Unable to think clearly, Dani closed the door to her room before even turning on the lights. She scrambled to find the switch and get ready as soon as she could.
This is basically a date! With Ryan!
Once she got the lights on, Dani flew through her belongings like a tornado. Her already disorganized room turned into an wasteland of clothes, empty shopping bags, and half-finished water bottles.
Mess was temporary; a date with her himbo roommate could change her life forever.
Where did I put it…
Her eyes scanned over the wastes. At last, behind a mountain of laundry, she spotted her prey: the makeup bag.
She had just practiced with it the day before, so everything was fresh in her mind. While the results left a bit to be desired, she was being fueled by newfound confidence.
He said I was cute… That he didn’t even regret the kiss. And makeup should only make me cuter!
Dani snatched the bag off the floor and rushed to her desk. The techniques from before had thankfully stayed in her head, though her hand was shaking even worse than her first attempt.
This isn’t gonna work. That idiot has me too excited to relax.
Deep breathing had no effect on her trembling. She debated giving up and going without makeup for a second or two before doubling down. It would take longer, but it was doable. Her other hand gripped her wrist tight and she planted her elbow on the desk, stifling most of the unwanted movement.
The mascara was simple enough. Her only real worry was hitting her eye, which she managed to avoid.
Maybe that’s all I need?
She admired how just one product could bring so much life to her eyes. Her whole face, really. Though as impressive as it was, she wanted at least one more thing.
Eyeliner definitely won’t work. Best case I have wobbly lines on my face, and worst case I lose an eyeball. Lip gloss? Eh, could look weird. But it might get him to think about kissing again…
A knock came from the door.
“Hey, you almost ready?” It was Ryan. Obviously.
“Yup! Just like one more minute!” Dani lied.
“Cool. I’ll get the car started,” Ryan’s said through the door. “It’s freezing, and my headache is too rough to bother walking.”
As she heard him walking away, Dani grabbed her concealer. It was the one item, other than mascara, she had no trouble using yesterday. Though her freckles always got compliments, some of the darker ones she couldn’t help but see as blemishes, particularly on her forehead and chin. With her hand once again stabilized, she got to work hiding unwanted marks, acne scars, and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Once she blended everything she stood up, ready to meet Ryan outside.
Then, she looked down. She was still wearing the frumpy sweatshirt she had slept in all night.
Are you kidding me.
She carefully shed her sleepwear, making sure she didn’t bump her face or eyelashes in any way. From her clean laundry pile she plucked out a blue sweater, jeans, and a pair of boxers.
This isn’t too manly. The sweater is light blue! That’s like, more feminine than dark blue for sure!
Another knock.
“I’ll be out in thirty seconds!” Dani yelled before Ryan could even say anything.
This time she told the truth. In less than a minute, Dani had her fresh outfit on and opened up the door. Though not before grabbing her brush. She stepped into the hallway while she detangled her bedhead.
“Woah,” Ryan said. He was leaned against the front door, and now staring at Dani.
She had no choice but to blush. Of course, she wanted to play it cool, too.
“Um, is everything okay?” She asked, fooling no one. “I figured I can fix my hair in the car.”
Ryan straightened himself up. “Yeah! Everything’s good. Just didn’t know you wore makeup.”
“Does it look bad?” Dani asked, knowing that it didn’t.
“No!” Ryan rubbed his palms on his jeans before opening the door and handing Dani her coat. “It’s- Well like- You-” He coughed. His cheeks were slightly red, though that could have been the cold. “We should just go.”
Dani happily accepted her coat and followed him out to the car.
***
The sound of footsteps grew louder and faster. Simon had only pressed the buzzer a second ago.
There’s no way Rachel is that fast, right?
No, the door to the apartments was opened by a middle aged man who didn’t even give Simon a glance before rushing down the sidewalk. It was rare that someone overlooked Simon. His height tended to force him into being the center of attention. Just on the way there he caught three separate people staring at him.
