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“Nicolò?” Nonna Alma asked when she knocked on the door.
“Can’t I just be allowed to lay here and die?” Nicky wanted to know. "In peace."
Nonna Alma sat down on the bed and ran a hand over Nicky’s back.
“What’s wrong?”Nonna Alma wanted to know.
For a moment Nicky thought about lying but again if there’s one thing he didn’t do it was to lie to his Nonna Alma, so he turned around and looked at her.
“I finally found the courage to ask Joe to the school prom, but the moment I stood beside Joe I had an allergic reaction to his perfume. I ran away before he could ask what was wrong and ignored him the rest of the day," Nicky replied. “ I want to change school. Preferably in another town in another country.”
Nonna Alma cupped Nicky’s face.
“Always so dramatic,” Nonna Alma said with a smile. “Now, you leave Joe to me.”
“No, no, no,” Nicky panicked. “Please don’t talk to Joe. I really don’t want to move planet.”
Nonna Alma placed a kiss on Nicky’s forehead.
“You won’t need to do that,” Nonna Alma reassured. “Now, when you’re ready there’s tea.”
Nicky looked at Nonna Alma.
“Promise me you won’t do anything,” Nicky begged.
“Fine,” Nonna Alma replied. “I won’t do anything.”
A week later, Nonna Alma went bowling as usual with her friends, but for once she didn’t care about winning. The moment she saw Joe, she cornered the poor kid, who was carrying a tray with drinks.
“I want a word with you, young man,” Nonna Alma said.
“Ok,” Joe stuttered. “Could I at least give the people their drinks?”
“Yes you can,” Nonna Alma replied. “I’m waiting for you right here.”
Nonna Alma sat down at the table next to her, while Joe walked over to the people. Joe knew that his grandmother was a friend of Nonna Alma, but he couldn’t figure out what he had done wrong.
“Sit down,” Nonna Alma said. “I want to look you into your eyes.”
Joe sat down on the chair next to Nonna Alma feeling like a kid at the principal's office.
“I want you to ask my grandson for the school prom,” Nonna Alma said.
“Oh, I’ve tried asking him so many times,” Joe replied. “But he keeps on running away every time.”
“He has also tried to ask you,” Nonna Alma said. “He is allergic to your perfume, which I can understand, because do you bathe in it?”
Joe had never thought that his attempt of smelling good to lure Nicky in would end up pushing him away.
“So, once you’re finished working,” Nonna Alma said. “I want you to go home, take a shower, before asking my grandson out.”
“Do you know where I can find him?” Joe wanted to know.
“It’s Tuesday,” Nonna Alma replied. “He works until 10 PM at Larson.”
Nicky loved working at Larson because whenever he had a late shift it meant, he often could get the last slice of cake.
“Nicky?” A voice asked from behind.
Nicky, who had his mouth filled with cake turned around and saw Joe standing there looking sheepishly.
“You look cute,” Joe said with a smile.
Nicky swallowed the cake.
“Thanks,” Nicky replied. “What are you doing here? I mean, you work at the other end of town.”
Joe stepped a bit closer to Nicky.
“I did ride my bike faster than ever because I had to go home and shower first,” Joe replied. “Why didn’t you tell me you were allergic to my perfume?”
Nicky blushed.
“Because it’s stupid,” Nicky replied. “Me being allergic to you.”
Joe took Nicky’s hand in his.
“From now on I promise to only use bar soap and perfume-free deodorant,” Joe said. “If you promise me something in return.”
“And that is?” Nicky wanted to know.
“That you go with me to the school prom,” Joe replied. “As my plus one.”
“I would really love to go with you,” Nicky replied with a smile.
The following Friday, Joe picked up Nicky as agreed.
“I promise to have him home before 1 AM,” Joe said.
“That’s ok,” Nonna Alma said. “Go and have fun.”
Nicky came down the stairs.
“I’m still not sure about this suit, Nonna,” Nicky said, who was busy correcting the manchette buttons, not having noticed Joe yet. “I feel so silly in it.”
“I think you look beautiful in it,” Joe said.
Nicky froze mid stairs and stared at Joe, who gave him a smile.
“I agree with Joe,” Nonna Alma said. “You look really beautiful in it.”
“Thanks,” Nicky replied. “Shall we?”
“May I offer you my arm?” Joe wanted to know.
Nicky blushed as he placed his hand on Joe’s arm.
During the school prom, Joe didn’t let go of Nicky. The arm holding soon became hand holding. When Joe led them out on the dancefloor, he placed a hand on Nicky’s lower back and pulled him closer.
“I can’t dance,” Nicky admitted.
“Neither can I,” Joe replied. “But I still want to dance with you.”
When Joe started to move them around to the music, Nicky just followed and the entire room disappeared. It was just them at that moment.
After dancing they decided to leave and go for a walk hand in hand.
“Remind me that I need to send your Nonna flowers,” Joe said. “As a thank you for a fantastic evening.”
“I told her not to talk with you,” Nicky said. “Sorry, but she..”
“She means it well,” Joe cut in. “So, what do you want to do on our second date?”
Nicky stopped walking and just stared at Joe.
“A second date?” Nicky asked.
“Didn’t I mention it when I asked you to be my plus one,” Joe replied. “That I meant for all eternity, which means a lot of dates, or do you have better plans?.”
“Not really,” Nicky replied. “But all eternity?”
“I have known, I wanted to be with you for all eternity since I was 7,” Joe replied. “And I hated that guy you were with last summer because he was with you.”
Nicky took Joe’s hand in his and removed a runaway curl from Joe’s face.
“I think my cousin’s girlfriend would feed me to the fishes if I started dating him,” Nicky said.
“So, I’ve spent an entire year being jealous at your cousin?” Joe wanted to know. “That’s silly now that I think about it.”
“I think it’s cute,” Nicky said. “But I have also known since I was 7 that I want to be with you.”
“Could we agree that we won’t waste any more time and just be together?” Joe wanted to know.
“I like that thought,” Nicky replied. “Very much.”
Joe pulled Nicky closer to him.
“Can I kiss you?” Joe wanted to know.
“Yes please,” Nicky replied.
Because neither of them had kissed before it was a very uncoordinated kiss. Joe hit Nicky’s nose, while Nicky hit Joe’s cheek, which made them both laugh.
“It’s a good thing we got all eternity to figure out kissing,” Nicky said with a smile.
“Indeed,” Joe replied. “Let’s try it again.”
This time they hit the mouth but it was just a small gentle one. They agreed on working on the kissing on their second date tomorrow.
When Nicky came home, he found Nonna Alma sleeping in her favorite armchair.
“It’s time for bed, Nonna,” Nicky said as he turned off the telly.
“How did it go?” Nonna Alma wanted to know.
“We’re going on a date tomorrow,” Nicky replied.
“So, does that mean you’re staying on this planet?” Nonna Alma teased.
Nicky laughed.
“I suddenly like this planet even more now,” Nicky said with a big smile. "But you broke the promise of not talking with Joe."
"I had my fingers crossed," Nonna Alma replied. "So, it doesn't count."
Nicky placed a kiss on Nonna Alma's forehead.
"Thanks for talking with Joe," Nicky said gratefully.
"Just glad I could help," Nonna Alma replied. "Now, I want to hear all about the school prom."