"Expectation is the Root of All Heartache."

6

Jade walked swiftly, the kind of walk you see someone do when you know they mean business. Step after step she made her way to the theatre room. She sat in front of the door and waited. This was it. She was finally going to tell Armando how she felt.

***

Armando put on his button up and black jeans with his favorite boots and that leather jacket that fits him perfectly. He sat for 20 minutes trying to decide whether or not to wear a tie, so he ended up putting it into his backpack just in case he needed it.
"I've got this" he said, looking into the reflection of the door.
At the Austin entrance, he took out his phone and texted Gabriel.

>Hey Gabriel are you
here yet?
Yeah, on my way <
to the theatre
room now.

Gabriel walked up the stairs to see Jade siting at the base of the theatre door. "What are you doing?" He asked. "Oh um, I'm just waiting on a friend." She replied. "Oh, okay." He said, walking in to the room. Jade sat down once more and waited. She began to hear footsteps up the stairs as she spotted Armando walking up.

***

        Armando had a card and flower in his hand as he made it to the second floor.

This will be perfect. Amazing.

        He walked forward but was stopped by a familiar face. Jade stood in front of the door before he entered. "Um..hi." She said.
        "Oh um..hi."He started. "What's ah, what's goin on?" He said in a calm voice.
        "Oh, not much just ah," Jade started to play with her hair. "Just waiting for you."
        Armando attempted to open the door and Jade stepped in front of him. "It's so beautiful out this morning, want to go for a walk?" She asked in a very enthusiastic voice.
        "You know I really appreciate the offer but I'm a bit busy."
        "Are you sure? I mean it's super chill out."
        "Yeah I'm sure if I could just.." He pulled at the door once more and it swung open bumping into Jade.
        "Well then!" She shouted in a fairly offended tone. She walked off and Armando walked inside.
        Across the way, he spotted Gabriel bouncing to the music his theatre teacher had put on in the room. Gabriel's feet dangled from the stage and his hands rested on his knees. Armando walked up to his and stood in front of him. "Well hello there." He said in a smooth voice.
        "Oh uh," Gabriel stopped dancing and he noticed it was Armando he was speaking to. "Aww your not gonna dance anymore?" Armando said to him with a flirtatious smile.
        "Uhhhh..." Gabriel's face began to blush lightly. Armando extended his arm offering a handshake and their hands linked. Armando pulled Gabe off the stage and spun him around. "Oh okay." He said in response, trying not to loose his balance. The music continued as the two of them danced. "I thought you didn't dance." Said Armando in a skeptical voice.     "Well you said you don't dance more."
        Gabriel took his hand back to himself and put on his jacket. "Why don't we...go outside?" He suggested.
        "Yeah, let's go." Armando replied. They made their way downstairs as the bell was going to ring soon. The two of them sat down at the stairs just as they had the night before. A sort of tension began to build as no one said anything. After a moment, Armando spoke.
        "So about what you said to me the other day...in the hallway...I finally have a response."
        He looked at Gabriel who's eyes were fixed onto his. He cleared his throat. "So I think you are a really good guy. We've known each other for quite a while now, and well...I think I might like you too. God that sounds cheesy."
        Gabriel laughed in relief. "That's not what I thought you were gonna say. Honestly I thought you were gonna just say you hated me."
        "No, why would I say that? That's totally not true." Armando quickly responded. They looked at one another and awkwardly laughed.
        "Well now that that's out of the way.." Gabriel started, but was then interrupted by the man beside him.
        "Why don't we go do something this weekend?" He took out the flower and card and handed them over. Flustered, Gabriel answered with a yes.

Allriiigghhht!!

Armando stood and walked off. The bell rang and Gabriel slowly stood as the people moved around him.

This had actually happened. It was a real thing.

Wow.