Chapter 37

Without the friendship of Daisy, Xander is starting to feel lonely again, even if his life has changed a lot these last couple of months. He is no little boy any more and so he asks his father for money to redecorate his room, that has begun to seem a little too childish to him. He does all the paintwork himself and feels quite proud about it.



Not all changes are for the worse. There is still school, where his position has changed a lot this autumn as well. Perhaps it is time for him to try to keep a higher profile, there are ways he hasn't thought of before.




As Michelle shows little interest in driving his mother's old sportscar, Xander asks his father if he could use it instead and Morty has no objections. The car, and the attention it gives him, makes Xander feel quite cool ...



... so finally he takes the courage to ask Jasmine out for a real date.



He keeps it simple, because he somehow is convinced that it will be easier for him to feel confident and relaxed if he doesn't try to impress Jasmine with dinner in some fancy restaurant - a situation he has no experience of. That hunch proves to be right and he has a really good time with Jasmine over a soda and some cake, making jokes and being entertaining in a way that surprises even himself. Jasmine seems totally charmed.



So he asks her if she wants to catch a movie as well, and she gladly says yes.



In the dark of the movie theater it doesn't feel that nervous to move closer, but it still takes him half the picture to take the big step and put his arm around her shoulders. But when it's done, he starts to feel really at ease. Jasmine looks at him with stars in her eyes and evidently finds him very attractive.



Why stop when everything is going his way. This very first date ends with him getting his first kiss. Not really the overwhelming experience he has expected. A little awkward and slobbery - with a lot of teeth in the way. No fire works. But at last it is done! This is one milestone he has been despairing over. At last life can begin.



And now Xander has a girlfriend! His very first girlfriend. Pretty and sweet Jasmine that he has admired for so long now.



But shouldn't he be feeling ... a little bit more ...??? Is this it? Is this all there is to it??