Chapter 5, The Doggy, the Advisors, and the Date

Bex Pop: October 16, 2023

As I take my stroll through campus, I start to smell a wonderful smell of bread, that’s the school’s bakery! I sit by a nearby bench and start to find my student ID, which I can use to pay for a pastry. But then I find a new face greeting me, it’s a dog? It’s got black curly fur with some pockets of white around the head and stomach. I wonder who’s dog it can be, it’s against the rules to have any pet that isn’t enclosed in a tank or cage, so it puzzles me for a bit. Until I finally remember who owns it. 

“Oh hi there, you must be the baker’s dog!” I say it. 

The baker got special permission from the school board to do so, which the board informed the school that it’s the only dog that is allowed on the campus. I haven’t had the chance to see it yet, so it’s a pretty nice surprise for the afternoon. I mean the morning classes I had were a little boring today, so at least I can do fun stuff that doesn’t involve school. While finding my id card I talk to the dog.

“Well doggy, how have you been?” I tell him, I’m sure it’s a girl.

I see her tail wagging faster, I think had a good day. 

Once I found my student ID I entered the little building to order a pastry, Tommy told me to try the sweet bread; so I’ll eat it now. I talk to the baker about my order of sweet bread. The nice thing about this bakery is that it’ll always be warm when you get it. I wait around in the building for a little bit until my sweet bread arrives. I might ask the baker for the dog’s name once my bread is ready. 

“Hey! What’s the dog’s name?” I tell the baker, as he’s about to hand me my food.

“Ah yeah! Her name is Pita, named after Pita Bread; my favorite kind of bread.” He tells me.

“That’s nice! Well I hope you have a good day.” I tell him, before I leave.

I chew on this bread, and it tastes really good! I start to head to my car, I need to chat with some people before I prepare for this date. After walking across the street, I enter the parking garage and I enter my car. I turn on some music and I start to head towards my parents home in San Mateo, which is being taken care of by Ken and Lorenzo as my parents are out on vacation. Right before this I told my siblings about someone I wanted to talk with, and they all agreed to it. This is going to take half an hour but I believe it’s a good thing for me to do. I arrive back at my parents home, and since I have a copy of the house key I enter in. Once I enter I’m greeted by Ken and Lorenzo.

“Hi Ken! Hi Smarty Pants!” I say to the two.

“Hi Becky! How are you?” Ken says to me.

“I was good, shortie, until you called me a smarty pants like always!” Lorenzo then replies with.

“I mean it isn’t my fault you’re a smart pants.” I tell Lorenzo

“Yeah yeah, anyways Brenden should be here shortly, Bex.” Lorenzo replies to me.

I wait around in the living room, looking around the building. I’ve always liked looking around my parents house, it gives me a wonderful feeling of joy as it reminds me of when I was growing up. After a few minutes, Brenden and Clara enter.

“Hi Brenden! Hi Clara.” I say, soon followed by the rest of my brothers, “So we’re Max?”

“He’s at soccer practice, my mom and dad took him there.” Clara says.

“Ah cool.” Lorenzo says, “So, everyone settle down; Bex wants to tell us something. 

I see everyone else settle down on the couches in the living room, I stand up in front of the tv; as it’s the best place to have everyone see me. I get a little nervous, I don’t really tell my siblings or really anyone in my family about stuff related to crushes or love so I’m visually nervous. Though finally after my persistence waiting I finally start to my speech. 

“So… Uh… I want to tell all of you something. Well, more about someone in my life. His name is Tommy and I’m starting to develop feelings for him. I met him a bit ago and I’m kinda interested in asking him out. Do you guys have any ideas?” 

I return to sitting on the couch, and I see my siblings and sister-in-law collect their thoughts, I wait to see what they say. I fidget around with my fingers for a bit, I see it’s taking them a bit to collect their advice. After a bit, Clara collected her thoughts and started to advise me.

“Well Bex, you could always take Tommy to the park. That’s what Brenden did for our first date!” She says.

“Yeah little Becky, you should probably start it out small.” Brenden says, “Besides, isn’t Golden Gate Park right beside your college?”

“Oh yeah, you’re right.” I say, “Yeah hold on I’ll text him and see if he can make it for today.”
I text Tommy, asking him ‘Hey Tommy, just wondering if we hang out by the park later in the evening. I know a spot where we can eat dinner!’ I wait for him to respond, while doing so I chat with my family in the room. I get a little excited for Tommy to reply, though it takes him a fair bit of time to do so. Finally after 20 minutes, I hear a ping in my phone.

“Hi Bex,” Tommy posts, “Sorry for the late reply, but yeah I’ll like to join.”

I reply to him saying, “Alright! See you later tonight!”

