There was hope

{4}

We put blankets on our longest couch.

As Jessie went to make something to eat, I went to go get a pillow and as I went back into the living room, I see Xavier sitting down.

His hair is wet and the clothes fit him perfectly, his head hangs low, his elbows are on his knees as his head rest on his palms.

He seems so stressed.

He suddenly looks up, his eyes seem a lighter shade.

"I got you a pillow." I quickly say, handing it to him while keeping my eyes averted from him.

"You guys have a really nice place here." He comments while taking the pillow.

"Yea, we worked hard to get this place." I state while looking anywhere except him.

"How about you, where do you live?"

"Just a little place downtown."

I slowly nod my head.

"Oh, ok. Um well I-"

"I didn't feel like really cooking, so I made the signature black out. I hope you like those." Jessie cuts me off as she sets the deserts on the coffee table.

"Actually, I love these. I remember when.." his smile slowly fades.

"When you use to make it." He glances up at me as my heart aches.

"I'm going to bed. Good night."

I quickly crutch my way back into my room and close the door.

I press my back against the door, closing my eyes and the memory of our first date flashing back.

.................

"Do I look ok?"

"Elpída, you look beautiful."

I sigh as my mother does one more curl in my hair.

We hear a car horn from outside.

My heart stops.

"It's him." I let out as my mom smiles.

"Go."

And I did. I walked the steps and as I opened the door. There he stood.

The hottest guy in school asked me out of all people.

I wasn't sure yet if this was all a joke, I was a sophomore and he was junior.

I thought he'd want someone his age or maybe even older.

"Hey" he breaths out.

"Hey" I smile as he extends his hand.

"Ready?"

I nod my head as I take his hand and we make our way to the passenger side, he opens the door for me and I get in, and watch as he makes his way to the drivers side.

"So where are we going?" I ask curiously.

"A little place no one goes."

And thats how we ended up at the ice rink.

There were barely three more people there, who were elders, and then the staff.

He laughed his head off at my weak attempts to skate.

My legs kept sliding in different directions and even fell on my butt multiple times which he had to keep helping me up.

Until I gave up.

"Oh come on."

"Nope, I'm done!" I exclaimed as I, extremely slowly, and kind of pathetically, made my way out of the rink.

"Ok." He laughed as he followed behind me and we took the skates off.

"Come on."

"We don't have shoes on." I explain as I hurriedly follow behind me as he intertwines our fingers together.

"So?"

I raise an eyebrow as he smiles.

He takes me to one of the stands surrounding the rink.

"A vanilla cup and..?" He looks over at me.

"The same, but can I also get a can of orange soda." The woman nods and very quickly gets us the cups with ice cream and my soda.

Xavier pays before we make our way to one of the tables.. still only wearing socks.

"Don't eat it yet." I tell him as he looked at me curiously.

I cracked open the can and poured half into my cup of ice cream and the other half in his.

"What the.?"

"Just taste it." I laughed as he nodded his head.

He stirs it a bit before taking in a spoon full.

"Oh my Gawdd" he moans out. I fall into a fit of laughter as his eyes rolled back.

"What is this even called?"

I shrugged.

"I'm going to get a sugar rush from this like if I was a five year old."

And it happened.

we ate the ice creams and suddenly we wanted to skate more so we did.
And then he fell.

"Xavier!"

I exclaimed as I threw myself beside him and saw his bleeding forehead from hitting the ice floor.

"Ha! Blackout!" He exclaimed while pressing his index finger into me and standing up.

"Try to catch me." He winked.

...........

And it stuck. Every time we decided to make one, we called it a blackout.

It was our signature dish.

When we wanted to celebrate, make up, or just relax, we would go to the nearest corner store and get what we needed to make our special blackouts.