“Where are we going?”
“I don’t know but I know I’m gonna make it special for you. That’s all you need to know.” I said with gleaming sincerity. She painted a smiling portrait on a dull canvas.
“Wait for real? You don’t have a plan? Mr Anxious, “I plan different apocalypse scenarios just in case”, doesn’t have plan. She suddenly fell backwards into my arms. Unconscious…
“Alaska!? Are you okay?”
“Come closer…” she whispered gently into my ears as her near dying breath.
As I lowered myself to her lips to hear, a smug voice whispered “I just really couldn’t believe you don’t have a plan.”
“Alas-. I was seriously worried when you fell like a rock...”
“Geez, exactly what a girl wants to hear…”
“...I mean I know you were faking it but at least work up the drama to something more serious.”
“Ugh Oliver if you’re gonna be mean, I’m just gonna go home and watch a k-drama and skip our date.” with that she spun around and begun to mope her way to the exit of the school to walk home.
I grabbed her wrist mid spin and told her with a yandere smile, “It’ll be the last k-drama you watch if you ever skip a date with me…”
With a tremor in her voice and a fake giggle to break the tension she said, “Fine. Walk me home. Your mom parks nearby, right?”
“Not really...but anything for you.” (You know love is just being cringey together and I am both the embodiment and proof of this.)
We took a quiet walk holding hands in the biting cold. Sadly, no one was around to see me showing off my amazing girlfriend. I should take her to the mall again and be cute with her and brag about how adorable we are to strangers. Ehh, then again it’s boring if all our dates are just us sitting at the mall talking. I mean I love talking to her. It’s one of the greatest joys of life, to idly sit and listen to every sentence of hers flow into the next. Bittersweet stories, building me up and breaking me down. Smiling and laughing equally as much being hurt by her cute and sweet thorns, as was her nature but we need a change of scenery…That’s it. Scenery. I know where we’re going tonight. Finally.
Anyways back to our walk. We arrived soon after I came to this conclusion. (Hmm, I wonder what she was thinking about while we were walking…)
(Note from Alaska: I wonder what Oliver is thinking. I hope our date goes well. Woah, I just realised, Australia has 3 a’s, all pronounced differently...)
We stopped dead in our tracks. The pathway leading to her house shrouded by the trees. Due to me being chained by her incredible grip and the abrupt stop, I was sent flying back. I was swept off my feet almost falling flat on my face. I looked back and saw her normal cute and confident composure turn into a meek and melancholic one.
“Why are you stopping? We still have to walk through the nature reserve?”
“Oliver, just drop me off here. Your mom is waiting for you. Don’t take her for granted like that.”
“It’s fine. She can wait.”
“Oliver. Go. I’ll be okay. I’m strong, probably stronger than you, so I can handle a short walk home no matter what happens…”
“But…”
“Oliver, go! Now. Just listen to me. Just go. I’ll call you when I get home and please don’t do anything stupid...”
I looked back at her completely puzzled.
She pushed me in the direction of my mom’s car, away from her house, and waved me off. She showed an adorable finger heart and all I did was respond with two hearts of my own. What was the secret of Alaska May? I mean she somehow has a secret bigger than being a time-traveller...
I got to my mom’s car and had to sit through her complaints. I had to tell her about my girlfriend eventually. She’s gonna be our ride to our date tonight anyways so I’d rather tell her now than never. The worst part is my mom laughed and thought I was joking but at least she forgave me for being late so that was nice. Eventually, she stopped laughing, believed me but that was even worse as she became an ocean of questions. Wave after wave, an unforgiving barrage of words. But who could blame her? I finally accomplished something on my mission to being normal. She was so proud of her ‘schizophrenic’ son who did something normal for once and overcame his obstacles(that apparently didn’t exist). But this worked in my favour, as she agreed to taking me to this creative date idea. Well, it’s not creative but it doesn’t happen often.
I eventually got home and after the most action packed and exhausting week of my life. All I wanted to do was sleep but the excitement for tonight would never yield such results. So I was stuck in a painful equilibrium of being tired and wide awake. It was surely detrimental to my health or something.
My phone buzzed to life. It was that promised call from Alaska.
“Hey. I got home safe…”
And right there. I knew something was wrong. She sounded like she was about to cry. But I don’t think she’s ready to talk about this stuff yet. I felt a twinge in my chest. It hurt to hear her like this. Terra was more so a part of the cosmos than it seemed.
“Hey. I’m glad to hear that. But next time I’m walking you home regardless of what you want.”
“Sure…”
“I would poke you for such a weak response but I guess this isn’t the time…”
“Why?”
“No reason.”
“Oliver?”
“I swear it’s nothing, listen…”
“...”
“I’m really tired. I stayed up way too late and fought a dragon that represented my anxiety... It’s a long story that’s not worth talking about. So I’m gonna take a nap. You should start getting ready soon anyways.”
She chirped, “Maybe you aren’t a time-traveller and really are schizophrenic?”
“Funny. Bye Alaska. See you soon…”
“Bye Oliver.”
Ugh looks like there’s only time for an hour nap…. Oh well. I should I enjoy it.
It was now two hours before the date. It was time to get ready. Yes, I know that's excessive for a guy but I’m a guy who actually plans really, really great outfits. Well it's not so much that I plan. It’s that I have anxiety attacks over different outfits until I find the perfect one. The other stuff takes like thirty minutes. So at 4:00 PM exactly I was ready to leave to pick up Alaska. I agreed to pick her up at her house . I walked through the nature reserve to her house with my mom waiting in the main road. To my surprise she waited at the entrance of the the reserve waiting for me. After a good two minute talk from my mom about how pathetic of a boyfriend I was and me desperately explaining that she did this on her own accord. I got out of the car to fetch her.
