Date with a Stranger

4:00 am Saturday

4:00 am

I wake up sitting on a stool with my head down on the kitchen counter. When I look up, it takes me a while to realize where I am.

As soon as I see all the red plastic cups scattered all over the room and a guy sleeping under the kitchen table hugging a lawn gnome, I know exactly where I am.

My friend Veronica and I got invited to our classmate Michael's party and there was no way Veronica was going to pass up the offer. She has had a crush on Michael since middle school.

Veronica and I planned to stay only until midnight, but every time I'd call her to leave, she kept saying "One more hour, Heather, please." I didn't want to be a damper so, I just let her have her fun.

I walk into the living room and spot Veronica asleep on the couch with Michael. I debate on whether I should wake her up or not, but she looks so happy snuggled against Michael with his arm around her. I decide to just leave her there and head out to the backyard.

I walk back into the kitchen to get to the back door. I step out into the backyard and sit on one of the chairs next to the pool. I browse my phone and soon enough, I find myself drifting back to sleep.

I am awoken when a dark shadow hovers over me. I squint open my eyes and I find a guy hovering over me. As I sit up, he walks to the chair next to me and sits down.

"Sorry, didn't mean to wake you," the guy says.

My eyes adjust to the brightness and get a better look at him. He has long, wavy brown hair and a dimpled smile.

"That's okay," I reply, confused as to why this stranger is talking to me. I must admit though, he is pretty cute.

"Nice to see someone else awake and not passed out," he reaches out his hand to shake mine. "I'm Marcel by the way."

I return the gesture, "Heather."

"So, what are you doing up so early?" Marcel asks.

"Well, I didn't plan to stay over, but my friend in there didn't want to leave and it got so late, I fell asleep in the kitchen," I explain. "What about you? Why are you awake already?"

"Couldn't go back to sleep, so I just got up." Marcel says as he reaches for something in his pocket. "You want one?" He asks, handing me a piece of gum.

I hesitate before taking it. "Why? Does my breath smell bad?"

"I don't know. Probably," he teases.

I take the gum and we sit in silence as he makes himself comfortable on the chair he is sitting on.

My stomach begins to rumble and I look up at him embarrassed, hoping he didn't hear. He doesn't say anything at first, but my stomach rumbles again, louder this time.

He turns to look at me with his dimpled smile, "Are you hungry?"

I shake my head, my cheeks turning a little pink. It's as if there's a bear in my stomach because it growls one more time.

"I think you are," Marcel says as he begins to stand up. "Let's go look for some food inside."

Unable to find anything, Marcel and I decide to walk to a diner a few blocks away.