I was sitting there and scrolling through twitter in my underwear, and my hoodie. Tai was watching One Punchman. It was actually pretty funny. I have never been one for anime, but One Punchman is definitely on the best anime lists to me. It was around six o’clock, and I heard my phone buzz. It was Emily.

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit. I repeated that word several times. It was like a Buddhist mantra to calm my nerves. I could use some green tea right about now, or black tea. I was racked to the core with anxiety. How could I forget?

I forgot all about my date with Emily. I was so tired, and delirious was the party, and staying up almost all night. There was something about a night of drinking, and loud music that no matter how late you slept in. Well, ten o’clock was sleeping in late for me, that made one tired. I guess that is why Edward slept as long as he did. He did a few more parties under his belt. That was my first time, and it was nothing spectacular. It was all drinking, and smoking, and sex. If there was an animal there I’d probably would have spent more time with it than interacting with the humans. I guess I’m more introverted than the rest of the school.

-I can’t wait to see you tonight for our first actual date.- My heart skipped a beat because I had forgot all about my date. I’m such an awkward little cretin, that has the memory of a dead gnat.

"Shit." I said and got up. I could hear Tai saying, "Ooooh, I’m telling mom you said that," but I did not care about that. I had only one thing on my mind, and that was, Emily.

I ran into my room, and grabbed my pants, and slid on my shoes. I found mom in her study, where she was reading some romance novel. Her hair was in a bun with a few strands hanging out.

"Mom?" I said coming into the room like I had hid the body of a murder victim, that was ridden with guilt, and approached her desk very shyly.

"Yeah, sweetie." She placed the book down, bending the spine. That was a cringe worthy act, and a cardinal sin to me, but I swallowed that down because I need someone to drive Emily, and I around on our date.

"I need you to drive me to Emily, my girlfriend’s house. I have a date tonight. " I bit my lip, and looked at her. I felt bad that I had sprung this on her at the last minute, but I needed to do this. I need to be on good terms with Emily. My brother always said that to have a girlfriend is a a lot of work, but it is not hard keeping a girlfriend happy. All you have to do is cherish her, and be there for her, and stand up for her.

"okay." She sighed, and got up. "Where are we going on this date? "

"Well... Umm... " I trailed off, and blushed."

"Oh, Jeong, you did not forget, did you?

"Sort of."

She sighed, and patted my head. I will be ready in fifteen. We will have to drop the boys off on our neighbor, or someone. Maybe your Aunt tia?" She said walking off, going into her room."

I added to the already surmounting stress of my mother. That makes me feel so good. I’m such an ungrateful son. I always try to be the responsible one, so I do not have to have my mother come and clean up my mess. I’ll let Tai, and now Tobey, take on the despairing glory.

I went down, and waited on the couch. I texted Emily the plane. I said that we were going to the movies, to see any movie she wanted, and I was going to take her out to sushi. I overheard her talking that she liked sushi. I was nervous that Emily would catch on that I forgot, that  I should probably put on a second coating of deodorant under my arms. I did.  I went into the bathroom, and put on more deodorant. She just texted back," sounds great."

That text resonated within me like a night watch gong warning the village of invaders or that the imperial court was arriving. Was she mad? Did she know? My brother said women never reveal what they are thinking, and if you can not guess, then they get even more upset. He said you should just apologize, then move on.

My mother came down in jeans, and a white blouse. She was wearing black pumps too. She was still rocking the up do though.

"Mom. Let your hair down. It will look better. " I said, and stood up. "Did you find someone to watch Tai, and Tobey?"

"No, I did not ." She said, and fixed her updo hair. "It will be alright." So much for first impressions.

"Fine. " I said, and looked at my phone. I can not believe I have to go on a date with Emily, and ride around with Tai, and Tobey.

We all got into the car. Tobey got in the front. I sat in the back with Tai. I gave my mother the directions to Emily’s house, which she gave the address when she put her number into my phone. My mother had to use a GPS. She is a little on the directionally challenged side. It was a quiet car ride for the most part. The only thing was that Tobey turned the radio on too loud, and was having a fight about the volume with my mother, and then with Tai about what to listen too. We finally settled on a 90’ and 80’s, and later station. Diana Ross’s song "The Boss was playing." Lord. This was such a disco bop, but it would be embarrassing if Emily heard this. She would probably try to roll out of the car while it was moving, knowing we jam out to some disco queen.

Tai, and I took some selfies together, while we were singing. We loved the dog filter, and face swap on snapchat. Tai is a selfie king. His Instagram is full of selfies, and random photography, his words, not mine. His photography looks more like random shots of fields, and buildings, but art is subjective is it not? We got to Emily’s house around six forty-five, after numerous selfies. My mother parked in the driveway, and I got out, and went to the door.

This is it. My first date. It was between Emily, and I, and the rest of my family minus Alexander. Although I think he would beg and plead to come too if he still lived with us, instead of him watching Tai, and Tobey. Alexander loved to tease me  a lot. He knew what buttons to push, but he was always there for me, and made me feel a million times better.

I walked up the sidewalk that was slightly curved. The grass was starting to die, and had some brown patches. There were neatly trimmed bushes, and Gard gnomes and other lawn ornaments. There were even "Gnomeo, and Juliette" gnomes. That was so Emily. She was reading "Romeo and Juliette at lunch the other day. She talked about how the movie "Gnomeo and Juliette" made her want to read the play. It was a good, and silly thing. I felt better about this whole situation. I was smiling, as I walked up to the door, and rang the doorbell.

Next Chapter: Chapter 29