Neither of us said a word for the next twenty minutes. We just huddled together and slowly watched the setting sun before it seemed to disappear into the water itself. And even when it was gone, the auburn haze on the horizon slowly darkening into grey, we stayed silent but happily comfortable in our embrace.

Of course, the moment couldn't last forever. My stomach chose to gurgle, quite loudly. Danielle barked a short laugh and then she sat up straight, the tranquility broken.

She smiled prettily and then covered up her mouth bashfully. Then when she got her grinning under control she offered, “Let's head back and find some food."

We had just reached the outskirts of the city, still perhaps twenty minutes away from school and our house when Danielle pointed out a casual burger joint, more upscale than fast-food but still young, energetic, and relatively cheap.

I pulled the car up and we got out amidst a veritable sea of young couples, most likely from the High School at this end of town. Music was pumping from various parked cars and more than a few teenagers were flirting or even making out with each other.

Danielle just came up and took my hand, and then she Led me through the crowd and over to the ordering line. Fifteen minutes later, we'd managed to find a small table for two as we hovered over our burgers and a single Large strawberry milkshake with two straws.

Now maybe it was because of the youthful demographic around us or maybe it was because this burger joint was clearly a hot date spot, but

Danielle seemed to be making an extra effort for us to fit in. She joked and flirted a bit with me, even adopting the bobbling head and girlish giggly attitude while I Looked at her bemusedly.

We looked young enough to fit in I suppose, and more than one cocky high school jock seemed to be evaluating Danielle as potential prey, probably unaware that she had already graduated from college. Or maybe they knew and just wanted to go after an older woman. Either way, they looked like they were on the prowl. I knew for certain because I'd had that Look in my eyes on more than one occasion myself.

It seemed Danielle was not oblivious to the attention either. And in some way, she deflected it by reaching over and holding my hand while we walked. Or she would lean in a little extra close and encouraged me to drink out of the milkshake at the same time as she.

I got into the little game myself, acting as if Danielle and I were on a date or something. So I flirted right back, rubbed my hands on hers, and even brushed her cheek with my fingers once, getting a little thrill down my spine when she shivered happily.

But eventually, our food was gone and the “date” role-playing seemed just about over. We made our way back to my car without incident, again with Danielle holding my hand all the way out.

The only thing is, even once we were back on the road, Danielle was still right up next to me. I needed both hands for driving. But in her food-coma drowsiness, she leaned her head onto my shoulder and put her left hand on my leg as we drove home. I was still buzzing happily from the date-playing and besides, we had become quite affectionate and comfortable around each other, so I thought nothing of it.

At least, I thought nothing of it until we got home.

I hurried around to the passenger side after I parked the car, opening the door with a dramatic flourish, continuing our "“date" motif.

Danielle beamed at me as I helped her out. Right then and there, I pulled her into a hug and said into her ear, “That was great. I had a lot of fun."

She pulled back and Looked at me, smiling shyly.

“Yeah. We should do that again sometime." She laughed, "It was my first date in a LONG while."

Then taking my hand in hers once again, we walked up to the front door.

Thinking the night was completely over, I was already pulling out my keys to unlock and go inside. But Danielle stopped me just outside the door.

I turned to look at her and to my surprise, Danielle put her arms around my neck and pulled me to her, leaning up and mashing her Lips to mine.

The contact was brief, but a Lightning bolt of energy shot through me.

I was suddenly filled with the scent of my sister, a milky sweetness that filled my nostrils and sent all sorts of pleasant butterfly feelings throughout my body.

And then it was gone. Danielle settled back on her heels and let go of me. She looked down for a second, lost in her feelings, before swiveling her green eyes back up into mine. "You've grown up, squirt."

Then she kissed me on the cheek, just a chaste, sisterly kiss this time. And she let me open the door so we could both go inside.