I freaked out.

Most likely a bit more than I needed to. I will admit to that, but she had it coming.

Don't get me wrong. Kristy still is my best friend but the moment you interfere with my love life is where I draw the line.

I immediately made her call a Taxi and leave. I even let her take the popcorn bowl just so she would get out. Once I pushed her out the front door, I leaned against the hard wood praying she didn't do something stupid. I just need to calm down, whatever she did can't be that bad. I ran back to my room and retrieved my phone from where I had thrown it on my bed during my little fit. Trust me, we do not need to relive that moment.

This is what I read...

Me: This is Mason right???

Mason: Gabby?

Me: Hi! Ya, that's me, Gabby Dime!

Impersonating me and making me sound like a chipper five year old, gee thanks Kristy.

Mason: what's up, gabby dime?

Me: I rlly enjoyed lunch and I was wondering if we could do it again tomorrow?

Mason: u know it's saturday 2morrow right?

Me: oops!

Oh, look at that. I'm a disorganized girl who doesn't even know the day of the week. Fantastic.

Mason: but im free for lunch if u wanna meet up

Me: that would be super cool

Umm, last time I've checked I haven't let the words, "Super cool!" slip out of my mouth in ten years.

Mason: how about this cool coffee shop called Mandy's?

Me: I love coffee!

I hate coffee.

Mason: @ 1:00? meet u there

Me: perfect

Mason: sounds gr8!

I turned my phone off again and stared out the window as I watched Kristy climb into a taxi cab. The yellow vehicle sped off, leaving a cloud of gas to rise and dissipate into the air like it was never there in the first place. Taking my best (and currently most disliked) friend with it.

As I brought my line of sight back inside, I couldn't help but think. My thoughts rebounded off the pale, white bedroom walls and kept me in an endless stream of thought.

I'm going on a date with Mason. Or am I? Is it even a date? Shouldn't I text him or call him back, and make him aware of the horrible mistake that has been made? But he accepted my invitation so willingly... Or rather Kristy's invitation.

If he didn't want to go he didn't make it very clear. I mean, if there was anything I learned over today's luncheon, it was that Mason, like me, is straightforward. He definitely didn't beat around the bush when he told me how much he hated the new policies being implemented. So why would he lie now?

Okay, I'll go. But on one condition. It's a casual meeting and NOTHING else.

Officially satisfied with the terms my crisis-solving conscience had put together, it was time to settle in for the night and prepare for whatever tomorrow brought. I walked into the kitchen to find the mystery card board box still sitting lamely on my counter top.

"No! I've had enough for one day. I'm not dealing with you right now."

I removed my box enemy from my kitchen and stuffed into my coat closet for a later date. I guess it really isn't a bomb. What a shame.

-

I stared into the mirror of my bathroom vanity.

I did not want this boy getting the wrong opinion of me. So, I kept it business casual. My hair was pinned tight in its usual bun and I wore leggings with a warm, white sweater over top.

Now the big question... heels or flats?

Me: H or F?

Kristy: NO WAY! U R GOING!

Me: shut up

Me: H or F?

Kristy: i dunno, what else r u wearing?

Me: leggings and a sweater

Kristy: flats

Me: rlly?

I eyed my pair of black loafers. They were becoming increasingly more attractive by the second.

Kristy: i mean luv heels but like, idk

Me: ur no help

Kristy: u r very welcome & good luck (:

Why am I overthinking this so much? Just treat it like you're going on a coffee run with your cute, elderly grandma.

Kristy: so remember when i was txting mason

Me: no i don't recall blowing up and throwing u out of the house at all

Kristy: stop. ur sarcasm is so terrible it hurts

Me: I try!

Kristy: he did say meet at 1:00pm right???

I took a glance at the top of my phone screen to see the terrible numbers glowing in front of my face.

1:18 PM

"Oh no, oh no, oh no!"

I slipped on the loafers and darted out of the house.

He's going to leave and then hate me forever and ever!

I waved down a taxi and quickly sputtered out an address. I don't know how the driver made sense of my flustered mess of English words, but he seemed to get the hint and stepped on the gas. I watched as the blur of New Jersey sped by through the back seat window. Poor Mason, he's probably looking out a window too right now. Except he probably showed up to Mandy's thirty minutes early, ordered two cups of piping hot coffee, and now is looking out his window longingly coming to the terms with the fact that I stood him up. One coffee empty and one filled to the brim now only lukewarm.

Finally, the taxi pulled up to a side street, with Mandy's sitting quite snug between an antiques store and a run down 7-Eleven. I paid my fare and jogged out into the cool air. An icy breeze, whipping down the block as I fight mother nature to reach my destination.

I come up to the door, out of breath and out of it in general. A graphic cartoon is stamped on the glass door. It's a girl holding a cup of steamy coffee that greets me, and next to the happy character is Mandy's written in fine calligraphy. I pull my eyes away from the colorful image and look to open the door, but suddenly the handle is yanked the opposite direction by some unknown force.

The other human being, he who is coming out, runs into me. Jostling his own cup of coffee out of the safety of it's container, as gravity takes its course.