That next day Hayner went through his closet to find the best outfit he could find. Some old faded, slightly torn and worn jeans of his. That new shirt his uncle got him for Christmas. Oh he loved that shirt. New on the line and it clung to show his muscles. Or what muscles he wish he had more volume to. A bit of jewelry, some rings, that one necklace Olette got him in 7th grade. Oh yeah he was lookin' pretty hot. He observed himself in the mirror hoping he didn't look too out of fashion for Sora's taste. A bit more of style mousse for his hair. Breath mint. Hey, it's the thought that counts. Finally he was dubbed ready. He picked up the phone and dialed for Pence.
"C'mon man, pick up." He groaned when all he heard was the continuous ringing. "I'll have to try for Olette then...man now I have to tell her. This could be one big mess." He hung up and tried for Olette's house and held his breath when she answered.
"Hello?"
"Ah yeah hi Olette."
"Hayner? What's up?"
"I was gonna go by the marketplace. Y'know, meet Sora there. You wanna come?"
"Do I?! Sure! What time?"
"Uh right now." Hayner tried to hold back the stuttering.
"Okay, I'll see you there!" All Hayner heard was the click of the receiver and the dial tone. Was that the right thing to do? Oh well, he couldn't take it back now. He hung his phone up, gathered up his essentials and headed out the door, giving his parents a quick yell.
Olette was already waiting by the candy shop when Hayner came up. He gave her a small wave and joined her.
"You got here quick."
"Yeah! Now pose!" She held up her camera and pressed the shutter.
"Ack!" Hayner blinked over and over, trying to regain his vision. "Ugh, Olette a little warning please?!"
"Sorry." She pouted, looking at the developing photo. "Aww, I think you blinked. Pose again?"
"As soon as you tell me why in the world you're taking my picture."
"Pence said Sora had to have your picture. How in the world will he know what you look like today?"
"Pence said-oh he DIDN'T!"
"I didn't know Sora was a boy!" She giggled. "Forbidden love, oh its so cool. I didn't know you liked boys Hayner." She snapped a photo of the freaked look on his face, then the facepalm expression.
"He told you!"
"Yeah, you know we never keep things from each other Hayner." Olette jutted a finger into his chest. "How come you didn't tell me?"
"I-I was gonna! Today! Pence beat me to the punch!"
"Well, as long as you were going to." She smiled and held her camera down. "You know this explains a lot of things. The way you acted around most girls."
"First off Olette I'm not gay." Hayner groaned and leaned against the wall.
"But Sora-"
"Yeah Sora's a guy, yeah I like him. But that doesn't make me gay. I still like girls."
"I see. This is all so complicated though." Olette put a finger to her cheek, tipping her head to the side. "He's in the future and everything. In a way it's kind of sad."
"Sad? It's a challenge! And I'm gonna win it and meet Sora. But...I suppose in a way it is kind of depressing. I can't see him, but he can see me. I don't mind as long as I know he loves me back."
"That's so sweet." She giggled. "So you must really love him."
"Yeah, I do." He smiled back.
"You could of saved yourself the trouble, you know. A few guys have come up to me in the past and asked if you were single."
"WHA-"
"I told them, 'yes he's single but he's not gay! So go try someone else!" Hayner covered his face with both hands, blushing brightly.
"Please tell me no guys are crushing on me!"
"Oh yeah! Like three or four!" Olette laughed and counted on her fingers. "There's Ven, Tidus, Terra, Rai, oh and Rikku the girl in my class asked for you." Wide brown eyes were on Olette. "And I think one of the teachers were eyeing you."
"Stop. Please."
"Oh this senior asked for you too."
"Olette."
"You know, Seifer or something."
"Olette I sa-...really? I always thought he was kinda fruity..." Hayner calmed a bit. "Still! What's with all these guys coming up to you and asking for me?! How long as this been going on?!"
"Um, start of 8th grade?"
"...Three years. You're telling me gay guys have been asking for me for three years."
"Yeah that sounds about right. I'd say that's about when you hit puberty."
"...N-Nevermind that, what time is it?" Olette checked her watch and held up 4 fingers. "I knew it, Sora'll be by in an hour, we gotta set up."
"How will we do it? You can't spray paint the wall here, they'll run you off."
"...Darn it, you're right...so how can I leave a message here?"
"Hmm...something that'll preserve your message and your photo...! Oh! I know!" Olette beamed and pointed to the plastic case on the other side of the street on the ice cream shop wall. "There, he never opens that. It's just a menu of what ice cream he has and we all know it'll never change."
"So we gotta find a way to get my note and photo in there..."
"No, just your photo. Remember the case is locked. Chances are the case will be locked in the future too and Sora won't be able to get to it."
"But what if Sora wants the photo? He can't get to it either."
"The old man is nice. If we tell him that in ten years if a boy wants the photo and asks for it, I bet he'd give it to him."
"Oh nice Olette!" He held his hand up for a high five which she returned with a victorious grin. "Man what would I do without you?"
