Sam was sitting at a counter top at an old diner eating a sandwich when Charlie came in and sat down next to and put his book bag on the table.
“I met a girl this week.”
“You meet a girl every week. You’re in college.”
“I asked this one out on a date though.”
“Bad idea.”
“Why’s asking her out a bad idea?”
“Okay. Let me rephrase and ask a question. When were you planning on taking her out?”
“Tomorrow after both our later classes are over.”
“You do realize that tomorrow is Valentine’s Day right?”
“No! I thought that was next week! Oh man.”
“Either way you’re an idiot. You don’t ask a girl out on Valentine’s Day and you don’t want to ask any girl out on a date any time before Valentine’s Day. It basically leaves you stuck with having to buy her at least some flowers, but you won’t want to seem ordinary so you’ll get something else too, which she’ll interpret as you being really interested in her instead of just feeling the pressure of the stupid day itself.”
“Not a Valentine’s Day kind of guy?”
“Who is? Guys are prone to hiding their emotions because our society has forced us to closet them, to show no weaknesses around other men and women. And now there’s a day where we are supposed to open up and show our emotions through chocolates and flowers? Who chose these items as the items of love? Hallmark? What you should do is give her an apple and plant flowers with her. You’ll be making her healthier and planted flowers will last longer instead of killing off dozens and dozens of flowers just to look at and appreciate them for one night. What’s that one quote? Enjoy the journey and not the end result. The same thing should be applied towards flowers.” Sam said starting to go off on a rant.
“Okay then. A simple no would have done it. Any real ideas of what I should do?”
“Reschedule. Say you have to go home.”
“Without rescheduling. She will just figure out that I didn’t want to take her out on Valentine’s Day and think I’m a jerk.”
“That’s not far from the truth.”
“Yet you want me to lie to her to get out of it?”
“Are you a fan of symmetry?”
“Why?”
“You lie to her and she figures out the truth. She might think you’re a jerk but at least it’s honest. You actually take her out on a date that should have some form of significance that you didn’t plan on having you’re starting a relationship out deceiving and lieing. Get my drift?”
“So I’m kind of screwed then aren’t I?”
“No. I’ll figure out what you should do. I just need some time to put it all together. Let it process in my head. I’ll meet you tonight outside of your dorm. I’ll call you when I get there. Just make sure you have a nice dress shirt.”
“Thanks. I’ll see you later.” Charlie said getting out of his seat.
“Wait. Wait. Wait. Pay for my sandwich at least. I just gave you a free session of therapy and I’m also providing the solution.”
“We’re not friends? Isn’t that what friends do? Discuss their problems and help solve them?” Charlie said standing next to the counter.
“Maybe. Yes. And no you talk about your problems and I always solve them. Now pay for my sandwich or I’ll sabotage your date.” Charlie pulled out his wallet and left a five on the table and the two of them left the diner.
YOU ARE READING
The Boy and the Bookstore
General FictionCharlie, a freshman in college, learns what it's like to live the college life away from his family. He stumbles upon a man named Sam, an antisocial acquaintance and creates a relationship after unforeseeable circumstances. After a college expulsion...
