(November 15th, 2006)

So. Uhm.

I'm gonna ask Hypno to be my boyfriend. (/goyfriend? Idk, they're a demiboy who knows how they want to be labeled)

I've had like, two and a half months thinking on it, and I feel like if I ever want to do it, I should now. Y'know, because we're in grade twelve… going to college next year and.. well, Hypno doesn't know what they want to study yet. I don't wanna miss my chance if this- is our last year together.

...I shouldn't think like that.

Uh- BUT! I asked Jev, supposed master of asking people out, how the hell I should do it. He gave me what he calls the 'Three Magical Methods to Getting a Date'.

(What the hell have I gotten myself into.)

The first method; be sweet about it. Spend time alone, compliment, pay for stuff, get them gifts and shit. Apperently this method is the best to really get to people's hearts.

The second, be stereotypical about it. This one's supposedly good for those really oblivious people that you always seem to fall for.

Third, be flirty. This method is also good for giving the especially dense people a hint.

"And if none of those work," Jevin finished, shrugging. "Seriously, just straight up tell him. Hypno can be pretty… er- stubborn, sometimes. Might be better to spit it out."

I drummed my fingers nervously on the lunch table-- one of my annoying habits that make it obvious that I'm anxious. "And what do I do if they reject me?"

"He won't."

"But what if he does?!"

Jevin sighed, reaching across the table and patting my hand. "Then Wels and I can be your shoulders to cry on."

"Why is xB crying?" The man of the hour, Hypno, appeared next to me, seemingly coming out of nowhere. They sat down next to me, unpacking their lunch. He smiled, and said in a mock-exasperated voice, "What've you done this time, Jev."

Jevin blinked, "Nothing!"

Hypno tutted, "Sounding defensive."

"Shut up schmelly."

The brunet raised both his hands, "Just a speculation!"

Me and Hypno both laughed, while Jevin scoffed. Hypno turned to me.

"Hey, xB, its almost my mum's birthday, and I wanna get her flowers." They said, unwrapping their sandwich. "You're surprisingly knowledgeable when it comes to flower meanings. Mind helping me pick some out sometime?

I looked at Jevin. He gave me two big thumbs ups, his eyes gleaming.

"Sure." I responded casually. "Wanna go today after school?"

Hypno smiled, successfully frying my brain. "Yeah! We could stop at the Café on the way!"

"Ooo, are we going to the Café?" Wels finally showed up, sitting next to Jev. "Good weather for a hot chocolate!"

Jevin smacked his boyfriend's arm, "Not us! Just Hypno and xB."

Wels seemed to understand right away... Then Hyp dug himself into a hole.

"Well, you two could come too."

Curse your kind soul.

Jevin glanced at me and winked. "No, no. You two just enjoy your date."

Hypno flushed a furious shade of red, which I hope is a good sign for me. "Not a da.." He glanced at me, and just blushed more. It probably didn't help that I was almost smiling. "xB what the f-"

"Woah!" Wels inturrupted, "Hyp, were you about to drop an F-Bomb? That doesn't happen often!"

Jevin laughed. I grinned at Hypno, who was still looking angry, and red. "S-so, flower shop?"

They nodded.

I smiled wider, remembering what Jevin had told me about the first method, a plan forming in my mind. "It's a date!"

...

Spend time alone, check.
Compliment, check.
Pay for stuff, check.

I was doing pretty well in the 'be sweet' department. I'd taken Hypno to the Café after school, and bought him a hot chocolate. They seemed to enjoy the attention! We were walking to the flower shop, which was miraculously still open in the middle of November. I was literally this close to holding Hypno's hand but I PUSSIED OUT AND I'M SUPER PISSED NOW AGUXAFUXAGC---

..soon, we got to the Flower Shop. And that's when things started going askew.

As soon as we entered the store, Hypno seemed to be drawn toward the Red Roses. They picked a bouquet and-- instead of like, smelling or admiring the flowers, Hyp tried to see if he could poke himself on the thorns.

I chuckled, "What- what are you trying to do."

Hypno looked up from the flowers, shrugging. "These are pretty. You think my mum'd like them?"