He took the opportunity to catch the door before it could close, and headed inside. He leaned against the stairwell in the small, rundown lobby and rubbed his eyes. A late night followed by a day of wrangling kids into doing his planned routine left him yearning for his bed.
He really liked helping kids get active and stay healthy but there was no denying the drain they could have on a person, well-behaved or not.
I can get some rest after this. It’s taken me too long but I’ll finally do the right thing.
“Oh hey!” Rachel called out from above.
Simon looked up and saw her poking her head over the rails from the second floor.
“Did someone else let you in?” She asked as she trotted down the steps.
“Ah yeah, some old guy in a rush,” Simon said. “I don’t even think he noticed me. Could have easily let a criminal in.”
Rachel reached the bottom of the steps and rolled her eyes. “Right. Because this would be such a worthwhile place to rob.”
Simon laughed for a brief moment before stopping himself.
Need to be serious. I can’t back down again.
“Hey, uh, I’m glad you made it home safe last night.” Simon wanted to start with righting some of his wrongs toward her. “Sorry I didn’t walk you back.”
“It’s alright, the bus was up and I only had to wait like three minutes for it,” Rachel said. “And you were right, it was really late!”
“Still, it was kinda rude to not even offer, so I’m sorry.”
Rachel smiled. “Well that’s very thoughtful of you. Consider yourself forgiven.” She stepped forward, holding out her arms for a hug.
Now or never…
Simon stepped back.
“Actually…” He started.
Rachel looked confused and her arms fell.
With Dani’s words echoing in his head, Simon took one final breath. “I think we should break up.”
Immediately he felt relief.
Why did I take so long to do that?
Immediately Rachel’s expression worsened.
Oh. Right.
Her bright eyes and beautiful smile faded. Her lips quivered, opening once or twice without any sound coming out. She backed up to the stairs and sat down.
Should I say something?
Simon tried to guess what could help in this situation. “It’s like- I just think-”
“Just go please…” Rachel said, making no attempt to hide the lump in her throat.
He knew anything he said would make things worse. It always did.
Yeah, I’ll just go.
Unable to think clearly, Dani closed the door to her room before even turning on the lights. She scrambled to find the switch and get ready as soon as she could.
This is basically a date! With Ryan!
Once she got the lights on, Dani flew through her belongings like a tornado. Her already disorganized room turned into an wasteland of clothes, empty shopping bags, and half-finished water bottles.
Mess was temporary; a date with her himbo roommate could change her life forever.
Where did I put it…
Her eyes scanned over the wastes. At last, behind a mountain of laundry, she spotted her prey: the makeup bag.
She had just practiced with it the day before, so everything was fresh in her mind. While the results left a bit to be desired, she was being fueled by newfound confidence.
He said I was cute… That he didn’t even regret the kiss. And makeup should only make me cuter!
Dani snatched the bag off the floor and rushed to her desk. The techniques from before had thankfully stayed in her head, though her hand was shaking even worse than her first attempt.
This isn’t gonna work. That idiot has me too excited to relax.
Deep breathing had no effect on her trembling. She debated giving up and going without makeup for a second or two before doubling down. It would take longer, but it was doable. Her other hand gripped her wrist tight and she planted her elbow on the desk, stifling most of the unwanted movement.
The mascara was simple enough. Her only real worry was hitting her eye, which she managed to avoid.
Maybe that’s all I need?
She admired how just one product could bring so much life to her eyes. Her whole face, really. Though as impressive as it was, she wanted at least one more thing.
Eyeliner definitely won’t work. Best case I have wobbly lines on my face, and worst case I lose an eyeball. Lip gloss? Eh, could look weird. But it might get him to think about kissing again…
A knock came from the door.
“Hey, you almost ready?” It was Ryan. Obviously.
“Yup! Just like one more minute!” Dani lied.
“Cool. I’ll get the car started,” Ryan’s said through the door. “It’s freezing, and my headache is too rough to bother walking.”
