"This isn't even good enough!" I exclaimed as I looked in the mirror at my rose-colored, quilted lace sweetheart neckline dress. "I look like a kid."

"You look innocent." Madeline sighed as she sat up. "Which is how you should look on an honest first date. I think it's great for this."

Madeline and Vincent were sitting on their beds in our hotel room, watching me as I freaked out over getting ready. I had forty-five minutes until TOP came to get me, and my hair wasn't even done yet. My heart was pounding against my chest and I was so nervous that I felt sick to my stomach. I was going out with the TOP of BIGBANG. He had asked me out on the date.

Well, it didn't help that the thought of Seungri kissing me was buzzing through my brain. I hadn't told my brother or cousin about it, either.

"Fancy it up a little bit," Madeline told me. She reached into my suitcase that was on our bed and pulled out my jewelry box. She opened it and looked around. "Do you still have the cross necklace Nonno and Nonna gave you for Confirmation?"

I grabbed my wallet from the top of the dresser and took out a small key. "Of course," I handed it to Madeline. "It's in the locked drawer."

Being Italian meant our family was extremely religious. Catholic, in particular. Everyone in our family was either born Catholic or was converted. Even Kenji had gotten baptized as Catholic when he and Angelina were engaged. My grandparents took our religion very seriously. They loved their faith, and made sure we all were proud to show it. So, when one of us were confirmed into the Catholic church, Nonno and Nonna would give us a cross pendant on a chain. These weren't your average crucifix necklaces, though. My grandparents went all out. My cross was rose-gold, diamond encrusted with 150 small diamonds, and was 10 carats. It had cost over two-thousand dollars. Vinny had a manlier version of his necklace, his being gold as well and diamond-encrusted like mine was. He wore his every day, but I was afraid to lose mine because of the cost, so I kept it locked up.

Madeline took the necklace out. "Here. This with these rose-colored earrings and these rings and our Dreamer bracelet." Madeline and I both had the same basic metal bracelet with the word "Dreamer" engraved on the front.

I slid everything on, the pit in my stomach getting deeper. I took a breath. "I need to do my hair and makeup."

Outfit:

"I'll help." Madeline stood and followed me into the bathroom. I plugged in my curling iron and looked at Madeline. "I'm really freaking out."

Madeline chuckled. "I know. But you need to calm down. Top is sweet. He asked you to this date. He's probably as nervous as you are."

I began to apply a pinkish-brown shimmer eye shadow to my eyelids and Madeline started to curl my hair into soft spirals. "No, Madeline, you don't get it.... something happened."

I had to tell someone. It was killing me.

"What happened?" Madeline asked, spraying my hair with smoothing spray.

"I-uh.... Seungri kissed me."

Madeline froze and looked at me in the mirror. I stopped working on my eyes. My face was bright red, my chest blotchy.

"When?" Madeline asked finally.

"Like, almost two hours ago." I winced. "We were practicing and he just did it."

"Well did you stop him?"

"When I came to my senses." I nodded.

Madeline continued with my hair. "Well, this is your first date with Top. You aren't exclusive with him. But, Natalia, I still think you need to tell him."

I winced and nodded before applying dark brown liquid eyeliner to my top eyelids. "I know... he's going to hate me and I can't take that."

"No he won't." Madeline shook her head. "He seems like he'd be really understanding. I like him for you."

I grabbed my black-brown pencil liner and lined my bottom lid. "I should tell him at the very beginning, shouldn't I?"

Madeline simply nodded.

I finished my makeup off with some volumizing and lengthening mascara, and a pink shimmer lipgloss. Madeline finished my long hair and had me face her. She grabbed some bobby pins, twisted back the hair in front of my face that had once been side-swept bangs, and pinned in to the side. She sprayed my hair with hairspray and looked at me. "You look great. Don't freak out, okay? He likes you."

It was so weird to hear someone say that TOP liked me. Me, out of all people.

"Well, at least I'm done before he came." I sighed.

