When You Started Writing Poems in Spanish

5. you cannot fold a flood

"Alexia?"

My eyebrows shot up, eyes wide, an expression the woman across from me shared. It seemed that Alexia Putellas was my date for the night. She looked beautiful, even I could admit that, dressed in a white button up and what looked like leather pants.

"What're--?" I sputtered. "You-- hi."

"Hi," Alexia breathed, trying to find the words while the two guys got lost in their own conversation. "Would it be weird to say I am glad its you? I was forced into coming, but at least I can talk to a friend instead of making awkward conversation."

"I agree," I took a sip of water, nodding, "this one did the same to me. I'm your friend?"

The last part was said with a grin, met with an eye roll from Alexia.

"You know what I mean," she said, beginning to skim through the menu. "I am not under any pressure to flirt."

"Why don't you want to flirt with me?" I joked. "Is it my outfit?"

Alexia grimaced. "Gross."

"Rude." I placed my hand on my chest in mock offense. I picked up the menu, adding, "And I don't want to flirt with you either."

"Good."

"Good." A thought entered my mind as I scanned the menu, deciding on the chicken parmesan. Alexia did ask for help in speaking like a poet. "I have an idea."

Alexia looked up from the menu, eyes curious. "Yes?"

"We don't have to flirt," I started, "but don't you want help with that?"

"No," Alexia frowned, lowering her voice. "What I want help for is completely different, but... what did you have in mind?"

"I think you should practice." I swallowed and took another sip of water.

Alexia looked at me like I had told her she should run around the restaurant naked.

"Practice coming up with stuff on the fly, finding more romantic ways to word things," I continued. "I have to practice Spanish all the time! It's perfect, especially since I'm your date tonight."

Silence. Alexia seemed to be having an internal battle with herself, wanting to improve and be the best at everything she did, while also not wanting to embarrass herself. That's what it looked like, at least.

"C'mon, it'll be fun," I said with a smile. "I won't tell anyone, this is a teaching moment."

She frowned. "Fine."

Just as we finished speaking, a waitress approached our tables and took our orders. Alexia ordered some fancy salad that I definitely couldn't pronounce, but I would be able to after Alexia's lessons, hopefully. The waitress took a second after jotting down Alexia's order, perhaps realizing who she was. I smiled awkwardly when she asked me for mine, joking about it afterwards.

"She probably didn't realize we would have a celebrity dining with us this evening."

Alexia rolled her eyes with a smile, taking another sip of her drink. "So, what do you want me to do?"

"Hm," I took a second to think, covering my eyes, "tell me what colour my eyes are without using any colour-adjacent words."

I couldn't see her face, but I could hear her thinking.

"Give me a second," she said.

"This isn't a competition," I smiled.

Alexia shuffled in her seat. "Yes it is."