Coffee ‘date’ with a friend

“Oh my god, Erik!” Heidi says with a flirtatious giggle, “That’s so funny!”

Erik grins, bowing his head slightly as he nurses the coffee in his hand, “Thank you I’ll be here all week.”

Heidi shifts in her seat, her hands resting in her lap, fidgeting nervously as she gazes across the table at Erik, trying to gain some of his affection.

“Anyway, what happened? You were gone for a bit there?”

Heidi can’t help but feel that excitement of her absence being noticed by Erik, She’s overjoyed that Erik actually pays attention to her, even if there was a few weeks there where it seemed like Erik only had focus on his girlfriend.

Heidi smiles, her lips tight, “Oh, it was nothing crazy. Just some family issues.”

“Oh jeez, I’m sorry, are you okay?”

Heidi wants to say, ‘I am now that I’m with you,’ but that would be crazy. So instead she replies with a friendly nod, “Yes! Everything is sorted now, I’m just happy to be back at uni with no extra stress hanging over my head.”

Erik nods, grinning, “Aw, I’m glad to hear it! You’re such a sweet lady, you deserve to not be pulled in so many directions.”

Heidi blushes.

“And,” Erik rambles on, “I’m glad I have my smart friend back to help me with my studying. Vi is smart but she’s not a great teacher, you are so much better at teaching and actually explaining than she is.” Erik laughs, leaning forward conspiratorially, “Don’t tell her I said that, she would beat me up.” He laughs.

Heidi’s eyes dart to his lips, she could lean in and kiss him right now, she instead, smiles and laughs, putting a hand to her mouth, “And here I thought you were just happy to have your friend back.”

Erik leans back and finished his coffee, “Well that too, of course! Vi keeps telling me that I need to hang out with more people other than just her and Sai.” He laughs.

Heidi bristles slightly, “I’m happy to be of service.. Uhm, how was your summer, though?” She asks, trying to veer away from the topic of Erik’s stunning girlfriend, “Did you see that Worn bandshirt had a gig not too far from here?”

Erik tilts his head, “No?” He pinches his nose bridge, “Seriously? I must’ve been spending so much time with Vi and stuff that I completely missed their announcement. Did you get a chance to go?”

Heidi bristles again, her nails digging into her palm slightly, “I did, it was good timing, I was picking up stuff from my dorm and I decided to just stay in my dorm after the gig instead of going back home straight away.” She smiles, fluttering her eyelashes, “That other band you like, I think… Sleeping Wizzes? Right? They’re coming by, you going?”

{Fn} thinks for a moment, “Hmm. Maybe. I don’t really like going to gigs by myself, Vi isn’t really into the same music as I am, so I’m not sure.” Erik completely oblivious to the fact that Heidi knows what one of his favourite niche bands are.

Heidi bites her tongue, “Well. I can. Go. With you? If you want… a..” She doesn’t want to say friend, she doesn’t want to lock herself into that box mentally, “companion?” She smiles.

Erik lights up, “You like them too?”

Heidi nods, lying smoothly, “Yeah! Super recently! You’ll have to make a playlist for me.” She laughs.

Erik nods, “Hell yeah, I’ll text you and let you know.” He sighs, “I’m getting a bit stuffy you wanna go for a walk in the gardens?

Heidi couldn’t say yes any faster.

—

There was a part of Heidi, in her time away, where she considered trying to move past her crush on Erik. His girlfriend is one of the hottest women on campus. Heidi is not an insecure woman, but she can see that Vi mogs her, Heidi is confident in the idea that if she had made a move on Erik before Vi did, he would’ve said yes, and she would’ve had the chance to date this dreamy man.

Heidi watches Erik in adoration as they walk down a path in the gardens next to the cafe, one hand in his pocket, the other pointing at random birds, why does he know so many scientific bird names… Heidi sighs dreamily.

“I’ve always wondered, Heids.” He starts awkwardly, “Why are you single?”

Heidi is stunned at the question, smiling in pure confusion.

“I mean.” He explains, “You’re quite pretty, y’know?” He points at himself, “I’m an average ass looking guy and I’ve got Vi, and like, wow I am punching, right?”

She shakes her head, torn between playfulness and seriousness, “Absolutely not! You’re a handsome man.”

Erik grins, pushing his hands in his pockets, “Aw, thanks. Surely you’ve got like options right? Surely, someone is looking to be the lucky man that gets to date you?”

Heidi almost swoons, she can’t help but wander if Erik is doing this on purpose, is this his messed up way of flirting? “Ah.. I just.. waiting for the right guy I guess.”

“Yeah? I respect that.” He jerks a thumb at himself, “Guess I’m proof that patience will get you your perfect partner.”

Erik may have just shoved a spear into Heidi’s heart there.

Heidi watches Erik notice something and turn around, she looks at him wistfully. It might be time. They can be friends. But they can never date. He’s obsessed with her, she’s sure that Erik doesn’t even see her as a woma-

“Here.”

Heidi’s heart melts.

{Fn} holds out a flower, a light blue nemophila, the flower of innocence, tranquillity and

Pure love

Heidi takes it gingerly, “Why?” She asks, her voice retreating into itself, coming out as soft and unsure.

“Reminds me of you. Your eyes, I think this flower suits you.” Erik smiles.

Heidi cannot tell if he’s doing this on purpose, but she takes it and smiles, “Thank you… Erik. You are so sweet.” ‘And hot, and beautiful, and thoughtful, and strong, and muscular, and so nice, your eyes, wow, I could stare at you all day, I wish I could hold your hand, I wish you would hold me.’

Instead, she just smiles, unable to let out the word vomit that wants to fall out of her mouth.

“Of course! Shall we keep walking? I’m meeting up with Vi for ice cream later, you want to join?”

Heidi doesn’t even care that he mentioned Vi right now, she fidgets with the flower, looking down at the dainty flora between her fingers.