Madeline snorted. "No you aren't. There was a knock on the door, like, five minutes ago. Vinny answered it."

I gasped and hurried out of the bathroom. It was already eight?!?

TOP was standing with my brother in the doorway as Vinny talked to him, in what looked like a serious manner. When Vincent noticed me, he patted TOP on the shoulder before saying, "Just remember what I just told you, man."

"I'm so sorry." I said to TOP immediately. "I didn't realize what time it was."

TOP turned to face me, and to my relief, he smiled. "It's not a problem, Nat." He was wearing a pair of straight-legged dark jeans, a blue button-up shirt, and black tie. His black hair was styled up, and he had a bouquet a mixture of purple gloxinias and lavender roses in his hand. He held it out to me. "For you."

"These are so pretty." I couldn't help but squeal a little. I was a er for flowers, especially the meaning. My heart jumped even more when I saw the types of flowers that were in the bouquet, but I didn't let it show. It was no big deal because TOP probably didn't know the meaning of the two flowers, color and all.

Madeline took the bouquet from me and looked at TOP. "Take her out and keep her out." She smirked.

"Let's go." I told TOP. We got to the door and left as Vinny said, "You kids have fun, now!"

I sighed and shook my head as TOP chuckled. TOP's manager followed us (no surprise), and TOP looked at me. "You really do look beautiful, Natalia. It was worth the wait."

Color rose to my cheeks and I nodded. "Th-thanks."

The pit in my stomach felt heavier as we got to the lobby. I needed to tell him. He had to know.

Before we walked outside, I stopped. "Wait."

TOP did, too, and looked at me. "What's wrong?"

I bit my lip, but then cursed myself for messing up my lipgloss. "I need to tell you something before we go on this date, because I don't know how you'll react to it. It's better to tell you here so that way if you hate me, there won't be any awkward rides home."

I took a breath to let it all out, but TOP cut me off.

"Maknae told me, Nat. It's okay."

I froze again and looked at his kind eyes. "He told you what?"

"That when you were practicing with him he got a little bit too-into the moment and he kissed you. Well, tried to, I guess. He said you pulled away after barely a second."

I tried to keep my cool. Seungri had covered for me? "Y-yeah... Seung Hyun, I-"

TOP chuckled. "I get it, Nat. It's no secret that Seungri likes you. We all know. It's not surprising that Seungri gets really into his dancing, too. It was the moment. It happens to all of us."

I looked at him for a moment. "So... you don't hate me?"

TOP laughed quietly. "Now, why would I hate you? You're an amazing girl. One mistake maknae made isn't changing my views on you. We're going on this date no matter what."

I managed to nod. "Okay."

-----

"Really?" I couldn't help but laugh when we pulled up to a frozen yogurt bar.

"Yes?" TOP let out a nervous laugh. "Is it okay?"

I nodded as we both got out of the black SUV TOP's manager was driving.  He stayed in the car. "Yeah. I've never been on a date to one of these. I just usually go out with my friends."

"Well, I thought we could go here and then go on a walk. We found a park close by." TOP opened the door, and impressed me even more when he held it open for me.

We walked inside the shop and I was excited, but a little nervous. I didn't want to get too much on my ice cream, but in these situations I couldn't help it. Ice cream was my weak point.

"Have you done this before?" I asked TOP as we grabbed a bowl each.

TOP smiled and shook his head. "Not really."

"You're going to love it." I smiled at him. My nerves were finally subsiding since he knew what Seungri had done.

But... in a way.... Seungri had lied.

I never pulled away.

"What's your favorite kind of ice cream?" I continued to ask. I walked over to the vanilla dispenser. I was plain when it came to ice cream. It was the toppings that I loved.

"I think I want strawberry today." TOP decided. The dispenser was next to mine, so he pulled down the lever. He didn't pull it down enough, so I reached over.

"You have to pull it more." I told him. I was confused when I felt it stick.

"Let me try again." TOP grabbed the lever, his hand touching mine. I took my hand away, and he yanked down.

