Raindrops

iii: it's a date

"As you wish!" Our TV yelled. Josh chuckled from the couch and I stared at our TV in silence.

This is what our Friday nights consisted of. Not only Princess Bride, but usually some sort of movie.

Princess Bride used to be one of my favourites. Don't get me wrong, I still love it but in my lost year I couldn't seem to enjoy it quite so much.

Slowly, I looked over to Josh. He sat there innocently, stuffing his face with popcorn.

I felt so badly for him. He's lived with me for four years now. I wasn't this unpleasant four years ago. I was my happy, joking, positive self that I'd been all my life until last year.

I felt as though that Josh only stayed living with me was because he felt badly for me. He'd often look to me in pity, shaking his head softly. He made tea for me every morning. He paid for the rent himself since he was the only one with a job. He usually made meals for me, for I was too lazy and stupid to cook.

The last few years had aged him. The bags underneath his eyes quadrupled in size and the stubble on his chin grew thicker. His hair longer, his posture decreased quickly. He looked oddly the same as when we were in school, but I knew that if his high school sweetheart saw him now it'd be hard to recognize the blonde man.

I tore my eyes from the TV and looked out the window. Big, wet snowflakes fell down quickly as people in big coats scurried by. Most people had dark coats and big scarves, burying their faces into them. Headlights from taxis or people's cars reflected on the wet ground and it made a pretty picture. 

I took my blanket from my lap and sat my mug on the table in front of me. 

"Where are you going?" Josh asked with eyebrows drawn and confused eyes. 

"I'm, uh, I'm going to take a shower." He raised an eyebrow. 

"Right now?"

"Yes."

"Right this second?"

"Well, it might take a minute to get there so n-"

"I mean, you haven't taken a shower in, what, tw-"

"Four days, Josh."

"That's not healthy however long. But you decide to take a shower during our movie night? Really the only bonding time we get together because I'm working every other time?"

I stood there. There really isn't a right answer to this one. If I say yes, he's mad at me. If I say no, he's mad and confused that I said I was taking a shower then. Chewing my lip, I opened my mouth to reply but I was interrupted quickly.

"You know what, I'm being selfish. You need a shower. Go right ahead." I opened my mouth to say something else and pointed down to the bathroom but, "No, no I'll be fine. Go ahead."

I nodded briskly and shuffled down the hallway to the bathroom. As the warm water ran down my back and my soapy hands ran through my hair, I thought.

I thought about the mystery girl and her dark hair. I thought about her maroon scarf that's longer than her. Her plaid coat that she almost always wore. The glasses she wore while reading, the brown circle ones. Her frizzy, curly hair. The way her nose gets red when she's cold.

Josh had teased me multiple times about the girl. Saying that I loved her and was too shy to say something. I brushed his words off and said I was intrigued by her; that's it.

But was I really?

Seeing her smile at me when we exchanges few words on the sidewalk made me feel a little giddy inside. I mean, I can understand why. She was the first girl that had made contact with me in a year. I was bound to be flustered.

I couldn't help but think of her scarf as it covered almost half of her face, her grey eyes peeking out at me. I couldn't help but smile at her startled stance as I touched her shoulder. Or her freckles. Or her pink cheeks.

I shuddered, despite the warm water, trying to clear her from my mind.

I stepped out of the shower, greeted by the cold air. I walked down the hall in my towel, shivering slightly at our cold flat.

As soon as I changed into sweatpants and a t-shirt and made my way back to the lounge, the peace was disturbed by loud knocking at our door. Josh and I exchanged glances. "Are you expecting someone?" we both asked simultaneously.

I walked over after a second knock and opened it to see her.

The girl.

Her face broke into a grin as soon as she saw me.

"Hey." Josh paused the movie. Great. Now he's listening.

"Hi! Oliver, was it?" she inquired. An awkward nod comes from me.

Something flashed in her eyes as she held up a few envelopes.

"Seems I got your mail accidentally." She held it out and I took it, looking at each envelope individually. "Does a Josh live here, as well?"

Another awkward nod.

He appeared next to me and held a hand out to her. "Nice to meet you."

She smiled. "The feeling's mutual."

I cleared my throat and shoved my thumb behind us.

Am I about to do this? Really?

"We're having movie night. Do you want to join us?" I invited. She looked over our shoulders at our messy house.

"What are you watching?"

"The Princess Bride."

"Oh, a classic!" she smiled but her eyes didn't shine as usual. "But I'm afraid I won't make it tonight."

I immediately felt stupid for asking.

"Oh no, that's perfectly fine! I don't know wh-"

"How about next week?" Josh interrupted me, sending me a pointed look. Her eyes glossed slightly, and I could tell she was trying to think.

"I should be free. I choose the movie though!" she smiled again.

Curse her pretty face.

Josh and I smiled back, mine shy. "It's a date then. Next Friday. Here at 8:30 sharp. Don't be late." Josh winked.

"See you then!" She winked back. After a few moments of awkward silence, she turned and started to climb the stairs.

"Could we catch your name?" Josh called to her as she continued to run up the stairs.

"Delilah."

"Well hey there, Delilah!" As soon as the words left my lips, I cringed.

She laughed, a beautiful laugh, as she looked over the railing. "As if I haven't heard that one before!" She called back.

So. I finally knew her name.

Delilah.