their favorite was. They were stuck between Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, and- funny enough- Blue Beetle. Paco was adamant that Blue Beetle was the best because he was from El Paso. Bart laughed quietly, and Jaime couldn't help but blush at the praise.

While the rest of the group was distracted with the argument, Bart lifted his head from Jaime's shoulder and gave Jaime a few quick kisses along his jawline, which made Jaime's stomach flutter. Before anyone noticed, Bart casually turned back to the conversation and interjected.

"Are we talking, like, our favorite superhero, or the most powerful?"

"It's not the same one?" Brenda asked.

"Nope."

"Most powerful." Tye chimed in.

"Blue Beetle, obviously." Bart said before stuffing another pancake into his mouth. Paco and Bart high fived.

Jaime almost spit out his water. He figured Bart was just trying to flatter him, but he definitely didn't think he was that powerful compared to the majority of the heroes on the league and even the team.

He wanted to argue against it, but before he got the chance, the server came back. Everyone had finished their food by then.

"Are we getting dessert tonight? Any ice cream or pie?"

"Sorry, we gotta head out soon. My curfew is coming up and I need to get everyone home." Paco said.

The server nodded and left to print their checks.

"Jaime and I don't need a ride." Bart said to Paco. It was true, they both had faster alternative methods of transportation than a car.

The server came back with their checks, and Jaime noticed that Bart was staring at the picture of ice cream on the wall longingly like it was his long lost lover. He decide then that he and Bart could stay a bit later.

"Actually, after you mentioned ice cream, I'm really craving it. Can we get a dessert menu?" Jaime asked the server. Bart lit up and kissed Jaime… on his shoulder.

At first, Jaime thought Bart was sort of making fun of him in his own weird way for not being able to kiss Bart on the lips at the dance. He thought Bart was trying to get back at him or something. But now, Jaime wondered if Bart actually knew that couples usually kissed on the lips. Was it possible that he just didn't know?

Paco, Tye, Brenda and Blanca all said their goodbyes and left Jaime and Bart alone in the booth.

"So, now that they're gone, do you... want me to move?" Bart's leg was still hanging in between Jaime's knees, and they were still holding hands under the table.

Jaime looked down at Bart's thigh in his lap, and nervously placed his free hand on Bart's knee. "Well… I mean, they still haven't left the parking lot. They could, uh, come back… right?"

Bart looked out the window to see the group starting to get into the car.

Jaime knew it was the worst excuse ever. Of course they weren't going to come back. He knew Bart saw right through it. Still, Bart just smiled and scooted even closer to Jaime, so that his other leg pressed against the outside of Jaime's thigh, and they were practically snuggling in the corner of the booth.

"Right. They could come back." Bart said with a knowing grin.

Jaime had to take a deep breath before speaking to make sure his voice wouldn't hitch. He didn't know why, but now he was nervous.

"So, what's your favorite kind of ice cream?" Jaime asked Bart after a few moments of getting used to the newly isolated closeness.

"Don't know."

"Don't tell me you've never had ice cream before?" Jaime was shocked. No dancing. No music. No ice cream? No wonder Bart decided to come to the past.

Bart just shrugged. "What's your favorite ice cream?"

"I like oreo. They don't have oreo ice cream here, but they have an oreo milkshake. It's basically the same thing. That's my favorite."

"Then I want to try that."

…

Two oreo milkshakes were placed on the table in front of them. Bart finished his before Jaime could even get started.

Sure enough, Bart's face scrunched up like a baby who just took a bite out of a lemon for the first time, and his hand shot up to his forehead.

"Ah! It hurts!"

Jaime couldn't help but laugh. "Bart, you can't drink milkshakes that fast. You'll get a brain freeze!" Jaime couldn't stop laughing until Bart's face returned to a normal expression.

"So my suffering is funny to you?" Bart puffed out his lower lip in an angry pout.

"I'm sorry, you're just so dramatic!" Jaime finally caught his breath from laughing and wiped a tear from his eye.

"It hurt!" Bart whined.

"Pobrecito." Jaime cooed and dramatically pulled Bart into a hug, then rubbed soothing circles along his back. Bart hummed at the sensation like he'd never been held before, and Jaime couldn't tell if he was still kidding or not.

The Impulse's major vital signs drastically change with this physical contact. Reason: unknown. Suggested tactic: strategic retreat.

Jaime rolled his eyes at his scarab's suggestion.

"I'm not going anywhere." He answered out loud, still rubbing circles into Bart's back. Bart just hummed again and cuddled further into the embrace, then rested his head in Jaime's chest and closed his eyes.

Even though the hug started out sarcastically, something told Jaime that Bart really needed it, so he didn't let go.

Jaime found himself worrying through the silence. Bart was so good at pretending to be fine, but there was clearly something plaguing him almost constantly.

"Bart?"

"Hmm?"

