myself upright.
He surveys the scene from my desk chair. “Unless my eyesight is failing me, you appear to be wearing clothes.”
I gave him a look.
“We’re going for brunch,” he says cautiously, then pauses, “Am I going to lose metrosexual status if I ask what the problem is? I didn’t know brunch equals clothing crisis.”
“It doesn’t. Brunch followed by hanging in the park, followed by dinner at some chic hole in the wall, followed by drinks by the river, followed by watching you work, equals a clothing crisis. It’s asking a lot from one outfit.” That was the honest truth, but it might have been girly overkill. Seth seemed chill, but then Seth is always chill.
“Okay, three thoughts. One, obviously you look stunning whatever you wear.”
I went to protest and he waved me to silence. “Don’t tell me it’s just a line and my boyfriendly duty to say so. It’s true, so I just have to put it out there. Second, you’re right, yesterday was a bit of a marathon. I was not envisioning a repeat today. I was thinking much more chill. Brunch, the Tams, then maybe my place for dinner.
“If you’re blatantly not doing any studying today, the least I can do is make sure you get an early night. Thirdly, if you think this whole mix-and-match outfit thing is going to be a recurring problem, why don’t you just leave a few things at my house?”
He waited for my reaction. When I didn’t reply he asked, “What part of this is bothering you?”
“I keep waiting for the part where something sucks. It can’t be this good and this easy.”
Seth smiled, “I could start farting more frequently.” I shook my head but came over and slipped in under his arms. He smelt like heaven.
“Is it just you? Are you just perfect? Was it like this with Emily?”
“It was not like this with Emily.” His face is passive.
“Isn’t it supposed to feel a bit uncomfortable when you start dating someone? Aren’t you supposed to feel tense, or have a few fights?” I looked up at him.
“Do you always analyze things this much?” He smiled his funny half smile that he saves for when he’s trying to be serious for my sake. He didn’t wait for an answer. “We still haven’t resolved the main issue over here. Could you put some real clothes on before brunch becomes dinner? I’ll just amuse myself over here.” He picked up my laptop. I went to pick out a low-key but still cautiously multipurpose outfit.
“Hey, Chloe, before I sign you out of Facebook, I think Stacy messaged you back.”
“She did?” I was across the room in a shot.
Hey sis, how’s TX? Who’s winning the AC wars this year? Did you get that job at the burger place with Spike and Jared? Did Jared come out yet? FL is hot. At least there’s kind of built-in AC on the bike, although Rob makes me cover up. He’s very safety conscious. Rob’s working in a bike shop here. He’s talking about opening his own place. I’ll probably transfer to U of FL.
You can tell Mom and Dad I said hi if you think they want to hear it.
Stacy
I curled my legs under me, cradling the laptop between them. Words flickered through my mind. What do I say back again? Was she just sitting by her computer waiting to hear from me? Clearly not. But she wrote back straight away.
Not sure who’s winning in the AC wars. I got the burger job but decided to come to school early. As of last night Jared hadn’t come out, but Spike says she’s wearing him down. She’s threatening to defer college if he doesn’t get over himself by the end of the summer. I think she should forget the official coming out stuff and just get him laid. Is U of FL a good school? Is it easy to transfer?
Chloe
I clicked reply and then regretted every word. Why am I asking her about school? I should have just stuck to non-confrontational subject like the weather. Before I finished berating myself she’d responded.
Where’s school? Why’d you go early? I thought you guys had some whole summer
He surveys the scene from my desk chair. “Unless my eyesight is failing me, you appear to be wearing clothes.”
I gave him a look.
“We’re going for brunch,” he says cautiously, then pauses, “Am I going to lose metrosexual status if I ask what the problem is? I didn’t know brunch equals clothing crisis.”
“It doesn’t. Brunch followed by hanging in the park, followed by dinner at some chic hole in the wall, followed by drinks by the river, followed by watching you work, equals a clothing crisis. It’s asking a lot from one outfit.” That was the honest truth, but it might have been girly overkill. Seth seemed chill, but then Seth is always chill.
“Okay, three thoughts. One, obviously you look stunning whatever you wear.”
I went to protest and he waved me to silence. “Don’t tell me it’s just a line and my boyfriendly duty to say so. It’s true, so I just have to put it out there. Second, you’re right, yesterday was a bit of a marathon. I was not envisioning a repeat today. I was thinking much more chill. Brunch, the Tams, then maybe my place for dinner.
“If you’re blatantly not doing any studying today, the least I can do is make sure you get an early night. Thirdly, if you think this whole mix-and-match outfit thing is going to be a recurring problem, why don’t you just leave a few things at my house?”
He waited for my reaction. When I didn’t reply he asked, “What part of this is bothering you?”
“I keep waiting for the part where something sucks. It can’t be this good and this easy.”
Seth smiled, “I could start farting more frequently.” I shook my head but came over and slipped in under his arms. He smelt like heaven.
“Is it just you? Are you just perfect? Was it like this with Emily?”
“It was not like this with Emily.” His face is passive.
“Isn’t it supposed to feel a bit uncomfortable when you start dating someone? Aren’t you supposed to feel tense, or have a few fights?” I looked up at him.
“Do you always analyze things this much?” He smiled his funny half smile that he saves for when he’s trying to be serious for my sake. He didn’t wait for an answer. “We still haven’t resolved the main issue over here. Could you put some real clothes on before brunch becomes dinner? I’ll just amuse myself over here.” He picked up my laptop. I went to pick out a low-key but still cautiously multipurpose outfit.
“Hey, Chloe, before I sign you out of Facebook, I think Stacy messaged you back.”
“She did?” I was across the room in a shot.
Hey sis, how’s TX? Who’s winning the AC wars this year? Did you get that job at the burger place with Spike and Jared? Did Jared come out yet? FL is hot. At least there’s kind of built-in AC on the bike, although Rob makes me cover up. He’s very safety conscious. Rob’s working in a bike shop here. He’s talking about opening his own place. I’ll probably transfer to U of FL.
You can tell Mom and Dad I said hi if you think they want to hear it.
Stacy
I curled my legs under me, cradling the laptop between them. Words flickered through my mind. What do I say back again? Was she just sitting by her computer waiting to hear from me? Clearly not. But she wrote back straight away.
Not sure who’s winning in the AC wars. I got the burger job but decided to come to school early. As of last night Jared hadn’t come out, but Spike says she’s wearing him down. She’s threatening to defer college if he doesn’t get over himself by the end of the summer. I think she should forget the official coming out stuff and just get him laid. Is U of FL a good school? Is it easy to transfer?
Chloe
I clicked reply and then regretted every word. Why am I asking her about school? I should have just stuck to non-confrontational subject like the weather. Before I finished berating myself she’d responded.
Where’s school? Why’d you go early? I thought you guys had some whole summer
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