It was like the ice cream had been blocked by a puff of air, because all of the sudden, it let out a splatter before it dispensed in it's normal soft serve form.

When it did splatter, I let out a squeal because it got all over my arm and TOP's hand. "Oh my gosh!"

We both started laughing, and I set down my container. "Let me get a paper towel."

I grabbed some purple and blue napkins, then walked back over to TOP. I wiped the sticky pink stuff from my own arm, and was about to give TOP some napkins, but thought differently.

We were on a date. Time to act like it.

I grabbed TOP's wrist and cleaned his hands off myself. "I knew I couldn't take you anywhere." I smirked at him,

TOP chuckled. "I know, I'm a handful."

By the look he was giving me, I had to look away from him. I felt my cheeks burn.

We got to the toppings, and I immediately started sprinkling in cookie dough, brownie pieces, Oreo pieces, cheesecake, mochi, and sprinkles. TOP put on his own variety of fruit pieces, mochi, white chocolate chips, and gummy bears.

"Gummy bears." I nodded and elbowed him. "Nice touch."

"I try." TOP chuckled.

We put our containers on the weight, and the whole time the price was calculating, the teenaged girl at the counter was staring at us. "Y-you're.... Oh my God. You're TOP of BIGBANG." She pushed up her glasses and looked at me. "And you're that girl! Natalia! Oh my God! What are you guys doing here?"

"We had a free day. What better way to spend it than to get ice cream?" TOP answered.

I nodded. "Yep. We-uh, we're meeting BIGBANG at this one place after." I had to make it seem like we weren't on some kind of date to a fan.

TOP stifled a laugh and nodded.

The girl told us the total, and I reached for my clutch.

TOP grabbed my hand. "What on Earth do you think you're doing. No." He took out his own wallet and paid for our ice cream

Well, he definitely knew how to be a gentleman.

---

At the park, we began to walk around. It was getting darker out, and the street lamps were on. TOP's manager stayed about fifty feet behind us to make sure no rabid fans came our way.

"I should've gotten what you have." TOP said as I took my purple spoon from the container. I still had plenty left.

"I was thinking the same thing with yours." I admitted, mixing my yogurt up a bit.

"Here. Try some. As long as I can try yours, of course."

He stopped and faced me, and I looked at him. I was amazed when he held out his own spoon to me, strawberry frozen yogurt and toppings piled on it. That was, like, his spoon. He didn't mind my germs being on it?

"Really?" I looked at TOP, cocking my head to the side. I could feel my heart racing. Were we really about to do something so... couple-ey?

"I wouldn't have this for you if I didn't want to do this." TOP smiled at me.

I loved it when he smiled. Seeing him when I was just a fan, it was rare to have a picture where he showed his teeth. But that's what I loved; his smile proved to me that no one was born perfect, because when TOP smiled, you could just barely see the slight crookedness in his bottom row of teeth. It was a minor imperfection, but I loved it.

"Fine." I sighed dramatically, and I was kind of embarrassed when TOP fed me. I couldn't even focus on the taste because o what just happened.

I looked down at my own container and got a little bit of everything. I tossed my hair to the side and smiled at him. "Payback."

Before I even went to hold the spoon out to him, he gave me wicked look and grabbed my wrist. I let out a squeal when he bit down on my spoon, keeping it in his mouth.

I laughed and shook my head. 'You're so... Bingu!"

He smirked with my spoon still in his mouth, and rose one eyebrow. I reached up and tugged my spoon out of his mouth, laughing.

We started walking again and TOP looked at me. "So do you like being on tour?"

I shrugged. "I've barely been on it. But it's been fun so far."

He smiled. "Good. This is probably the most fun I've had, too, on tour."

I smiled, and luckily TOP spoke again. "I bet you miss your family, though. You seem really close with them."

"I am." I nodded. "But I'm close with Madeline and Vincent the most, so it's okay."

"It's really sweet to see you with them. Your little cousins love you."

I smiled and nodded again. "I love them, too."

