Alyss sat down on the park bench to catch her breath, like she did every day, to wait for Zahara. But today there was someone else on her bench. She frowned; he looked like a typical arrogant jock-type.
"Um, excuse me?" she said. "I'm waiting for my friend... who I always meet here..."
He looked up, and she mentally nodded. Very good-looking -- extremely good-looking -- and probably had an ego the size of a skyscraper.
"Oh, I'm sorry," he said softly, and stood up. "I didn't know that."
Alyss felt guilty. "It's fine," she told him. "You didn't know."
He smiled and, without further ado, walked over to a different park bench and sat down.
A couple of minutes later, Alyss' phone buzzed.
Zahara: Hey sorry I'm running late, catch you tomorrow ok?
Alyss frowned; did this mean that Zahara wasn't coming?
Alyss: You aren't coming at all?
She felt a pit of disappointment forming in her stomach.
Zahara: No, sorry, my boss needs me for something. I have no idea
Zahara: what it is. Poorly placed send button. Anyway, like I said, catch you tomorrow!
Alyss turned her phone off and stood up. As she walked past the guy, he said, "So your friend's a no-show?"
"Why is it your business?" she demanded.
He held up his hands placatingly. "It isn't. I was just asking a friendly question."
She sighed and plopped down onto the bench next to him. "Yeah, she's running late and her boss needs her for something."
"Am I the only one thinking Fifty Shades of Grey?"
She glanced at him. "I've never read that book, and I don't want to," she said primly.
"Oh, I'm sorry, I didn't know that." He looked down.
He seemed nice, so she said, "Want to go to lunch, mystery guy?"
He raised his head and grinned at her. "Only if you tell me your name. I'm Janos."
"Alyss," she said, sticking her hand out to shake his.
They stood up and left the park together.
