"What in the world is 'Random Happenings'?" Alice asked at dinner the next night. Tuesdays were takeout night.
"It's living life to the fullest, enjoying the little things as well as the big things." I answered stabbing a piece of shrimp with my chopstick. It was the fourth time trying to pick the stupid thing up.
"So like enjoying the value menu takeout deal at Asian Express?" She asked taking one of my shrimp and switching it with a piece of her orange chicken.
"Like going to a corn dog stand instead of Paris." I said with an eye roll and popped the orange chicken in my mouth. I didn't even bother with the chopsticks this time.
"I still can't believe you ditched work to on a date with Vincent." Alice said, expertly using her own chopsticks to pick up and eat a piece of chicken. "It was me setting you guys up during movie night, wasn't it?" She added with a wink.
That earned another eye roll. "He probably would have done it anyways and it wasn't a date. It was just two semi-friends hanging out." I said taking the plastic fork out of its package.
"Semi-friends?" Alice looked at me with a raised eyebrow. "Sum up the events you did while you were 'hanging out'."
"First we were mistaken that we were dating..." I trailed off, but kept going. "Then we went to that waffle place."
"Yes, where he bought you your favorite type of waffles." Alice said. "Keep going."
I sighed. "Then we took a taxi--"
"Did he pay?" She asked, interrupting.
I didn't want to answer. "Yes." Alice just grinned and I kept going. "We took a taxi to the park and got slushies, balloon animals, and Mexican food from that truck on the corner of the park."
"And he paid for everything, right?" Alice said, leaning forward towards me.
"No." Alice deflated. "He paid for the slushies and balloon animals but I paid for the Mexican food."
"Ha!" Alice said pointing a finger at me which I just swatted away. "It was totally a date."
"It was not totally a date, Alice." I said stabbing a piece a shrimp, this time with my fork. The more I thought about it, the more it seemed like a date. Was it a date? Sure he bought me my favorite type of waffle, slushie, and balloon animal, but did that make it a date? Did he think it was a date? "Oh my gosh, it was a date."
"Ha!" She said again. "Told you." Alice took another one of shrimp and I took another chicken without even thinking about it. "You should ask him out."
"No." I shook my head. It would be too weird. Way too weird. "No. Out of the question."
"Come on, Rossy." Alice said. "Live a little. Take chances. Embrace the--what do you call it--Strange Things?"
"Random Happenings." I corrected her automatically.
"Embrace the Random Happenings." Alice said setting down her chopsticks. "How about this: you, Vincent, me, and Stanley all go out on a double date."
"No that's lame." I said stuffing more food in my mouth. It wasn't really that lame of an idea, but I didn't want to be on a date with Vincent. I couldn't lead him on.
"Roslyn." Alice said staring at me.
"Alicin." I said, staring back at her. I couldn't crack. I wouldn't crack. I was a strong, independent woman who didn't need a man. I cracked. "Fine."
Alice threw both fists in the air in victory. "Yes!"
"What is he turns me down?" I asked, shoulders slumping. It was a possibility. The whole outing yesterday could have just been two friends hanging out.
"I don't think he will, Rossy." Alice said, smiling at me. "And if the date goes horribly, you can say you got sick and go home early."
"Okay." I said and went back to finishing off my food. We started up mindless chatter after that, but I couldn't keep my thoughts from trailing back to Vincent. Did he like me? Did I like him? We would find out sooner or later, I guess.
~~~
The knock at the door nearly made me scream. How I haven't had a heart attack all these years because of Vincent's knock, I do not know. I set down my brushes and wiped my hands off on my apron as I made my way to the door, picking up the key.
There he was when I opened the door. He had on regular clothes, but he was carrying about three different instruments, two in his hands and his guitar strapped to his back. I vaguely remember him telling me once that he was a street performer on the side. He grinned his stupid grin and hand to set down one of his instrument cases to take the key.
"Thanks, Ross." He said turning around to his own door. He looked kinda cute from behind.
"So," I said, looking at my hands covered in paint. Then at his three instruments. "How was tonight's gig? Were you a one-man-band?"
Vincent chuckled. "No, I was at the park again, street performing." He turned back at me, still grinning. "I got almost 200 bucks."
"No way." I said, taking the key. "200 dollars?"
He shrugged, picking up his instrument he had to set down. "I guess you can say I'm a pretty great musician." He shifted his grip on the two instruments in his hands. "And people are amazed one person can play three different instruments."
"I can't even play one." I said crossing my arms.
"But you can draw and paint." He pointed at my paint covered apron. He smiled again and started towards his open down. "Good night, Rossy."
"Good night." I said, watching him walk away. It was now or never. "Hey, Vincent."
He turned around, standing in his doorway. "Yeah?" He asked.
"Well, um, my friend Alice, you met her like last week when you came over for movie night, she and her boyfriend, Stanley, real cool guy, are going to dinner this Friday." Man, I was terrible at this. "Well, I--or she--was wondering if you and I would like to go with them?" I throw out my hands. "You don't have to if you don't want to, but yeah, she invited us. Don't know why." I smiled awkwardly. Oh my gosh, this was so awkward.
I dropped my hands and waited for his answer. I made myself look at him instead down at my hands. He was going to say no, I just knew it. Why would he like me? The other day wasn't a date. He was just being nice. Nothing more.
Finally, Vincent grinned for the third time in two minutes. "I'd love that, Roslyn." A wave of relief washed over me. "Should I pick you up, or do you want to meet at the restaurant?" His grinned widened and I laughed.
"You can pick me up. I'll ask Roslyn what time we are leaving and I'll let you know tomorrow when you forget your keys."
"Hey, I don't forget my keys everyday." Vincent protested. "Maybe I'll remember them tomorrow."
"I'll be amazed if you do, Vincent." I laughed again. "You forget your keys every single day."
"Then prepared to be amazed, Hill. Then you'll just have to come over and tell me." He said pointing one of his instruments at me and backed towards his door.Then he rammed his shoulder into the door frame and nearly fell over. He caught his balance and pointed the instrument at me again. "Amazed, Hill." He added and grinned. "Good night."
"Good night." I said and went into my own apartment, closing the door as he closed his. I leaned against the door and heaved a sigh. I just asked Vincent out and he said yes! I did a little dance as I pushed off the door and went back to my painting.
