We interrupt 'Never Gonna Give up on You' for another installment of 'Hiro and GoGo Tales'!
II. Just Give me a chance
An all-too familiar chime woke Hiro Hamada from his sleep. This chime was GoGo Tomago's favorite song-and the pop-tune played as Hiro struggled to grab his phone. He knew, though, that the conversation would be short.
He pressed the answer button, and said, "Hello?"
The voice, belonging to GoGo, replied, "Hiro?"
Hiro smiled, and said, "The usual place?"
GoGo replied, "Yep. It's my treat, this time."
Hiro said, "OK. Give me 15 minutes."
Hiro got out of bed, then grabbed his hoodie and a pair of jeans. He then headed out towards the all-night diner that he and GoGo frequented.
As he walked towards the diner, he wasn't even aware of when this started. But it was every Friday-GoGo would call him late at night, and they'd go to the diner. And she'd tell him about her bad dates-and he'd listen. He would wonder why she didn't talk to Honey Lemon-they were both women who were big in dating.
He didn't have too much time to dwell-he had arrived at the diner. He walked inside, and at their usual table was her-no one else possessed those tell-tale violet streaks in her hair. He sat down, and as he did, she gave him a small smile as a welcome.
In turn, he said, "Hi, GoGo."
There was already a glass of cola and a menu. Hiro flipped through the menu as a preliminary. The waitress came up, and said, "Ready to order?"
GoGo said, "Give me an order of mozz sticks, and the fried shrimp."
Hiro said, "I'll have the chicken finger plate."
The waitress left to place their order. Hiro coughed, and said, "It must have been a really bad date."
GoGo raised an eyebrow, and Hiro continued, saying, "You very rarely offer to treat me."
Before GoGo could elaborate, the waitress returned with their food. GoGo said, "It was bad."
Hiro said, "Tell me about it."
And so, GoGo did-like every Friday after a date. She'd describe how she got herself all prettied up, and head out to meet 'the one'. And how every date would end in miserable failure-the guys would either eye her like a piece of meat, or she'd be with someone who was looking for a 'rebound'.
And Hiro would lend her a sympathetic ear. Despite his own feelings for GoGo, he never pushed himself onto her. But after this latest date, Hiro decided that tonight he'd let GoGo know what he really thought.
She had stopped, sipping her drink. She said, "Well, that was tonight."
Hiro replied, "No, GoGo-that's every Friday night. Every Friday night, you go out with some loser. And after every 'date', you call me and we go to this diner and you tell me what went wrong. And I sit here and listen. And I wonder-why me? Why don't you talk with Honey?"
GoGo was silent. She softly said, "Look, Hiro…it's not like that…"
Hiro said, "So tell me…what is it? We're friends, right? And we can tell each other anything."
GoGo thought, I can't tell Hiro that…that I'm only dating all those guys to get over him…She stirred her drink with the straw, and sighed. Hiro coughed, thinking, It's time to talk about the elephant in the room…
Hiro said, "GoGo…I've never told anyone else this…well, except Aunt Cass…but I really…"
GoGo held up her hand, and said, "Hiro…don't…don't do this…"
Hiro replied, "I have to…GoGo…I like you. But more than a friend, and more than a teammate."
GoGo then said, "Dammit, Hiro…I didn't want you to tell me that."
Hiro said, "Why? I thought, as friends, we could tell each other anything."
GoGo replied, "But not that! I wasn't ready to tell you…"
Hiro said, "Tell me what?"
GoGo said, "That…the truth is…I'm madly, deeply…in love with you."
Hiro was stunned-he'd expected this, of course, but if she was so in love, then why these dates? He asked, "GoGo…if you felt this way about me, then why didn't you tell me?"
GoGo sighed, and said, "I was afraid. Afraid that that would change things between us. We have a great friendship…and if we started dating…"
Hiro said, "Go…nothing would change between us. We'd just have a different kind of relationship."
GoGo said, "Is it that simple?"
Hiro said, "Just give me a chance-and I'll give you what those other guys couldn't."
GoGo smirked, and said, "Alright…but I'm not letting you up my skirt after the first date, Hiro…"
Hiro reddened when he realized what he said, and how GoGo twisted his words. GoGo laughed-a sweet laugh tinged with the toughness Hiro came to love.
He said, "So…next Friday?"
GoGo said, "Sure. And if all works out…we won't have to spend next Friday at a diner listening to me complain about a bad date."
Hiro got up, and took Gogo's hand. They left the diner, and GoGo said, "Thanks for spending another Friday night." But then-and for the first time since they were doing this-she leaned in and kissed his cheek.
She turned, and said, "Night, Hiro."
Hiro replied, "Night, GoGo." And as he headed back to his place, he thought That's all I ever wanted…just a chance with you, GoGo…
And that ends this tale! Leave a comment!
And be on the lookout for the finale of "Never Gonna Give Up on You!"
