requested by : Igotabbl
902 words
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David had no idea how he let his sister, Melz, rope him into something as ridiculous as a blind date.
"It's been two years, David," Melz complained one evening as she sprawled across the couch, twirling her braid between her fingers. "You've been single since you were sixteen. You're practically hibernating at this point."
David, perched on the armchair, groaned. "I'm not hibernating, Melz. I've just been focused on school and, y'know, other important things."
"Uh-huh, sure. Because being 'focused on school' means you can't enjoy life a little? You're turning eighteen in five months. Don't you think it's time you let someone in?"
David threw a cushion at her. "You're so dramatic."
"I'm just saying," she said, catching the cushion with a smug grin. "One blind date. Just one. If it's awful, I'll never bug you about it again. Swear on Mom's famous lasagna."
That made him pause. Melz never swore on their mom's lasagna unless she was serious. "You swear?"
"Cross my heart," she said, making a dramatic X over her chest.
David eyed her suspiciously. "Fine. One date. But if it's a disaster, I'm telling Mom you ate her hidden chocolate stash last week."
Melz gasped, clutching her chest in mock betrayal. "Rude. But fine, deal. You won't regret it!"
The evening of the date came faster than David anticipated.
Melz had sent him to a swanky restaurant downtown, claiming it was "just the right balance of romantic and casual." David adjusted the sleeves of his sweater for the fiftieth time as he stood near the entrance, feeling painfully out of place among couples dressed to the nines.
He was just about to text Melz a long list of complaints when someone called his name.
"David?"
David turned and froze.
The boy in front of him was stunning—his caramel-brown skin practically glowed under the restaurant's soft lights, and his curly dark hair framed a face that looked like it had been sculpted by the gods. His smile, shy but warm, made David's heart skip a beat.
"Uh... yeah, that's me," David stammered, clearing his throat. "You must be Darrian?"
Darrian chuckled, his voice like music. "Guilty as charged. Melz told me you might be nervous, but I'm just as new to this as you are, so... no pressure."
David felt a bit of the tension in his shoulders ease. "No pressure," he repeated, nodding.
The restaurant staff led them to a cozy corner table, and the first few minutes were predictably awkward. They exchanged small talk about school and their siblings, both carefully avoiding anything too deep. But then Darrian made an offhand comment about the ridiculous prices on the menu.
"Seriously, thirty bucks for a salad?" he joked, shaking his head. "Unless it comes with a treasure map, I'm not paying that much for lettuce."
David burst out laughing, nearly knocking over his water glass. The sound seemed to break the ice, and from that moment, the conversation flowed naturally.
They talked about everything—favorite shows, embarrassing childhood stories, even dreams for the future. Darrian admitted he wanted to be a photographer, while David confessed his dream of becoming an engineer.
By the time dessert arrived, they were leaning in close, their hands almost brushing across the table.
"So," Darrian said, smirking. "Are blind dates still the worst thing ever?"
David tilted his head, pretending to think. "Hmm... I guess this one isn't terrible."
Darrian laughed, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "I'll take it."
Five months flew by in a blur of movie nights, study sessions, and spontaneous adventures. David couldn't believe how lucky he was to have found someone like Darrian—someone who made even the most mundane days feel extraordinary.
On the evening of his eighteenth birthday, David trudged home after a long day of classes, completely unaware of what awaited him. He was exhausted and fully expecting to collapse into bed without fanfare.
When he opened the apartment door, he was met with complete darkness.
"Melz?" he called out, kicking off his shoes. "You home?"
The lights suddenly flicked on, and a chorus of voices shouted, "SURPRISE!"
David froze in the doorway, stunned. His friends, family, and even a few classmates stood around the living room, grinning from ear to ear. Balloons and streamers decorated every inch of the apartment, and a massive "HAPPY 18TH BIRTHDAY" banner hung across the wall.
Before he could process what was happening, Darrian came bounding across the room and jumped into his arms, giggling.
"Happy birthday, babe!" Darrian said, wrapping his arms around David's neck.
David stumbled back, laughing as he caught him. "What... what is all this?"
Darrian pulled back just enough to look into David's eyes, his smile soft and affectionate. "Your sister had the idea, but I couldn't let your birthday go by without making it special. You deserve it."
David's heart swelled as he held Darrian close. "You're unbelievable, you know that?"
Darrian grinned, pressing a quick kiss to David's lips. "That's why you love me."
David laughed, shaking his head. "Yeah, yeah. Now let me put you down before you break my back."
Darrian hopped down with a dramatic flourish, grabbing David's hand to lead him further inside. The night was filled with laughter, gifts, and more cake than David could possibly eat.
As the party wound down, David found himself sitting on the couch with Darrian, his head resting on Darrian's shoulder.
"Best birthday ever," David murmured.
Darrian kissed the top of his head, smiling. "Good. Because you deserve nothing less."
And for the first time in a long time, David felt like the luckiest guy in the world.
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