Chapter Text
The next morning, Kori was woken up by Suzie barging into her room. “Rise and shine diva! You have a hot date today!”
Kori groaned and buried her face in her pillow. “It’s 8:30 in the damn morning. I have two classes before this thing. Relax.”
Suzie just rolled her eyes. “Whatever. I figured you’d forget to set your alarm anyway, so you’re welcome.” Kori picked up her phone and realised she had indeed forgotten. She sighed and mumbled a thanks.
Later, as Kori walked home from her second and final class of the day, she wondered what her date would be like. Suzie had said she’d be cool. What Suzie’s definition of cool was, Kori could never quite figure out. This girl was a film major, doing a project involving theatre.
That… wasn’t much information to go off. Kori wasn’t sure why she was thinking so hard about it. Normally she didn’t think about these dates until she was on them. But something in the way Suzie was talking about this girl, something in the way she looked genuinely excited, made Kori wonder.
As she entered her apartment building, she pulled out her phone to check the time. 3:12. That should be enough time. She got in the elevator, mulling over potential outfits in her head.
She entered her apartment to find Suzie talking frantically to someone on the phone. Kori stood in the doorway, watching her pace back and forth, gesticulating wildly. Kori pulled the door close behind her, causing Suzie to jump. She told the person on the phone to hold on and held it to her chest.
“Kori, I am so sorry but something went wrong with the theatre club’s dressing room and I need to go figure it out. You’re gonna have to get to your date on your own.” Suzie looked so genuinely sorry about it that Kori couldn’t manage to get annoyed.
“How am I supposed to know who she is?” Kori called as Suzie ran to her room, telling whoever was on the phone that she’d be there soon. “You haven’t told me what she looks like.”
Suzie pushed past her, throwing her bag over her shoulder and zipping up her coat. “You’ll know when you see her. She’s got black hair and blue eyes. Good luck, we’ll talk about it later!” Suzie said as she rushed out the door.
Kori stood there, blinked once. That was a wild two minutes. She sighed and went to her room. What does one wear to meet a stranger their friend set them up with? Again, Kori wondered why she was putting so much thought into this. On every other Suzie-organised date, Kori had just gone in whatever she’d been wearing that day. For some reason, she wanted to change.
Skimming her closet, she pulled out a pink hoodie. She looked at it for a moment before shoving it back in. Not good enough. It ended up taking twenty minutes before she was satisfied with her look. She’d ended up with a pink wool sweater, a white tennis skirt, and white shoes. It wasn’t her best work, but she was happy with it. She touched up her makeup and checked the time again. 3:45.
She groaned. Needing something to do, she decided to do her hair. It had been in a simple ponytail for classes, but since this was a date she needed something more. She brushed it out several times, a growing sense of nervous energy giving Kori’s hands a mind of their own.
Kori narrowed her eyes at her reflection in the bathroom mirror. Why am I feeling this way? This is the same as every other date Suzie’s set me up on. Maybe it’s because I don’t even know what she looks like? Yeah, that’s it. Normally she shows me their Instagram.
Kori adjusted her hair and was satisfied with how it lay on her shoulders. She went back into her room and glanced at the clock.
4:50.
Kori’s eyes widened. How had an hour passed? She scrambled for her things and burst out of the apartment.
She made it to the library cafe in record time with just seconds to spare. She stood in the entryway, looking around for a girl with black hair and blue eyes like Suzie said. Luckily, it was pretty empty for 5 o’clock on a Wednesday. There was a group in the corner and a few people scattered around the tables. Kori’s eyes drifted to the seats next to the window. She met a pair of striking blue eyes that were already looking at her.
This had to be Lydia.
Kori walked almost robotically across the cafe. Lydia’s eyes never left hers. Her gaze left Kori feeling exposed.
“Hi! Are you Lydia?” Kori asked, trying to keep her voice steady. Something about being next to Lydia made her nervous.
“That’s me. You’re Suzie’s friend?”
“Kori, yeah. Don’t tell me she didn’t tell you my name. She said she did.”
Lydia smirked slightly. “She told me. I wanted to make sure you were you.”
Kori’s heart tripped at the sight of Lydia’s amusement. That was new. These dates never made her feel much except boredom.
“So, Kori, what’s your deal? Suzie hardly told me anything.”
Her name had never sounded like that before, all hot and sinful. Maybe that was just how Lydia talked. Kori swallowed hard.
“Um, I’m a graphic design major with a minor in business management. I, uh, like going out.” Kori’s hands were sweaty. What is happening to me?
Lydia nodded. “Cool. I’m in film.” Her eyes trailed lazily down Kori’s body, making her feel like she was on fire. “Seems we have different aesthetics."
Kori couldn’t agree more. In comparison to her pink and white, Lydia was all black and blue. Worn leather jacket, dark blue band tee, black jeans, and the chunkiest black boots Kori had ever seen. Additionally, Lydia wore a variety of silver necklaces and rings, perfectly matching the chains hanging from her belt loops.
She was stunning. Pin straight black hair, light skin, and the bluest eyes. Kori’s mouth went dry.
As the date progressed, Kori learned more about Lydia. She lived with her friends Jewels and Lana, she loved cats, and she was obsessed with David Lynch. In return, Kori told her about her love of anime and doll collecting. She left out her doll reality series. That was a bit cuckoo for a first interaction.
During their conversation, Lydia checked her phone. “Shit, I completely forgot, I need to meet my group for a project. I’m so sorry. This has been great.” She stood, gathering her things. “Have a nice night.”
She turned to leave, then stopped. “You’re gorgeous by the way. I need to thank Suzie.”
With that, she left.
Kori’s face burned. Lydia had just said it like it was nothing. Like it was some objective fact. Her heart was racing.
Walking home as the sun set, Kori’s mind was consumed by Lydia. She was completely unlike any other girl Suzie set her up with. The cool confidence, nearing arrogance but not reaching it. The way she seemed genuinely interested in what Kori said. The look in her eyes that hinted she knew how flustered she made Kori.
The accidental brushing of fingers reaching for a napkin and the nudging of her foot when Lydia laughed.
Kori had never been so entranced by someone in her life.
After a few minutes, she reached her building, mind still spinning. She got to her and Suzie’s apartment on autopilot, fumbling with the key in the lock. Suzie, who was scribbling in a notebook on the couch, looked up when she entered.
“Hey! How’d it go with Lydia?”
Kori couldn’t contain the smile that spread across her face.