"Probably cry. Oh, when you leave your photo, better hide the note someplace around the shop or something. Then with your photo, write on it where the note is. Something like that." Olette looked over to the kindly man wiping the counter clean. Then Hayner did, watching him rub over the surface in wide circles.
"I think I got an idea. Come on." He approached the old man and smiled when he looked up. "Hey."
"Well hello Hayner. The usual?"
"Um, in a little bit, but I was hoping you could do me a favor."
"What's that? A favor?"
"Yeah. I'd gladly pay you if you could do it for me. It's really really important."
"Well, how can I help?" Whew, here it goes. Hayner looked at Olette and back at the owner.
"Well. I'm gonna ask Olette to take a picture of me. And when its developed, do you think you can put it in your case? The one off to the side of the shop?"
"Well yeah, I can do that. What for?"
"Like a time capsule." Hayner grinned. "And I want to leave a note with you. So if anyone comes by later on asking specifically for the note and photo, you'll give it to them. Can you do that for me?"
"Well that sounds exciting! Sure!"
"Great!" Hayner beamed and turned back to Olette. "Get ready with the shutter. One sea salt ice cream." He said back to the owner. Now with the ice cream in his hand he turned to his friend and smiled holding the treat close to his lips. She snapped it and pulled it out, waving it about carefully.
"I bet it turns out great. You look so cute in that!" She giggled.
"Uh, I do not! What about hot or sexy?"
"Hayner, we're friends. It's like pulling teeth trying to give you just the right compliment."
"Fine fine." He sighed and looked over the photo. "There it is. Oh dang I look good."
"Easy Narcissus." Olette pulled the photo back. "Write out the message for the photo while he's getting the key."
"Got it."
"Hayner."
"Yeah?"
"Your ice cream's melting." Hayner hissed and quickly licked the juices from his fingers. While he was distracted Olette snapped a small photo and quickly took it from the mouth of the camera before Hayner could see. "Better get a napkin."
"Geez, it's winter. How could ice cream melt this fast?"
"I dunno. Who gets ice cream in winter?"
"Bite me." Hayner stuck his tongue out at her. Minutes later Hayner inhaled his ice cream and went to chuck the ice cream stick into a nearby bin but hesitated then decided against it. He came back and took out a notepad from his bag. "Let's see..."
Ask the shopkeeper for the note, 'heart' H.
"Why not your full name?" Olette peeked over his shoulder.
"I wrote this on the wall yesterday. I dunno, it kind of stuck I guess. And now for the note. I'll tell him if he wants the photo then to ask the owner." Nearly 30 minutes later Hayner finished the letter, folded it and tucked it away into the ziplock bag along with his dry ice cream stick. "Here." Hayner smiled and laid the baggy on the counter. "Can you put this up please? Later on from today, a kid with brown hair and blue eyes will come by. He'll want the note, will you give it to him please?"
"Well sure, if he asks for it. I can't guarantee I'll remember."
"Thanks. You got that key?"
"Already unlocked for ya. Just snap the lock back when you're done."
"And you're positive the case will never be opened? Say ten years from now?"
"Nope, ice cream stays the way it is. Ain't never gonna change it." Hayner grinned and prepared the photo and note.
"Thanks again. You don't know how much this means to me." Hayner turned to look around the corner at the opened case. He came closer and looked around at a decent spot to put the photo. Can't block out the menu. There was a good place at the bottom, it could still be seen and not cover up the ice cream choices. Everyone wins. Hayner carefully taped the photo to the bottom of the menu along with the small note. "You know, I bet this thing will get dirty over the years. Better clean inside and out just in case..."
"I bet you you're right. Here, use this." Olette dug through her purse and pulled out a hankerchief.
"You sure? That looks too pretty to use." Hayner looked it over.
"Just hurry! It's almost 5!" Olette doubled up her fist and kneaded it into his head.
"Ow ow okay!" He winced and cleaned the inside and outside of the case, then shut it inspecting the work. "Clean as a whistle. What do you think? You think he'll see it?"
"No doubt. Okay now lock it and wait it out." Hayner gave a huge sigh and hoped that it would work, then locked the sturdy plastic case.
"I hope it works..."
"Well I'll say this. Sora must be some guy."
"He is. He really is."
"Hayner, can you really wait ten years for him? Ten years for someone who may or may not exist in the future?"
"I'd wait 100 years for him...if I could just hug him once." Hayner's eyes saddened as he gave his friend a wry smile. She smiled and gently pet his shoulder. "You know Olette...I made him a promise. I say I make a promise to you too. And Pence."
"What's that?"
"Ten years from now when we're grown and have homes of our own and careers, we should join up again. That'll be the day when we'll all see whether I chose the right road or the wrong one. If I'm still a nobody or a somebody."
"Hayner, you're always a somebody to me." She leaned in and gently kissed his cheek. Hayner blushed and leaned against the wall beside the case, looking up into the sky.
"Thanks Olette...let's see how this plays out. Then tomorrow we can bring this to a close. And then...well, we'll see what other surprises I have in store."
