Bad Memories

Chapter 3

—Sat. | September 28, 2019—

I get a bit of a head start this morning before going to the skating rink. I try to grab clothes that still provides a cool feeling in low temperatures. I just take a t-shirt, a pair of jeans, and my forest green jacket.

Next, I rush down to the table to eat breakfast. Grandma has a large plate already set up for me, and her expression is very giddy. "Look at you. My grandson is going on a date."

I want to snap back, even for only a second, but it's incredibly difficult to do that to my grandma. Instead, I just roll my eyes and force a small smile.

As I'm eating my food, she asks me, "Do you have enough money? I can give you some extra if you want."

"It's fine, Grandma. $30 should be enough for me." After a bit, I finish my food and stand up to leave.

Grandma stares at me in confusion. "Where are you going? It's only 10:00, and you said you'd be there at 11:00."

I turn the doorknob and open the door. "I said I would go to Tyler's place for a bit and hang out with him for a bit before we leave for the skating rink."

"Alright, sweetie. Just make sure to stay safe. I love you." She kisses me on the cheek, warming my heart a bit. Small moments like these make me happy inside, since you know just how much someone cares about you.

I walk to Tyler's house, which is only down the street. I ring his doorbell, and his mom answers. "Hi, Kyle. How are you today?"

"I'm doing okay, Mrs. Masuka. I-I know it's early, but Tyler said I could come over and hang out with him before we went ice skating," I say with a excessive amount of politeness.

Mrs. Masuka gives me an apologetic look. "I'm sorry. Tyler stayed up late again playing video games, so he's still sleeping. I can promise that he'll be awake and ready on time. In the meantime, come on in and have a seat in the living room."

I enter the house and sit on their couch, waiting patiently for Tyler. While I wait, I check my phone and look at social media, kind of just skimming the recent posts people have put up. Nothing really pops out to me, all of them just seeming generic.

Tyler treks past me on his way to the bathroom, holding some winter clothes in my hands. I stare at him the entire time, and when he's about to enter the bathroom, I say, "Morning, sunshine."

He turns and shoots a nasty look, then replied lethargically, "Don't even." Around ten minutes later, he exits the bathroom with that energetic happy-go-lucky expression I know all too well. "Sorry about that. I didn't think I'd wake up so late. But, I'm ready to leave whenever."

"What time do you want to head over?"

"Snowflake Skates isn't too far. We can leave the house at around 10:30."

I check my watch. "So, in about 15 minutes?"

"15?! I thought it'd be half an hour!"

"I came at ten. You took five minutes to get up, and ten more to get ready. It's 10:15 now. So yes, fifteen minutes," I say, as if he has the mentality of a six year old.

Tyler jumps on the couch next to me. "We need to go over the plan, then."

"What plan?"

"The plan for when I leave you alone with Lyla. Like, when I should go, and how long I'll be gone."

"This is a girl that I've met five days ago. I'm not about to make a move on her, and I'm not planning to ask her out anytime soon."

"But you plan to ask her out?"