Her chain got caught on my pink belt and it happened so quick that it was unavoidable. We had simply bumped into each other but when I turned to say sorry I got stuck on the silver. I freaked and started rapidly apologizing because she was built like a wrestler and the last thing I needed was to get pummeled by a girl who was my type. But she didn’t even look mad, she was actually calm. When she saw me being dramatic she told me it was fine and to stay still while she got it unhooked. She kneeled and I followed her advice, cracking jokes above the loud music. And when she smiled i was suddenly aware that i had never seen such beautiful lips. Then, she succeeded and I was free. I relished in the relief as she returned to her previous height, I had to look up at her as she talked. The first thing she did was ask for my name and I happily gave it to her. Though, she was a bit surprised, she asked me what my parents were thinking naming me after a goddess and warned me that I would be smitted for such treason. I couldn’t help but laugh as i told her that i changed my name myself. We continued the conversation and talked a bit more about Greek mythology before she got the idea to ask me what my birth name was, I said that I’d tell her if she talked to me a bit longer.

She laughed then and yelled over the music asking if I was trying to keep her from leaving. I responded but she shook her head and said she couldn’t hear me, so I put my hand on her bare shoulder and got on my tip-toes to speak in her ear. She leaned down a bit and heard me clear this time: Depends, is it working? Her breath was warm on my ear as she said yes.

We ended up leaving the club a few minutes later to go to an arcade she loved. The club wasn’t her scene, apparently her friends just loved dragging her out the house. I listened to her explain her life and pretended not to be cold as i nodded and asked questions, and we were at the arcade for maybe an hour before she caught on. Without even telling me why, she told me to stay put and left the shop. I thought this was the moment where id get stood up and did another round of the arcade to pass the time. But she came back soon and said I should’ve just let her know i was cold as she handed me a freshly bought hoodie. It felt like silk on my exposed skin but I ignored the butterflies in my stomach and went back to playing. The last game we played was a 1v1 fighting game with joysticks. I lost 2-3 and had to pay for our pizza. We took the food back to my apartment and I figured since I was spending money anyway i might as well get her something.

Sneakily I waited for her to get a bit ahead of me and gave some cash to the guy on the corner as we passed him. Quickly I picked the prettiest bouquet he had and when she turned back to check on me i handed her the bouquet full of roses. It was embarrassing because the flower guy was right behind me smiling and i didnt put much effort into this gift at all but she didnt seem to care. Excited, she took the flowers and hugged me, saying they were beautiful. We continued our walk and as she held her flowers, I held the pizza.

My apartment was a little messy due to my previous getting ready session hours before but I don’t think she minded. Instead of saying anything she went straight to my dvd collection. I watched her geek over everything and told her to pick something and we’d watch it. She took the offer with a smile and a hour later we were watching one of the movies she picked out, it was horror and we were supposed to watch a comedy as well but we ended up falling asleep.

She snored through the whole night easily but I woke up a few hours into our long nap and looked around. We were still sat on the floor cuddling and only half covered by one of my pink blankets. And as i yawned i realized that I was happy here. Which was surprising. I grew up religious and thinking this was a sin, that i would never be happy with this life because god said so. Looking back, I wonder how could i be so pessimistic? I mean I’m sitting here with a person that presumably likes me and I am not harming anyone, not even myself, there is no way this is what sends me to hell. As I closed my eyes I thought of murderers and monsters and I asked the world around me, expecting more honesty than she was used to having, how anyone could hate me for this. She didn’t know either.