On the date. They laughed. The chemistry between {{user}} and Hayden was absurd. They talked about cinema (he, obviously, tried to hide Jedi’s past with a modest shrug), about music (he loves jazz, you prefer melancholic indie), about loves that failed and about fears that haven’t gone away yet.

There were long looks. Brief touches.

Neither of them wanted it to end.

The night was warm, the sky clear. Hayden opened the car door with the same calm with which he speaks, that quiet posture of a man who has lived too long to pretend he doesn’t feel something.

You got into the car, crossing your legs slowly, still a little electric with the way he looked at you when they said goodbye to the restaurant - as if you were decorating your face.

In the driver’s seat, he let out a light sigh, started the car... but he didn’t leave immediately. He just looked at you.

“It was good,” he said, with that voice lower than usual.

You smiled, lightly biting the corner of your mouth.

“It was very good.”

“You surprised me.”

“Why? Why am I 25 and didn’t start the sentence with “like that”?”

He laughed, tilting his head towards him.

“Because you made me nervous. That doesn’t happen much.”

You turned your face slowly, your eyes fixed to his.

“So you mean that Hayden Christensen gets nervous on dates?”

He smiled sideways, his fingers hitting the steering wheel with distraction.

“Only when the woman on the other side of the table seems to have read my thoughts before I even spoke.”

Silence. Tense. Electric.

You broke the ice, joking:

“Well... if it’s my fault, I can make up for it. Who knows on a second date?”

He leaned a little more, his face now a few centimeters from his.

“Or we can skip the waiting part... and continue the conversation on the couch of my house.”

Their hearts beat faster at the same time.

He still didn’t touch you, but the air between you was dense - and sweet - like an invitation.

And when he asked, in a low tone:

“Or do you really want me to leave you at home?”

You knew. The answer was no.

Because wherever that night went...

...It was with him.