How They Met (and other calamities)
Chapter 4: Riku/Xion
The Real Story: (submitted by Christina Folkwein) :I met my husband while on a blind date with another guy. He kept pretending to be my blind date... We've been married 2 years.
Quick note: Trying first person this time. Let me know what you think!
Let's be honest here. Blind dates should be called desperate dates.
I mean, seriously. First off, it starts with one of two things: someone in your life realizing how alone you are, and saying to themselves, "You know what? Even though _ has never met this person and knows nothing about them, I should set them up! Heck, they haven't been getting any dates on their own!" Yeah, most of the time it's just good intentions, but still. Talk about insulting.
The second way is almost worst. Because if you're like me, you were sitting on the couch, watching some show that was playing on TV at 4 am (only because your internet usage ran out so you can't watch Netflix) and eating whatever was left in the kitchen when you realize how lame your life is. I mean, hell, I don't even have cats. The definition of a lonely twenty-something was a woman with tons of cats, and I'm so lonely I don't even have that.
Sure, I have friends. But I can't exactly call up my friends to come over and make out on my couch and then watch Doctor Who.
Well, actually, some I probably could. But I wouldn't prefer it.
So it was then when I found myself flipping open my cell phone (Yes, I have a flip phone. Shut up, it was either a smartphone or food. Being a freelance writer doesn't exactly mean I'm living in luxury.) and calling up Namine.
Most of us have a friend like Namine. You know, the socialite who is all too ready to try and introduce her friends to other friends. I've seen her phone contact list, and I spent a minute and a half just scrolling through the A's before giving up. She's what me and a few others like to call the matchmaker. Half the time I'm convinced that she knows everyone in the entire United States. Hell, she somehow has my sister's best friend's number. How, I don't know.
But anyways, Namine was all too happy to find me someone. I could tell from over the phone that she was still out on the town, even though it was four in the morning. Within two seconds of thinking about, I got exactly the response I was both dreading and hoping for: "Xion, I have someone perfect for you!"
Namine refused to tell me anything about the guy, sadly. Not even his name or what he looked like! I begged, of course, but I could picture her smirk over the phone. Just trust me, she said. Trust someone with my love life? Wasn't deciding to actually go on a blind date enough? Namine may be a matchmaker, but she certainly didn't have a 100% success rate.
Oh well, I told myself as I attempted to glam up my short black hair (which, sadly, due to the length and the fact that it's as straight as a ruler no matter what I do, was unsuccessful), This is just the first try. Oh, God, I'm going to have to do this again. I'm so desperate. Also, why didn't I ask Namine for makeup tips, too? We both have blue eyes, but somehow hers always look way better.
Ugh, this is so trivial. I pulled on a pair of dark jeans and the first non-crumpled shirt I found in my closet and ran out the door, address in hand.
As I surveyed the restaurant in front of me, I couldn't help but think one thing.
Dang it.
This was a nice place. Like, people coming in suits and dresses. And here I am, meeting some dude I don't even know, in jeans.
What a great start to my first blind date.
I took a deep breath and pulled open the door to the restaurant, where the hostess promptly asked me how many in my party. "Um, I don't know if the guy has already showed up yet. I'm on a blind date," I said, embarrassed.
Thankfully, she smiled. "Oh, okay! Well, there hasn't been anyone coming in alone yet, but when someone comes in, I'll ask if you're their date!"
I exhaled. "Thank you so much," I told her as another employee arrived to take me to my table.
"No problem," she said. "Good luck!"
I'm going to need it.
A short note to people going on blind dates:
Bring a book.
Or a smartphone, or whatever. Just something to occupy your time. Because let me tell you, it really sucks to just be sitting at a table, alone, desperately glancing up every two seconds waiting for someone to walk over. I'd finished an entire glass of water already, and I could tell the waiter felt sorry for me.
Geez, is he ever going to show u-
My thoughts were interrupted by a tall guy in his mid-twenties striding right towards my table. Woah, he actually showed up.
First impressions: Silver hair cut just below his ears, aquamarine eyes, good build, at least a head and a half taller than me. Even with silver hair, ridiculously attractive. That suit was certainly doing him some favors, and I don't even know how he got his tie to exactly match his eyes. I could see some of the other women around me checking him out.
