was there ever a right time

No doubt, Steve hated the new hours at the library. Yes, it was a lazy holiday at home with his parents. He'd stayed up all night, playing games or catching up on movies that co-workers said he needed to watch. Even if it hadn't been the Fourth he would have managed to want to stay up. This was a natural habit of his. And now he was dragging.

Who would show up as the library was closing? Simon.

Of course, Steve went out of his way to be nice. He checked Simon's library account (which was empty) as if it were the correct protocol. After all, Steve was a clerk behind the plexiglass of the counter. He even wore a mask.

Naturally, Simon wasn't wearing one, and all Steve could think of were Simon's plush lips. He shook the thought, feeling this was not appropriate.

"Let's go out," Simon said. It wasn't really a question.

"What?" Steve winced.

"Oh, you know I owe you," Simon smiled.

"No, you don't." Steve tensed.

"Oh, come on," Simon's laugh was soft and seriously, he was so endearing it made Steve feel faint. "It's the least I could do. You were there for me."

Steve let out a sigh, but he gritted a smile even if Simon couldn't see it.

"I'll be out front waiting for you," Simon nodded.

Steve wanted to roll his eyes, but he couldn't. It wasn't like he could run away from this. He took another deep breath as if he might be going on a deep-sea mission.

Fifteen minutes later, Steve found himself scratching the back of his neck in thought when he walked out of the closed library seeing Simon kept his promise. He looked at him wide-eyed.

"What did you do for the Fourth?" Simon asked.

"Nothing."

"Me, either," Simon's hands were in the tips of his jean's pockets. He was so calm. Steve didn't feel calm at all. He was certain he'd regret this miserably. "I mean, I went to my brother's and hung out. They had a lot of food and we did some crafts. He wanted me to sleep over in a tent in the back yard, but I have never camped before."

Steve nodded, neither had he. It wasn't his forte. Usually, he was hot when he slept no matter what the season.

"Did you even see any fireworks?" Simon asked as they walked to his little red sport's car.

"No." Steve didn't mean to sound like a downer, but he wouldn't lie.

"God, there was so much going on where I live. I was afraid a bomb went off, a time or two. It's so scary these days," Simon said he didn't really need to go anywhere to watch fireworks.

Steve knew the key was to be the most boring guy on the planet. After all, he rode his bike to work. It wasn't like he was in Simon's league, who came from money. Although, Simon didn't really live in the most exciting apartment. Not that Steve would want to go to any upscale place. As it was they went to the local diner for burgers and onion rings.

"They make the best onion rings," Steve could have eaten the whole platter.

Simon looked at it as if it might as well have been squid.

"What's wrong?" Steve asked after he downed three onion rings with some hot sauce.

"That's a lot of fat," Simon knew the statistics of the food, how it wasn't good for anyone.

"You should be a nutritionist," Steve nodded taking another onion ring doused in hot sauce.

"What?" Simon kind of laughed.

"People need nutritionists," Steve shrugged, never in a million years did he think Simon would be counting calories, but if that was what he wanted to do. Maybe, Steve would stop thinking about that kiss that landed in the palm of his hand.

No, he couldn't. Even eating onion rings, he regretted not letting Simon kiss him.