Yours Truly, August Griffin

46: The Date

Pov: Evangeline

"Hey," I slide into the leathery booth.

"Hi," the boy across from me responds. He's about my age, maybe a bit older, with dark blue eyes, light blond hair, pale skin, flushed cheeks, and a crooked nose. Not really my type, but I'll admit he's cute.

"So...I've never been on one of these before," I bite my lip. "Um...what your name?"

"Tristan Grey. What's yours?"

"Evangeline Lawrence, but everyone calls me Angie." Except one person.

"Cool. Nice to meet you, Angie."

"You too." There's an awkward pause.

"Look, I'm gonna tell you something so you don't have any expectations, but you can't tell anyone."

"Okay, shoot."

"I'm gay," I can tell he's holding his breath, but I'm just really confused.

"Why are you on a date with me, then? As far as I know, I'm not a guy."

"I haven't come out to...anyone, really. I think you're the first person I've told."

"I'm honored and completely relieved."

"Why?"

"Um...my friend kinda set me up because she wanted me to get over my...ex. But I'm not over him so I basically feel like I'm cheating even being here."

"I'm sorry 'bout that."

"Yeah, me too."

"Is he cute?"

"Yes, really cute," I laugh. "Do you want to see a picture of him?"

"I'd love to." I flip through my photos until I land on one of him, Ben, and Nathan at the hospital. I don't remember taking this so they must have done a selfie shoot without my permission. Those boys.

"Here. He's the guy on the left."

"Wow."

"Yeah." I close my phone. "Anyway, where are you from?"

"Rhode Island, the smallest state in the country. I'm coming here for college so my friends thought it would be a good idea to get me a girlfriend."

"I'm going to college in Salt Lake..."

"Clearly they didn't think it through very well." He chuckles.

"How did they know Lisa?"

"Who?"

"My friend who set me up."

"Oh, I'm not sure."

"Okay." We lapse into a short lived silence.

"Hey, I'm Samantha and I'll be your waitress today." A tall teen with red hair and a notepad is standing next to our table. " Can I get you anything-oh!"

"What?" She's staring straight at me like she's seen a ghost.

"Oh, it's...it's nothing. Just, um, were you August Griffin's friend?"

"If you can call it that, yeah."

"He's a literal legend! Back in the day, you couldn't go anywhere in a ten mile radius without hearing his name."

"Yup, and nowadays too, apparently," I mutter. "Um...can I get ice water?"

"Oh, o-of course!" the girl replies, clearly flustered. "And what would you like?"