Blind Date

Wolfgang stood in the corner of the restaurant, arms crossed as he waited for the waiter-bun to bring him to his table. He hadn’t been on a date in so long, and he was still nervous about exactly how it was going to go. He knew he was a bit of an oddball with romance, but his best friend, Aria, convinced him to take the risk and see how it went tonight. He wouldn’t normally do something like this, especially not at this time of year, but she wouldn’t give it up.

It was one of the fanciest restaurants in town, and he was in his fanciest get-up. He made sure his ears were even tied nicely, instead of the haphazard knot he usually did. 

It wasn’t long until he was escorted to his table and he sat down nervously, ready to wait for his blind date to show up. He ordered a glass of water and a bottle of wine for him and his date to share. He was earlier than the planned time, but he figured pink was always a safe bet. 

Pink… His eyes had unfocused while staring blankly at the bottle once it got to the table. A second blur of pink appeared suddenly in the corner of his vision, snapping him out of his little trance. A figure dressed entirely in pink was standing near the front of the restaurant, but it was so crowded he couldn’t make out their face– just the bright pink dress.

He almost couldn’t believe his eyes when he finally saw her face. She must be here for someone else, somehow. She was more laid-back than he was about this kind of thing– he was a little old-fashioned, preferring a nice dinner over more casual “dates”. That didn’t mean her date wasn’t, though. Man, she must have really lucked out, he thought to himself. This was a pretty expensive restaurant. Her date must be pretty rich then. Good for her!

But only a minute later, she approached his table. It was easy to tell when she noticed who was sitting there, because her face immediately lit up as she almost ran over. 

“Wolfie!!” she shrieked. “Oh oh oh! Who are you here for? You can’t be by yourself, right?” She stood with both hands on Wolfgang’s table, seemingly unbothered by the fact that someone else would be sitting there soon.

Wolfgang stared at her for a long moment as his brain processed everything. When he finally did, a wide smile spread across his face.

“Aria!” he said, getting up to give her a hug. “I thought you were going on a blind date tonight? Are they here too? I was supposed to meet someone at 7, I’m here for the thing that you talked me into.”

“Hold on!!” she yelled, pulling her phone out of her bag. “They said to meet at the table in the corner with the green chandelier over it.” 

They both looked up at the same time, then back at each other slowly. A few seconds of silence echoed throughout the room.

“No way. No way!!” Aria stomped her foot, her high heel clacking loudly against the floor. She let out an exasperated groan. Her hands were balled up into fists, eyebrows furrowed and mouth open in disbelief.

Wolfgang sat there quietly, but he was feeling the same way. He loved Aria to bits and pieces, but romance between them? It just wasn’t feasible. Aria interrupted his thoughts when she spoke next.

“Are you kidding me? The one time I get you to do something like this, and they pair us up for it?!” She sat down huffily, arms crossed. “Well…” Her tone was softer, a coy smile starting to form on her lips. “At least this means I’ll be well taken care of (heart)”

“I guess they can sense our compatibility,” he joked, taking a long sip from his glass of wine. Aria picked her glass up as well, holding it towards Wolfgang expectantly to fill it. “Are you wearing your bracelet?” He asked, peering over the table at her outstretched arm. 

“Seriously? You act like it’s a wedding ring or something,” she pouted. “Of course I have it on.” Wolfgang had made one for each of them; hers in red and pink string and his in black and white. He thought they were very cool.

“I’m glad you have it on, a lot of times people have to just cut them off. The knots are too tight to untie, and I made sure yours was very secure,” he explained, reaching out and feeling her small wrist, ignoring the proffered glass. She rolled her eyes at him, motioning impatiently at him with the glass.

Only after he held her wrist for a moment did he let go and fill her wine half-way.

“I hope my company isn’t too much of a letdown, I know you were probably hoping for someone a bit– well,” he cleared his throat, laughing to himself. “But we can still make the best of it.” He quirked a brow at her playfully. 

“I’m not that bothered,” she said plainly, shrugging her shoulders and taking a sip from her glass. “Honestly, it’s easier this way if you think about it. I’d rather have to go on a date with you than someone weird or something.” She gigged, opening the menu to finally take a look at it. Her face suddenly lit up in surprise.

“Woah, this stuff is, like, super expensive!” Her eyes sparkled in delight as they scanned the page.

“Are you saying I’m not weird?” He grins, fangless but still shark-like. 

“Well, you ARE, but not like THAT.” she didn’t even look up at him, still intently reading the menu. Her eyebrows were furrowed again, this time in concentration. “At least you’re funny,” she added.

“Well, I always love to hear your laugh, dear,” he said, a smile still playing at the corners of his mouth. “Order as much as you want, tonight’s on me.” 

“It better be!!” she chirped, flipping a page in the menu. Her eyes met his gaze for just a moment, her expression intense. “Since I'm about to spend a LOT of your money tonight!”