"Red Roses, Hyp? For your mother? Kinda weird, not gonna lie." I gently took the roses from them, admiring the delicate, velvety petals like a normal person. "I thought you brought me along to get a better grip on flower meanings?"

Hypno tilted their head in that cute way they do. "Yeah. So, what do they mean then?"

I stared at him blankly.

"xB?"

"Hypno-"

He nodded, "That is my name."

"They-" I shoved the roses back into Hypno's arms. "They're roses, ya dumbass!"

"Yeah, noticed." Hypno raised their eyebrows. They were getting sarcastic. That probably wasn't good. "What do they mean?"

Noticing that I'd probably ruined the delicate sweet mood-- something that's hard to get with Hypno --I'd worked up for this outing, I pursed my lips. "You seriously don't know."

"Nope."

I patted Hypno's shoulder, trying to regain some level of… something. Something that wasn't sarcasm and witty comments.

"You're… endearingly ridiculous sometimes." I said, "It's literally the most universal meaning. Look it up when you can."

Hypno put the roses back on their stand. "Yeah, kay.."

I sighed.

I led Hypno away from the flowers that meant romance, assuming he didn't want to give his mom anything along those lines. I'm sure-- like the majority of our other Creative Writing classmates --Hypno still has nightmares from grade ten about our classmate Ren, a cursed profession of love, and some kid named Stacy's mom.

Dark times.

As we walked past tulips I went through my mental list of flower meanings. Sure, I was pretty good with them after being friends with Etho for so long, but I wasn't the best.

"Ughhh." I grumbled, under my breath, my mind frustratingly blank. "I wish Etho was here."

Yeah, I flunked right about there.

Hypno looked up from the purple tulips. He glanced at me, an unreadable expression flashing across his face. "What..?"

Well, I won't say unreadable. It wouldn't be fair to say unreadable. I knew how he felt-- he had told me how he felt last year but.. I still couldn't grasp the fact that Hypno was jealous.

"S-sorry! Not like.. not like that, if that's what you..."  I sighed, and gave Hypno an apologetic look. They eased up a bit. "He's better at flowers than I am."

Hypno scoffed, glancing back at the tulips. "Oh, come on, you're just as good as Etho."

"You're also biased in my favour."

Hyp nodded solemnly, "That I am. But seriously, just go with your gut. I trust you to know which flowers'd be best. You'll figure it out."

I ran a hand through my hair. "You think so?"

"Yeah! Go find me a bouquet."

"Uh.." I tried again to reach into my subconscious and remember any piece of information that may help me, but my mind was still blank.

So I did what Hyp said. I trusted my gut.

I didn't think, and walked over to the carnation section. I assessed my choice of colour. I went with pink. Pink was, relatively, safe..

I picked a nice bouquet of pink carnations with a mix of daisies, and walked back to Hypno, offering them the flowers.

"Well?"

They blinked at the flowers. "I thought you said no roses?"

I looked at the flowers, then back at Hypno. Letting out a breath I didn't really know I was holding, my face melted into a smile.

I couldn't help it. I burst into laughter.

As I howled, a small, concerned smile appeared on Hypno's face as he chuckled uncertainly along with me.

Once my laughter had subsided, I grabbed Hypno's hand and led them over to the red roses we'd been at earlier. I held the carnations next to the roses and glanced back at Hypno. "You think these are the same, Hyp?"

I noticed his face was a similar shade of pink as the carnations. I noticed I was still holding his hand. For the light of the situation, I said nothing about it.

Hypno kept their mouth shut.

I picked up the roses and offered them to him. "The roses are.. curly. Like your hair. Then the carnations would be like my hair, only kinda wavy. See the difference?"

"Uhm- yeah..." Hyp cleared their throat, regaining their voice. "An you're comparing us to the flowers? I'm a curly rose?"

"Yeah!" I know I could've rambled on about how similar Hypno is to a rose in more depth. I know I could've probably overwhelmed them with compliments just then. But I didn't.

Maybe I'm just naturally smooth. (hah!)
Maybe Jevin's been rubbing off on me.
But basically, I kept it short, and sweet.

"You are just as gorgeous as all the roses in this bouquet."

Jevin would be proud.

I didn't ask Hyp out, but Jevin would still be proud.