Don't let go

Emily's Surprise

"Come on! I have a surprise for you! Upstairs! Thank you for the iced tea Ms. Foster!" Emily enthusiastically pushed me up the stairs into my bedroom.

"What's going on?"

"You're  over Zack right?"

"Completely."

"You sure?"

"One hundred percent sure."

"Good. Here." She threw a hot pink dress at me.

"What's this for?"

"Your going to be wearing it next Friday."

"Why?"

"I set you up on a date."

"Seriously? After I just broke up with-."

"Zack? I thought you were over him?"

Yes, I almost forgot. I was over him. I didn't want him back and it was okay to move on. I felt like I was lying to myself.

"Your right. Who is it?"

"My cousin."

"I don't want to date your cousin. .. Is it the one with the lazy eye?"

"No. You've never met this one. Please?"

"No."

"Please, please, pleaseeee?" She begged.

"I have no interest in anyone right now."

"Just one date. Please!" Her persistence began to irk me.

"Ugh, alright. Fine. One date. "

She gave an antsy dance and let out a squeal.

"What's his name?" I asked.

"Can't tell you."

Friday rolled around, and as I promised, I followed her command.

The date I was somethings I was not looking forward to. I anxiously changed, and thought of a reason to get out of it. I could say I was sick, despite the fact that I was fine all day. I put up the pink dress Emily insisted I wear. I then let my hair down naturally, no need to make a fuss.

My phone blew up with messages from Emily, reminding me to be there on time.

I entered the bustling Italian restaurant I had been instructed to. My eyes wandered, how did I know which one he was?
After confusingly standing for a few seconds, a soothing voice cleared its throat from behind me.

"Tiffany?"
I turned. A tall, well built guy stood. His tidy hair was styled and sandy. In his hand, a single pink rose grasped in his hand.

"Hi. You must be my date." I smiled. His eyes appeared to be jade. His smile was pearly white.

"That's me. Blaise O'Riley, mate."

"That's a great accent. Where are you from?"

"Australia, live down in Sydney."

"That's so cool."

"I have us a table if your interested?"

"Yes, yes. Let's go."

He handed me blossoming pink rose. It matched my dress perfectly. He pulled out my chair for me, and sat down across from the table.

"How'd you know to find me?"

"Emily told me to look for the most beautiful girl in the restaurant, and I did."

I think I blushed a little.

"Surely you walked up to a few other girls first."

"No, just you." 

I felt on a cloud. Blaise was sweet, handsome, and continuously gushed out compliments. We ordered drinks.

"So tell my about Australia."

"You've never been?"

"No, I've always wanted to go."

"It's wonderful. Warm all year. But I'm sure I'll grow a liking to America."

"You're moving here?"

"My family is, for my dad's job. Emily wanted me to know someone.. Someone cool, someone like you."

My smile ceased to fade or crack. I couldn't  believe I considered not going. He told me more about Australia. He was employed as a scuba instructor, and how much he loved the ocean. He then turned the tables on me and asked me questions.

"So you go to high school, correct?"

"Yes."

"How's that?"

"Hell." I chuckled sipping my water. He laughed, but it was the truth."

"This your last year?"

"One more year, then I'm finished."

"That's good. What do you want to do after?"

Excellent question, a question I didn't want to answer. Fortunately, I was saved by the waiter bringing our food. He set down a large plate of shrimp scampi with noodles in front of me. It looked so intimidating. I stirred the noodles around on the plate.

By the end of the evening, I ate most of my food, and was completely captured by Blaise. He was funny, and sweet.

More than I could ever say for Zack.

We were laughing at the table.
"And then I said, "Rick, what are you doing? That's a jellyfish!"
He finished his story, my stomach ached from the hearty laughter. I took a breath and sipped my water.

"That's hilarious."

"Yeah, he can kinda be a fool at times, but he's my best friend."

"Same with Emily. She gets these crazy ideas sometimes."

"Like setting you up on a date with a stranger you don't even know?" He laughed.

"Exactly.. But I'm glad I came."

"Me too." He smiled. "Me too.."

After dinner, we went for a walk. We walked on the sidewalk, across from the ocean. The salty air brought back memories of Drew... The last time I was at the beach was that night..

I looked back on the quiet sidewalk. A man wearing a purple hoodie approached us. He yanked down his hood. It wasn't just a random guy.

It was Zack approaching us at full speed.