Chapter 3: The Match

That was it. A simple “Hi :)” that sent my heart somersaulting, then launching into some weird salsa routine in my chest. My palms were suddenly clammy, and my brain was doing its best impression of a car skidding out of control.

“Oh. My. God. You’re in.” Alice gasped.

I jumped, pacing back and forth. “Hi,” I muttered under my breath, waving the phone in the air. “Motherfluffing hi!” And here I was, already hysterical.

What was I supposed to do now? Obviously, I had to answer. But what do you say to a perfect stranger who might as well have just stepped out of a dream? Another “hi”? Something casual, like “what’s up”? Or something witty? Oh God, what if I tried to be witty and it totally flopped?

“Yes, but what do I do now?” I cried, pacing again. “She said ‘hi.’ Just ‘hi.’ What do I say? Do I say ‘hi’ back? That’s boring, right? Should I ask how she’s doing? Or, like, try to be funny? Ugh, what if I sound like a total idiot?”

Alice rolled her eyes. “Just say ‘hi’ back, dummy. It’s not rocket science.”

I froze, staring at her. “That’s it? Just… ‘hi’?”

“Yes,” she said, dragging the word out. “You don’t have to write her a sonnet. Just be chill.”

I chewed on my lip, still unsure. “But what if I come off as boring?”

Alice sat up again, fixing me with a pointed look. “Emma. It’s a text. You’re not proposing marriage. Just. Say. Hi.”

I took a deep breath, nodding. She was right. It wasn’t a big deal. Just a text. A simple reply. I could do this.

I grabbed my phone, my fingers hovering over the keyboard. My heart was still racing, but I forced myself to type.

“Hi :)”

I hit send before I could second-guess myself and immediately threw the phone onto the table like it might explode. “Oh my God, I did it.”

Alice clapped slowly, smirking. “Congratulations, you’re officially the bravest person alive.”

“Shut up,” I said, laughing nervously. But deep down, I felt a flicker of pride. And maybe—just maybe—a tiny spark of hope.

The conversation had been going so well, flowing naturally in a way I hadn’t expected. I was smiling like an idiot at my phone when her next message popped up.

“I: So… what do you say to meeting up? Tomorrow, maybe?”

My heart stopped. Then it started again, faster, hammering so hard I thought it might leap out of my chest. My thumb hovered over the screen, trembling. Meet up? Tomorrow? A date?

I reread the message a dozen times, my stomach doing flips. Was this really happening? What if I messed it up? What if I wasn’t what she expected? What if—

My phone buzzed again, snapping me out of my spiral.

“I: Don’t feel pressured! Just thought it’d be fun to meet in person :)”

Her casual tone helped. A little. But the panic was still there, bubbling under the surface. My fingers trembled as I typed a reply.

“Emma: That sounds great! Where were you thinking?”

Her answer came quickly.

“I: How about the city park? Around 4?”

I stared at the message, my stomach twisting in knots. I was about to have my first date with a girl. My first date ever since Josh. And it was happening tomorrow.

I took a deep breath and typed back.

“Emma: Sounds perfect. See you at 4!”

The moment I hit send, I jumped off the couch, nearly tripping over myself as I started pacing. “Oh my God. Oh my God. Oh my God.”

Alice, who had been half-asleep near me, looked at me. “What’s going on now?”

“She asked me out!” I practically screamed, bouncing on my toes. “Tomorrow! At 4! At the park!”

Alice blinked at me, then grinned. “Look at you, going on a date! With a girl! I’m so proud.”

“Don’t be proud yet. I’m freaking out!” I said, throwing my hands in the air. “I don’t know what to do! What do I wear? What do we talk about? What do people even do on dates with girls?”

Alice laughed and grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to stop pacing. “Emma, breathe. It’s just a date. You’ll figure it out.”

“No, I won’t!” I wailed. “I’ve never done this before! What if I mess it up? What if I say something stupid?”

“You won’t mess it up,” Alice said firmly. “And even if you do, it’s not the end of the world. Now, let’s figure this out.”

The next hour was a whirlwind of preparation. Alice rummaged through my closet, pulling out outfits and tossing them onto the bed while I sat cross-legged on the floor, clutching a pillow and rambling nervously.

“What if I dress too casual? Or too fancy? Or too straight?” I asked, watching Alice sift through my wardrobe.

“You’re overthinking again,” she said, holding up a pair of jeans and a flowy top. “This is cute. Casual but not lazy.”

I nodded hesitantly. “Okay, but what about… everything else?”

Alice smirked. “You’re going to be fine. Just be yourself. Talk about the stuff you’re into, ask her about herself, and—this is important—don’t bring up Josh.”

“Why would I bring up Josh?” I asked, horrified.

“Because you have a habit of word-vomiting when you’re nervous,” she said, throwing a pillow at me.

I caught it with a groan. “Fair point.”

By the time we were done, I felt slightly less panicked. My outfit was picked out: a soft, flowy top in a color that Alice said made my eyes pop, paired with jeans and my favorite sneakers. My hair was freshly brushed, and Alice even helped me practice a few conversation starters.

“Remember,” she said as she flopped back onto the bed, “it’s just a date. You’re not signing a marriage certificate. Have fun.”

I nodded, though the nerves were still there, fluttering in my chest. “Fun. Right. I can do that.”

I couldn’t help but smile. Nervous or not, I was excited. For the first time in a long time, I felt like something good was just around the corner. And I couldn’t wait to see what tomorrow would bring.