Take it easy! The urge to follow after a sudden infatuation or romantic fantasy is strong. Keep a clear head when considering your relationships with others. Let music, art, and spiritual themes be your guiding stars throughout the day.
~Daily Zodiac App Tuesday, July 21, 2020

     The battle between mind and flesh raged. One side wanted to fidget, tap impatiently, and even run; the other, to appear calm and collected to make a good first impression. My excitement drove me to the meeting spot earlier than I care to admit. My nerves had me ready to die from waiting. After seeing my horoscope, I suggested a light dinner and then a stroll through the Fine Arts Park.

(breadboy53) Almost there, sorry for missing my stop.
(salon_guy) No worries, walk safely!

     My stomach growled to protest being outside when all the fresh Italian food was inside. I did my best to ignore it. He wasn’t that late. I’ve missed my stop on the metro a dozen times. I wasn’t going to be the crazy guy and call off a date because the other guy was seven minutes behind. Especially since he messaged me as soon as there was a problem.

(breadboy53) Thanks cutie.

     This gave me time to clean out the usual swarm of introduction messages from guys with profile pictures showing off almost every part of their body except their face. Most I just blocked. The profoundly cringey ones I saved screenshots of to send to the group chat for a laugh.

(sexy_muffinz) I’ll have you clawing my back and begging for more all night long baby, just tell me where you live.

     Attached was a picture of a man lying in bed wearing only tight underwear. No face of course, and best of all, a little bit of sock was hanging out of the bulge.

(Tommy) Does this seriously ever work?
(Megan) Sure, if he sends it to a few hundred people, one is bound to be looking for the same thing.
(Lucas) I’m sold! Give him my address, I’ll leave my boyfriend for that fine specimen.
(Kyle) …
(Lucas) Joking love.
(Kyle) If you do, at least have better taste than that.
(Lucas) Noooooo! I won’t ever leave you darling.
(Megan) You live together, stop using the group chat for your lover’s quarrels.
(Megan) Is he there yet? It’s ten after.

     “Tommy?” Relief washed over me. He looked like his picture—mid-twenties, average build, matching face, kind of cute, no psycho vibe. A little red at the cheeks, maybe he was running to get here.

     “Hi, Chad?” He smiled on hearing his name and wrapped his arms around me. Was that normal? I guess a handshake would be awkward meeting a date. It was happening either way, the sudden attack didn’t give me any time to react. One quick squeeze and it was over.

“So sorry I’m late. I just had to make a quick stop.” A strong odor of alcohol assaulted me as he pulled away. The open can of beer in his hand clued me in that his cheeks were not red from running.

     Chad chugged down the last of the can and tossed it in the nearby garbage. “Let’s get some grub!”

     “Sure,” I said.

     I started looking through the menu once we sat down. I had heard of this chain, but had never eaten at one before.

     “Can I get the spaghetti and a box of wine?” he asked the waitress.

     Wine? I knew the place was Italian, but it was basically fast food. A box? His cheeks were already red from whatever he was gulping down before getting to the restaurant.

     “And for you?” The waitress asked me.

     “Uh…” I just sat down couldn’t I have a moment to think? “I’ll have the small veggie pizza.” She nodded and walked away, leaving me with my date.

     “The wine here isn’t bad, and you can’t beat the price. I usually come here once a week.” He paused for a moment to turn off his phone. “Well, not here. There’s another branch near the bread shop I work at.”

     “Ah, bread boy, I get it now.”

     “Yeah, I was at work when I made my account and I’m not creative. I actually get really bored once rush hour is over.” Chad continued to babble about things he did at work when there was nothing to do. Then came the box. Imagine two brown milk cartons stuck together, and sketch grapes on the side with purple crayon.

     He let out a big sigh. “The week is finally over! Time to let off some steam and celebrate right? You want some?”

     “No thank you, I have to be up early tomorrow.”

     “Man that sucks.” He poured himself a glass. “I can never go out with friends because I work weekends, and my friends can’t drink with me on weekdays. I mean, I get it, but it still sucks.” Half the glass gone in one gulp. “I hate working for that place so much. The pay sucks, customers are always in a hurry and for what? It’s just some shitty bread.”

     I nodded and smiled as best I could.

     Chad continued to list all the things he hated about his job while I waited in shocked silence for my food. Maybe he was just having a really bad day. First impressions are really hard, you can’t always choose what happens the day you meet someone. A positive person would be grateful that he was comfortable enough to show a less appealing side on a first date.

     “I mean, I was a chemistry major at a good university. I should be making more than part-time minimum wage. I should be mixing chemicals not bread dough. I hate my boss so much. He smiles for customers, then yells at us as soon as they leave for not being fast enough. I hate the people I work with too, they always leave the cleaning for me to do. Not to mention...”

     Yup, a positive person would look at the good side, and focus on it very… very hard. That’s what they would do alright.

     “I’m serious. If you ever see in the news that someone murdered people in a bread shop with cleaning chemicals, it’s probably me.”

     I decided I was not a positive person.

     “Excuse me, I’m just going to go take a dump,” he said.

(Tommy) Guys!
(Megan) How’s it going? How’s the food?
(Tommy) Food hasn’t come yet.
(Tommy) He just went to use the restroom...
(Tommy) I have a moral dilemma.
(Lucas) Just go with the flow, and remember to use protection.
(Tommy) Do I throw some money on the table or not before I escape out the door?
(Megan) ?