Seven: Taleen

“For the last time, this isn’t a date! Better help me find an outfit or shut up!” I roll my eyes as I throw myself on the bed after turning my closet upside down. I’m not sure why I care so much about the art gallery outing with Josh. This is going to be my first time going to an art gallery, so I’m definitely excited. I asked Josh yesterday what I should wear and he told me I should go for something formal yet cute; not really the easiest thing to find in my closet, but I’m sure I’ve something that would do.

          Although my half of the closet I share with Lisa is full, I can’t find anything to wear. The event is tomorrow, and I want to look presentable enough for it. I only told Lisa about it when Josh asked her for my number. Being the polite friend she is, she asked for my permission before giving it to him; however, being the nosy friend she is, she didn’t leave me until I told her why he wanted my number. To a great extent, she’s convinced that I’m going on a date with him. My best friend is a bit delusional.

          “A date or not, you’re finally going out with a guy on your own. I felt like I’d die before seeing this day.” She fake-cries as she talks and I throw my Olaf stuffed teddy bear at her, but she catches it.

          I watch Lisa as she gets up and goes to my mess of a closet. After five minutes of looking around, she throws my cashmere-high-waist-dress-pants on my bed along with a white blouse I forgot about. Maybe Lisa went deeper than me in the searching process.  

          “Tuck the blouse inside the pants and you’ll look great!” Lisa grins, feeling proud of herself for finding me an outfit; it’s definitely an accomplishment. I eye the clothes on my bed and I nod in approval. I like her choice. Simple yet elegant.

          “Would you let me do your hair tomorrow?” Lisa gives me her puppy eyes.

          “You know I don’t like people touching my hair.” I chuckle as this isn’t her first time to ask me about that. She has always wanted to style my hair, but I always refuse. “Plus, I already know what I’m going to do with it.” I shrug.

          “It’s so beautiful.” She whines. “I promise I won’t mess it up.” I shake my head, refusing her request. Nobody knows how to deal with my hair except for me. I remember how it always got tangled when I used to allow people to style it for me and I’d spend hours trying to detangle it. Now, nobody is allowed to touch it. I don’t even go to the hair salon to style it. I have been blessed with beautiful natural waves that I adore, and I don’t like how I look with straight hair, so why would I go to any hair salon?

          “One day, you’re going to trust me enough and let me style it.” She rolls her eyes at me and I let out a sarcastic laugh. “Anyway, do you want to grab something to eat?” she asks me. My stomach growls in hunger, answering Lisa on my behalf.

          “Let’s go.” I push myself up off the bed and we both put on our shoes to leave.

          I thought Josh would message me non-stop once he got my number from Lisa, but actually, that didn’t happen. In fact, he only messaged me to tell me what I should dress, and he didn’t say anything else. I like how he’s giving me my space. He isn’t bombarding me with messages. He isn’t forcing a friendship on me. If anything, he makes me excited to have him as a friend. He is the type I’d love to have as a friend. I’ve never had a guy best friend before, so maybe he’d be my first guy best friend.

***

          I look at myself in the mirror, admiring the outfit Lisa chose for me yesterday. It’s elegant and I just love it. I borrowed her powder pink heels since they match my outfit and I put them on right before leaving.

          After receiving a text from Josh, telling me he is outside, I say bye to Lisa who has a stupid grin on her face. I close the door behind me and let out a heavy sigh I’ve been holding. For some odd reason, I’m nervous and I can’t figure out why. Josh doesn’t make me nervous, no guy has ever made me nervous, so he is no different. Maybe my excitement for the event is making me nervous. Yes, it’s definitely the event. I ignore my accelerated heartbeats and put a smile on my face once I spot him leaning against his car.

          I make my way towards him with steps slower than my normal ones since I’m wearing heels. I like the way they compliment the outfits, but I hate the pain they bring. I guess beauty comes with a price.

          “Don’t you look amazing?” His mouth turns up into a wide smile the moment he sees me and I’m sure my cheeks are all red by now. Compliments make me blush and stumble upon my words. I may not know how to reply to compliments, but I have the ability to stun you with my sassiness.

          “Thank you, you don’t look half bad yourself,” I say in a soft tone and all I want now is to slap myself for being too soft and too gentle. I don’t want to lead him on in any sort of way. I want him to be sure that we’re nothing but friends and the only improvement that may happen is being best friends.

          “Why thanks.” His smile widens as he opens the door of the passenger seat for me. I get in the car and he closes the door then he jumps from the driver’s door. Josh looks so handsome today. His black pants and white shirt are making him stand out. His hair is styled back, and he has a silver watch on his left wrist. I could stare at him for the whole day and I won’t get bored.

 He is such a masterpiece, a beautiful piece of art that makes me wonder how somebody can look this perfect. His beard adds more beauty to him, and I find myself asking how much time God took to create such a handsome man like him. The sharpness of his jawline makes him so kissable. I gently shake my head, pushing away these toxic thoughts from my head. Why would I even think about kissing him?

          “Can I play something?” I ask him as I hold the aux cord in my hand. It’s not connected to his phone or an iPod. He nods and I connect it with the mobile he gave me a week ago. “I’ve listened to this song coincidentally and it stuck with me,” I say as I play Someone to You by Banners.

          Josh drives off as the song starts to play and I let the familiar music draw a smile on my face. “You know, this song reminds me of you to an extent,” I blurt, and I mentally smack my hand over my forehead. Why have I just said that?

          “Let me listen to it then, maybe I’d be able to spot the similarities on my own,” Josh says and I nod, repeating the song, so he could be able to pay attention to it. After listening to the song, we sit in silence for ten seconds and I don’t know if I should start the conversation or not. “So how does it remind you of me?” he asks, saving me from my thoughts.

          “Well… do you remember the conversation we had the day we had ice cream?” I ask and he nods. “You told me that it’s nice to have somebody in your life that you can return to when everything gets dark and that they make life easier and all of that.” I cannot recall the exact words, yet I remember their meaning.

          “I did say that,” he says, nodding his head again.

          “This song says the same thing to an extent. The singer wants to have somebody he could return to, he wants to be that special person to someone. That’s also what you want. I don’t know if you can relate to the ‘I never had nobody and no road home’ part or not, but I think you do relate to parts of the lyrics.” I finish speaking my thoughts as I look at him. His face slowly breaks into a smile and I find his smile contagious that I end up smiling too.

          “What?” I laugh a little.

          “I like the idea of being on your mind that you related me to one of the songs you listen to.” He smirks. I scoff, doing my best to hide my embarrassment.

          “You’re so full of yourself.” I roll my eyes at him and look away, not giving him the advantage of seeing my facial expressions.

          “Tell you what? By next week, tell me about two other songs that remind you of me and I’d do the same.” He suggests, and I foolishly find myself open to the idea.

          “But you have to tell me three songs, not just two. I just told you about one and you want two more.” I drop my condition and he agrees. He stops the car in front of a modern building that seems to be the gallery. He gets out, handing the keys to the valet and I get out too.

          “Ready for your first art gallery event?” he asks, and I nod my head vigorously as my hands clasp together. This is so exciting!

          We both walk together to the gates and for a moment, I thought we’d hold hands. I’m not sure why I thought about that, but the thought crossed my mind. As we walk in together, I hear him call my name in a delicate tone that sends shivers down my spine. I stop climbing the stairs and look at him, waiting for him to talk. “I actually never had nobody and no road home,” he speaks, and my mouth parts a little, but no words come out. “Shall we go?” Again, he saves me from my loss for words, and together, we make our way to the gates.