What I Expect

A Pastel Skyline

It's our date tonight! I'm in my room rushing around to get ready. I use most of my mother's old jewellery I brought from Egypt to decorate myself like a canvas - my neck and chest and wrists made bold and eye-catching. I bare my walls just to slink armbands over my forearms and so many good chains around my neck it's heavy. I get some makeup from Mai and touch up my eyeliner, some dark wine lip liner too. My nails are painted lilac. It's a rugged adventure date so I don't bother doing my hair. It can frizz freely today. I'm already picturing the wind blowing it all back on that bike. I wonder what Akefia's exposed forehead will look like when his hair flutters around. 

I wonder if Joey can hook me up with a leather jacket and sunglasses. It'd be fitting for a motorcycle date; Instead I imagine what Akefia will wear. Leather would suit him, maybe a suit? A red, white and black suit... oh. No, that won't do at all. I can picture him in something cool. Something that screams 'emo slacker with too much disposable income'. Silver chains, baggy goth pants with JCB boots, red t-shirt and sunglasses. He'd look smooth that way, just the end of his scar peeking out the tint in his sunglasses. 

Well I was way off. I still think the look I thought of would've been awesome but I was way off. Standing before me is Akefia wearing ripped skinnies, flats and a black button-down. With sparkling silver cuff links embedded with black gemstones on the sleeve cuffs. His shirt is untucked but it's still smart as a slightly too big, thin suit jacket hangs from his shoulders. It looks breathtaking to watch him come downstairs like I'm in a cheesy 90s high school film awaiting my prom King. "Wow," I whisper. It makes Akefia grimace.

"Too much?" He tugs at his collar. "I can change it,"

"Don't you dare," I admonish, stalking up and grabbing his hand forcefully. "You look amazing,"

"As do you," he looks down at me with admiration and a good feeling passed over me. It's something I can't describe, like somewhere on the spectrum between proud and flattered with a hint of slightly embarrassed. "Tonight is going to be awesome - thanks for doing this Marik,"

We leave hand-in-hand and it's a kind of depressing intimacy. Because I know it's the only intimacy we have. I can't wrap my arm around him or lean in and kiss him because it's not that kind of relationship. He teases me with a taste of him but I know he isn't mine. When we arrive the sun is just starting to set and pale pink clouds stretch over the skyline. Valon is at the doors and gives us a quick demonstration of the bike and safety instructions since Akefia hasn't been before. 

"How's Mai doin'?" he asks once the safety talk is over. His eyes deceive his casual voice as they sparkle with worry.  

"She's healing," I shrug with a smile. 

"If she trust ya I do too, so lock up eh?" he tosses me the keys for the business, he has a Kirby keychain. "Stay however long ya want," 

"Wait where are you going?" I ask as he mounts his own bike, pulling down his visor and grasping the handlebars tightly. 

"Goin' to party. It's New Year's!" he answers with enthusiasm and rides off. I hear fireworks cracking in the distance but their bursts are hidden by pitch black trees hiding the last glimpses of the sun. I forgot it was New Year's today. I've just been thinking about my date as if the importance of this time with Akefia transcends the importance of this global threshold. Resolutions, new starts and initiatives. The passage of time itself. It seems so insignificant when I stare at the man in front of me and realise he's here, with me, right now! Like I'm standing before Christ of St John of The Cross, that surreal experience of staring at a painting refined beyond human vision itself.