I chain my bike outside the house and take a deep breath, and take a deep breath trying to cool down from the accident I just had and try to ignore the blood boiling way that jerk was talking to me with. I was caught up in the rush of adrenaline and I couldn't focus on anything, I just wanted to get out of there, but now that I recall what happened, I should've hit him or broke his car mirrors or something. I exhale and get into the house.
A whiff of curry, butter and garlic hits my nose, and my stomach growls in protest.
I haven't since I woke up and being all morning surrounded by the smell of cinnamon, sugar and butter isn't really appetizing.
" I'm home.".
" oh my god. Where have you been?," Rashida yells from the kitchen," I thought I'll have to eat alone. Why were you so late?.".
Her lean figure appears as she came out of the kitchen. She is wearing pj shorts and our - bestie for life - matching t-shirt. She has long legs and milky skin. Her pitch black hair forming a messy bun on her head. She is standing, hand on her waist and her right foot tapping on the floor. Her hazel-yellow eyes staring at me with anger and worry.
" Nah. I wouldn't do that to my favourite Rasi now, would I?.".
Rashida is my childhood best friend. Twenty years ago she used to live in an orphanage that always makes fun days at weekends. We met at the playground near my house and we're bestfriends since then. And when my mom died, dad adopted her and she became my sister. She is everything I'm not. She is bald, I'm shy. She is loud, I'm quiet. She has anger issues, I'm the calm one.
She is successful and I'm...
Well let's not get into that.
" seriously, what took you so long?" she says with a little whine in her voice.
" today was hectic at the bakery, and then I had to deal with a stupid incident in my way home."
" what incident? "
" don't worry about it.", I wave her with my hands," what are you making?"
She eyes me for two seconds, before she breaks into a big grin," curry butter chicken and garlic bread."
" ooh, sounds delicious."
" yesterday, I met this indian guy at the shoot and he was eating it at his lunch break, I couldn't resist the smell, so I went there and dragged the recipe out of him." she smiles sheepishly, which makes me smile as well. " it's original name is gamar masalsa or something like that."
I laugh because even though I don't know the real name, I'm sure that's not what it's called.
" well, go take a shower while I set the table."
" okay."
I leave her in the kitchen and go upstairs where my room is. I drop my bag on the floor and drop myself on the bed after that. My legs dangling from the bed while I lie on my back and stare at the ceiling. I let out and exhausted sigh and close my eyes. Today was exhausting and I'm so tired. I enjoy the moment of silence and let the seconds drift by, but it was intrupted so soon.
" LILO, THE FOOD IS READY." Rashida yells from downstairs and I jump out with a curse under my breath, she hate people being late - which I already did today - and I didn't even shower yet.
" coming. " I yell back.
I get out of clothes and hop in the shower as fast as I can. When I get out of the shower I throw on an oversized t-shirt and run downstairs. I took 10 minutes and I know she'd be angry and would be throwing daggers - literally - at me when she sees me.
When I get down she's already sitting in her chair waiting for me. She looks up at me and then she smiles.
Huh. Weird.
I get to the table and apologize while sitting in my chair.
" it's okay." She says, but I didn't miss the twitch in her right eye.
We start eating in silence for about five minutes which is weirder than her smiling after I was 10 minutes late. Usually, she doesn't stop bombarding me with questions about my day, either that or ranting about what she did in her day.
" so..." she starts," you thought about it? "
" about what?"
" the date, what else?"
" Ah." So that's why.
" Ah what?"
" Rasi..." I say with a sigh.
" but you promised to think about it."
I stay silent for a while considering my options for a reply.
But do I really have options?
If I said no, she'd eat my ears trying to get me to say yes, and Rashida could be a bit... persistent.
If I said yes, I'd have to go to a date I'm not remotely interested in and have an awkward conversation with a stranger.
Second option would cost me an hour tops, but the first one could cost weeks, hell maybe months, so I settle for the safest option.
" fine." I say with a defeated sigh.
" but, lilo, he's really a nice guy and-" she cut herself off, " wait what?"
" I said fine, I'll go to this stupid date."
" oh my god, you actually said yes"
" yes, I did. Now, shut up and eat your food."
She giggles and continues eating her food, pausing for a second to do something on her phone.
After a minute or so, I ask her, " you just said he's a really nice guy. Is he someone you know?"
" uh, no. I just said that to convince you."
" so how do you know him?" I ask furrowing my eyebrows.
" he's maria's neighbor," She takes another bite," she says he is nice though. And really hot." She gives me a lopsided grin that's supposed to be a smirk.
" let me get this straight," I put my spoon down." You're setting me up with a person based on maria's - I don't even who she is - nice and sexy recommendation. And you don't even know him?"
" first of all-"
" don't talk with food in your mouth."
She swallows then says," first of all, maria is a friend from the magazine I model for, and is a trusty person. second, of course I saw him.. well a picture of him, but isn't that how blind date works? "
I give up on arguing with her cause it's pointless." Okay. Then give me something more about him. what's his name?".
She goes rigid with an apologetic look in her face.
" you don't know his name, don't you?"
" sorry."
" well, you said you saw a pic, right? Describe him for me then."
Her face lights up when she says," he's handsome. Thick dark hair. He's so tall and big. He has wide shoulders and an exquisite back with water dripping-"
" hold on hold on." I cut her off."what kind of picture did you see?" I ask horrified.
" let's skip this question." she laughs nervously.
I sigh for the millionth time in one hour. " ugh.. the things I do for you."
Her phone dings and she picks it up. We finish eating and I get up to put the plates in the dishwasher and when I come back rashida is sitting on the sofa doing something on her phone and I go sit beside her. I rest my head against the back of the sofa and rest my eyes for a bit.
" so when do you want the date to be?"
" anytime, It doesn't matter." I answer her with my eyes still closed.
" then how about in two hours?"
" what?" I whip my head to her so fast I'm surprised my neck didn't snap.
"your date is in two hours."
" I heard you, Rasi" I snap," I have a shift today at the bar and you know that."
" I called in sick for you."
" when did you do this?"
" when you were in the kitchen."
" God, rashida. You know I can't take any days off."
" sorry, but not sorry." She says," lilo, you need to get out more. I know you need to work and to make money, but you also need to go out and meet new people." She says softly. " sorry to break it to you like that, but right now you're like a 25 year old teta ( grandma in Arabic) who bakes and stuff our tummies with nothing but delicious donuts filled with sugar and fats."
I stay silent and keep glaring at her.
Her shoulders slump as she says," fine. I was scared if we waited too long, you'd change you mind and say no."
I take a deep breath. I know she means well and she's looking out for me. I just freaked out because I wasn't ready for the date to be so soon.
" okay." I say." You'll pick what I'll wear as a punishment."
" already have it in here," she points to her brain." I meant every word though, I just want you to be happy."
" I know." I say softly.
Well, I guess I'm going on a date tonight.