"Can I ask you something?" TOP looked at me as we walked down the path.

"Of course." I told him.

He sighed. "Why me? Why not maknae?"

I bit my lip. That kiss between e and Seungri was still on his mind. "I... I like you. Not just as a fan, either. I like hanging out with you. You're silly. You're real. And you make me nervous every day I see you."

TOP chuckled. "Now how do I make you nervous."

I looked at him. "Do you have to ask that? Come on!" Did he not realize my heart pounds every second I'm with him? That I can't breathe when he just touches me? "I should be the one asking you why you chose me. So why did you choose me?"

TOP chuckled. "You're... you're something else, Natalia. You're nice, you're sweet, your laugh is so contagious. I don't know why but there's something about you. I can't figure out what it is." He chuckled. "I wasn't going to say this, but our picture from the club is my wallpaper on my phone."

My cheeks were really red, and TOP laughed. "And the way your face changes color is adorable."

I had to smile. "I... I have a picture of us as my wallpaper, too."

"Which one?"

I took my phone out of my clutch and showed him. "Our selca from my movie night."

TOP laughed. "I don't thnik we've taken a real selca before. We're always silly." He took my phone from my hand. "Let's change that."

TOP stepped closer to me and put my phone in front of us, but a little bit lower so we were smiling down at it and so we could have the stars in the background. Since we were using the front-facing camera, I could make sure I looked okay.

We took the picture, TOP using his default smirk, me smiling close-mouthed as well. TOP handed me my phone, and I opened up Twitter. "Shall I?"

TOP nodded. "The K-Universe already thinks we're together."

I posted the photo with the caption: standing under the stars w/ a star! Goodnight, everyone :) :)

TOP looked behind us at his manager, then back at me. "I'll be right back."

I watched him walk back and talk to his manager, who nodded, and walked back in the direction of the SUV.

TOP came back, and my eyebrows furrowed. "What'd you do?"

TOP shrugged. "There are barely any people out here. I don't think we have to worry about crazy fans."

We kept walking and talking. I told him that my family was a line of teachers or people in the medical field, and I learned that his sister was a model, his mom stayed at home, and his dad didn't like being in the spotlight with TOP being in BIGBANG. That made sense, since I only ever saw pictures of him with his sister and mom, not his dad.

"So are you ever going to choose a different nickname for me other than me?" I asked TOP. We were now in a little forested area, so we had slowed down.

TOP smirked and shrugged. "Maybe I will. Maybe I won't. Are you ever going to sleep in my room again?"

Despite the fact I wanted to say yes, my moral compass pointed to no. "Like I said, maybe after a few dates. I don't feel comfortable with things going really fast."

TOP nodded. "I can understand that. I'm not going to pressure you into anything. But, just so you know, I will be taking you out on more dates."

Really? I was good enough to go out on more dates with him? He liked me that much? I smiled at him. "I-I would like that."

My hands tingled when he took my hands, and I wanted to scream when he laced his fingers in between mine. "You don't know how happy that makes me." He let go of one of my hands and tucked a lock of my hair behind my ear. "I really don't want to go home."

"What time is it?" I checked my phone and scoffed. "It's almost midnight. Wow. Time flies."

"What is the exact time?" TOP took my phone from me and watched the time. It was 11:59.

"What are you doing?" I couldn't help but ask.

He squeezed my hand. "Just wait."

"Wait for what?"

He smiled and showed me the time on my phone. Midnight.

"The perfect time." TOP smiled and touched the back of my neck. He leaned forward and kissed me, his lips enveloping mine without any hesitation.

Like I always did, I reached out and gripped the front of his shirt. His hand was tangled in my hair and he pulled me closer to him, my hand on his chest now the only thing keeping our bodies from touching.

Every inch of my body was on fire. My senses were heightened. To make things better, he didn't let go. When we did part, it was just to take a breath, and then he plunged in again.

It was so innocent, yet intense. All it was was lip, nothing open-mouthed, but still.

He took my breath away.

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