Breaking Boundaries (unordinary love story)

MISTY - Chapter 30: Cool One's Heels

M I S T Y

I took a taxi to Buca Di Beppo, which was located across town.

The driver was a chatterbox. It was slightly annoying, but then again, better than someone unable to break the ice.

"Where's your destination?" he asked.

"Buca Di Beppo. The Italian place across town," I answered, slamming the car door shut.

"Oh, that romantic place. I went there once with my girlfriend."

"Nice," I said.

"Are you going there for a date? I can tell, you're wearing a dress."

"Yeah," I said. That was so personal.

"You'll like it. They have these little candles and flowers and stuff. Super fancy."

That sounded nice. "Cool beans."

We navigated across town and finally arrived. I was glad to get out of the car, because the driver ranting about a story of his love life and him getting rejected like five times just bored me to death. I thanked him and paid him and got out of the car.

Inside Buca Di Beppo was filled with a soft chatter. Slightly dim, too, but very large with lots of people dining.

"Hi," said the hostess. "Did you already make a dinner reservation?"

"My boyfriend did," I said. "He should be here any minute."

"So a table for two?"

"Yeah."

"Alright. Follow me and I'll take you to your table."

I followed her and got seated. There were candles and flowers, just as the taxi driver described. There were also origami napkins. And two menus on both ends.

"Would you like to order when the other person gets here?"

"Yes please."

"Alright. Would you like to first get started with a drink?"

"Just water."

She went to get my water, and I waited for Rick in anticipation. When several minutes passed and there was still no sign of him, I checked the time. 6:43.

Hey, Im already here. If youre stuck in traffic or anything I totally understand. Are you on ur way? I typed to Rick and clicked send.

He didn't reply. So I called him, but each time I tried it went to voicemail.

The hostess swung by. "Are you still waiting for your boyfriend to get here?"

"Yeah," I said. "I don't know what's taking him so long."

She nodded. "He must be running late or something."

"Or something." I kept waiting, then I started waiting in frustration. I sighed. What if he never came?

I was starving, but I didn't order anything. I seemed like an idiot just waiting for my boyfriend to arrive on our date. I checked my watch again. Rick was half an hour late.

Then Axel randomly came out of nowhere. He sat himself at my table.

"That seat's saved," I said.

"For who? You've been here nearly an hour alone," he said. "Oh, for Rick?"

I nodded. But I was thinking, only half an hour. What a sense of time he had.

"He must have forgotten, then."

"Something like that," I shrugged. I took a sip of my water. "Why are you here?"

"My parents are having an anniversary today here," he said. "They brought me along, but they're acting so mushy around each other, it's getting cringy. I don't think they're paying much attention to me for tonight, so I was thinking I'd keep you company, if that's fine with you. You were here alone forever."

"Yeah, that's fine," I answered. As long as he didn't think of this as a date or anything. I bit into a breadstick from the basket but didn't taste it, as I had my mind on other matters.

"Tonight must have been a boring night for both of us," said Axel. "It was boring for me, too. Just watching my parents smooch."

A small laugh escaped my lips. "I guess so, then."

"I'm not very popular," admitted Axel. I had no idea where he was getting at.

"Me neither," I answered.

"I've only been rejected by girls before. Am I seriously that ugly?"

I looked at him. "No." But he low-key was. No offense, Axel.

"Well, I've never gotten to go on a dinner date before."

"This is my first time," I said.

"So since Rick's absent, we should just have dinner together."

"No thanks...that wouldn't be very necessary," I said.

"Why not? I know you like me. I didn't exactly like you before this, but now that you said so, I do."

"What?" I replied, puzzled. "There must be some mistake. I don't...you're-"

"I got the note from you, chillax. I won't tell anyone."

"What note-" I began, but I was cut off by a voice behind me.

"Axel? It's time to leave now," said a woman who looked like Axel. His mother, probably. Next to her stood her father.

"Alright," said Axel. Then, he winked at me. Creepy. Then he - Axel Blake - came over to hug me. Weirded out as I was, I still hugged him back. "I think you're cute," he said to me.

Oh, brother. That was so awkward.

"What note..." I said, but Axel and his family were already walking away.

Really? Nothing made sense anymore.

What. Just. Happened?