Alex

"Earth to Alex." Jake hit me across the cheek lightly with a wad of papers.

Dragging away my eyes from my phone, which had held my attention for most of the evening, to Jake I saw the quirked brow expression he held on his face. Admittedly, I had been incredibly distracted from work, but it was supposed to my evening off and my head was elsewhere. 

"Sorry, what were you saying?" 

"You've made my day a nightmare," Jake laughed, "The least you could do is listen."

"I just want to go to bed, Jake. Can't we do this tomorrow."

"Unfortunately my career rests on your career, so not really, no."

"I just want to sleep." I groaned.

"No, Alex, what you want to do is go giggle on the phone while kicking your feet behind you like a love struck teenager." Jake scoffed, "He hasn't even texted you so let's just get this done."

"He said he would." I defended my non-existent relationship with Dylan.

Jake was my best friend, turned PR manager. He and Jenny worked together to keep my life and career intact, but Jake liked to say that I never made it easy for them. We had pretty much grown up together, from a bad area about an hours drive from the city. When he had gone off to university, I had landed myself an acting gig to make ends meet and it took off more than I could have expected it to. We escaped bad childhoods together; he did it through studying and I did it through acting. 

When my career began to take off, Jake had just finished his degree and was looking for a job, so it made the most sense for me to employ him as my PR manager at the time. Years later and he was one of the best in the industry. Sometimes he said he felt like ripping out his hair from my bad press, but I think he secretly likes it; I keep him on his toes.

The tabloids had picked up wind of me being a homosexual and it had spread like wild fire. Matters were of course made worse by the fact they now thought I was dating a university student seven years younger than me. It wasn't ideal, but it was better to deal with it now since I actually did intend to continue seeing Dylan. If he texts me, that is.

 On our way to my place Jake almost ran over a few crazy paparazzi that were hanging around outside my gates waiting for a photo opportunity. They seemed disappointed that I hadn't arrived with Dylan in the passenger seat, but I was glad he wasn't getting caught up in the brunt of this. It was kind of why I was so okay with ending the date early; I knew if I let it go on any longer the paparazzi would end up showing up as somebody in that café inevitably posted that Alex Hill was on a date there.

What kind of tabloid reporter is so desperate for an interview that they put themselves in front of a moving vehicle? Crazy people.

"Alex, are you sure that all of this is worth it?" Jake sighed, "I know that you like him and I'm happy for you, you know that I love seeing you get all happy like this, but the guy isn't even replying to your texts and I'm fighting a PR battle because of it."

"I actually haven't texted him; I don't have him number." I sighed, "Yes, he is. I haven't felt this way about anyone in a long, long time. He's just so different to the other people I meet nowadays; he's an enigma."

"He'd better be." 

Jake took out his laptop to start typing some emails and I watched over his shoulder, impressed by his cataloguing of different articles about me. He had an entire memory stick dedicated to published press on me.

"I come baring coffee!" Jenny appeared at the archway of the dining room, "I let myself in."

Jake looked relieved that the second member of his two-person team had finally arrived and he thanked her extensively for bringing the nectar of the gods. Jenny began setting up her own workstation on my dining room table and I slumped in my chair, realising that I was going to be forced to sit here and listen to a plan of action for the rest of the evening.

"Finally, somebody useful is here." Jake enjoyed teasing me.

As I went to reply, my phone chimed. 

I practically pounced on it, moving fast to see who it was from. Mentally, I had my fingers crossed that it was Dylan. If it was about work, I think I'd actually rip my hair out strand by strand. The gods were smiling on me, however, as the text was from an unsaved contact.

Unknown: Hi, it's Dylan. I promised I'd text.

A goofy smile found its way to my face as I stared at the message. I hadn't lost all faith that he'd text, but I must admit I was getting a little bit paranoid, especially with Jake teasing me about being ghosted all evening. Saving the contact in my phone, I traced my finger around the letters on the screen spelling it out. It really did suit him.

"This is my first time seeing him like this." Jenny gushed to Jake, "It feels so bizarre!" 

"The last time I saw him like this was when my university flatmate got a tortoise." Jake held fondness in his voice.

I was too happy to care that they were talking about me like I wasn't in the room; I had a text from Dylan.

"It's a good bizarre, don't get me wrong! It's nice to see Alex so happy." Jenny cooed, making me roll my eyes.

"Jenny, I'm not a hospice patient."

Jake stifled his laugh, his fingers endlessly tapping on his keyboard.

"How would you feel about sharing an LGBT-related infographic on your story?" Jake looked over at me from above the rims of his glasses.

"Jake, what the fuck?" I blinked, "An infographic?"

"It's like a poster filled with data and stats with little icons or photos to support. It helps people visualise patterns and trends to better-" Jake began.

"I know what a fucking infographic is, Jake." I cut him off.

"What's the problem, then?" Jake seemed genuinely confused.