I strided over to her I don’t know if it was the outfit or being bathed in cologne but for the first time in my life I felt confident. It was probably the outfit. I was wearing my favourite shoes, tan chelsea boots with a low heel, just small enough to still be masculine but also make me just a little bit taller and a pair of black, distressed biker jeans and a beige, elongated, semi-baggy sweater (to match the chelsea boots) with a small rose patch on the hem.
She stood by a lamp post. In a pair of leather military boots probably a pair of docs, with a black tights that showed her silhouette emphasizing that she was a sunset dream topped off with a black skirt to counteract her tomboyish boots topped of with a fraying denim jacket. And our eyes met as we inspected each others outfits. We were both so cool yet trapped in these horribly awkward bodies.
“You’re the most beautiful girl in the world Alaska. And I’m not just saying that your fashion sense may even be on par with mine...I’m scared to admit that I might have an equal….”
“Nah, never. Oliver you look so handsome for once, I almost didn’t recognise you.”
“Well, we better go before my mom leaves without us…”
“So where are we going?”
I turned to her and hovered my finger over my smirk.
I could hear her moping behind me.
We drove off onto the main road and occupied ourselves with small talk between the three of us. It was the first time I had ever enjoyed small talk. Soon Alaska figured out where we were going. So I decided to confirm her suspicions. I informed her were going to town to have coffee date and go talk and look at city’s scenery from the mountain. (Cliché. I know but it became cliché because it was cute enough of an idea to stand the test of time.)
So we went to a restaurant, had a light supper but skipped dessert so that we could still enjoy our coffee together. We went for coffee at seven and were soon on the mountain. And wow, was the view worth it. The view of the city was great too.
(Yes. I know I am the definition of cringe.)
(Note from Alaska: Then I love cringe….)
We got out the car and sat on a bench and sure it was freezing but that gave us an excuse to sit close together. (It didn’t help that I didn’t get a coffee and got a milkshake instead. It made me doubly as cold but she tried her hardest to fix that and cuddled up next to me. As she nuzzled her head on my shoulder, I felt more alive then than in any other moment of my life. On second thought, that milkshake was honestly the best decision of the night if you ask me.)
“Uhm so time-travel?”
She looked blankly with dead eyes as if I brought up the weather and mumbled, “Oh. So you wanna jump right into that?”
“No, not really… I just got nervous.”, I mumbled.
“Good. It’s too early to ruin the mood with time-travel….”
Ruin? When she said that I could almost feel her sadness and guilt when she uttered the word. But how could talking about one of the coolest ability to have in the history of the universe ruin our date? I feel like it could make it better and draw us closer? But oh well. I need to trust her. Ugh, her being next to me right now sharing this moment. It’s the closest I have ever been to another person. Strange, how being close to her could let me be so much more in tune with how she felt. I could almost physically sense how much time-travel made her sad. I wish I knew why.
“Anyways, how was the walk home?”
“Fine. Nothing special.”
And there I felt that same chill. And then a lightbulb went off.
“Why were you waiting for me outside the nature reserve? I said I was gonna pick you up at your house? You made my mom yell at me. She told me I was a horrible boyfriend for making you walk like that.”
She giggled to herself and proclaimed sarcastically, “Ehh. I’m dating you and even I think you’re pretty trash…”
I clutched my heart, flung myself backwards and whispered to her in pain, “Why must you hurt me so?”
“I like trash though?”
"You do? Crazy that my girlfriend likes me?"
She giggled, "You'd be surprised if you thought I didn't like you more."
“Nah. I don’t think that’s possible…”
“What?”
“Nothing…”
And she immediately turned her back to me. “You know I hate when you do that. I’m not talking to you anymore.”
I leaned over her shoulder and kissed her on the cheek. “See I like you more, cause I show it unlike some people.” I said with the smuggest smile on my face. (I was secretly faint. It wasn’t good for my heart to act so recklessly, but no matter how detrimental to my health it was, it was worth it.
“What do you mean Oliver?” She then spun around and grabbed my face and pulled me down to her level and kissed me. It was a myriad of emotions. Confusion, love, excitement and fear (like this is my first kiss what do I do? My brain was malfunctioning and whirring out of control as if I was short circuiting like the android I am but I couldn’t leave her lips.) Then it was over. I soon realised it was just a long peck rather than a full on kiss. I mean she definitely one upped me but still. WE KISSED. Like the love of my life was my first kiss? How many other people could say that? I am so glad to have lost to her.
(Note from Alaska: Isn’t that what love is? Losing. Losing ourselves, time, virginities... But seriously, essentially we surrender ourselves and trust we won’t be hurt. That’s what makes it beautiful.)
(Notes like these are why I love this girl. I’m gonna marry her by the end of the year if she keeps this up...)
“See. I do show you that I like you. So I win but I like you, loser.” she said this in her usual cutesy voice with a wink and a finger heart.
“I like you too Alaska. But isn’t it a bit too soon to say stuff like this? It’s only our second date.”
“So? Time with you is precious. We never know when we or the universe could end. I’d rather not waste it. Especially any time I have with you.” she said ever so nonchalantly.
“I see. I agree. Anytime spent with you is precious to me too.” I said like a nervous chihuahua.
“Aww. Oliver you’re so cute when you’re nervous. Anyways don’t worry about timing and how things happen between us. A great band once told me, “You gotta learn that love is simple just like mud. You be the dirt and I’ll be the water. All we gotta do is touch.” So, wanna be my dirt forever?”
“Only if you’ll always be my water.”
“Yay!” she said jumping into my arms.
“Ugh, we are so cringey.”
“Agreed.”
“We’re never telling anyone about this right?”
“Yup. Agreed.”
“Oliver, you’ve been so good to me tonight. You deserve a reward. Close your eyes.”
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