It Was Just a Date... Until It Wasn't

I was 22, just relaxing one evening, when a friend messaged me.

She was someone I was kind of into, hot and cold, back and forth. Sometimes interested, sometimes not.

It was all a bit of a game, but I didn’t mind.

She was out at a club and asked if I could pick her and a friend up.

“Yeah, whatever,” I thought.

She was a good chick underneath it all.

When I got there, I was a little surprised, her friend seemed decent, and there was a quiet connection between us.

We ended up becoming friends, and a few weeks later, decided to go out for dinner.

We were having a pretty good time, actually. Then my phone rang.

It was one of my mates, someone who never called this late.

I felt it straight away.

Something was up.

“Do you mind if I take this?” I asked her. She nodded. “Of course.”

I answered casually. “Hey mate, how are ya?”

His voice came through flat. “Oh hey, yeah... I’m good. Look... T’s dead.”

I froze. “Oh. What happened?”

“He jumped in front of a train.”

Then, almost instantly: “Alright, I’m going to bed. See ya.”

“Right... see ya.”

I hung up.

Just like that.

The girl across the table could see it in my face.

“Is everything okay?”

“Ummm... not really. I just found out a friend passed away.”

I paused. “I’m really sorry, but I have to go.”

She just sat there, stunned and as shocked as I was.

It wasn’t a good situation for either of us.

We parted ways and never spoke again.

I walked out of the restaurant, still in shock, and made my way to a nearby gym where a close friend of mine worked.

His partner was at the front desk.

“Hi!” she said, smiling then immediately looked concerned. “Are you okay? What’s happened?”

“Can you get S out here? Now.”

She nodded and quickly got him.

He came out smiling.

“Hey mate, what’s going on?”

“Come outside.”

We stepped out to the curb, and I told him.

He froze. “Fucking hell,” he muttered.

We sat on the gutter.

My hands were on my head.

I didn’t know what to feel.

“I was having dinner with this chick when I found out,” I said.

He looked at me, shaking his head. “Horrible first date.”

I let out a dry laugh. “Yeah... pretty fucked.”

We sat there a bit longer.

I told him I was heading home.

We said goodbye.

And that was that.