*Taemin’s POV*

Why does she keep looking at me?

I glanced over at Carolyn, just in time to see her darting her eyes away from me. I felt uncomfortable; self-conscious. I looked back down at the puppy I’d been petting through the metal bars.

I took Carolyn to the ASPCA because I loved looking at the cute animals. I felt sorry for them. They had been abandoned, left for dead. I wanted to take them all home, but I knew that wasn’t going to fly; especially with Key.

“Aren’t they cute?” I giggled as the puppy nibbled on my finger.

“They’re adorable!” Carolyn exclaimed, smiling over at me.

She looked really pretty today; not that this was a bad thing. Her long red hair flowed nicely over her shoulders, and her eyes seemed to sparkle more than usual.

“I think this guy wants to go for a walk,” I said, tickling the puppy’s stomach.

“Let’s do it!”

We smiled at each other before finding a worker to get the puppy ready for us.

------------------------- 

“Here,” I said, handing the leash over to Carolyn. “Do you want to walk him for a little bit?”

“Sure,” she smiled and took the leash from my hands.

Why did I just get butterflies when our hands touched?

*Carolyn’s POV*

We walked along talking in casual conversation for a while, stopping whenever the dog reached a tree so he could do his business.

“Gosh, this dog pees a lot!” I complained. I blushed when I realized what I’d said.

“Bahaha, I know right! You’d think he’d be all dried up by now!”

“Hahaha, he’s lifting his leg, but nothing’s coming out!”

We curled over in laughter as the dog just looked up at us innocently and barked, causing us to fall to the ground in laughter.

“Oh, gosh, that’s priceless,” I said as our laughter finally died down and Taemin offered me a hand up.

“Haha, yea-,” he stopped as he yanked me up off the ground, pulling me face to face with him.

He stared into my eyes and I stared back. I thought about this morning. I had been in this same situation with Key just hours ago, and I’d slipped out of it. Now, I didn’t want the moment to end. There was just something about Taemin that made my heart flutter.

“Um, I think it’s time to take the dog back,” Taemin whispered.

He began to take a step back, but then I did something that I knew I’d either love or regret after. I grabbed Taemin’s shoulders, pulling him in, and pressed my lips against his.

“Carolyn!” Taemin exclaimed, pulling back.

I looked down at my shoes in shame.

“I-I’m sorry Taemin.”

“No; it’s okay- I mean… I just thought you liked Key.”

“So did I, but when he tried to kiss me this morning, I… well you heard the scream and my ‘fall.’” I did air quotes as I said the word.

“But why?” Taemin asked, confusion filling his face.

“Because I like someone else; a different man.”

“Oh,” Taemin said, looking away from me. “Then why’d you kiss me?” He turned back to face me straight on.

“Because… that man is you, Taemin,” I look down and my cheeks grew bright red as I said it.

“Y-you think I’m a man?!”

His face lit up as I nodded in reply.

“So um, does this mean you don’t mind me doing this?” he asked, taking my hand in his.

“Nope,” I smiled.

“Or this?” he moved in closer to me.

“Haha, no,” I giggled.

“Or this…”

His smiling lips met mine.