The Better Grilled Cheese

“You make the best grilled cheese in the world?” I asked, skeptical it was a joke. He looked me dead in the eye and said, “Oh Yeah,”

                                                         ~2 hours earlier that day~

Swiping, swiping, swiping the warm phone underneath my fingers. I gripped it tighter as I saw more guys with pretty faces. All of them are fake, with the few that have profiles saying “You're on the wrong side.” My fingers hover over the screen as I stare down at the tiny device. Mika walked into the door frame. “Ow,” I didn't look up. “Hey Mika, are you Ok? Yeah, I’m fine thanks for asking,” she said sarcastically. I didn’t say anything. She plopped down on the couch and peered over my shoulder. “Ben, you know you’ll never find true love on Tinder, just go to a bar or something,” she sighed and got up from the couch waving her hands in front of my face. I looked up. “What do you want?” I said as I stood up and brushed my pants off. Cheetos dust fell off, one piece at a time. 

She opened the fridge and pulled out a glass. She strategically placed the cup so the bottle of liquid was underneath it. She opened her mouth to speak and then grabbed a towel from the dishwasher and threw it at me saying, “Finish cleaning the dishes and I’ll take you out to meet someone.” I looked at her and replied, “Yeah no” as I walked into the kitchen to string the towel through the loop of the dishwasher. I was about to walk away when she grabbed my arm and turned me around. “You’ve been cooped up in this apartment for 2 days. You haven't showered in 3.” “Ya, but neither have you.” She realized that I had her pinned.

“Fine,” she said, “if I go out tonight, you're coming with me.” I groaned and nodded my head. 

Forty minutes later Mika the model walked into my room, spun around, and started pretending to dance with my bedpost. I threw a pillow at her and face-planted into another one. “I don’t want to,” I mumbled into my pillow. “Sorry I couldn't hear you, maybe it was the ignorance you were feeling.” I got up from my chair and looked Mika up and down. She had her long black hair up in a bun on top of her head, silver eyeliner, and a black sequin dress. She started looking through my drawers, pulled out black jeans, and tossed them on my bed. “Wear something with that and you won’t look so ugly.” I looked at her funny. “You don’t get to boss me around because you think you're helping me.” She looked at me, eyes that once were filled with determination softened to sadness. She sat down next to me on the bed and took my hand in hers. Her index finger hooked around her mind and she sighed. “I’m sorry I’ve been pushing you.” I looked back up at her and saw her expression change. “But you don’t get to stop living because somebody else isn’t.” She let my hand go and stood back up. She grinned an evil smile and said, “So put on your tight black pants and get in the Uber!” She marched out of my room, snatched up a silver feather boa from the floor, and stormed out.

I looked in the mirror at my reflection. I heard a soft beep from my jean pocket and took out my phone. The home screen said “one notification from Tinder”. I unlocked my phone and saw that a guy with curly blonde hair and soft brown eyes named Joseph had accepted my offer. I opened up the chat and typed.

Ben: Hey

Joseph: Hi, how are you?

Good, he picked up the conversation.

Ben: Not bad how ‘bout you?

Joseph: Pretty nice

I waited to see if he would ask a question. 1 minute passed, then 2.

Ben: How old are you?

Stupid question…it says nineteen in his profile. He answers anyway.

Joseph: 19 hbu?

Ben: 20

I clicked out. This conversation was very dry and not what I was looking for. My fingers hovered over the delete button, but something told me to do something different.

Ben: Hey listen, I, my friend, and my friend's boyfriend are going out tonight, and I don’t feel like third wheeling. Would you like to come?

Joseph: Sure! What time and where?

Ben: I’ll text you the details when I get some.

That didn’t go so bad. I looked down at my black tennis shoes and changed them into dress shoes. I didn’t feel so confident. I looked at my reflection for the second time and walked out of the bathroom. I heard a knock on the door and saw Mika rush towards it to open it. It was Mike in a red button-down shirt and blue jeans, his swoopy hair brushed to the side. “Hey Babe,” he said. Mika rushed up to him and kissed him on the cheek. Mika looked at me and started laughing. Soon Mike joined in as he put his arm around my shoulder. “Dude, your shirt’s inside out,” he said through saturated laughs. I flushed red and ran into my room. I heard the conversation outside the door as I unbuttoned my shirt. “Are you going to let him third wheel?” Mike asked. “Mike I already told you, he’s going through a lot right now, just let him chill with us for a few hours,” Mika responded. “Didn’t his grand-uncle die or something? I mean come on, he can suck it up being alone for a night.” Mika didn’t respond this time. I froze, my feet stuck to the floor and my hands gripping the white button-up in my hands. I looked down at my hands trembling. I opened up Tinder and clicked on the chat button once again. 

Ben: Hey, is it okay if we just go out to eat somewhere instead?

Joseph: Yeah that’s fine!

Ben: Do you know the place Antonios? 

Joseph: The bar thing, right?

Ben: Yeah. Surprised you know it.

