HELPLINE

EIGHTEEN

E I G H T E E N

H E N R Y

I couldn't remember the last time I'd been on a date.

Like, an actual proper date. With candles on the table and romantic music in the background and and a liking for the person sitting opposite you. I'd hooked up with people, yeah, but the last date I'd had - it must have been years ago.

Which is why I'm currently doing something very Isaac-like (which is ironic, seeing as he's the person I'm going on a date with) and having a meltdown over what to wear. NOTHING LOOKS GOOD, I texted Shania.

at least you have a date. all i have is the box set of gossip girl and my tears to comfort me.

do i need to give you the shania twain pep talk again? I replied. i was kind of sick of the Shania Twain pep talk.

I sighed and started sorting through my clothes again, trying to find something that might look halfway decent. Or maybe just I-look-shit-but-i'm-supposed-to. y'know?

I am so screwed.

❄

Twenty minutes later, and I had found something to wear: a simple blue button-down, and a surprisingly smart pair of black jeans.

I tried not think about my hair.

(Then again, I always tried not to think about my hair.)

Isaac and I were going to this little pizza place on the edge of town I'd read about. I figured that you couldn't go wrong with pizza. veryone likes pizza.

Right?

God, I am so nervous. I don't think I've ever been this nervous in my whole life. Not even that time I had singing lessons for a month and thought i could sing Mariah Carey at my school's Christmas talent show.

Spoiler alert: I couldn't.

Henry?" Isaac called from outside.

I grinned and hurried out of the living room and over to the front door. "You could've rung the doorbell, you know."

"It's broken," he said, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"Oh, shit," I sighed. "it plays a Lady Gaga song and everything."

Isaac frowned. "You like Lady Gaga?"

"You don't?"

❄

"Mr Waters?" the waiter asked.

"That's me," I smiled.

He led us over to a little table by the window and handed us two menus.

"We're a gay couple," Isaac blurted out.

"Jesus Christ," I muttered.

"Very nice, sir," the waiter said, and hurried over to the table next to us.

"You idiot," I said, rolling my eyes. "What the fuck was that for?"

Oops. You're not supposed to swear in a restaurant. At least, not very loudly.

Isaac just sort of blushed and laughed - he looks really cute when he blushes - and didn't answer, scanning the menu instead. Our table fell silent.

Silences are bad. You're not supposed to have silences at a date, right?

"When was the last date you went on?" I asked him, seeing as blurting things out seemed be a theme that evening.

Isaac frowned slightly. "Er... about a month ago? It was with this bodybuilder. Didn't go so well; when he hugged me goodbye, he almost broke one of my ribs. I had to call things off after that."

I giggled slightly.

Ask another question, my brain told me.

Shut up, brain.

"How was your day at work?" I said, taking a sip of wine.

He shrugged. "Pretty good. The older kids are generally nicer, i've learnt - it's the little bastards you've got to watch out for. This eleven-year-old was going on about me being gay -"

"Idiot," I cut in, rolling my eyes.

" - so I told him at least I got more action than he did, and maybe if he stopped being so judgmental he might get a boyfriend or girlfriend of his own."

I whistled. "Smooth."

He grinned. And then our pizza arrived.

❄

We were standing on my doorstep, Isaac waiting while I fumbled around looking for my keys. "Thanks for a great night," I told him, searching through the pockets of my jacket.

"No, thank you," Isaac said, his eyes crinkling up at the corners as he smiled.

Shit. Am I supposed to kiss him goodnight? Am I not supposed to? Why isn't there a guidebook for this stuff?

"Henry," Isaac said nervously.

"Shoot," I told him, still searching for my keys.

"At what?"

"It's an expression."

He watched as I rifled through the pockets of my jeans. "Um, I'm not really sure how to say this, but I am supposed to kiss you?"

My head shot up. "Um -"

"Um -"

"Yeah," we said in  unison.

It was fucking brilliant.

❄

a.n : edited 4 / 12 / 15

for lily because she's lovely hahahah alliteration makes me happy