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 Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:41 pm
The date had gone…better than Gale could have ever expected, and after she was dropped off at her apartment with a new number registered in her phone and the promise of a second date soon, she got right into her own car and drove over to Evan’s place, not bothering to text, and all but dancing her way to the door.
She knocked eagerly and waited, her mind still swirling over all of the details of the day.
Perhaps the most surprising part for her was the fact that she ate a piece of chicken. Just a bite, but it was the first meat she had eaten in years…and it had been…good.
Of course…with the way that restaurant had been…she figured that even a piece of garbage from the floor would have tasted good had they cooked it.
The art gallery had been so fun too…even though she had been fibbing just a bit when she said she liked art…but it was nice. And classy. She liked classy.
And Laurence himself…was so utterly thoughtful and his advice about the oils…well. She would be going and buying herself some in the morning, it was already mapped out on her phone’s GPS.
Gale knocked on the door again and pulled out her phone, wondering if she should have texted Evan that she was coming over.
She hoped he was home.
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 10:57 pm
Ordinarily, Evan wouldn’t have opened the door for anyone. In fact, he knew he shouldn’t have been opening the door now. Zac and Cambria were out on a date and if they were home, they would have just used the key. He had debated even going to the peephole to see who it was, but Evan cautiously dragged himself to the door. It was too dark to see outside, so he swallowed and flipped on the light outside and peered through it, only to see…
Gale?
Oh, Gale was fine; she could come in.
He was only in his pajamas—a pair of long pants that seemed like he seemed like he was too small to be wearing, long socks, and an oversized jacket over whatever shirt he was wearing. He fumbled with the locks quickly before prying the door open. “Gale,” he greeted, stepping aside so she could come in. He hid behind the door, as if that would fight off the chill. “Come in quick, it’s too cold out there.”
At this hour, with no warning, he expected the worst. “Are you okay? Do I need to put on some Mac and Cheese”
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Posted: Mon Jan 15, 2018 11:23 pm
Gale entered the warm house and hugged Evan the moment the door was closed. “No, no I’m okay! I…I just got back from a really, really really nice date and I just wanted to tell you all about it…I know I should have called but I just was so excited.”
Her eyes were shining and she looked happier than she ever had, at least in the past few months. “Evan it’s my sister’s fault. She decided to set me up on a blind date, and she only gave him fifteen minutes to prepare, but he’s so…so nice.”
Gale tugged Evan over to the couch and snuggled against him, laughing after a moment. Gale. Laughing. It was still so strange…and still sounded just a bit hysterical, but still. It was genuine.
“His name is Laurence and we’re going to go on another date soon and I’m going to be making him a scarf, and I just…I wanted to tell you first. Shoot, I’m telling you before Karone, even…” Gale laughed again, burying her face against her friend’s shoulder. “…Thank you so much for not letting me give up…I guess…things do get better if you just hang on…”
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 6:57 pm
Evan bristled out of habit, but he’d gotten better at reminding himself to relax at the physical contact. Before Gale tugged him to the couch, he’d managed to snake his arms around her in the hug and relock all the doors. He flopped into the couch with her, and as soon as he saw her face, a smile lit up on his own.
He didn’t care that he had fluffy bed-head hair, or that one side of his face was red from where it had been smushed against his hand, he was just happy for her.
“I told you that you were a great girl and there were plenty of great guys out there for you!” he insisted, pulling her closer. “You must like him if you’re making him a scarf. And if you’re going on a second date! He didn’t even do that ‘wait a few days’ before asking you on another one? That must mean he really likes you, too. You have to tell me about it—what did you do, where did you go?”
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 8:57 pm
Gale didn’t notice the bristling, and even if she had it wouldn’t have made her let go. When Evan pulled her closer she could only nod, laughing again until she once more began crying. “He…he took me to a really nice Italian place and the food was actually…kind of amazing. I think even you would like it, Evan. And…then we went to an Art Gallery, which…well, don’t tell him, but I thought it was kind of boring, but still…we just talked. And he’s a Pharmacist and he has a brand new car that smells just like a new car…and just…”
She sighed, wiping at her eyes and wishing that her emotions were better under control, but…at least these were happy tears this time.
