A Room With A View

Chapter Thirty-Eight - Brian

October 28, Saturday

Cafe Clark had recently become Brian's favorite cafe. So far he'd come every Saturday and Sunday morning for three weeks. He'd shrugged it off as sibling duty to have breakfast with his sister, but every week he found himself scanning the cafe for dark, curly hair and a full-lipped smile. Every week he was disappointed.

"I don't know about matching costumes," Brian said, continuing Len's conversation. He dropped his spoon into his empty açaí bowl.

Len sighed. She leaned forward and rested her elbows on the table. "Brian," she began, her fingers twisting around a massive globule of gold poking out from her ear lobe, "she'll love it. It's cutesy and romantic."

Alina nodded, seconding Len.

"Yeah, but, we haven't really seen each other since the subway. Wearing matching Halloween costumes on our first date just seems like...too much too soon. I don't want to scare her away." He pushes his glasses further up the bridge of his nose.

"Oh, like you haven't already?" Alina asked, eyebrow raised.

Brian shot her a look and turned his body completely toward Len.

Len sighed. Tufts of her blond hair fluttered over her forehead. "You won't. Just act like it's a complete coincidence, and she'll love it."

Brian leaned back in his chair. A worm of doubt was sitting firmly in the pit of his stomach. Things had felt so fragile and delicate on the train. Brian didn't want to do anything to shatter the thin semblance of a rela—acquaintanceship that they had. He'd wanted to meet her for so long... He didn't want to startle her by showing up in matching outfits. That would clearly show that he had spoken with Len and Alina about her. He was already traumatized knowing that Alina and Len talked about him, he didn't want to inflict that same sort of self-conscious horror on Madeline.

But then again, Len and Alina did know Madeline best. He only had one chance to make a good first date impression, and he didn't want to throw away his shot. Maybe Madeline was the type of girl who was worth big, overt gestures. Brian certainly felt that she was. And if Len and Alina had misjudged the situation, Brian could easily run back to his apartment and change. His back up costume was a tuxedo with the US Treasury symbol pinned to the back. He was thinking of going as a "bond". Although when he'd first run the idea past Alina, he'd needed to explain the concept in detail. She'd just stared at him, and told him no. But it was a very clever idea, and Brian was planning on wearing it for actual Halloween anyways, if not for Elena Margova's party.

Brian took off his glasses and rubbed a hand over his face. He'd have to take the risk. "Okay, fine. Who am I supposed to be again?"

Len clapped her hands together with glee. "Won't this just be grand. Alina, please take photos. I will desperately want to see this."

"Oh I won't be there. I'm not invited," Alina said, staring at Brian in that uncanny way of hers. She always managed to make Brian feel utterly naked.

Len's face fell. "Well then how am I supposed to see Mr. Stickler over here dressed up as Prince Charming?"

"Hey," Brian began to protest, then stopped. "Wait. I have to be Prince Charming?"

Len waved him off. "No no no."

Brian sat back and sighed with relief.

"You have to be the prince from that movie everyone sang the song from."

"What?" He leaned forward so suddenly he bumped the table, sending his glasses skittering to the floor.

Alina laughed. "Now I wish I had been invited."