Date

The sun had set, painting the sky in shades of purple and pink, when Nick finally said goodbye to our house. He left with a smile on his face and a spring in his step, as if he had just won the lottery. Lisa, my younger sister, followed him to the door, giving him a long hug and a passionate kiss. I could hear their giggles and whispers from the living room, where I was pretending to watch TV. They sounded like two lovebirds who had just discovered the joys of intimacy. And they had. Lisa told me everything as soon as Nick was gone.

"Guess what, bro? We did it!" she exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement and happiness. She flopped down on the couch next to me, her grin so wide it threatened to split her face. "We had sex, and it was amazing, he was fucking hot, bro!"

I was playing the part of the supportive big bro, sending her good vibes and trying not to puke at the nasty details she was sharing. She was telling me how she and her boyfriend had spent the weekend at a cabin in the woods, cuddling by the fireplace and making love under the stars. "It's like a soap opera, but with less drama," I cracked, getting an eye roll from Lisa.

I felt a sudden need to get out of the love zone, so I mumbled something about needing some space. Lisa gave me a doubtful look, wanting to know what was going on.

"I have a date with Jane," I blurted out, freaking myself out. I had met Jane online a few weeks ago, and we had been texting and calling ever since. She seemed nice, funny, and smart, and I was curious to see if we had any chemistry in person. Lisa, the queen of burns, raised an eyebrow, teasing me with a smirk. "Good luck, bro. Hope it's not as awkward as your face," she said, snorting.

Seeing Jane at the restaurant was like walking on eggshells. There she was, a babe in a simple but stunning dress, eyes glowing like diamonds. And me? Just a dude with too much hair gel, trying not to knock anything over. I greeted her with a hug, feeling her soft body against mine. She smelled like vanilla and roses, and I felt a surge of attraction.

The date, though, was a nightmare. We stumbled through conversations like a pair of drunk dancers, our words clashing like swords. We tried to talk about our hobbies, our jobs, our families, but nothing seemed to click. We either had nothing in common, or we disagreed on everything. "You look… I mean, you're looking hot," I stammered, making Jane blush, her cheeks turning a cute shade of pink. I was trying to compliment her, but it came out wrong. She thanked me, but I could tell she was uncomfortable.

We both ordered something we despised just to look cool, the taste of fakeness hanging in the air. She ordered a salad with dressing on the side, and I ordered a steak with fries. We barely touched our food, pretending to enjoy it. "This is fancy," I muttered, trying to sound smart but failing big time. She nodded, but I could see she was bored.

Then came the first kiss, and boy, it was a disaster. We had finished our meal, and I asked her if she wanted to go for a walk. She agreed, and we headed outside. The night was chilly, and I offered her my jacket. She smiled, and I felt a spark of hope. Maybe things were not so bad after all. We walked for a while, holding hands, and I decided to make a move. I leaned in, and she leaned in, and we nearly smashed our noses. We quickly pulled back, and our lips did this weird jig that made us both apologize. "Oops, my bad!" I chuckled nervously, thinking that laughter was the best way to cope with our clumsiness.

But we didn't quit. We decided to try again. We looked into each other's eyes, and we leaned in again, more slowly this time. Our lips met, and it was… okay. Not bad, but not great either. It felt like kissing a friend, or a cousin. There was no passion, no fire, no magic. Just a polite peck, and a mutual sigh.

As the night went on, a nagging fear crawled into my stomach. I had a bad feeling that something was off at home. I checked my phone, and I saw a missed call from Lisa. I felt a pang of guilt, wondering if she was okay. Maybe the spirit is really in the house, or what if she finds the diary about Seance?

So, with a crappy excuse and a quick peck, I bailed on the date and ran back. I told Jane I had an emergency, and I had to go. She looked disappointed, but she understood. She said she had a good time, and she hoped to see me again. I said the same, but I knew I was lying. I gave her a hug, and a kiss on the cheek, and I dashed to my car.

The house, dead silent, made my heart race. I opened the door, and I called out for Lisa. But there was no answer. I ran to the living room, and I saw her relaxing on the couch, playing a video game. She looked up, those eyes sparkling with mischief. "How was the cringe show?" she asked, a wicked grin on her lips. She paused the game, and she motioned me to sit next to her. We chatted for a while, and I told her everything.

To my surprise, Lisa, the master of sarcasm, dropped some real advice. She told me that relationships weren't about the perfect dates. They were about finding someone you could be weird with. Someone who made you laugh, who challenged you, who supported you, who loved you for who you were. She told me to embrace the awkward, and I would find the good stuff.