I looked in the mirror, trying to decide which shirt to wear. Nice, ironed collared shirt, or my R2D2 Star Wars T-Shirt I got from the convention last Summer. Normally there wouldn't have been a question on which shirt I wore, but today was different. I was going on my first date. And not with just any girl, but the girl I've been crushing on since 5th grade. Sam White. Long brown hair, smart, green eyes, and beautiful. Everytime I see her, my heart races, my stomach knots up, and my words never seem to come out right. I liked her so much it felt unhealthy. After four years of being a whimp, last month I told myself I would ask her out. Granted it took another three weeks for me to follow through but I did it. I was preparing myself for rejection and everything, but to my surprise she said yes. It turned out that she's liked me for the past two years but was to shy to tell me. I felt like an idiot. That was Monday. Now it's Saturday afternoon, and I'm preparing to go to the mall with Sam. I looked at my watch; it read 1:22. I had to leave by 1:40. I took one last look at each shirt and put on the R2D2 one. I couldn't help myself, the force was strong in this one. I looked in the mirror again to see what I needed. My brown hair was a mess as usual; glasses sliding down to my nose, check. My brown eyes were so dark that they looked black. I didn't understand why Sam liked me, but I wasn't going to complain. I picked up the cologne bottle I've had for five years for the first time and squirted a bit into my hand and smelled it.
Hmmm. I thought. Not bad. I sprayed myself with the cologne after approving it. Yeah, this date was getting to my head. That or the cologne; it smelled a little funny. I looked back at my watch, 1:33. How did the time go by so fast? I looked at the cologne bottle again and placed it back down. I think I'd pass next time. I sighed and took one last look in the mirror. Ok. I think I'm ready. I walked downstairs hoping to avoid my parents. They knew about the date, I wasn't keeping it a secret, I just didn't want to go through them fussing over me. It was really just embarrassing.
I almost make it out the door when I hear a voice from behind me.
"Are you really going on your first date wearing that?" My mom asked me.
I turned around and said, "Oh c'mon mom, please don't fuss."
"Don't worry, I won't. Oh, my little boy is growing up." She said completely ignoring what I just asked her not to do.
"Mom." I warned, taking one step out the door.
"Ok, ok. Tyler, just go have fun and stay safe. Love you." She said.
"Love you too." I said and walked out the door.
I closed it behind me and looked outside. I lived in a small town in California; the mall was a 20 minute walk away and I was supposed to meet Sam at 2:00. I looked at my watch to see how much time I had. 1:38. I was on schedule. I made my way to the mall wondering how the date would go. Did I have to hold her hand? What was I supposed to say? I didn't want to mess this up. My phone buzzed in my pocket and I checked it.
Sam-Where r u?
I might be overthinking this whole thing. I really needed to relax and just go with it.
Me-I'm on my way
Sam-Good. I'll see you there Sparky ;)
Me- :D
At that moment a black van turned the corner and slowed down next to me. Somewhere in the back of my head alarms were going off. Black vans = bad. But I was too focused on my phone to care much. Two well dressed men stepped from the van onto the sidewalk, blocking my path.
I looked up from my phone and asked them hesitantly, "Can I help you guys?"
They both grinned as if they just heard a cute joke. The one on the left said, "I'm glad you asked." and they both approached me. For some reason I didn't think that they were going to ask me to take a public survey. I could run, but they were both adults and could probably outrun me. Besides, they looked more prepared for me to run than fight. They were really close at this point, so it was now or never. I took a few quick steps forwards and punched one of the guys square in the jaw; then spun around and kicked the other one right in the jackpot. They weren't ready for that. I turned around to hightail out of there, but one of them grabbed my arm and pulled me back. So much for Tyler the Terrific. They put my arms behind my back and tied them up. Ow I thought.They weren't exactly being gentle either. What did I do to them? Oh yeah, nevermind. They gagged me, put a bag over my head, and threw me in the back of the van. Jerks.
All that was left to show that I had been there were my cracked glasses on the sidewalk.
