Page 47 of Beautiful Small Things

Iris: Great Shake.

Orion: Could he have picked a cheaper place? (laughing face emoji)

Iris: Actually, I picked it. You’re being an ass.

Orion: I’m just messing with you. I’m sure you’ll have fun. Text me later.

I don’t understand what is going on with Orion lately. I’m also not the type of person who will sit around and guess what someone is thinking. He can tell me when he’s ready.

In the meantime, I’m getting ready for my first date. I called Jem, and she told me to wear something casual and just be myself. Essentially, she didn’t help at all, but I love her for trying.

I drove myself here, and I’m waiting for Henry to arrive when I see a familiar car pull up. Orion and his friend Sebastian get out and walk up to me, all smiles.

“What are you doing here?” I ask impatiently.

“Getting lunch. Same as you. I brought Seb as my date,” he laughs, elbowing Sebastian in the ribs, who laughs and pushes him away.

“Why here, Orion?”

“It sounded good,” he shrugs, feigning innocence, but I know him better than that.

“I don’t appreciate this, and we are going to have a conversation about it later,” I tell him.

“Can’t wait,” he says impetuously. They are just about in the restaurant when Sebastian turns and says, “By the way, Iris, whoever pays gets the first orgasm.” He laughs as he walks inside.

I squeeze my eyes together tightly as the burning sensation threatens to release tears. This is my first date. I am just as surprised as anyone that I’m excited, but I am. Orion showed up here and embarrassed me. I can’t believe he would do this. I’m so angry I could scream.

Instead, I take a deep breath and run my hands through my blonde hair. Henry pulls up two minutes later and jogs over to me.

“Hi, Iris,” he says enthusiastically.

“Hi, Henry,” I smile. “I know I said I wanted to eat here, but it’s crowded. Can we just get something else and go eat down at the beach?”

“Of course,” he smiles. “Let’s do it.”

I’m so grateful for his flexibility. The last thing I want to do right now is try to have a conversation with him while Orion and his friend stare at us. We decide to grab some burritos from a nearby truck and take our food down to my favorite beach spot.

“So, what do you like to do in your spare time?” Henry asks me as we sit on the blanket I keep in my Jeep.

“I surf and read,” I answer. “That’s kind of boring, right?”

“No,” Henry says sincerely. “That’s not boring at all.”

“It’s just that I don’t go to parties and do ‘normal’ teenager things. I don’t even go to school anymore,” I say, swirling some sand around with my finger.

“Going to parties is highly overrated,” he laughs. “You are the furthest thing from boring I’ve ever met.”

I’m taken aback for a moment. “Why?”

“I don’t think you realize how attractive being smart is,” he says.

“Yes, that’s what every teenage boy looks for in a girlfriend,” I laugh.

“You’d be surprised,” he says. “Not to mention, you’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.”

“Sure,” I say skeptically. I’m horrible at flirting.

“It’s true. We all think so,” he says.