"I just… want you to know you can talk to me, okay? I know you don't think you can talk to anyone about the future, but you can trust me. You don't have to tell me everything, or anything, if you don't want to. Pero si me necesitas, I'm here for you. Do you know that?"

Bart finally pulled away from the hug and looked at Jaime. His eyes were glistening, and he looked like he was trying to make a decision.

"That means a lot, really. I just... can't right now. Can we just talk about something else?"

"Okay. That's fine." He paused for a moment before attempting to lighten the mood.

"So... how the hell did you learn so much Spanish all of a sudden?"

Bart laughed. "I bought an english to spanish dictionary. I can read pretty fast, you know."

"You're unbelievable." Jaime chuckled, then glanced down at his phone and frowned. "I have to head home soon. Curfew."

"Okay. Can I walk you home?" It was almost a silly question. Jaime could fly home in minutes, and Bart could run and be there before Jaime. But Jaime nodded anyways.

...

They walked hand in hand all the way to Jaime's house, which wasn't too far, and they talked about nothing and everything along the way. They walked slowly, subconsciously trying to stretch the amount of time they could spend together, even though they would be able to see each other whenever they wanted to after this. When they finally made it to Jaime's door, they both stopped and stared at each other. Neither really wanted the night to be over yet.

"I had fun today."

"Me too."

They awkwardly stared at each other for a minute, not knowing the proper way to say goodbye. There was no reason to keep pretending to be a couple, but neither of them wanted to stop. Finally, Bart threw his arms around Jaime in his usual uncomfortably tight hug, but this time, Jaime held on just as tight. They breathed into the hug a few times before Bart pulled away, looked up at Jaime, and kissed him…

On the chin.

So close, Bart.

Jaime laughed. He was sure now that Bart had no idea how kissing usually worked here.

"Bart, I think you're adorable, but I'm sorry, I feel like I need to tell you something." Jaime almost didn't want to tell him. He actually adored Bart's randomly placed kisses. Bart was way too cute, and Jaime felt like breaking the news to him would somehow betray his innocence. It'd be like telling a kid that Santa wasn't real.

Bart took a step back. "What? Oh god, I'm sorry. Iknowweweredoingthisforyourfriendsand they'renotevenhereanymorebutIjustthoughtmaybe-"

Bart stopped talking when Jaime grabbed the sides of his face with both hands, gently, but with an intensity that Bart didn't understand. Bart instinctively lifted his own hands up as a defense reflex, but relaxed when he looked into Jaime's soft brown eyes.

"Tranquilo..." Jaime rubbed Bart's cheeks softly with his thumbs. Instead of dropping his hands, Bart let them rest on Jaime, who was much closer now. One hand fell on Jaime's chest and the other just above his navel. Bart stared up at Jaime with wide eyes, not knowing at all what to expect.

"I just meant… people usually kiss differently here." Jaime's face was almost touching Bart's, and his eyes thoughtfully trailed down to his lips again. Bart tilted his head.

"Can I show you?" Jaime whispered, still tenderly holding the sides of Bart's face with both hands.

Bart nodded.

Jaime didn't waste any time. He pressed his lips against Bart's, quickly and firmly, but it was still somehow soft. Bart let out a small startled noise before relaxing into the kiss. Jaime felt Bart's baby hairs stand up again under his fingers. Bart's wide eyes slowly closed, and his fingertips curled in, gently clutching onto Jaime's shirt.

Time stood still, and any tension either of them carried melted away beneath them until they were floating. Jaime could feel the corners of Bart's soft lips turn upwards. Bart was smiling as he kissed back, and it was so cute that Jaime couldn't help but smile, too.

Finally, Jaime delicately pulled away to look at Bart. His cheeks were redder than Jaime had ever seen, and his eyes fluttered open and stared back at Jaime in wonder.

"Crash…" Bart whispered breathlessly. "That kind of kissing is… way better."

Jaime took one of Bart's hands in his own and sweetly kissed a few of Bart's finger tips.

"I like your kisses, too." Then Jaime kissed Bart on the forehead. "Buenas noches, mi cariño."

Jaime started to turn towards the door.

"Wait!" Bart didn't let go of Jaime's hand. "I… um… I think dating you is pretty crash… I know it was pretend, but can we… do you want to keep doing this?"

Bart wasn't intentionally using his puppy eyes, but he might as well have been. Those big emerald eyes were Jaime's weakness, not that he needed any convincing.

"I'd love that."

.

.

.

.

.

.

A dónde vamos- where are we going

pobrecito- poor baby

Pero si me necesitas- but if you need me

Tranquilo- kind of like 'calm down' or 'don't worry'

Buenas noches, mi cariño- goodnight, my love

I'm kind of sad this story is over because I had so much fun writing it! Please let me know what you thought! what did you like or not like? I'm open to constructive feedback but I'm also fragile so don't be too mean.

Special thanks to Babushka22, AlecGateway, haunt-the-stars, PrettyKittyLuvsU, and the guest accounts for the lovely reviews! They make my really happy you have no idea :)