Pretty Boy

Chapter 7

I woke up around two in the afternoon, my head pounding and my sister laying by my side. She was still in heels so I took them off for her and stumbled downstairs to grab some aspirin.

"Have fun last night?" My mom called to me from the living room.

"Yeah. Now I'm gonna go to the grocery store because my dorm room is out of food. Then I've gotta go on a date at like six so do you need anything while I'm out?"

"Riko's been bugging me for chocolate."

"Got it."

I walked through the grocery store on the phone with Adam, my shoes wet from walking in the rain. "No Adam I- there's no difference! Why do you buy the pink ones? The ingredients are the same."

"I like the packaging."

"You're hopeless." I grabbed the packages of ramen and tossed them into the basket, already annoyed with hearing his voice ring in my ear.

"Oh! Get coffee. I've got a test on Tuesday so I'll be staying up late to study."

"Yeah okay. What coffee do you like?"

"There's different kinds?"

I hung up and shoved the phone in my pocket, buying him instant coffee since it was the easiest to make and we didn't really have a coffee pot.

When it came to the date, I picked him up and took him to a restaurant I figured he'd like. While we sat at one of the tables, he was already fidgeting. "I feel out of place here."

"Why?"

"Everyone looks fancy."

"Who cares?" I drank from my glass of tea and stared at him. "You look fine."

"You're not great with compliments, are you?"

"No."

"Try something less bitchy."

"Your nose would look great beneath my fist."

"Still bitchy." He sighed, rolling his eyes. "Just try to be nice."

"Your hair isn't the worst."

"Getting closer."

"You're alive. Good job."

He groaned loudly and facepalmed. "You suck."

"Yeah. I do." I took a long sip of my tea and stared at him. It took him a minute to realize what I meant and let his face turn red. "And apparently so do you."

"I-....shut up."

"I brought you here to know you better. Tell me your favorite song."

"Keep You by Wilde Belle."

He got soda and probably the most simplistic meal he could have off of the menu. He's like a child. A big heart that he doesn't know how to use.

"You got soda...of all things."

"I like fizzy drinks."

"Fizzy?"

"You know...the bubbles."

A laugh burst from my chest, my hand covering my mouth as his words echoed in my head. "You're an idiot!"

"And you're bitter." He shot back at me.

"But you're nice to me. Why is that?"

"Believe it or not, it isn't that hard to be kind to you." He leaned on his fist and smiled at me, closing his eyes softly. "I think your dismissiveness is cute."

"It's not being dismissive, it's being mean."

"What do you expect me to do?"

"Leave me alone."

He opened his eyes and laughed gently, cocking his head just enough for me to see him as a small puppy. "Why would I want to do that? I like your little scowl every time I compliment you. I even bet you sang lullaby's to your little sisters when they were younger."

"...I did." I traced my middle finger around the rim of my glass. "Am I that transparent?"

"You're actually not. That was a wild guess. I can usually understand what goes on in everyone's head when they talk to me, but when it comes to you I actually don't know what you think of me. I'm stuck between thinking you hate me or you like me."

"You're annoying. That's what I think of you." I told him bluntly.

"I can't tell if you're being honest." His smile grew nervous. "But even if you are, it makes no difference. Because I think you're annoying as well."

"Don't get your hopes up." I sighed, looking off to the side and eyeing the designs on the floor. "I warned you once, I won't do it again. Be careful, okay?"

"I am being careful, whether you can tell or not. I'm not attached."

"So if I were to suddenly ditch you and block your number, what would you do? Would you stare at our messages? Would you cry?"

"I'm not as easy as you think I am, Shuji." He dropped his smile but it remained in his eyes. "If anything, you're the one who should be careful. I won't be here long."

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"Let's play a game." He reached across the table and grabbed my hand, lacing his warm fingers between my own. "We'll go on dates like this at least once a week and meet each other's family. Whoever catches feelings first loses."

That moment is one I'll remember forever. Even more so, my response. The way his eyes sparkled in the light of the chandelier above us, the way his hand warmed my own, the way my original idea of him changed completely. He wasn't transparent, he was completely invisible. Even completely solid in front of me, I couldn't see him at all.

"I'm in."