Chapter 22 Under the Sea
Under the Sea
Istand at the top of the stairs just outside our apartment door. I can’t wait to meet her, Carole said. Should I go back inside and explain that she is a him? No wonder Tillie makes such a big deal about pronouns. I’ll worry about this later—that’s how I roll. I turn and run down the stairs.
“Wow, you look so handsome,” he says.
I blush as his compliment leaves me floating on air. I find it hard to talk.
“I hope you like Thai food because we are going under the sea,” PJ says in his best Sebastian voice from The Little Mermaid. I am smitten.
“You look handsome too,” I finally get out.
He is wearing a blue button-down shirt like me, but he is still in shorts.
His hair is combed a bit differently, and he smells fresh.
Maybe he also took a long, hot shower. He holds out his hand and I take it, which I can do so easily now.
We don’t say much as we drive to the restaurant, but a few shy smiles back and forth speak volumes.
I love watching him drive the car with one hand as his other hand holds mine.
I don’t think I have ever felt more content in my life. Am I dreaming?
We arrive at Tara Thai. I’ve noticed it next door to Barnes and Noble, but I haven’t been there yet.
“Oh, I’ve been wanting to come here,” I say. “I’ve spent a lot of time in the bookstore next door.”
“Well, you are in for a treat! It’s my favorite restaurant. I always ask my parents to bring me here. They like the food, but their preference is to get takeout, and I love to eat in the restaurant. You’ll see why.”
We walk in the door, and it looks like we are under the sea.
PJ immediately breaks into “Under the Sea” from The Little Mermaid, rolling his hips like an ocean wave.
The hostess takes us to a table, and I marvel at the restaurant’s design.
From the tables to the walls, everything is awash in bursts of blue and green.
Tiny jellyfish lights dance magically above our heads.
“You couldn’t have picked a more perfect place for our first date.”
“Technically, it’s our second date,” PJ reminds me.
“Yes, second date,” I repeat, a dreamy smile plastered on my face.
We look over the menu and several things sound good, but I decide to get my usual—Pad Thai.
“Have you picked out something you like?” PJ asks.
“I know it’s boring, but I’m going to get Pad Thai.”
“I like Pad Thai. Maybe I’ll get that too. Now, don’t argue with me, but this is my treat. I picked the restaurant, so it’s on me. Next date, we can go Dutch or if you want to treat, that’s okay too, but tonight, it’s on me.”
I put my hands up in defeat and give PJ a big smile.
“Do you like coconut and tofu?” PJ asks.
I nod and lick my lips.
“Great! I’ll order my favorite appetizer and drink for you to try.”
When the waiter arrives, I order Pad Thai. PJ asks for the same along with an appetizer called Golden Triangles and two coconut punches.
I try to follow Carole’s advice and listen more than I talk, but I’m not sure I’m very successful at it.
I’m so nervous, and I can’t stop running my mouth.
Fortunately, the waiter comes back with a pile of fried tofu and frothy pink drinks.
PJ quickly stabs a piece of tofu with his fork and dips it in a golden sauce topped with crushed peanuts.
He holds it up to me, and I lean forward and open my mouth.
“Ooh, this is so yummy,” I say. “Carole eats lots of tofu, so I’ve grown to like it.”
I feed a piece to PJ, and he licks a drop of the golden syrup from his bottom lip. This is so damn romantic. The atmosphere, and feeding each other, has my heart racing.
“But recently,” I continue, “I had something called stinky tofu and I’m not too sure about that. It was black like a piece of charcoal.”
The romantic spell is broken as PJ spits out his tofu in a fit of laughter.
“It was okay, but the stench wasn’t worth the taste,” I admit. “I’d rather have tofu like this in a sweet and spicy sauce with peanuts.”
“Stinky tofu?” he snorts. “Come on, that can’t be a real thing, right? You must be pulling my leg.”
“Nope. It is a real thing because I have had it, and more importantly, I’ve smelled it!”
“Try the coconut punch,” he says.
I take a sip of the punch, and it tastes like an island vacation.
“And I thought Starbucks iced green tea was good,” I say. “Ha! This is the most perfect drink ever.”
“It’s also the gayest drink ever. It’s pink and frothy.”
We giggle and clink our glasses together.
“As Cisco would say, Yas, queen, yas!”
The sun has set, and the sky is a mix of purple and dark gray as we finish our entrees. I excuse myself to the bathroom, and PJ pays the bill. I check my teeth in the mirror to make sure there is no food in them. Could this be the best night of my sixteen-year-old life?
I meet up with PJ at the front desk. He cups my hand and fills it with the tiniest individually wrapped candies I have ever seen.
Little cherries, blueberries, and melons on the wrappers identify the flavors inside.
We walk back to his car, and I thank him again for dinner and promise the next meal is my treat.
As I put on my seatbelt, I take a mental scan of the restaurants I’ve been to.
I need to figure out some place romantic to take him.
But how can I top Thai food under the sea?
Hmm, maybe I’ll take him to the Airpark Cafe to watch the planes take off and land.
Is that romantic? I’m not sure. I’ll text Hector my idea. He’ll know the right thing to do.
When we reach my apartment building, PJ turns off the car, and we sit in silence staring at each other.
He leans toward me and twirls his finger in the curls on my temple.
Is he going to kiss me? He’s going to kiss me!
Right on cue, the alien springs into action, ruining my perfect evening.
It wants out, now! Scratch, scratch, scratch! Scratch, scratch, scratch!
My face must reveal it all.
“What is it, Simon? What’s wrong?” His questions are heavy with worry.
“I haven’t told my moms I’m gay yet,” I blurt out. “They think I’m on a date with a girl right now.”
PJ gasps. “Wow, sorry, didn’t see that one coming. I just assumed you told them. I mean, your moms are lesbians. Why wouldn’t you tell them about yourself?”
I look away, embarrassed and ashamed, but when I turn back, PJ’s eyes are kind. He takes my hands in his.
“It’s going to be okay. Listen, Simon, I can’t say I’m not disappointed by this unexpected news, but I’ve enjoyed myself tonight.
More than you know. I don’t want to push you into something you are not ready for.
Let’s call it a night and end the evening on a positive note.
Maybe we can do movie night with your moms next time when you’re more comfortable? ”
“No!” I say adamantly. “Our second date will not end on a sour note like our first one did. I won’t make the same mistake twice.”
I get out of the car—alien be damned—and walk around to the driver’s side door and open it. I offer PJ my hand.
“Come meet my parents.”