The Special Taste

As usual, the bell rang, and the commotion brew within the room. Students began chattering and packing their bags belongings. Emma hastily wrote what Prof. Christopher had written during the class as he erased the board, while everyone started leaving. The teacher’s bat-like hearing noticed someone was still writing, stopped erasing the blackboard, and turned to the seats.

-         Miss Miller. If you paid SOME attention during the lecture, you wouldn’t need to stay longer than the rest. Is Psychology that uninteresting?

-         I’m sorry Mr. Christopher. No, I really like it, but I’m sort of going on a date tonight and couldn’t stop thinking about it!

-         The only date you’ll be having is with an F on Monday’s exam. Now get out! I have other things to do!

-         Yes sir, I’m sorry!

In a hurry, she shoved all of her belongings in her bag, making her pencils and watercolor kit scatter across its bottom. Behind her was Liam, her best friend since college started. She met him during one of the college parties. Both of them were the stay-in-the-back kind of people, and Liam took the courage to talk to her about how cool it is to not be the only one.

His curly golden hair, freckles, and friendly disposition always cheered Emma up.

-         Sooooo… Ice Paradise? You buying?

-         Ahhh, excuse me?

-         Well, you totally didn’t tell me you were going on a date, AND, I was sitting here waiting for you to finish taking notes. For like a good four minutes.

I believe I’m entitled to a delicious free Cookies and Cream cone!

-        Not gonna lie, not some bad reasons. Fine, let’s go!

-         Yey!

His face lit up with a smile that went from eye to eye. They strolled across the chaotic 6pm hallways and split up as Liam lived in the dormitory, so he could drop his stuff in his room. Meanwhile, Emma headed to Ice Ice Paradise, hoping they could get a table this time. As she entered the small bell dinged and the waitress, a tall light-brown skin woman wearing a frilly white and blue dress, with Ice Paradise stamped on its front pocket, approached her.

-         BriBri! I missed you!

-         Emma! Same here! And, your favorite table has also been missing you too!

Liam coming?

-         Yeah! He’ll be here in a minute!

The waitress went back to the counter to attend to other customer’s and Emma sit at their favorite table, the one in the far back of the shop, where conversations remain private and human contact minimized.

               In less than three minutes, Liam arrived and sat with her.

-         So back to our biz… Who’s the lucky guy?

-         His name’s Jeffrey. We met through Kylie.

-         Hmmm. You seem… Way too excited!

-         I mean, he’s super cute. He’s studying marine biology, which makes him double cute, and Kylie says he’s had his eye on me!

-         And where are you spending the night?

-         Home!

-         I know, I know. But… we never know how the night can end!

-         Agh, STOP it!

-         Well darlings, what’s it gonna be this time?

-         I want some Cookies n’ Cream, and it’s on her!

-         I’m, unfortunately, paying for both. I’ll take a Strawberry Lover’s Delight.

Brianna took a step back and glanced at Liam with a smug look.

-         She’s definitely staying for the night!

Liam burst out laughing, silencing the whole shop. Noticing that he unleashed his true personality openly, he returned to his shy public image and slid to the corner to avoid visual contact. Emma, instead, blushed like fresh tomato and looked down, but with a faint grin on her face.

-         Anyway, I’ll go get your ice, sweethearts! I also have a surprise for you!

Emma and Liam looked at each other like a child looks at its Christmas presents in the morning. The waitress brought them the desserts in the traditional Blue and white trays. Liam’s ice-cream had 2 big scoops of Vanilla with chunks of Oreo scattered on it and an Extra-Large Oreo on top and a cookie straw, while Emma’s was made of alternated layers of vanilla and strawberry, a swirl of strawberry topping and a strawberry chopped in four in the top. Basically, it’s a strawberry overdose.

As she laid down the sweets on the table, she sat near Emma and pushed her over to create some room for her.

-         So, the boss made up a new flavor… And I kind of had to lick some boots to get him to let me taste it tomorrow, before its release. Since he’s going on a trip with his family, how about we come here tomorrow and get a taste of that heavenly goodness?

-         I’m in! –Liam tried to say, with his mouth stuffed to the brim.

-         Sure! Just… make sure it’s not in the morning…

-         Yeah yeah. babe. Drop by at 4pm tomorrow. And don’t forget The Knock!

Brianna stood up and continued to work her shift and the guys finished their desserts.

-         Well, I gotta go. I don’t want to be late!

-         Sure. Have fun, I’ll be going home. Call me if you need me!

Emma drove home, and quickly took a shower, got dressed, drenched herself in perfume, and started working on her make-up. As she is finishing up, she notices her twelve-year-old brother, Tommy, peeking through the door.

-         What the hell are you doing?!

-         Oh, this is going to be fun! MOM! DAD! Emma is going on a date!

The house starts to shake as her parents run up the stairs and barge in on the room.

-         Oh my god! I can’t believe it. It’s finally happening. Your father and I have been waiting for this moment for years!

-         Oh, please! Just leave me alone. It’s just a date, it’s no big deal.

She got up and shut the door and locked it.

That was a lie. It was a really big deal for her.

When she was ready, she left her house and started walking to Jeffrey’s house, while calling Liam. He didn’t pick up the phone, and Emma cursed at him. She needed to tell someone how euphoric she was feeling. She texted Jeffrey before making the final turn and told him she was close by. Then she tried to call Liam again, but no response once again. She gave up.

His house seemed recently built; It had a modern touch to it. His white Ford Van was parked in front of the garage. She knocked on Jeffrey’s door and in less than two seconds, Jeffrey opened the door and invited her in with an over-the-top salute. It was the first time Emma had been to his house. The entrance smelled like bleach mixed with incense. The hall was decorated with tribal masks and a framed antique knife display. He brought her to the living room but her nervousness suddenly grabbed her attention and she felt uncomfortable.

-         I-I’m sorry, can I use the bathroom?

-         Ah! No! You see… I’m having some… Drain problems, and it’s not really operational. You can drop by the coffee shop nearby perhaps?

-         Umm, no. Never mind, I’m good.

The air was tense. Emma liked Jeffrey’s awkwardness, as she saw herself in it. But at that moment, her head was debating at Mach 10 speed if she was being too awkward. If Jeffrey was feeling uncomfortable with the amount of silence on that date.

She sat on the couch while Jeffrey set the table for both of them but it didn’t take long until he called her.

-         Uh, dinner’s ready. I bet you’re hungry.

-         I am! I haven’t eaten anything in a few hours!

They sat at the table and Jeffrey pulled out two dim candles to set the mood and turned off the lights. He served her dinner and then himself. It was meat with some roasted potatoes and chestnuts. Emma had hoped he didn’t make some burgers with fries. That would be an ultimate turnoff for her.

As she dug in, Jeffrey stared at her for a long time.

-         How do you like it? Is it good?

-         Yes! It’s really good.

She didn’t lie, but she was thinking what could that be. She had never tasted anything like that. The meat was slightly sweet and tender. Cooked with precision, giving her the idea, that he was a really good cook. She could tell it wasn’t any conventional meat like beef, pork, or chicken. It was more exotic than that. She didn’t ask what it was, as she didn’t want Jeffrey to find her dumb or uncultured. As they’re eating and chatting, Emma notices two golden hairs in her steak but avoids drawing attention to it and sneakily removes them with her napkin in an unnoticeable fluid motion.

THE NEXT DAY

-         Hello! This is Brianna, Emma’s friend, the one that works in Ice Ice Paradise?

Yes! That one. Well, Mrs. Miller, I’m just calling to make sure everything’s okay with Emma and Liam. We had a meeting 3 hours ago, and their phones are turned off…