Good Enough

Julian & Mia - Kinda-Sorta Date

Julian
I arrive at the coffee shop about fifty minutes later, the bus and walking having taken way longer then I expected it to. I really don't like taking the bus, but I don't have the kind of money to buy a car, and it's not like my dad will just hand over the money. I would get a job if I could, but I have no time for one if I want to keep doing what I do.

Not that it's much of choice. I'm expected to do everything I do, because that's what makes me Julian Ortega. I'm supposed to be the guy that does well in school and sports, but can still smile and be friendly to everyone. At least that part I don't have to fake. I like being nice to people. I like making people smile with my fake smiles, and I like knowing that even if I can't make myself happy, at least I can put on this mask for other people. I guess that makes me a people pleaser, but I don't even care.

I pull open the door to the coffee shop as a little bell rings. One of the workers looks up and smiles.

"Welcome to A Bit of Perk!" she says before turning back to the drink she's making. I head over to a table in the corner and sit down. I probably shouldn't have come this early, but I always feel like I'm suffocating at home.

I take out my phone and get ready to start typing an essay on my phone. AP English is really making my life hell.

Time passes without me even realizing, and before I know it someone is standing over me. The only reason I notice is because of the shadow they cast over my phone. I look up and am met with Mia's small smile.

"Hey." She says after I continue to stare at her in silence. It strange almost. Of course I've noticed that she's really pretty - i have been hanging out with her everyday - but today it almost seems different.

You don't actually like her, do you? Look at her. She's pretty, sure, but doesn't that mean she deserves someone...better?

"Hey," I say back, slipping an easy smile on. I never knew how easy it was to fake a smile until I started doing it everyday.

Mia stands awkwardly for another second before shifting her weight. "So uh, can I sit?" She asks, motioning towards the empty seat in front of me.

I mentally smack myself, realizing I haven't offered her a seat. Hey your dad smacks you in real life! The voice chastises. I ignore it and apologize quickly.

"Sorry, sorry. Of course you can sit. This is our kinda-sorta date right?"

"Date? I thought this was just a coffee, or something?" Mía says with an amused smile on her face.

I feel my eyes widen and pray my face hasn't gone red. Damn it. I don't want it to be a date. Although I would definitely date Mia, I can't date. I haven't yet, and at least while I'm in school I probably never will.

"I mean, it's a coffee date technically." I recover smoothly.

Mia [POV Change]

"True," I find myself saying, but thinking that maybe it wouldn't be so bad if it was an actual date.

I'm just giving you that bit of warning that no ones ever been able to get that close to him, you know?

I remember AJ's words and quickly dismiss the idea of an actual date with Julian. Not now, and possibly not ever. Julian doesn't seem like one to like distractions nor problems, and those are the two things relationships bring.

"So what were you doing when I walked in that you didn't bother looking up? I could've been a shooter or something."

Julian rolls his eyes. "English essay unfortunately."

"God, I hate those. They make me want to kill myself."

Julian coughs out a laugh. "Oh uh yeah. Me too." He quickly moves on. "So I take it you're not an English kind of girl?"

"Nope. I hate it." I say honestly. The whole analyzing the deeper meaning in literature isn't my thing.

"Okay...so what do you like? Tell me more about yourself. We've been friends for a while now but I feel I don't know that much about you."

"I mean, to be fair, I don't know much about you so..." I say, because it's true. I know the Julian that's on the surface. I guess the one he wants us all to see.

"Let's see. We've gone over school, pets, and colors."

"Wow, what a friendship." I say sarcastically.

Julian laughs. "Clearly we're winning best friends of the year."

"Is that even a thing?"

"It is in our yearbook."

"Jeez. My old school didn't even have a yearbook. And if they did, no one bought it."

"There's something you could tell me about." Julian says, happy to found something. "Tell me about your old school and friends."

"Okay...but you give me stories about your friends in return."

"Deal. You first."

"Ugh. Okay. Okay at my last school...well I hated it. The school was ugly. It was so old, the bathrooms had more graffiti than where the gangs hang out, and it was notorious as a ho capital."

"Ho capital?" Julian asks.

"Yeah. It was impossible to walk into a bathroom without seeing some girl trying to you know...do the deed with some dude."

Julian suddenly starts sputtering out laughter and I stare at him. "Whats so funny?"

"'Do the deed'? Who the hell calls it that?"

My cheeks tint pink against my will. "I don't know, me?"

Julian finally stops laughing. "Okay, Okay. God I had never heard that one. But your school sounds like a blast."

"Oh, definitely. My favorite out of all them." I say sarcastically.

"How many schools have you gone to?"

"I dunno. Four, five? I loose count." I say with a shrug. I pretend moving doesn't bother me for Moms sake but how could it not? Right when I start to make friends we move. "But I mean, my last school was the one I stayed the longest in."

"Damn."

"Yeah. Okay your turn. Tell me something about this school. Or this town."

Julian leans back in his chair and seems to actually consider whatever he's going to tell me. I see the moment he decides on something as he sits back up and leans closer.

"Alright. When I was younger, there was this park I loved going to. It didn't even have a playground, but everyone used it to ride bikes and what not. My favorite parks was climbing the huge trees. Man. It was so fun."

A thought occurs to me, one that probably makes this whole thing seem like a date, but I don't even care.

"Say, is that park still open?"

"Of course it is." Julian says before looking at me curiously. "Why? Have something in mind?"

A small smile works it's way onto my face again. I seem to be smiling a lot more the more time I'm with Julian. "What do you say we go there now?"

Julian doesn't even waste time considering. He jumps up in his chair and offers me a hand. "Let's go."

I put my hand in his and he pulls me up.

And as we walk out, I can't help but feel my smile grow the fraction of an inch.

~•~•~•~•~•~•
Helllooo. I'm not dead! (Although this whole homework thing is the death of me). Here's another chapter. Idek if there's anyone actually reading this but I enjoy writing so oh well. Thanks for reading if you are :)) - MM