It's so great!

I just can't wait

to pick you up

on our very first date!

After the whole fight with Lord Loss and after Dervish stopped being a vegetable, Marissa—the girl who had visited me in the insane asylum—hunted me down and found me here in Carcery Vale. It took me by surprise when she appeared at my door but Dervish knew her so it all made sense.

By the next few visits, I decided that I should ask her out. I mean, she was nice and cute and all. There weren't very many girls like her in Carcery Vale. So I decided to grow some balls and just go for it.

So here we are, walking the streets of the small town.

She clung on tightly to my right arm as we walked. It was uncomfortable at first, but I got used to it. I just hoped that she couldn't hear my heart ready to jump out of my chest.

There were no people out. The town was quiet and lonely today.

Then, all of a sudden, a short boy with dark brown hair wearing a suit came along and started walking nervously. It was odd. I had never seen him before. I doubt he lived around here. He must've been new or something. His suit was old and raggedy. What was he doing?

As he passed us by, Marissa broke the awkward silence as she said—

"Who was that?"

Great, just great. The point of a date is to pay attention to the guy you're on a date with, not some random guy that just walks right by! Even after he was long gone, she craned her neck to see where he had went. It was embarrassing! Is it so hard to pay attention to me?

"I don't know," I said in monotone with a shrug. Don't ask me!

In the bushes beside us, I heard some snickering. I knew there were people there but it was nothing to be freaked out about. Probably some dumb teenagers.

Then the guy passed by again!

"Um, h-hi," he stuttered nervously. "I'm Darren."

"Hi! I'm Marissa!" Marissa said with a big smile.

Cue the jealous boyfriend. "I'm Grubbs. Do you live around here?"

"N-no," he said. He looked like a guilty little kid.

"So you must be new!" Marissa exclaimed, letting go of my arm. "We should show you around! Right, Grubbs?" she asked me. As if knowing I would say no, she gave me a puppy-dog look.

I sighed out loud. "Okay, fine. C'mon, kid," I said as we walked along.

I felt defeated. Worst date ever.

I knew I wouldn't hear the end of it from Dervish when I got home.