Raging evenings

Calister was still pacing up and down in front of his mirror when his phone alarm clock rang, signaling that he had to leave. His shacking hands pulled his dress shirt tight around his body and he tried to fix his messy curls again, with little success.

The November air outside was freezing and he cursed himself for thinking a suit jacket would be enough for him to wear. As he struggled to open his frozen car door, the absurdity of what he was about to do hit him. There was nor denying that if you thought about it too long, Reed and him were going on a date. In a fancy restaurant, of all the places Reed could have picked.

Calister shot the man standing on the other side of the street a sharp look, causing him to turn away and quickly take off in the opposite direction. Served him well, what kind of prick just stood outside, watching someone struggling with his car.

His neck and back were still prickling with irrational anger when he halted in front of Reeds apartment complex. Behind most windows he could make out the vague shapes of people, moving, chatting, probably having dinner in their cozy living rooms. Reeds window however was pitch black and Calister wondered if he had mistakenly thought he had to pick him up. He leaned back in his seat, the soft hum of the motor soothing his strained nerves.

Minutes ran by slowly and he took the opportunity to sort out his thoughts swimming in his brain. Ten past eight. It occurred to him that he didn't even know Reed well enough to say if he was a person who was usually on time. He just seemed like it, with his ridged stance, his monotone outfit and the way his flat was so.... sterile and cold. 

Calister tapped his steering wheel, a gentle rhythm in the silence of his car. Eighteen past eight. He pulled his phone out of the pocket of his suit, unlocking it with a smooth movement.

The phone rang once, twice, then he heard Reeds low voice through the speaker.

"Calister! Are you here yet. Damn, you should have called me earlier!" And with that he had already hung up again, leaving Calister sitting in his car, astonished. So he was supposed to pick him up. But why had his window...? He paused a second before realizing how stupid he had been. Obviously Reed had no need to have his lights turned on. 

Before he had time to beat himself up about out, he heard the sound of the font door falling shut. He leaned over, opening the passenger side door while his eyes remained fixed on Reed. He was dressed more sensibly than Calister, a gray scarf loosely hanging around his neck. He was wearing his characteristic turtleneck, but had thrown a blazer over it. his right hand was steadily moving back and forth, his cane guiding his way. Calister had only ever seen him with a cane once, though it suddenly made sense to him that of course, in the cafe he didn't need it. 

"Door's already open, you can sit right down." Calister cleared his throat after saying those words, both because his mouth was dry and because Reeds smile as he got into the car and pulled the car door shut took his breath away. 

"Thank you! I have already sent you the address, haven't I?" His slender hands folded after putting away his cane. His marvelous blue, nearly white, eyes held so much emotion as the fixed on Calister, in a way that still surprised him, keeping Reeds blindness in mind. 

"Yeah I..." He cleared his throat again, causing Reed to giggle. "Yeah I got it." He couldn't help sounding a bit defensiveness, starting his car, his eyes now strictly directed at the road. Thank god that Reed couldn't see him blushing. Still, he could feel the black haired mans eyes like pins in his skin and it made him uncomfortable to even think about the coming evening. 

As soon as they reached the restaurant his fears were realized, even the parking lot had a posh flair about it and Calister had to take a deep breath before even getting out of the car. He quickly walked around the vehicle to pull open Reeds door, offering his arm to him before realizing he couldn't see this, instead pulling back and just waiting for Reed to get out. 

The snow was loud under their shoes, neither of them saying a word as they approached the restaurant, Calisters' hands hovering over Reeds arm, ready to steer him in the right direction, which he quickly realized wasn't necessary. The woman at the entrance smiled at them pleasantly and continued to do so as she guided them to a table, set against the large modern windows.

"A waiter will be with you in a second to give you your menus, but feel free to order some drinks right away. " She bowed a bit, still smiling and retreated, leaing them in awkward silence.

"So..." Calister attempted to break it, his voice still sore. "How has your day been?" The most cliche question to ask, by far, but his friend just smiled at him as he took off his scarf.

"It was nice. A bit slow, today isn't really a busy day for us, because the students don't really walk by when they don't have school, but we have a few regulars. " He turned the fork which had been place on the table already in between his fingers.

Calister grinned, not letting him throw the question back at him. No need to talk about how depressing his day had been.

"How even does a guy like you start working in some random coffee shop?" he leaned forward, propping his chin up on his hands. Reed scratched his pale skin, laughing.

" A guy like me? Well, I suppose you are right, it surly wasn't my dream job when I was a kid." He paused, pondering. A shadow tinted his eyes darker for a split second, but it passed as soon as it came. "I always wanted to work in the public service sector, but more in the sense of planing and construction than actually talking to people. Let's say, it didn't work out, for one reason or another."

Calister decided not to press the issue, distracted by a tall man approaching their table, a holoscreen popping up on his arm.

"Have you chosen what you'd like to drink yet?" He asked as he set down two menus on their table. Reed smiled up at him, with far less focus than he looked at Calister with.

"I'd like some tea, please, preferably black tea." He searched the table for the menu, which Calister pushed over to his fingers.

"I'd like some red wine, if you don't mind me drinkin?" He directed the last part at Reed who just shook his head. 

"Not at all."  He leaned forward, his finger intertwined with each other.  The waiter smiled at both of them, tapping away at his holoscreen.

"I'll be back shortly with your drinks them. Enjoy your evening, gentlemen." It felt like the start to a comfortable evening, despite all of Calisters doubts. Maybe he had no reason to be this anxious.