“Go out with me?” Joe asked Ariel without preamble while she was wiping down the counter at the Lotus.
“What?” Ariel looked at him like he was crazy.
“Please?” Joe joked. Joe finally decided to just go for it… well, after Miranda threatened to decapitate and castrate him if we didn’t.
“Are you talking to me?” Ariel looked around and could see anyone else that he might be talking to. It’s about 10 o’clock Thursday morning, so there weren’t too many patrons around the Lotus.
Joe rolled his eyes, “no, I’m asking the wall.”
Ariel scowled at him, “are you actually asking me out?”
“Yup”
“Er… where are we going?”
“Does that mean you’ll go?” Joe’s grin lit up his face.
“Yes.” Ariel said, feeling rather embarrassed, but betraying none of those feelings on her face.
“Awesome!” Joe mentally did a victory dance. “Bright Nights is happening at Stanley Park for the next couple weeks, do you want to go to that?”
“Sure, I’ve never seen it before.”
“Awesome, it’s pretty fun. When do you want to go?”
“Any time I’m not working.” Ariel went back to wiping the counter.
They finally decided on 4 days before Christmas. Although she tried to fight it, Ariel felt extremely excited that Joe had asked her out. I hope it will go well… this is my first date.
——————————-
“He agreed!” Miranda jumped in front of Ariel at 8 o’clock in the morning on Thursday.
“Hm…?” Ariel said rather blankly. She hasn’t woken up yet.
“Josh agreed to come spend Christmas day with us!” Miranda practically yelled, oblivious to Ariel’s distractedness.
“Oh, that’s great.” Ariel said rather robotically while walking over to the fridge. “What do you want to eat for breakfast?”
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“Dude, congrats.” Mike patted Joe on the back.
Joe grinned foolishly. Ariel agreed to go out with him and nothing can take away his happiness.
“Dude, stop grinning, you’re scaring me.”
————————–
“He asked you out like that?” Rainie asked, outraged.
“What’s wrong with how he asked me out?” Ariel was confused.
“How could he be so blunt? He’s supposed to ask you romantically, not blurting it out in a coffee shop. You shouldn’t have agreed so readily Ari.” Rainie asserted.
“It doesn’t matter.” Ariel was amused. “Besides, didn’t Mike ask you out after he kissed me? You agreed didn’t you.”
“It’s not the same thing.” Rainie declared.
Ariel hid a grin and didn’t press the point.
—————
Merry Christmas!
