Memories That Fade Like Photographs

And In The End, We're Turning On and Off Again

   My phone buzzes through my Bluetooth speaker over the music playing. I had already started my work day and having a particularly stressful week. What? What could anyone possibly want this early in the morning? Who has interrupted my All Time Low serenade? I reach over and check my lock screen. "He sent a picture message" spreads across the screen.  Do I dare look? It's probably something stupid. Ok, this is out of character. I'm looking. The text read,

 "Looking through photos, came across this gem. Let's get some fuckin tacos Sunday."  followed by a picture He had taken of the 2 of us on Valentine's day almost 2 years before. I smile, I really love that picture. We had so much fun that day. 

...........................Flashback.........................
•January 14, 2016•

Him: Hey, will you be my date to the VD party?

Me: Hi to you too.

Him: I mean if you don't have a date already.

Me: Hahahahahahahahaah

Him: I'm being serious fuckface.

Me: Trust me, I have no date for Valentine's already.
Me: Yes duh ill go.

Him: With me?

Me: YES! Damn.

Him: Sweet I'll talk to you later Homie.

...
•February 13, 2016•

Him: Hey  I'm so sorry I have to bail tonight. I have to work. 

Me: Figures. No worries.

Him: Really, I wanted to do this. 
Him: What about tomorrow? Can we do something tomorrow? Will you be my Valentine?

Me: Okay. Sure. Whatever you wanna do kid. 

Him: I mean it.

Me: OKAY

...

   •February 14, 2016•

   My phone rang waking me up. I picked it up looking at a blurry photo of Him and I, that I had made his contact picture. What the hell?  Irritated over the early awakening, I was for sure he was going to cancel again. I slid the bar on my screen over to answer. 

   "What?" I gurgled out. 

   "Are we still on for today?" His voice smooth and deep in my ears sent butterflies through my body. 
   "It is 9. In. The. Fucking. Morning!" I closed my eyes with my phone still pressed to my ear.
   "I'm leaving my parents house. I'll be home in a few hours. Do you want to see a movie?"
   "Yea yea that's fine," I mumbled.
   "Anything you want to see?"
   "Dead Pool comes out today. But I don't feel like spending a whole day in line. I've been dying to see Star Wars." My voice had started to wake up a little.
   "Star Wars it is. Meet me at my house."
   "Yea."
   "Oh and Hey. Happy Valentine's day."
   "You too."

...

   I knocked on his door as I usually do and his little dog started barking defensively. After 6 years of friendship, his actions were predictable by now. The door opened a crack as he peeked out. I rolled my eyes as he slammed it shut and yelled for me to go away.
   "Fine," I jokingly turned to walk back down the steps and the front door swung open. I pushed him inside and closed the door behind me. His chiseled arms draped around me tightly from above.
   "Hi." He whispered
   "Hi." I laughed back. He pulled me into his kitchen and asked me if I wanted a shot. Out of habit, I accepted after he had already started pouring the Jameson into a glass.
   "So, I got this for you, but I have to tell you the story first." He held something, hiding inside the refrigerator door. "This morning, I woke up and saw my mom taking a bite of this and I was like, 'That's HER'S.' and she's like 'Oh I thought it was mine from your dad. Tell HER I'm sorry.'" His voice spoke with a Jewish accent while portraying his mom.
   "Again. That's not what your mom sounds like." I tried saying through hysterical laughter. He put the tiny half eaten Valentine's cake down on the counter in front of me. "Awww. Thank you though."
   "She said, 'I like HER. She's a good one. I like her a lot.'" again with the Jewish accent that in no way resembled his mother's voice. I could feel my face turning beet red while I laughed. Okay, I know his mom adores me, but what would make him bring it up? I could feel the anxiety tightening in my chest but he interrupted my thoughts by pushing us out the door.
   Our drive was a little further than we'd normally go. Trying to drive with HIM is always a chore in itself. That day, he was more playful than usual, throwing things at me and trying to put giant stuffed toys in my lap. Anything to distract me from driving. That's when I realized he was taking funny selfies of us.
   "Hey, can I tag you in these?" Why would he ask? He should know by now that all a girl wants is for a guy to want to take pictures with them and the guy to want to post and tag. I blush and nod. "What should the caption be?" Just post it for fucks sakes.
   "I don't fucking know. Fuck off. Whatever," was all I could manage to let out through the laughter. And that was exactly what he used as the caption.

   We took our seats in the theater and that was when I realized why he picked this particular Cinema. The seats were designed like actual recliners and he reached over me to push the button for me. The back almost laid flat and the foot of the chair kicked out. He looked at me with those gorgeous eyes and lifted the armrest between us. My jaw dropped amazed and I pushed it back down and set my pop in it while shrugging my shoulders. After the first 20 minutes of the movie, I heard some snoring next to me.
   "Hey, don't fall asleep." I nudged him quietly. This happened several times before I was woken up during the credits. "Oh my god. Did we both sleep through this?"
   "Possibly." We both laughed.
   I took him home and walked him into his house.
   "Well, I guess I should get going." I looked at my shoes and then back up to him. He smiled and crushed me into a hug. His face buried in the crook of my neck, he whispered.
   "Thank you. You were the best Valentine's date ever. Easiest date."
   "Well y'know. I'm cool like that." We laughed and he kissed my cheek and I walked out. I know I should have taken this chance. This should have been the day. But  I chickened out. That one of the best days of my life, but definitely not the first day I fell in love.