I get excited, I tell everyone else in the room about the news and they get excited for me. I gather some of my things, I’m about to head out but I just need to say goodbye to everyone here.

“Well guys, I think I have to head out; I need to prepare for tonight.” I tell everyone.

“Well little sis, good luck!” Ken tells me, as he gives me a hug.

“Yeah Bex, hopefully you have a fun time with Tommy.” Lorenzo says to me.

“You too, man” I jokingly reply to him, everyone in the room except Lorenzo laughs. He just doesn’t understand comedy like us.

“Good luck Bex!” Both Clara and Brenden tell me, and they both give me a hug.

I head out the house, I turn on my old car and start to head up 101 back to San Francisco. I don’t know how this date will end up being, but I know that I’ll have a good time with Tommy. We might just bum around the park until we find a bench where we can hang out. However the evening will end, all I know is that we’ll have a good time.

Bex Pop: October 16, 2023; Evening

I wait around on a bench in a picnic area, I’ve already texted Tommy telling him where my location is. Sitting with my legs crossed I check around for the people passing by to find if Tommy arrives. After a bit, Tommy gives me a text.

“Hey Bex, I’m like a couple of feet away from you.” He texts me.

“Alright! I’ll be on the bench crossing my legs.” I reply to him back.

After a bit of time, I see him appear and walk towards me. I quickly brush my hair and I run up towards him.

“Hey Tommy! How are you?” I say to him.

“I’m good Bex, so what are we going to do?” He replies to me. 

“Well, we’re just going to walk about, maybe find a bench near a pond.” I tell him.

“Alright, sounds fun. Come on, let’s get walking.” He says.

I grab his hand and we start walking around the park, looking back at him several times. I see that Tommy has a blush coming across his face, he’s clearly a bit nervous in our hand holding. Though I believe it’s the good kind of nervousness you get by experiencing something like this. While walking, I ask Tommy a question.

“Hey, what kind of stuff do you like? You kinda have an idea of what I like.” I ask him.

“Uh… Well I like computers a lot, and of course rock music like Weezer.” He replies to me.
“Ah nice, what about in terms of shows?” I tell him.

“A lot of anime, and this old tv show called Los Romanos” He says to me.

“Oh! My parents used to watch that show, it was airing around the time I was born and growing up!” I reply with. 

“That’s nice,” Tommy says, “Hopefully we can watch it together!”

We continued to walk until I found the little koi pond and a bench. I sat down and I patted the space next to me to inform Tommy to sit there. For a few minutes, I enjoy the company of Tommy; I start to lean on his shoulder. We both look at the beautiful sunset, the wonderful mixes of reds, oranges, yellows, and purples covering the sky. It’s a perfect day, clear of clouds and of the breeze that flows through the Bay. It feels like it’s only me and Tommy in this world, just the two of us with an entire planet to control and be wild in. These moments of peace were truly the best, though now I need to tell Tommy something. 

“Hey Tommy, can I tell you something?” I ask him.

“Yeah Bex, what is it?” He replies.

“Well…” I say, I’m about to go on a bit of a long talk.

“Honestly Tommy, from the first time I saw you in August; to when we first met in September to now, I’ve always liked you. You’re really cute, and you’re honestly a really good person. And honestly, I feel like we have good chemistry for one another.”

I see Tommy’s face turn red, it takes him a little bit to process this but soon he gives me a response. 

“Yeah Bex, the first time I’ve seen you; I’ve always liked you. And seeing your nerdy interests are like mine are that you’re a good person… It’s safe to say you’re the one for me.” He says, a little quiet but still confident enough.

After his response I immediately hug him, and I get a bit excited. I rummage through my hoodie pockets til I find my phone. Seeing this Tommy asks me a question?

“Um Bex, are we going to take a photo?” He tells me.

“Yeah we are! Our first photo as a couple.” I reply to him.

I put the camera to the front facing one, preparing for the photo Tommy quickly brushes through his hair. Once he’s ready I take the photo, and quickly show Tommy the photo. 

“Aw Bex… T-Thanks…” He tells me.

“No problem, Tommy!” I say to him, right before immediately hugging him again.

It’s a wonderful feeling leaning on your boyfriend or partner’s shoulder, it’s really a comforting feeling you get knowing that they care about you. I almost want to fall asleep like this, though, since we’re not back at the dorms I won’t do so. I hold Tommy’s hand and direct him towards this old fashion drive-in diner, I don’t believe he’s been here before so it’ll be a nice surprise for him. I order the fries and cherry cola, while Tommy orders some nachos. I sprinkle my fries with Tajin as it takes me back to what I used to eat as fast food back when I was younger, and I believe this is a nice time to eat it again. Not because I want the random nostalgia but as a celebratory meal, not just for the excellent date and confession with Tommy; but for the lifetime I will have with him.