Life Is Simple In the Moonlight

"So, we're spending the day together" a no longer freaked out by your behaviour Maisie summarises "What do you suggest we do?"

It's a good question. And one you have no idea how to answer. It isn't usually you who makes these kind of decisions. It is a little crazy as you realise just how much Maisie has dominated your relationship up until now. And even in this moment, you are trying to think what she would approve of rather than what you would actually enjoy yourself. You attempt to play it safe.

"How about the cinema?"

"It's a bit boring" Maisie wrinkles her nose. At least her brutal, if at times tactless, honesty should make this whole process easier for you "There isn't anything I want to watch on at the moment. And how am I supposed to get to know you if we can't even talk? But I don't mind going if its what you want to do"

It's a fair reaction. Time to put your plan into play.

"So what would you like to do Maisie, if it was up to you?"

"Maybe go to the ice skating rink in Cary?" she proposes "I love to skate, and I don't get to very often"

Ice skating. Not exactly your top choice to pass the time, but you want to impress this girl and now you think you know how.

"Maisie, forget the last couple of minutes of conversation, from when you asked me what we should do" you command.

She looks at you somewhat blankly for a moment or two before speaking again.

"So we're spending the day together. What do you suggest we do?"

"It would mean a bit of a drive into Cary, but how about hitting the ice skating rink?"

"Oh my God, that's an amazing idea!" Maisie's face lights up in a way that warms your heart "I love to skate and I hardly ever get to. Let's head there now!"

You adore the way she is suddenly looking at you. Thank you, Bill Murray!

---

Some time later you are on ice with your crush. You've never done this before, and it is fair to say you aren't a natural, but you have wiped a couple of embarrassing pratfalls from Maisie's mind and she is currently linking arms with you and getting you up to speed.

"Thank you so much for bringing me here, it was a really cool suggestion" she beams at you with enthusiasm "Maybe we can do this together more often? I know you are a bit of a newbie at it, but you've done really well not to fall over. Most people do at least once on their first time. You might just be a natural at this!"

"Sure, let's make this a regular thing!" you answer gladly.

Maisie is more than happy to spend the rest of the afternoon at the rink with you. Once it starts to get dark, you grab some food at the cafe there, and she has been enjoying herself so much she actually seems eager to spend more time with you.

"So what do we do this evening?" she asks,

"How about we just chill at mine?"

"Yeah we could do" she answers unenthusiastically "It's a lovely evening, it might have been nice to be outside. But I don;t mind, it's your call"

"Maisie, forget the last couple of minutes of conversation happened"

"So what do we do this evening?" she asks again.

"It's such nice weather. Maybe I drive us to a nice secluded spot where it is just us and we chill together under the stars"

"Oh I'd love that! It would be so romantic!" Maisie smiles, before catching herself and blushing "I mean, not romantic, just nice"

You try not to look too pleased with yourself. You feel sure this is working.

---

You and Maisie are sitting together on the hill you have driven her to, gazing up at the star filled sky. She looks so happy. Normally with you she seems kind of neutral, now you think about it. Subtly but deliberately, Maisie shifts her body closer to yours, so you are almost touching. You pretend not to notice.

"I have to say I like the real you a lot" she smiles "So tell me more about yourself. What kind of bands or artists are you into? Music is a really big deal to me"

Is it? You realise with some sense of shame just how little interest you ever really paid in Maisie as a person. You just liked looking at her and being near her. All that is about to change though. But what is the correct answer here? Who would she like? Don't just about all women enjoy Taylor Swift? It feels like a safe choice.

"Taylor Swift"

"She's fine I guess. A bit overrated honestly" Maisie seems disappointed in your answer.

"Who do you like Maisie?"

"I'm really into indie rock" she tells you, suddenly speaking with real passion "Bands that were at their peak before I was even born. I love Sonic Youth, they even did a song about Chapel Hill, which is amazing. Pixies were awesome. But my absolute favourites are The Strokes"

"Oh yeah, Last Nite. Great song" you try to agree, referencing the only track of theirs you know.

"Yeah it is, but they did so much better" Maisie replies, unimpressed "Like Reptilia. Or You Only Live Once. Or there is this track at the end of Angles called Life is Simple in the Moonlight which I go crazy for. That album took so much shit but it is a masterpiece. People are fucking stupid"

"Maisie, I want you to forget the conversation we just had about music"

She does, and asks you again about your taste. How on the nose do you go with this? You decide to just throw caution to the wind.

"Sonic Youth obviously, especially since they did that song about our home town. And Pixies are brilliant too. But my absolute favourites are The Strokes"

"Oh my fucking God!" Maisie looks as excited as you have ever seen her "Your taste is impeccable! The Strokes are the best band ever! What is your favourite track of theirs?"

"Tough question. You think I'm going to say Last Nite don't you?" you are almost smug in the knowledge that this is an exam question you have already cheated on "I'd say Reptilia, or You Only Live Once. But the last track on Angles, which is a criminally underrated album by the way, that might just be my favourite"

"Life is Simple in the Moonlight!" Maisie is almost losing her shit at you saying this "I fucking love that song. I had no idea we had this much in common!"

She pulls out her phone, starts the song up, and places it on the ground next to you. It is a really good track - maybe The Strokes can be you favourite band too now, and it can be a thing you share together. Then, to your great surprise, Maisie rests her head on your shoulder, something she has never done before. You feel like, nervous as you are, now is the time to make your move.

"Maisie, can I kiss you?"

She does seem to consider this for a moment, then shakes her head.

"I think it would be a bad idea" she tells you "And a bit of advice from a girl for when you are dating, never ask for a kiss, just take the initiative. It is so much hotter, and harder to resist"

"Maisie forget I asked you for a kiss"

She does. God, are you really going to do this? You can always delete her memory of it if it's a disaster, but not your own. You place your hand on Maisie's cheek and gently turn her face towards yours. she doesn't resist. You then lean in and place your lips on hers. She kisses you back. It is an amazing feeling, the most incredible moment of your life. You never really dreamed you would get here. The pair of you continue to smooch until the song ends, which feels like a natural point to break it off. Maisie looks a little awkward for a moment or two, then speaks.

"That was nice, and I'm glad we had that moment" she tells you "But you are my best friend, this feels like a bad idea. Let's maybe cool it for now and see how we feel in the morning huh?"

You nod at her respectfully. Even with your new gift, attempting to make her fall for you in one day would have been ambitious, and the whole lifetime friends thing may still be a difficult hurdle to get over. But you have already seen the results your new plan can achieve. Maisie was never repulsed by you, you just weren't saying the right things. Now you will. You feel sure that, with a bit more work, you've got this.