Meeting Sang *COMPLETE*

Luke

I swing my legs over the side of the bed, pulling off my shirt while holding the phone between my head and ear as I climb in. Uncle and North haven't returned yet—they're probably still at the church. Uncle said he wanted to get a better idea for the kitchen plan before North and I go there again tomorrow to do some cleaning up.

Meanwhile, I text Gabe about this new girl Sang.

The screen alights. Gabe's calling.

"Hey."

There's some kind of shuffling going on on the other end, so I can't make out Gabe's reply.

"Dude. What are you doing?"

"Hold—on!" Something crashes.

"Why'd you call if you're busy?"

"Got your text. And I'm not busy goddammit! Have some fucking patience. Geez." A minute later: "Okay, okay, I'm all good. What's up?"

"I got Sang's text so I wanted to talk to you about it."

Gabe huffs. "Seriously? That's what you called me for? Just text her back if you're so curious!"

"But what's she like? C'mon man, you met her today. What's she look like? What's she sound like? What's her favorite food? Does she like desserts? Is she sweet?"

"Calm the fuck down for chrissakes', it's just a goddamn girl!"

"Gaaaaabe."

"Ugh. Fine. She's ugly. Like, really ugly. Like super fucking ugly. There. Happy? So she probably won't catch your eye, anyway."

That can't be true. Gabe would never call anyone ugly—specially not a girl. He's definitely messing with me.

"Gabe, seriously."

"What? I fucking told you already. She's not much to look at it, don't know why everyone's gotten themselves so hyped. She lives in Kota's neighborhood, the gray two-story. Doesn't say much, either. That's about it."

"Gee thanks. You're no help at all."

"Good night to you, too."

I stare at the blank screen, then decide I need a snack. I turn to my bedside and pull out a bag of chips, munching as I ponder. Gabe barely said anything, so I still don't know much about this girl Sang. Or what she looks like. Is she really that ugly? She can't be, or at least, Gabe wouldn't ever say that. Would he? Damn. I just don't know.

I pick up my phone again, hovering over the keys, then finally send out a short, "hi".

The reply comes back quick: Hello.

Hello? What's that all about? I decide to just go ahead and introduce myself.

Luke: I'm Lucian but everyone calls me Luke. You're Sang, right? Where did you move from?

Sang: I'm from up north. The south is different.

Different? Different bad or different good? I want to ask, but I don't want to come off nosy from the start. I'll probably scare her. I decide on something neutral.

Luke: It's warmer, but it's probably the same.

Sang: There's also palm trees.

That makes me smile. I type out: LOL.

Sang: Are you coming over tomorrow? Kota mentioned it.

Luke: Yeah, in the morning, I think.

Sang: What's the big announcement?

So Kota told her that we had a big announcement. I drum my fingers over the screen, debating on if I should tell her or not. I wonder if she can keep a secret. I ask her for a promise.