Lo [athe] ve

the very much anticipated "next chapter" I didnt think I would get any reads but wow 115. jeez Louise. thanks trash babies

u know what? I think I have ongoing, terminal, writers block. yet I still try to pull through with the story. oh the ongoing struggle of a small time fanfic writer

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Callie had set a day for our , "date". Friday. Today was Friday, and I had to meet her at the coffee shop. Dan had no idea, and I'd probably prefer it that way.

I definitely needed something to occupy my time, because being cooped up with an egomaniac was not doing me well.

"Phil get your crap out of the bathroom"
"No I don't care that we share this bloody flat, my side, your side"
"Phil can you leave already, it's Friday night"
"Phil!"
"PHILLL"

Yes a little break would due well.
-------

I was making my way to the front door of the flat when I heard dan get up.

"Hey, where are you going?"

I turned around, the first words uttered by him to me, that were not an insult, an order, or a complaint. So of course I was going to be an ass about it.

"And you should care?"

"Because I wanna know what time you're getting back tommorow, y'know, 'our' Friday rules?"

Right, he wanted to know if he had enough time for a good hookup and not a quick fuck. Right. I looked at him and rolled my eyes, walking straight out the door.

Why.

--------------

I show up at the coffee place, 20 minutes earlier than the set time, at least it would give me some energy to work out my "coming out statement". Not that I wasn't "okay" per say, but I wasn't sure how well Callie would take it.

If I possibly brought up a past relationship, casually slipping in, "yeah me and him dated for a while." Or some sort of discrete male pronoun, I think that would be good.

20 minutes later I hear the coffee shop door open, a little bell ringing to bring alert to the new customer. 

Callie glanced briefly around the shop until I gestured to myself and she saw me.

"Hey! It great that we can sit down and talk." She exclaims, sitting a little close to me on the couch.

"Yeah, I just wasn't sure because at work you seemed distant." I state, Callie's expression turning a bit embarrassed.

"Oh yeah.. euhh, my boss is pretty strict with the no 'business and personal' getting mixed kinda thing"

"Oh yeah, thats understandable ."

We sit in an awkward silence for a few moments, while I quietly sipped the drink I bought prior to callie's entrance. 

"So, how did you meet dan?"

oh here we go.

"Yeah I uh.. kinda funny story, we both 'accidentally' became roommates." I shifted awkwardly in my seat. I guess she isn't aware of my distaste for dan.

"Really? thats so weird! you guys seem well off together, like good friends."

Scoff. I have no idea what she implied by that. 

"Haha yeah, he's interesting.." I mumble, trying to at least bring some sort of half smile to my face.

"Anyways, more about you! interests? studying anything cool at uni? girlfriend?....." Callie lets the last question linger. At least now I have an opportunity to explain my "preferences"

"well, at uni I'm taking a course in marketing, and then English literature plus a bunch of other mandatory 'whatever' courses.... and as for a girlfriend--"

I pause. what am I going to say?should I even be telling her? but then before I could stop myself, it all rolled out at once.

"--I don't have a girlfriend. I don't like girls.. not like I hate you or anything, I mean....I like boys-- like not 'little boys', okay I mean I like guys--men--I-I.... I'm gay...."

Well that couldn't have been any smoother, well done Philip.

"oh! yeah!! no thats cool! I wasn't like, trying to 'make the moves' on you or anything, I'm with dan---I think-- but its totally fine!"

Well at least she wasn't freaked out by it.

"cool, yeah"

callie glanced down at her watch, looking surprised and in need of having to be somewhere.

"well I've got to get to work again, pretty soon, but I  would love to meet up another time as well!"

She seemed genuinely nice, and keeping her around would be, good. 

"for sure. Just text me or something. I hope this doesn't bother dan, us hanging out I mean."

she looked at me confusedly. 

"what? but you're gay. I don't think he has anything to worry about."

I face palm internally. Dammit, you haven't told dan yet, and she's probably going to tell him, why why why Phil why are you doing this.

"hahaha right! I'm just messing around." 

Great thats going to solve it for sure. Very convincing statement

Callie was briefly offset, but then resumed her smiling face.

"....uh well, I'm heading off, bye Phil!"

Callie turned towards the coffee shop door and left. The bell dinging once more to alert the coffee shop of a departure.

"bye Callie."