Chapter 44 - 44

I held the phone to my ear nervously. Zane had dialed Brandon's number which he got from Jack the man he was with before they left the cafe. My palms are sweaty out of nervousness. I have never asked anyone out for a date and now just because of my stupidity, I have to ask a guy out. I feel so gay.

"Hello," Brandon greeted as the call went through. I remained silent unsure of what to say in such a situation.

"Hello," he said again. "I'm hanging up the phone if you don't want to talk."

"No wait," I said before he cut the call. "I wanted to talk to you," I added..

"Reiner," he called out. How does he know it is me when I haven't introduced myself to him yet? I ask myself.

"Yes, it's me. I was wondering if you wanted to hang out sometime."

"Hang out? Like on a date?" he asks and I say yes.

"When and where?"

"I don't know yet, I thought of asking you first."

"How about in an hour at the park," he says and I agree not having another option.

I know for a fact that Zane would kill me if I back out from the deal. He is not the forgiving type so it is better if I just do my part. It can't be that bad to go on a date with a boy. I will not think of it as a date but just meeting a friend at the park just like I do with Zane and Kye.

'But Zane and Kyle don't have romantic feelings for me,' I thought.

It is going to be weird being around Brandon when he considers me to be the object of his fantasies or however gay people view the boys they love. I texted Zane to let him know that I made plans with Brandon and of course he flooded my inbox with nonsense about being proud that his baby had found love. He then went on about how I have grown up so much.

He speaks such nonsense when the two of us are both the same age. I might even be older than him for all we know and yet he talks as though he is father and I am his son. I put my phone down head in to taking a shower. I get out of the shower and look through my walk-in closet to find the best clothes one would wear to a date.

I wreck my closet but I can't seem to know what is okay for the date or not. I have never worked so hard in my life to dress to impress and for some reason, I want to dress to impress Brandon. I have this feeling of wanting him to like what I wear for goodness knows what reason. It is silly that I am seeking a boy's approval in what I wear but I can't help it.

I end up putting on a black durag on my head and I wear a white tracksuit with black sneakers. I pick up my phone and make my way out of the house. Getting into my car I drive out of the compound and towards the direction of the park. I arrive some few minutes after and I park the car.

Looking at myself in the review mirror I make sure that my face looks good before stepping out of the car. I am a bit early and will probably have to wait a while before Brandon shows up. I don't even know why I rushed here to meet him, he is just a stranger to me but he is already influencing my train of thoughts and actions.

"Reiner," I heard someone scream my name. I looked up in the direction of the voice and see Brandon in the park seating on a mat with what looks like a picnic basket. I lock my car and slowly make my way to him.

"Hi," I said when I got him and sat down on the mat. "Hi."

"When did you get here?" I ask trying to make a conversation.

"Half an hour ago," he says surprising me.

He unpacks the basket and I just watch him. He is the son of the influential Avery family, his family is rich and he probably had everything that he can ever desire in life so why is he interested in me. We have never even met before yesterday and he acts as though we have known each other forever. He rushed here when I called and waited for him.

The rumors speak of him as someone who values his time above all else and hates to waste it. But he came here and is with me just to have a date. I don't know whether to feel honored or not.

"How do you know me, Brandon?" I asked out of curiosity.

"We met before on my bir..." he began to say but stopped and stared at me as though he had said something he shouldn't have. He didn't even finish his sentence. I am dying to know how he knows me and what I could have done that made him fall in love with me a boy when he probably a long list of girls who would kill just to be with him.

"I saw you at the cafe," he said changing what he wanted to say earlier. "Here, have some cake," he offered. I accepted the cake from him with the cup of tea.

"So you just saw me and fell in love with me?"

"Who says that I am in love with you?" he asked. I looked down and avoided his eyes out of embarrassment for assuming things. The fact that he asked me that is proof that he doesn't like me. He probably just wanted us to be friends, Zane and Kye must have misunderstood him and confused me.

"Sorry," I apologize.

"For what? You are right, I am in love with you. I was just teasing you. You looked so cute," he says and my jaw dropped.

Am I so gullible that I fall for prey to everyone who wants to tease me? Even a stranger is pulling one on me just like Zane and Kye do all the time. 'Wait, did he say that he loves me?'

"I...I don't know what to say to that."

"Then don't say anything, when you figure out what to say then you can say it. I will wait and listen," he says and takes a sip of his tea. His words of confession and his being so understanding make my heart skip a beat.

"Sure," I say to mask the weird reaction just had.

The date continued well, we talked and got to know each other better. It felt so nice to talk to Brandon. It felt like he understood me so well, more than my best friend does. I can't explain it but it was as though he could read my mind and know what I wanted to say even before I said it. Just like Zane and Kye understand each other without saying anything to each other.

Zane and Kye have been together for a long time so that is normal but is it possible to share such a strong connection with a stranger? Was Zane right when he said that Brandon and I were like him and Kye?

I shake my head and clear my head and stop my thoughts from going down a dangerous path.