Short Stories

Lunch with Benefits (for Alyssa)

"Hey, there." A low voice says from behind me. I turn around to see the face I never thought I'd see right in front of me. I blink a couple of times and take a few deep breaths, trying to steady myself. "Uh, are you okay?" I refocus on him, trying to calm my heart as I look into his concerned eyes. "Uh, yeah. I just didn't expect someone to join me at this table," I reply quickly. I mentally slap myself for how weird that must sound. His eyes relax, and he chuckles softly. "I guess you're starstruck then?" I regain my composure and roll my eyes. "You wish." He raises an eyebrow. "Well, since we're talking, do you mind if I ask you a question?" I calm myself down and nod, ignoring the lunch I was very much enjoying before he came along.

"Will you join me for a Valentine's lunch?" I blink a couple of times again, but this time he smiles. "What?" I finally reply. He shrugs. "I want to enter that Valentine's special lunch they have next week. But I obviously need someone to go with. I said to myself that the first girl I see eating alone today is the one I'm going to ask. And you happen to be her." He waits for my answer but I'm still trying to process things. Did I just hear everything I thought I heard? This handsome, kind, kind of popular young man is asking me to be his date for the Valentine's lunch contest. Me? What?

"You can say no." He says, breaking the silence. But I see it in his eyes. He really wants this. I wonder why... "I'll go." I reply firmly. His eyes lighten up before he smiles mischeviously.

After lunch and our afternoon classes, we meet in the bleachers to discuss the 'rules' to our love week surprise. To enter the contest and be eligible for the prized lunch, we have to be a couple. It's quite challenging since people know he's never had a girlfriend, and he's never publicly hung out with me. I watch as he takes a sheet of paper and explains his plan to me. "First, we make it official on social media. That gets people's attention faster. Then, I surprise you with, well, surprises every day until Valentine's Day. Hopefully, they'll be good enough to get into this lunch." He smiles excitedly, and I can't help but wonder why he's so interested in this lunch and why he's so sure his plan will work with me.

"Are you sure about this? I don't know if it'll be believable." I comment, summarizing my thoughts. He shrugs. "Only one way to find out." He steps back, gets something from his bag, walks down the bleachers, and stands in the middle of the basketball court. There aren't many people around, but the introverted side of myself starts panicking. What is he doing?

He pulls a rose from behind him and keeps his arm outstretched. "You are the inspiration for my goals and my encourager in achieving them. I am so grateful for you. Will you accept this rose?" I try not to roll my eyes as his line is pretty sweet. It actually awakens the butterflies in me. I make my way down the bleachers and take the rose from him. "Of course, I will, love." His eyes widen, and I give him a wink. He's not the only one who can come up with surprises.

*

DAY 1. I still have ten minutes before I need to get out of my dorm and walk to class. I sit back in my chair and open Instagram. My eyes widen and my jaw drops as I try to comprehend the picture glaring at me. The girl in the picture is me but I don't recognize myself. I'm smiling wide, giddy even, as I take the rose from him. I suppose what's shocking to me is not the picture itself, but the caption and the reactions. "We didn't tell anyone, but now the whole world gets to know. For when. you love someone, you can't help but share it and shine that glow." My alarm rings and I throw my phone into my bag. I hurry out of the room and out of the building. I really hope nothing else draws attention to me today. And yet, that's the plan.

I sit at the back of the room and take my notebook and pen out. I try to focus on my breathing and the class I'm to face. At least- oh, no. This is the one class we have together. I hear the class react as someone walks through the door. I will myself to focus on the blank paper in front of me. How interesting this blank paper has become. "Hey, there." I look up casually only to be surprised as I'm met with two roses. He smiles softly at me and raises an eyebrow as if to ask me if I'll accept them. Wait. I just officially met him yesterday, so how do I know what he's asking? "Will you?" He whispers. I nod and take the roses, my classmates cheering. He sits beside me and says, "Surprise." I roll my eyes in response. "I don't know how this is going to be believable or how it'll last until Valentine's." I don't look at him, but I feel him shift in his seat.