As she heard him walking away, Dani grabbed her concealer. It was the one item, other than mascara, she had no trouble using yesterday. Though her freckles always got compliments, some of the darker ones she couldn’t help but see as blemishes, particularly on her forehead and chin. With her hand once again stabilized, she got to work hiding unwanted marks, acne scars, and the dark circles beneath her eyes. Once she blended everything she stood up, ready to meet Ryan outside.
Then, she looked down. She was still wearing the frumpy sweatshirt she had slept in all night.
Are you kidding me.
She carefully shed her sleepwear, making sure she didn’t bump her face or eyelashes in any way. From her clean laundry pile she plucked out a blue sweater, jeans, and a pair of boxers.
This isn’t too manly. The sweater is light blue! That’s like, more feminine than dark blue for sure!
Another knock.
“I’ll be out in thirty seconds!” Dani yelled before Ryan could even say anything.
This time she told the truth. In less than a minute, Dani had her fresh outfit on and opened up the door. Though not before grabbing her brush. She stepped into the hallway while she detangled her bedhead.
“Woah,” Ryan said. He was leaned against the front door, and now staring at Dani.
She had no choice but to blush. Of course, she wanted to play it cool, too.
“Um, is everything okay?” She asked, fooling no one. “I figured I can fix my hair in the car.”
Ryan straightened himself up. “Yeah! Everything’s good. Just didn’t know you wore makeup.”
“Does it look bad?” Dani asked, knowing that it didn’t.
“No!” Ryan rubbed his palms on his jeans before opening the door and handing Dani her coat. “It’s- Well like- You-” He coughed. His cheeks were slightly red, though that could have been the cold. “We should just go.”
Dani happily accepted her coat and followed him out to the car.
***
The sound of footsteps grew louder and faster. Simon had only pressed the buzzer a second ago.
There’s no way Rachel is that fast, right?
No, the door to the apartments was opened by a middle aged man who didn’t even give Simon a glance before rushing down the sidewalk. It was rare that someone overlooked Simon. His height tended to force him into being the center of attention. Just on the way there he caught three separate people staring at him.
He took the opportunity to catch the door before it could close, and headed inside. He leaned against the stairwell in the small, rundown lobby and rubbed his eyes. A late night followed by a day of wrangling kids into doing his planned routine left him yearning for his bed.
He really liked helping kids get active and stay healthy but there was no denying the drain they could have on a person, well-behaved or not.
I can get some rest after this. It’s taken me too long but I’ll finally do the right thing.
“Oh hey!” Rachel called out from above.
Simon looked up and saw her poking her head over the rails from the second floor.
“Did someone else let you in?” She asked as she trotted down the steps.
“Ah yeah, some old guy in a rush,” Simon said. “I don’t even think he noticed me. Could have easily let a criminal in.”
Rachel reached the bottom of the steps and rolled her eyes. “Right. Because this would be such a worthwhile place to rob.”
Simon laughed for a brief moment before stopping himself.
Need to be serious. I can’t back down again.
“Hey, uh, I’m glad you made it home safe last night.” Simon wanted to start with righting some of his wrongs toward her. “Sorry I didn’t walk you back.”
“It’s alright, the bus was up and I only had to wait like three minutes for it,” Rachel said. “And you were right, it was really late!”
“Still, it was kinda rude to not even offer, so I’m sorry.”
Rachel smiled. “Well that’s very thoughtful of you. Consider yourself forgiven.” She stepped forward, holding out her arms for a hug.
Now or never…
Simon stepped back.
“Actually…” He started.
Rachel looked confused and her arms fell.
With Dani’s words echoing in his head, Simon took one final breath. “I think we should break up.”
Immediately he felt relief.
Why did I take so long to do that?
Immediately Rachel’s expression worsened.
Oh. Right.
Her bright eyes and beautiful smile faded. Her lips quivered, opening once or twice without any sound coming out. She backed up to the stairs and sat down.
Should I say something?
Simon tried to guess what could help in this situation. “It’s like- I just think-”
“Just go please…” Rachel said, making no attempt to hide the lump in her throat.
He knew anything he said would make things worse. It always did.
Yeah, I’ll just go.