Joseph: lol 

I walked out of my room, shirt on right, looked at Mike's face, and said “I don’t want to go out tonight, is that ok?” He grinned and said, “Yeah little man, that’s nice.” I snorted and walked back into my room standing there until I heard the door slam behind me. I opened up my window and looked down at the fire escape. They were headed to their car, and as soon as they were out of sight I climbed down the stairs, almost bumping into like six plants on the way down. As soon as I jumped onto the soft grass, I walked confidently down to the sidewalk and Antonios across the street. I entered the restaurant and felt the AC as soon as I stepped in. I looked around, eyeing the place for a possible Joseph before talking to the host to have me seated. For the next five minutes, I looked around while having my phone face up to the Tinder app checking every five seconds for one notification to be there. I finally saw one.

Joseph: I’m here!

And just as I opened the message a boy with ear-length blonde curly hair walked in. I ran up to him and said, “Hey, I got a seat for us over there.” Joseph looked confused as I led him to our table. He took off his black hat and sat down. I looked at my phone and saw another notification from tinder.

Joseph: I’m by the bar

I looked at my phone and then at the guy in front of me. Skeptical. “Joseph, shouldn't you have your phone out?” He looked up at me. “I’m David, and bro this is freaky stuff. I’m out of here.” I felt too embarrassed as he picked up his hat. And as he left I saw that David's eyes were blue, not brown. I looked over to the bar and looked around. I was more cautious this time.

Ben: Do you have a blue polo on?

The guy to the right of the bar looked down at his phone.

Joseph: Yes

He looked up, his eyes shooting across the room to look at me. His eyes were like pools of gold that glinted as he smiled. I walked up to him. “This seat taken?” I asked. “Ben, right?” he asked. I sat down next to him as I nodded. “Who was that guy you sat down with across the room?” “You saw that?” “It was a pretty big scene.”  My cheeks grew warm. “I- I kinda thought that was you.” It came out more as a question than a statement. He laughed a little. “Hey! It’s not funny!” But that just made him laugh harder. He slowed down and through muffled laughs said, “I’m sorry I’m sorry.” I looked at him, he looked at me. “Listen, I’m kinda new to this whole online dating thing,” he said. “Oh,” I replied. “But you seem kinda cool, so maybe I’ll stick with it,” he said. 

The waiter came up to us to take our order. “What would you young men like to drink today?” the waiter asked. “I’ll do a grape Fanta,” I requested. “Same thing as him,” he replied. I started babbling about my two cats, and he told me he was a dog person. Then I told him that I wanted to be a lawyer, and he said he was an aspiring journalist. We didn’t have a lot of similarities, but when we both got our sodas I asked him, “So, do you like Fanta?” He replied, “I like any grape soda, doesn’t matter what brand it is.” I looked at him and he looked away and blushed. We ordered our food. I ordered a burger, and he specified he wanted a grilled cheese without the toothpick in it. As soon as the waiter was out of earshot I stifled a grin, “No toothpick? How specific.” I scoffed. He contemplated his answer before giving it to me. “My parents work for a recycling business, and I try as much as I can to not produce much waste.” I mused at his answer and asked another question. “How does a toothpick affect that though?” “Because you know, ever think about how every toothpick can add up? Well, I’m just trying to help the environment with the little things I do. Forget it, it’s stupid.” He looked at his lap. I took his chin in my hands and led his eyes to mine. I let go of his face and grinned wildly. “It’s cute.” He took my hand and kissed it, then set it back down on the table. Both of us were quiet for a moment. 

Our food arrived shortly after. I put the napkin on my lap when I heard a shriveling scream from the left of me. I saw Joseph spit part of his grilled cheese back onto the plate, while he started to fan out his tung. “Too hot?” I asked. He tried to mouth “Yes”, but started chugging water. Thirty seconds later he tried again, but nothing else came out of his mouth. He finished chewing and swallowed. “How is it?” I asked. “It’s…ok.” “Just Ok?” I asked. “Well I could probably make a better one,” he pointed out.  I started laughing. “What, you want a grilled cheese sandwich contest?” I queried. “That sounds pretty good.” He pondered the thought thoroughly. “You, make the best grilled cheese in the world?” I asked, skeptical it was a joke. He looked me dead in the eye and said “Oh, Yeah”.

 ~An hour later~

We walked outside as we exchanged numbers and laughed, pushing each other to the opposite side of the sidewalk. “Can I be honest?” he questioned. “I think so,” I replied. “You’re one of the best people I’ve met in a long time. Thanks for tonight. I needed it.” He looked into my eyes and smiled. “I want to see you again,” I responded. Under the old lamp light on the street, he looked into my eyes and kissed me into the night. 

After my encounter with Joseph, I stumbled home, jacket in my arm. I ran up the fire escape and plopped down on the couch. Two minutes later Mika came home, tired, and makeup smudged onto her hands. She sat down next to me, just like hours ago when she was trying to convince me to get out of the apartment. “I broke up with Mike,” she whispered. I turned towards her. “What?” “You heard me.” “Why?” She took off the boa, put it around my neck, and rested her head on my shoulder. I didn’t ask any more questions and fell asleep thinking about going out the next night and grilled cheese contests.

~The End~