For the next week every day Gisele road the bus with me. She was always gorgeous and energetic. I found it weird I got off at very different times depending on the day's activities, but was so happy to be spending so much time with her that I didn't think too much about it. Sometimes we would say nothing for the whole ride she would just get on the bus and lean her back against me and scroll thru her own phone. I tried not to look but she had hundreds of contacts sending her endless streams of texts. It figured she had been dating four people when we met obviously she was popular. Other days she would drape herself around my shoulders and tell me about her craziest customers. Then Friday came and once more she dropped on the bench by my side and she leaned against me. Today was a laid back sort of day for her she was wearing leggings and a purple sports bra. Her hair was pulled back into a single simple ponytail held in place with a purple scrunchie and she had simple purple sneakers on her feet. I couldn't believe how well coordinated even her low energy outfits were. The more I got to know this woman the more I knew she was too much for me to handle. She started scrolling slowly thru her phone then almost dropping her phone she sat straight up and smiled with a raindance that would rival the sun.
"So I've decided next week I'm going to tell her how I feel, But I need a special outfit for the occasion. What do you think want to be my wing woman this weekend for a shopping trip?"
I was shocked and it must've shown. she immediately tried to back peddle clearing misunderstanding my apprehension, "It's fine if your busy or whatever I can go by myself. Just your outfits are so well planned I thought your opinion would make me more confident. I can just take pictures and show you next week."
"Why? I'm free this weekend. It should be lovely out and it sounds like fun. Maybe it will give me some courage to confess some day myself," I knew I was diluting myself. I would get this pretend date. She would confess and I would hear about how great her life was. Until one day she would disappear and I would be alone. I couldn't help myself, if our course was set I would at least enjoy pretending she was my girlfriend for one fabulous day.
"Sounds good. Let me get your contact info and I'll send you some places I like to shop and you can pick where we go."
With that she went back to scrolling and leaning. I went back to daydreaming, but this time I had something to focus my dreams around for one glorious day she would be mine. Somewhere in the back of my mind I knew I should feel guilty about accepting her casual invite to appease my selfish desires, but I was so happy to be going on a "date" with the woman I loved I couldn't be bothered to give it much thought. Before I knew it I was at my stop once more. I held back the urge to skip. As I waved goodbye to Gisele, my heart a flutter and my mind swimming. The morning couldn't come fast enough.
I wasn't even home yet when notifications began to blow up my phone one after another. Gisele had wasted no time in sending me endless options to choose from. They ranged from high end boutiques to thrift stores. She said she was only sending me places she liked to shop and her style was diverse, but even so I couldn't help but feel like this was a test from my new friend. I settled on a grunge boutique, a lot of vintage rock t-shirts and it was in the middle of a shopping district so if we didn't find anything we liked there would be loads of options. She was quick to reply with an enthusiastic emoji. I washed and went to bed early. Not that that changed how much sleep I got. At two a.m. I considered texting her I couldn't go. I hadn't slept at all and my anxiety was thru the roof. I reached for my phone and the next thing I knew my alarm was going off.