Aria (Popular)

Miles looks at Janice's text one more time.

Then he opens a new message to Aria.

Miles: Took your advice. Not asking Janice.

He sends it and sets his phone on the kitchen counter and opens the fridge like a person who is absolutely not waiting for a response.

His phone buzzes twelve seconds later.

Aria: wait really

Aria: what changed

He smiles to himself and closes the fridge without taking anything out.

He leaves it on read for four minutes.

Aria: Miles

Aria: don't just say that and go quiet

He picks up the phone.

Miles: Just thought about what you said. Made sense.

Aria: okay but what does that mean exactly

Miles: Means I'm not asking Janice.

Aria: and?

Miles: And what?

Aria: you're annoying, you know that

Miles: Heard that before.

Aria: so what are you doing with this information

Miles: Still thinking.

Aria: of course you are

A minute passes. He leans against the counter and waits.

Aria: you know most guys wouldn't need this much time

Miles: I'm not most guys.

Aria: clearly

Aria: okay fine. think all you want

Aria: just don't take forever

He sets the phone down and pours himself a glass of water. Picks it back up thirty seconds later.

Miles: Are you always this impatient?

Aria: I'm not impatient I just know what I want

Aria: there's a difference

Miles: Fair enough.

Aria: so?

Miles: So what?

Aria: oh my god

She goes quiet for a moment. He can almost picture her on the other end, sharp eyes, jaw set, deciding whether he is worth the effort. Then his phone buzzes with a photo notification.

Aria sends a picture.

The picture disappears after Miles looks at it.

Miles: Okay. That was unfair.

Aria:

Aria: made up your mind yet? If you want to look at that again, you know what you've to do.

Then he types:

Miles: Aria. Do you want to go to prom with me?

The three dots appear immediately and stay there for just long enough to make him wonder if he misread the entire situation.

Aria: What kind of a gentleman doesn't say please?

Miles: Would you please go to the prom with me?

Then:

Aria: yes. obviously.

Aria: took you long enough

Miles: Worth the wait though.

Aria: don't push it

Aria: but yes. worth it.

He stares at the screen for a moment, something settled and easy sitting in his chest that wasn't there this morning.

Then he remembers.

He switches over to Janice's thread. Her message is still sitting there unanswered, patient and hopeful and about four hours too late.

Miles: Hey. Sorry for the late reply. I actually already asked someone else and she said yes. Hope you find a great date.

He sends it before he can soften it further. It is already plenty soft.

He sets the phone down and walks away from it.

Across town, he will never see it, but Janice reads the message twice. Then a third time. Her jaw tightens and she sets her own phone face down on her desk with considerably more force than necessary.

She stares at the wall for a long moment.

She had been so sure she wasn't too late