Thank God for Namine.
He towered over me, smiling. "Mind if I sit down?"
"Well, considering this is a date, yeah, you'd better." Wow, Xion, you really need to tone down the cynicism.
His eyes showed a glimmer of confusion before reverting back into charismatic mode. "Well, it's nice to meet you. I'm Riku. And you?"
I smiled. "Nice to meet you as well. I'm Xion, with an X."
"An X, huh? Never heard that name before; it's very pretty. Suits you," he told me. Darn that charming grin.
"Why, thank you," I responded, blushing.
Well, this isn't so bad.
Before long, Riku and I were hitting it off. We had only been talking for around 15 minutes, but it felt like we had known each other for much longer. He laughed at my sarcastic jokes, had an excellent taste in music, and when my phone rang, he didn't even tease me about my flip phone.
I looked down at the tiny phone to see Namine calling. "Will you excuse me for a second?" I asked.
"Sure, take all the time you need," he replied.
I walked past the same hostess who had told me good luck and smiled at her before taking my call outside.
"Hey, Namine!" I cheerfully answered. Because seriously, she chose well for me.
"So, how's it going?" Namine asked, skipping the greetings.
"It's actually going amazingly. Like, seriously, this guy is super-hot, funny, and just good all around," I told her, smiling.
"Oh, good! I knew you and him would get along," she said happily.
"Definitely. Also, how is it even possibly for someone to pull off silver hair? Because he does it."
"Um, Xion?" Namine's voice held a trace of something I couldn't identify. "The guy I set you up with is blonde."
Oh, crap.
"What do you mean he's blonde?! Riku has silver hair!" I exclaimed, trying not to sound panicked.
"His name is Roxas, Xion! Oh my God, who have you been talking to for the past 20 minutes?" Namine questioned.
"I don't know! Granted, it was going well, but oh my God! Roxas hasn't even shown up yet, how was I supposed to know it wasn't him? This guy just asked if he could sit down and started talking! I assumed!" At this point, I was in full on panic attack mode.
"Okay, Xion, calm down. Just go in there and ask him who he even is, then wait for Roxas. Alright? Don't worry." Her voice was somehow comforting, and I hung up the phone and walked back into the restaurant.
I plopped down into my seat across from Riku, and immediately exclaimed, "Okay, who are you?!"
Before he could answer, a blond guy approached our table, headed straight towards me. "Sorry, um, are you Xion?"
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, I am. Who are you?"
"I'm Roxas. Who's this guy?" he questioned.
Riku smirked and leaned back. "I'm Riku. I got here first."
Xion, cockiness should not be attractive, stop that. Roxas seemed offended, while I grinned. "Excuse me?" Roxas glared.
Riku turned towards me. "Wait. You thought I was your blind date?"
"Well, obviously! You just sat down at my table and introduced yourself! Why did you even sit down in the first place?"
"How could I not sit down next to a beautiful girl sitting alone?" he responded. Xion. Stop. He is not your date!
I looked back at Roxas, who seemed both mad and confused. "I am so sorry. Namine didn't tell me anything about you, so I just assumed…"
I could tell he was trying not to raise his voice, but I could still see the bitterness in his eyes. "It's fine. Now, silver haired grandpa dude, do you mind?"
Riku sighed and got up out of his chair. "Well, Xion, it was nice to meet you. Sorry about that."
Roxas immediately took his seat before Riku even walked away.
But before he left, he gave me three things.
A handshake.
A wink.
And his phone number.
Okay, guys. I was hesitant about this whole first person thing, but oh my gosh, I actually love this one. My all time favorite. Did you guys like it? The prompt was a bit confusing, I know, but I think I did well. xD
Anyways, if you enjoyed, why not let me know with a favorite, follow, or review? Thanks to the people who have done any of those things: AniManga HikiBaka, unicron1000, and TTY7! As embarrassing as this is, whenever I felt like I didn't want to write, I just looked at the reviews and follows and stuff and managed to get inspired again. :D
Don't forget to submit your own How They Met stories in reviews or pm's! :)
-Audrey