"I don't want my sexuality to become a brand." I groaned, "I am me, and yes that includes being gay, but that's only one part of me. People don't reduce straight people to a single aspect of their personality, so why should that be the case for me? It's the entire reason I haven't mentioned it to the press before. This idea of coming out is so heteronormative." 

"People don't reduce straight people to a single aspect of their personality, so why should that be the case for me?" Jake repeated, "That's a great quote, do you mind if I post that on your account?"

"Jake!"

"I'm partially kidding, Alex. You know I know how you feel; we've been friends forever and I agree with you. I totally get it and I know that it's bullshit, but that's the society we live in and I'm just trying to damage control your situation because that's literally my job. If you want to just go radio silent I get it, but I think you could turn this into a conversation about all of those things you just said. Use the media against itself to make something good."

Jake's words were sincere and I knew that he was probably right. He was the expert in all of this, after all, but it was a sensitive topic. His blunt personality was one of the reasons we had become friends in the first place and had remained friends ever since; Jake was one of the few people who I knew would always give me the truth, even when I didn't want to hear it.

"We don't need to go radio silent, Jake. Do what you think is best; I trust you." I relaxed into my chair, picking up my phone.

"It's about time." Jake joked.

Tuning out the incessant tapping sounds of their keyboard, I began to type a reply to Dylan. I hadn't meant to leave him hanging for so long, and despite not knowing him that well, I knew that he was the kind of person to stress about that. 

Me: Hi, Dylan. I'm glad you texted, sorry for the delay in my reply. I'm still with Jake. 

I sent the message but didn't set my phone down, half-hoping the reply would be instant.

"He won't reply straight away." Jake barked a laugh, "It's cute that you're so eager, though."

"Shut the fuck up." I laughed, "Wait, why not?"

"When people first start dating they tend to wait before replying so they don't seem desperate." Jenny piped up, "I do it to seem busier than I am on a Saturday night."

Before she had even finished speaking, my phone pinged with another message. Surprise dusted both of their faces and I smiled, seeing Dylan's name flash up on my screen. I felt pretty smug that Dylan had just proved to these two that he wasn't like that by replying so fast. It felt nice to know that he wasn't concerned about how he appeared to me; he was unapologetically himself.

Dylan:  Who is Jake?

"He's asking who you are, Jake." I laughed, "I should tell him you're just the PR manager." 

"I'm your best friend and you didn't mention me?" Jake frowned, "How come Jenny got to meet him and I didn't?" 

"Jenny happened to be there, you were not. Besides, it's a bit early for the meeting the friends stage."

"You said you met his, though!" Jake exclaimed.

"That's different, it was situational." I sighed.

Jake pouted but I ignored him, 

Me: Jake is my best friend since childhood. He's also my PR manager, which is why I had to rush off. I'm really sorry about cutting our date short. x

I sent the text off before I even thought about the fact I had put a kiss in there. It just felt so natural that I didn't second guess it, but maybe he'd read it as too forward. Jake had joked earlier about me acting like a teenager, but I actually felt like one thinking so much into my texts like this.

Dylan: It's fine, I understand. x

A grin blossomed across my face at the fact he had sent me a kiss back. Dylan seemed to be a very understanding and rational guy and it made including him in my over-complicated life stress-free. Even at the café, he didn't seem disappointed in the slightest.

Me: Are you free sometime next week for a second date? If you're interested, of course. x

My leg was bouncing as I waited for a response, but I was taken out of my thoughts by giggling coming from across the room. Jenny's cheeks were dusted a light pink and Jake had actually stopped typing for the first time this evening, giving Jenny a soft smile. Raising my eyebrows to myself, I adverted my eyes back to my phone. 

I had been waiting for them to get together ever since I had first hired Jenny back last year. From the get go they had got along like a house on fire and I thought it was only a matter of time. Jake must be the biggest workaholic I know, however, and he often said he didn't have time in his life for love. I harboured a little hope on his behalf that he would change his mind.

Another ping.

Dylan: I'm very interested in a second date, but I have exams next week. How about the week after? x

Me: Sounds perfect to me. x

Dylan: Did you want to call? I hated texting. x

"Everyone out." I jumped to my feet, "It's late, go home or go to a coffee shop, I don't care. Get a drink together and keep working if you must, but you need to leave right now."

"Is lover boy coming over?" Jake winked. 

"No, but he wants to call me, so you need to leave." 

"This is so exciting!" Jenny seemed all too happy to be kicked out of my house.

Jake smiled at her and I shook my head at them, ushering them out with their laptops in hand. As soon as the door was shut behind them, I sprinted up my staircase and to my bedroom, launching myself onto my bed and pressing on Dylan's contact. As the phone connected and I heard his adorable voice flood through the receiver, my heart melted. 

"Hi, Alex."

The way he said my name made my heart melt.

"Hi, Dylan."