“He was so understanding…and he plays the violin and the piano…honestly, Evan.” She sat up so she could look at him, wiping her eyes once again. “He seems too good to be true, so I’m still kind of wondering when the joke is going to come into play…like when I’m going to find out he’s a mass murderer or he likes to drown kittens or something.”
Gale gave one last sniff, and sighed. “…I ate a bite of chicken today, if that helps you understand how good this food was. I don’t…eat meat…but…the chicken wasn’t bad.”
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:07 pm
Evan watched her with knit brows and a little smile on his face, still. Tears always worried him, but he could see that Gale wasn’t upset—and it wasn’t like it was a bad thing to be so happy it brought tears to your eyes.
Gale needed to be happy; she deserved it.
“You can only have bad luck for so long, Gale. Maybe now all your bad luck has run out, so you got a good serving of good luck. And you said your sister set you two up? She wouldn’t do something to hurt you,” he insisted. He didn’t know her sister, or much about her, at all—and if it was his sister, he was sure that she’d have been trying to get him murdered.
But, there was a reason they didn’t talk.
Gale didn’t seem to have any animosity or mistrust towards her sister though, so it seemed like a safe bet that they could put faith in her decision to set them up on a date.
“I’m really surprised about that chicken though. Maybe I’ll head out and try it.”
At the very least, to scope out the competition and see if he could make something better than them.
“He must have good taste if he found a place like that, though. I’m really happy for you, Gale! You should show him a picture of a cat and see if he gets a murderous glint in his eyes. If he doesn’t, though, that should put some of your worries to rest. Or, you can have him take you to a horror movie and if he’s smiling while everyone is killed, then you can worry. But if he doesn’t, maybe you’ve got a good catch?”
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 9:09 pm
Gale nodded. “That’s true…Karone seemed really pissed about the whole Zach thing…honestly if anyone was going to be murdered, I would think it would be her killing him.” She gave a half laugh and shook her head again. “Maybe…you and me and our boyfriends could do a double date some time? When I see Laurence again…you’re what I’m going to talk about…you’re my best friend…the best friend I’ve ever had so…”
She shrugged and snuggled against him again, a small smile playing about her lips. “You’re my hero and my angel…and I just…am always so excited that we’ve met…” His suggestions were good and she laughed again. “The only downside I can see to your plans is the fact that I hate horror movies so my eyes would be closed the whole time, Evan. I wouldn’t be able to see if he’s smiling during the murders or not! It would be such a waste.”
Gale snuggled a little closer against Evan and sighed. “Speaking of movies though, could I spend the night? If you don’t want me to, I can go home…I just. I don’t know. I’m afraid if I’m alone I’ll turn all of this around in my head and won’t want to go through with a second date…I figure if I can get through the first night…I should be fine, right?”
It seemed like a good plan. One born of a mind that had some rationality…and knew that such moments were fleeting. “If you had any ice cream, now would be a good time to get it, and put in Titanic is what I think I’m really saying.”
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Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2018 10:39 pm
Evan immediately seemed flustered with the praise; he didn’t seem to know how to accept such high compliments. It took him a few seconds to even process what she was asking. His cheeks were tinged with pink. “Oh—oh, yeah, absolutely! You can spend the night. I think we have some ice cream, I’ll go grab some. The movies are right over there,” he pointed to a binder underneath the television. “You can pop it in and get it ready. You really—you really want to go on a double date?” he asked; the idea wasn’t a bad one, but he hadn’t ever really considered it.
He hadn’t even really gone anywhere with Tobias and Cambria and Zac and was still nervous about making a fool of himself, but…
As long as they picked somewhere with decent food, he’d try to be tolerable.
“I’m sure Tobias would be up for it, so if you guys figure something out, just tell me when and where and we can show up.”
He pried himself off the couch and asked, “We’ve got Mint Chocolate Chip and I think Neapolitan, what flavor do you want?”
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Posted: Wed Jan 17, 2018 9:16 am
Gale seemed so utterly happy and nodded fervently. “A double date sounds like so much fun to me…I don’t know. It’s something I’ve kind of always wanted to do so having the chance…” She shrugged again and watched him head to the kitchen, taking the time alone to put in the movie and get comfortable on the couch once again. “Surprise me, Evan! I know you’ll pick something good.”
He always did. After all, that was what best friends were…best at.
And she had the greatest best friend in the world.
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