You Could Be My Hero (c)

[Tag Along]

Before she could chicken out, Tag leaned over and kissed Specs' cheek. She hoped that was a good enough answer for him; she didn't think she could talk after being so bold.

[Specs]

Specs beamed, his smile already at the corners of his cheeks. Noticing that it was near dinner time, Specs bravely took her hand and asked, "Shall we celebrate?"

[Tag Along]

With food? By going on a proper date? By holding hands?

Tag hadn't the stomach to voice any of those thoughts aloud after kissing him, so she nodded, a smile to rival Specs' on her face.

She followed him out of their secret room and out of the library, still holding tightly to his hand.

[Specs]

He led her out of the library, wondering where in the world he would take her. Tibby's was so common and not special at all. Irving Hall reminded him of the incident and definitely had too many people. He was running out of ideas when he finally remembered one place that he was always passed by on the way back to the lodging house.

"Feeling Italian?" he asked, looking over at her.

[Tag Along]

Tag's eyes widened as she looked back.

"Oh, no, Specs. You don't have to. That place is so fancy! And expensive!" Of course, Mama's wasn't actually that fancy or expensive, but to a newsie it was.

[Specs]

Specs stopped in his tracks and turned around to face her, still holding her hand. "I want it to be special. Our first official date... somewhere where there's no distractions." Luckily, that contest with the boys gave him extra pocket money to spend. Thank goodness.

[Tag Along]

Tag tried to smile, but she still looked worried.

"Are you sure?"

[Specs]

"I've got the money for it, don't worry," said Specs, reading her mind. He squeezed her hand gently. "I mean, we don't have to... we can go somewhere else if you really want." He wanted to give her the option before he whisked her away. He was bursting with happiness that he would've agreed to anything she said.

[Tag Along]

Tag actually didn't care at all where they went. She just wanted to be with Specs.

"No, it's all right. It's been a while since I've had some spaghetti..." She bit her lip as she smirked up at him.

((I'm gonna go take a shower! Be back in a bit))

[Specs]

"You sure?" he asked, looking at her with a smile. He wanted her to have the best night, no exceptions. This time, he was going to make sure nothing got in the way.

((Okay!))

[Tag Along]

"Specs, if we keep asking each other 'are you sure? are you sure?' we're never going to get anywhere." Tag tugged on his arm, giggling.

[Specs]

Specs laughed, shaking his head at her. "Alright, Italian it is!"

[Tag Along]

Tag kept quiet as they walked to Mama's. She was too busy smiling and thinking about the last 10 minutes to speak.

[Specs]

Their walk towards the restaurant felt like it lasted forever. Specs was too excited to say anything and refused to open his mouth in case he blurted out something stupid. Once they reached the restaurant, however, the waitress hesitantly gave them a table (after much convincing from Specs that they would definitely cover their meal) at the corner of the restaurant.

"This is fancy," muttered Specs, looking around once they were finally seated and given their menus. He secretly wished they had time to get ready since they stuck out like sore thumbs.

[Tag Along]

Tag sat nervously in her chair, looking around and desperately trying to smooth down her hair with her hands.