“Genius…. An absolute tour de force.” – Kevin Ham, New Hog Times.

“Best of the year so far…” – Janice G., The New Paper.

“Two thumbs up! … A story that will make you believe in miracles.” – Lulu Flower Fairy, Fae Mail.

 

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“Why aren’t you listening to me?” My date, Course Readings Assignments, whispers into my ear.

I look down, chagrined. “I’m sorry,” I say hesitantly. “I don’t think I can do this.”

“What do you mean? We’ve been dating for a while now, and I think we make a perfect match.”

I stand abruptly, causing the cutlery on the table to rattle. Heads swivel around to look at me briefly, but then turn back to mind their own business.

“Course, I know you’re good for me, but I just don’t think of you that way.” My heart breaks a little on the inside as I tell him what I truly feel. I don’t know why it has taken me this long to be honest with him, and it’s almost as if a knife has struck my heart as I realize that I’ve lead him on for so long. How could I be so horrible?

Course pleads with me, grabbing my head and squeezing it tight. “Honey, what’s wrong? Talk to me.” His eyes are desperate, and I feel broken inside.

I tear myself away and feel my eyes water. Don’t cry. Don’t cry. Not with all these people looking. “It’s not you, it’s me. You’re an amazing guy, but I just don’t feel happy being with you.”

“I’ve been so torn on the inside, and my best friend tells me I should end this once and for all.”

The hurt in his eyes vanishes for a short moment to be replaced by anger. “Jay, you know Twitter doesn’t know what she’s saying.”

“No!” I cry. The other patrons of the restaurant are transfixed, as if they were watching an episode of Keeping Up with the Kardashians. A portly man with ruddy cheeks at the table next to ours chomps on his popcorn, eyes never leaving us. “Don’t talk about my best friend that way!”

I stomp out of the restaurant, escaping the stares. I am walking down the street, tears streaming down my face and blurring my vision. I didn’t expect breaking things off with Course to hurt this much. Even so, I feel relieved, more than anything else. Loss in my thoughts and feelings of self-pity, I am shaken out of my reverie when I walk straight into what feels like a wall.

“Whoa, there, little missy. Slow down,” A deep voice pours out and my body shivers reflexively. Not a wall. “Why are you crying?”

I sniff and look up. I forget to feel upset, and I feel my jaw drop open. The most gorgeous man I have ever seen in my entire life stands in front me. A sexy smirk plays around his mouth as he appraises me.

“Uh- I… Uh.” I find myself at a loss for words. I blubber and sputter awkwardly, rendered useless by his magnificence. Holy crap.

“Nice to meet you too,” He laughs. “My name is Sun, and I am hot. Literally.” In a normal situation, I would have laughed at that cheesy comment. But at this moment, I am basically a mindless bundle of cells.

“Yes, you are,” I say without thinking.

“You should come along with me and my friends,” Sun puts his arm around my shoulder and marches me down the road, taking charge of the situation. “We’ll have a lot of fun.”

“Uh. I… Yeah. What?”

“Oh, my friends are here!” I feel my legs begin to weaken when a group of ridiculously attractive men wave at us and walk over. Is this real life, or is this just fantasy?

“This is Facebook, Tumblr, and Random Shiny Things That Distract You.” He points them out as he says their names. “And this is Puppy Videos, and A New Song That Your Favourite Band Just Released.”

Their bright white teeth wink in the sunlight as they smile and say their hellos. I mumble something incoherent, dazzled by their charm, but they do not seem to think that I am crazy or off-putting.

“Jay!” I hear Course’s voice ring out from behind me. I whip around and see him, hair dishevelled and tie askew. “Don’t do this. You know how good we are together.”

“Course…” I begin. How does anyone do this? “I don’t think that that’s something I know.”

Mustering all of my strength, I turn around and leave Course behind. This is the start of my new life with my new friends.

 

I don’t look back.