Rohan searched his cupboard for something to wear. He had never cared about the way he looked before but he couldn't wear the same old jumper out with Annie. He found another jumper tucked away in the back of his drawer. It was also blue but had a white button on each shoulder. It was the only item of clothing which wasn't a white t-shirt or singlet.

He had a shower and shaved, was about to put oil in his hair but he hadn't done that since last week because she had said she liked his hair without it. Rohan tossed the jar in the bin and grinned at himself in the mirror. He got his towel, rubbed his head, and then ran his hands through his hair. Rohan wondered why he had never worn it like this before because it didn't look too bad. His jeans were too short as usual but he made sure he wore the same-coloured socks and left his belt a bit looser so the jeans might drop a little more.

When he put the jumper on the sleeves were too short for his arms. He remembered this was why he had stuffed it into the back of his drawer. Rohan pushed the sleeves up his forearms so no one would notice and headed off. He was too early. It was only six-thirty when he arrived but he didn't want to be late on his first date with Annie. Rohan shook his head in disbelief and chuckled to himself as he leaned cross armed against the wall. This was his first date ever. The first time he had been anywhere with someone. He hadn't even been on a school excursion with a group of people let alone just one.

*

Annie hurried home and got in the shower. She wanted to look pretty. As she shampooed her hair, she flicked her clothes through her mind. Something casual, she thought, not too sexy and not too dressy because she didn't want to intimidate him. Jeans, Rohan always wore jeans so Annie would too. Jeans and a nice t-shirt with her casual sandals.

Her hair. How should she do her hair? Annie didn't want to look the same as she did at work so she wore it down.

She was about to put a touch of lipstick on, and then stared at it in indecision. Those two women wore lipstick. Rohan had been uncomfortable with them. Maybe lipstick was too much on their first date. Maybe if she wore lipstick it would be their last date. She liked lipstick. The copper tones made her eyes bluer and her skin brighter. Annie thought about her mother's words. "Go in as you plan to continue." Annie put the lipstick on.

She got on the bus and looked out of the window in excitement as they drove towards the city. They were half way there when it stopped. She thought it was a traffic light. When it didn't move forward and the people around her grew restless, she realised they were in a traffic jam. She heard the bus driver say to one of the other passengers that there had been a car accident up ahead and they'd just have to wait.

Annie jiggled in her seat and looked at her mobile phone for the time. Seven-fifteen. She sat back and thought, well that was that. Annie figured they had at least another ten or fifteen minutes to the bus stop then she had to walk to The Regent, probably another five or ten minutes. It would be well after seven-thirty by the time she got there and she didn't think Rohan would wait. After all she had said seven-fifteen.

He'd surely feel rejected and who knew how it would affect his confidence but there was nothing she could do about it.

When the bus finally got to her stop Annie quickly looked at the phone again.

Seven-forty. Twenty-five minutes late. Annie ran towards The Regent. As she rounded the corner, she could see him. He was leaning on the wall looking down at his feet. His palms tucked tight under his arms, rocking his body backwards and forwards. He looked so dejected.

As she strode towards him, he gave a final push off the wall with his shoulders and walked away. Annie started to run again. "Rohan!" He didn't hear her so she called again, "Rohan!"

I hope Annie can catch him.

Photo - istock.com