Foreign Love

XV - Is It Christmas?

Chapter 15: Is It Christmas?

8 pm, he'd said, but at 6 I was already freaking out.

I'd never been on a date before, so I didn't know what to say,  if I should be on time, or a little late was fine, if I should pay, or since he invited me, he should. I didn't even know what to wear, but one thing I knew: I was not asking Mylène for help with this one.

I decided to wear the same clothes that I did at the party. If they turned a straight guy on to the point where he grinded his hips on top of my boner, then they should work for gay guys as well.

I also borrowed one of my father's colognes, one he gained from a friend of his who brought it from Spain. He practically bathes in cologne every time he wears it, so it was a true miracle that I could still find one.

I hate wearing cologne. Not because of the cologne, exactly, for I do like the smell of it, but mostly because my mother forced me to wear it when I was little, which made me develop a certain aversion to it. Still, I do recognise its charm and could use the extra help for a big event like this.

At around 6:30 I heard knocks on my bedroom door as I was standing in front of the mirror, trying my best to make my hair look presentable. Before I could start freaking out even harder, I remembered he told me we'd meet at the cinema; plus, he didn't know where I lived.

"Come in!" I shouted and the door opened.

"Dear, do you have any dirty laun... Oh, wow!" It was Mom. "Is it Christmas?" She asked, laughing.

"No, although I do have a date," I replied, turning at her and smiling.

"If I'd known about it, I would've called Mylène, but turns out you didn't even need her this time."

She nodded, her face showing her disbelief at seeing me dressed in a proper manner, as according to her standards, without the help of either her or any of my friends. I mean, Mylène had been the one who picked out this very fit before, but no point in bringing that up again, right?

"Who's the unlucky guy?", she joked. "Is it Andrew?" I hadn't thought about him in hours.

"I haven't exactly been on the best of terms with Andrew lately," I said, hoping she wouldn't ask for more information. As if I didn't know my own mother.

"How come?" Her motherly concern was showing.

"Let's just say he has hurt me, okay? I don't really feel like talking about it right now. Don't wanna ruin the night"

"Okay..." She walked to the door again. "I'll let you finish getting ready, then. Bye."

"It's Nikolai!" I exclaimed when she was almost closing the door. She shoved her head through the narrow gap that was still open and raised a questioning eyebrow. "I'm going out with Nikolai, the guy from the pet store. You know, the one who wrote the note."

"I hope he makes you happier than Andrew." She smiled, and closed the door. "Don't forget to use a condom!" She yelled from the corridor.

I laughed, but then it hit me: what if he wants to have sex?

A second round of freaking out occurred from 6:30 to 7:40, when I finally stormed out of the house to try to get there in time.

I arrived at the cinema at 8:01 and he was already there. Shit, I didn't want to be late. When he saw me, he smiled.

"Good evening." He was wearing a dark blue t-shirt, blue jeans, a black leather jacket and black sneakers.

A total snack, to be honest.