The sweet nectar of the mango slowly dripped down my chin as I enjoyed the fruit. It’s been so long since I had a mango and I was so happy that they were finally in season.

While being so caught up in devouring the fruit, I did not notice the intruder slowly approaching me. I dropped the mango in shock. It was the last person I expected. I hastily wiped his mouth on the sleeve of his hoodie.

Elias.

I quickly averted my gaze and watched everywhere, but his face. This is so embarrassing. I couldn’t believe that he was standing right in front of me.

Elias was my guilty pleasure. He was someone I admired from afar. The distance between us made me feel safe. As long as we never had contact with each other, I’d be able to have these feelings knowing that nothing could ever transpire. That wall of protection just broke down and I wasn’t sure what I was going to do about that.

“Hi,” Elias said. “Can I sit?”

This was the first time that I heard his voice. I knew he was from abroad since most of the students swooned over his Dutch accent.

“Sure.”

“Sorry for scaring you. I knew you were enjoying your mango,” he noted with a chuckle.

I wanted to hide and just disappear. This night is just worsening as time progresses.

“Yeah.”

“I am not bothering you, right?”

“No, you’re not. Sorry. I’m just taking a breather. Trying to sober up,” I lied.

So many lies.

“Okay. So, I am Elias. I have seen you around the school. You are Kasper right.”

“Right.”

“You’re not very talkative. I can leave if you want.”

“No don’t. Um... It’s fine. It’s been a long night.”

I wanted him to leave. I wished that Elias would just get up and leave. He knew my name. I couldn’t believe that. After all this hiding, he still knew who I was. What was the point?

“Parties tend to be like that. Do you mind though?”

I was forced to look at Elias now to figure out what he was referring to. Sadly, when I finally did, I instantly regretted it. A gasp escaped my mouth which was quickly covered by my hands.

Big blue eyes stared back at me. They shined in the moonlight and I couldn’t look away. It was as though I was being hypnotized. Elias’ long blond hair was pulled into a loose bun at the top of his hair and his lips - the lips that always looked so plump as if he’d just been kissed. All of those things put together were a recipe for disaster.

A disaster that could ruin me for good.

“Sorry, I know weed is a touchy subject. I won’t smoke.” Elias placed the joint behind his ear and offered me a smile.

He was so beautiful.

Wait, he shouldn’t look beautiful.

I should be able to look at him and not feel anything.

“No, it’s fine. I — I just realized that I’ve been here for awhile. Sorry. You can smoke or whatever.”

“Okay cool!” he pulled out the joint and lit it with a lighter that was pulled him his pocket. “This is so good,” he exclaimed after the first drag. He extended the joint to me. I had never smoked before. Alcohol was usually my poison, but maybe tonight Ii can indulge in something new.

Don't cough. Be cool.

My words of encouragement worked since I didn’t cough at all. Feeling confident, I turned around faced Elias. This time looking at him face without freaking out.

"How do you know Ian?" Elias asked as he exhaled smoke.

"We have a few classes together. How do you know him?"

"My father works with his and we were invited over for dinner and that's how I met him. We hung out a few times before. He is okay." The expression on his face when he spoke about Ian wasn't something I enjoyed looking at.

"Just okay?"

We were now passing the joint back and forth.

"He is decent when it is the two of us but when his friends come into the equation he is a completely different person. The way they talk about girls is disgusting." He was now full-on frowning. I didn’t like how that looked on his face.

"Yeah. They're idiots".

"You are not one of those guys right?"

“I hope not. I don’t really pay attention to girls,” I blurted without thinking.

He burst out laughing. I wasn’t sure if he was laughing at me or laughing at what I said and I hated that. "Sorry. I mean one of the guys who talk crap about girls."

"I try to not do that, I guess. So... are you nice to girls?"

What a weird question to ask someone. You can’t be that stupid right?

"I guess I'm nice to everyone but I am not really into girls."

Nobody would be caught saying something like that aloud, which showed how much of a foreigner Elias really was.

"Do you just go around telling people that?"

"Telling them what?"

"That you're not into girls?"

"Why not?"

"Aren't you afraid that they'd beat you up?"

I was afraid of people assuming that of me, while Elias is out here telling it to total strangers.

"No, I am not scared. Besides, you're not homophobic right?"

"No. Two people that are happy and in love shouldn't affect me,” I proclaimed, yet I didn't believe that.

"Good. I like a guy with strong opinions."

He looked directly in my eyes while saying that. He was so alluring. I was falling under his spell and me being high wasn't helping it.

"Yeah," I breathed out. "So, Holland right?”

“Right. I miss my home, but I like it here. I just worry that I don’t fit in at times. I’ve been here for four months and I haven’t made a single friend.”

He was always surrounded by people when he first got here. On the first day of school, I only noticed him because students were flocking to him and Ian. He usually sat with the baseball players, but lately, I did notice that he sat alone. Was it by choice?

“I’m sorry about that.”

“Oh no, it’s fine. I really couldn’t stand sitting with Ian’s friends. I’d rather be alone than with pretentious people. I noticed that you have a lot of friends.”

I looked at him in confusion.

"You know a lot about me for someone that I’ve never spoken to.”

It was his turn to be flustered. “Oh. Um… I know because of Iris. We have math and English together. She’s really helpful and I have Spanish with Asia. In Holland I took German, so when I came here I decided to take Spanish it is such a challenge, but Asia has been helpful as well. Your friends are really nice. I have admired you guys from a distance.”

I felt prideful that he mentioned how great my friends were. He was right. They really are. I just needed to appreciate them more. As I battled internally with myself I didn't realize that my phone was ringing. Elias tapped my hand and I jumped.

I took it out of my pocket. My mother was calling. I stared at the screen until the call stopped. I didn't want to hear her voice. I didn't even want to go home and see her or my father's face. I was actually starting to warm up to Elias, but this was short-lived.

The time was 11.45 and I guess it was time to head home.

"Everything okay?"

I shoved my phone into my jeans pocket and glanced up at Elias.

"Yeah. It's pretty late. I think I should head home."

"Oh. So should I then."

I stood up, making sure I picked up a couple of the mangoes and my cup.

"Do you want a mango? They're Julie mangoes. Basically the best mangoes ever. I can't believe Ian has this big tree and he's letting it all waste."

"Julie mangoes? I didn't know that there were different types of mangoes."

"You have a lot to learn." I picked one of the greens and red mangoes from the tree and handed it to him. "Enjoy."

"Thanks. I will."

He smiled at me. I smiled back. He put the mango in his sweater pocket and pointed his head toward the door.

I followed him back into the house. My friends were nowhere in sight and I felt relieved. I went from being proud of them to not wanting them to see me. I'm such a bad friend and I don't understand why any of them put up with me.

Elias was really tall, his height really caught me off guard. ."It was nice meeting you."

"Um, yes.”

"Do you live around here?"

"I do. It's a five-minute walk from here. You?"

"It also lives five minutes from here too, Blueberry Road?"

"No. Pear Road."

I really did enjoy his company. He smiled at me so much tonight that I felt giddy on the inside.

"I guess I won't keep you. It was nice meeting you. Maybe I'll see you in school? This time I won’t be so shy.”

I still couldn’t believe that he actually knew who I was.

Am I in the twilight zone?

"Definitely. Nice meeting you too."

We did an awkward handshake and went our separate ways.