'Oh cool! You have a really nice mum.'
The bedroom door creaked open and Leonie's mum stood in the doorway. "You texting your new friend?"
Leonie nodded silently.
"Alright, don't stay up too late." she closed the door with a huff.
'Do we have school tomorrow?' she quickly messaged Alexander, hoping the answer was no.
Nope. Why do you ask?
'I forgot the day, I thought today was Wednesday.'
she chuckled to herself nervously. Part of her wanted to ask Aex if he was doing anything but she couldn't bring herself to ask.
Nope.
He started blushing then his mom ran in and notice.
"DOES MY BABY BOY HAVE A CRUSH?"
"MOM?!!?!?"
Be right back gotta go fight my mom.
'Why?? What's happened???' she replied in a split second, staring at the screen, waiting for the response.
I hope everything is alright…
Ummm…No reason….
'If you're sure..' she paused for a moment, biting her lip, until finally asking the question.
'Do you have any plans tomorrow?'
Nope. If you can tell I never have plans
'Do you…do you wanna do something together? We could go for coffee or something.. I mean we don't have to, I shouldn't have asked really. I just thought we could do something together and kind of get to know each other better.'
Leonie repeatedly swore to herself. What the hell am I doing???
That sounds great! What time?
'Around 1 maybe? Whatever time is best for you really.'
Oh my stars he said yes… How am i supposed to react????'
Her face burned with embarrassment but her smile grew into a broad grin.
"What are you smiling about?" her dad's voice came from the door. She turned to find him poking his head in.
"NOTHING!" She squeaked, quickly turning her phone off.
Her father backed away from the door with a sly grin on his face, leaving Leonie horrified. Crap!
DEAL!
He started laughing and his mom came back in.
"You like this person a lot huh?"
Leonie stared at her phone in amazement, grinning in both shock and excitement. She grabbed the pillow from behind her and squealed excitedly into it. She caught a glimpse of herself in her dressing table mirror; her face had turned bright red. She was so happy to the point where she physically didn't know what to do. Should she laugh? Should she cry? Nevertheless she wore a bright grin on her face, which suddenly dropped when her brain started overthinking.
What do I wear? Should I put on any makeup? What if people think we are on a date? I mean it kind of is a date but then it isn't because neither of us said that it would be a date. A date of friends, that's all it is, right? I don't know anymore!
Wait is this a date? he thought to himself.
I should probably get some sleep, I don't want to be too tired tomorrow…
She picked up her phone, her hands quivering as she typed.
'Great! I'll see you then. Sleep well alright?'
I will! See ya!
Leonie placed her phone on her bedside table and started pacing around the room, too lost in thought to sleep.
This is a friend date, therefore it isn't really a date, which means I don't need to get worked up about it. But then, here's the problem, what if Alexander has a partner, and they find out about this, what would happen? Would they take it out on him, on me, or not say anything? When did I start thinking that Alexander has a partner, he's never mentioned having one so I assume he doesn't. I am working myself up for no reason, well done brain you've done it again!
Alexander's mind was racing.
DUDE YOU LIKE HER. YOU REALLY LIKE HER
She stood in front of her wardrobe, trying to figure out a suitable outfit. Unfortunately, her skirts and dressed picked the worst day to be in the wash.
Please don't tell me I have to wear jeans…
She flung her bedroom door open, realising the washing machine was running. "Dad! Are my clothes in the washing machine?"
"Not tonight, tomorrow!"
She closed her door with an irritated groan. "Cowl neck sweater and skinny jeans it is then…" she fell face first into her pillow with a heavy sigh. This is going to go one of two ways, a success or a failure…
Alexander noticed his jeans were dirty. "Crap…MOM I NEED TO WASH CLOTHES YOU NEED ANYTHING WASHED?"
"NOT AT THE MOMENT SWEETY." She yelled back.
Leonie didn't realise she had fallen asleep until her mum flung the curtains open, allowing the harsh sunlight to blind her. "Jesus Christ mum.." she groaned, turning onto her other side away from the window. "What are you doing in here?"
"I thought I'd come and wake you up, since it is almost twelve o'clock."
Her eyes flung open and she quickly sat up, nauseated for a moment. "WHAT? WHY DIDN'T YOU WAKE ME SOONER!?"
"I thought you'd prefer to be well rested, you know, since you're going out today."
"How the hell do you know about that?" she frowned, scooping up a towel from her chest of drawers.
"Your father has quite the keen eye." her mother muttered, a slight smile forming on her lips as she vacated the room. "You'd better get ready."
Alexander messaged her
Wait where will we meet up?
Leonie had just finished getting dressed and was blow drying her hair when she received the text. She smacked her forehead.
I knew there was something I forgot!
She opened her phone, quickly texting back. 'I was thinking perhaps the Starbucks in the city center, the one inside the mall?'
She stared at her reply with concern. "Is there actually a Starbucks at the mall?"
"Yep." her dad replied as he walked past her open door. "Don't do anything I wouldn't do."
Her eyes widened in horror. "D-dad!"
See ya there!
This is just a meet up right? he thought to himself
I hope he doesn't think this is a date or anything, I mean it's not, so why would he?
She stopped to look at herself in the mirror, despite it being blurry from not wearing her glasses she could see that she didn't look like herself. "Am I putting more effort into this than I need to?"
"Did you say that it is a date?" her father asked, leaning on the door frame of her room.
"No, but it could be taken that way.. I just don't want it to be awkward." she covered her face with her hands. "Dad why is this so hard?"
"Because you don't really have any friends, and those that you do have you don't really see them outside of school." her father sat down on the edge of her bed in front of her. "You're panicking for no reason and you need to calm down. Take a deep breath. If you show that you're nervous you are going to make him nervous too."
She took a deep breath and smiled. "Thanks dad.." He's being so nice to me, does that mean he finally accepts who I am?
Alexander ran out to talk to his mom when he saw his dad. He growled slightly.
"amy (the most wonderful woman in the world), what are you doing dressed like that?" his dad said tapping his foot.
"My name's not amy (the most wonderful woman in the world)."
"It's not alexander. I didn't have you for you to change your gender at will."
"Terry leave him alone." his mom said.
"NOW YOUR ON HER SIDE?"
"I gotta go." With that he slammed the door and walked to the mall.
Leonie slid on her glasses and pulled a confident smile. "Hopefully nothing goes wrong.." she grabbed a small shoulder bag and jumped down the stairs.
"Before you leave.."
She turned around to find her mum with her arms crossed over her chest. "Mum?"
"I don't agree with any of this, the 'transgender' stuff. This 'Alexander' is one as well, isn't he."
Leonie nodded, afraid of where the conversation was heading.
"I see… I'm willing to look past it, if it's making you happy." her mother turned away from her. "Go on, or else you'll be late."
Thanks mum… Leonie smiled a little before leaving the house, closing the door behind her.
Alexander waited for her trying to calm down. "I swear…"
She saw Alexander from a distance, adrenaline kicking her in the gut almost instantly. She took a deep breath and approached him. "Alex?"
He looked at her and faked a smile. "Hey, Leonie."