Page 81 of Clichés & Curses

‘Do you want to go on a date with me?’

My hand halted its movement as my entire body froze.

He’s not asking what I think he is, right?

‘What?’ I asked him again, silently praying I heard him wrong.

But it seemed my prayers were left unanswered.

He asked the question once again, only this time in ASL. Then, once more vocally to give me full clarity. ‘Do you want to go on a date with me?’

I hadn’t heard him wrong.

He was actually asking if I wanted to go on a date with him.

But instead of answering him, I asked him another question. ‘Why?’

Colton’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, with confusion written on his face at my question. ‘Because I like you. And I want to take you out on a date.’

And there they were.

The three cursed words.

My worst fear, coming to life.

The expression on my face must have been alarming, when Colton’s face started to look concerned. ‘Are you okay?’

‘Yeah, I’m fine.’ I quickly looked down at my notes, trying my best to not meet his eyes. A part of me was hoping that he would drop the question. But since he had already asked me numerous times, the best thing I could do was give him an answer.

‘I can’t,’ I finally replied, my voice much smaller than it was a moment ago.

‘I mean, we don’t have to do it this week, if you’re not free,’ Colton answered instead. ‘I have a game next Saturday, but Sunday should—’

‘Colton,’ I cut him off, my voice louder and clearer this time, looking him in the eyes. ‘I can’t.’

His eyebrows narrowed in confusion as my words sink in. ‘I don’t understand.’

‘I can’t go on a date with you, Colton. I just can’t,’ I clarified.

I could tell Colton was waiting for me to offer up an explanation, but I didn’t know what to say, or how to explain the reason, without it sounding nonsensical.

Instead, I just looked back down at my notes, pretending to peruse through them, silently willing Colton would forget about what just happened.

Once again, we let the silence surround us. Only this time, tension accompanied us instead of comfort.

Colton was the one to break it.

‘What are you hiding from me, Clara?’ he asked, his voice soft.

For a moment, I thought about coming up with a story or a random lie, but as I brought my head to look at him, I just couldn’t do it. So, I took a deep breath and said the words out in an exhale. ‘You’re a cliché, Colton.’

His head jerked back at my admission, not expecting the words that just slipped out of me. ‘I’m a cliché? What do you mean?’

‘Do you know how in every cliché love story, there’s that one guy that the main character will never consider ever having a relationship with? A cliché love interest?’ I started explaining. ‘Maybe it’s the work rival or the school bad boy?’

A look of confusion came over him, and his eyebrows furrowed. ‘And what does that have to do with me?’

‘You’re the star athlete. Everything about that screams cliché love interest.’

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