Speak to Me

Very First Blind Date

“Esme, you look stunning! Look at yourself!” Gushed my best friend, Darla.  I looked in the mirror, and was pleased with what I saw.

“Darla my darling, you should be a aesthetician,” I said, matter-of-factly. “I love it!”

“I knew you would. Luc is going to love you,” she declared. She had done a lovely waterfall braid, and my lashes looked longer than ever. Her eye for color was impeccable, it was very clear, the light pink lip gloss went perfectly with my tan skin.

Although I felt beautiful, there were butterflies in my stomach. And not the gentle nice kind. The kind that make you feel sick. “I don’t feel well. I’m really nervous,” I admitted.

“Esmeralda Demartini, you look and are perfect and you need to stop getting so scared. Luc is a sweetie. He wouldn’t do anything to you!” Although Darla seemed confident in her words (and even used my full name) I still wasn’t sure.

“How do you know that he’s a sweetie?” I asked jokingly.

She rolled her eyes at me. “I’ve known him since I was a baby. He’s as sweet as they come,” she grinned.

“Speaking of which, he’s going to be here in 20 minutes and I still have no idea what I am going to wear,” I panicked. Darla just laughed as I remembered clothing, and scrambled around my closet and dresser. “Why are you laughing at me? I need clothes!” I said, frustration leaking through each syllable.

“Esme, sweetheart, I’m lending you an outfit, remember?” Darla said as if she was speaking to someone extremely stupid.

I flushed red. “Of course! Now I remember.” Darla let her huge bag slide from her shoulder down to her left hand, and opened it. This bag was where Darla kept all of her stuff, including makeup, clothing, and once, on a dare, her big fluffy cat named Mittens.

She pulled out a plumed floral skirt and a tight black ballet top, making a showy action with her hand, beaming with pride about her choices. “You could wear your black flats with it. I bet that it would look amazing,” she exclaimed.

“I love what you picked out! Now turn around so I can try it on.” Darla complied and I took off my sweats and T-Shirt, very carefully so I wouldn’t mess up my hair. Carefully again, I pulled the top over my head, with a hand on my braid, as I pulled it out from underneath the shirt. I stepped into the skirt, and slipped on my black flats.

“Okay, you can turn around now!”

“I love it. It makes you look so pretty! You are so gorgeous, you look so gorgeous, and ugh! Why do you get to be so pretty?”

Darla was a blonde haired blue-eyed curvaceous American beauty. She had a flat stomach, yet incredible hips, and an impressive bust. Compared to her, I felt like a tall and skinny stick.

“Look who’s talking,” I persuaded.

She glanced in the mirror, smirked, and mockingly said, “Huh. I guess you’re right.”

I started giggling, for a reason unbeknownst to me, but was interrupted by my phone buzzing.

Luc: Hey, it’s me. I’m just outside your house.

“He’s here!” Darla’s mouth turned into a little “o.”

“Well you’d better get down there! Good luck on your very first blind date!” She smiled, obviously excited for me.

“How about my first date ever,” I muttered nervously.

That’s right, my date with Luc that day was in fact my first date ever. And on that day, all I could hope for was that it would be the best date ever too.

Trying not to be rude, but uncertain of protocols, I texted him back.

Esme: So so sooooo sorry, I didn’t mean to make you wait. I’ll be down there in a second.

Feeling safe, I ran down the stairs, yelled goodbye to Darla, shut the front door behind me, and sat down in the shotgun seat of his Ford.

“Hey, I’m Esmeralda…. But you can call me Esme,” I said, softly and shyly. He smiled at me kindly.

“You’re so cute,” he began, as I blushed, “I’m Luc.”

He had such a cute accent, one that had obviously faded, but ruminants were still there.

“Thanks….” I said, the blush still clinging to my cheeks. “So where do you want to go?”

My emerald-green eyes peered into his sapphire-blue ones. In a flash, they went from sweet and innocent, to sweet and mischievous.

“I know a place,” he said, smiling.