What's a date?

I woke up around late noon. All of us weren't allowed to go on missions but we're all free to roam free, as long as it's away from danger. I checked my phone and it was 10 AM. I slept in late, woke up late. I was hungry so I went to the cafeteria. As I arrived, it was quiet. Everyone else had eaten without me.

I got the usual food and sat on the bench as usual. I ate my food in silence. Nothing came to mind.

Then rose up from the ground was Dan. From a "puddle" of shadow, again.

"Hey, Volta."

"Hey."

"Sam said you came by to his room last night. How'd it go?"

"He explained a few things and I still don't really get it."

"Take your time. That's all you need, time to process."

"Right."

I stayed silent for a few seconds. Then, I remember what he said last night.

"Oh, and I asked Sam about that date thing."

"And? What he do?"

"He started covering his mouth and looked away. Then, he said yes."

Dan then grinned to himself. "Then what?"

"After I left, he started screaming then he started laughing. Really loudly."

Dan then started laughing. He looked embarrased. Why?

"Sorry, it's just funny."

"Okay."

"About that date, you know what it is yet?"

I shook my head.

"Okay, a date is a when two people who like each other hang out."

"Is it different than just hanging out?"

"Technically, no. But, it has a different connotation."

"What's the connotation?"

"Romantic. A date is hanging out with the connotation of romance."

"Romance?"

"It's honestly not easy to explain. A romantic feeling is when you can't stop thinking about someone. You feel excited to be around them. Your heart just pounds like when you're running. A desire to make them happy. No matter what happens, you just want them happy. You'd go extreme lengths just for them. To the point where you sometimes disregard yourself. It's kind of maddening. Sometimes. That's what a romantic feeling is like."

"Do I feel like that for Sam?"

"Maybe. That's for you to figure out on this date."

"Can you help me?"

"Absolutely."

The first thing Dan decided to help me on my date was to check my wardrobe. They were just sets of the same clothes I had. A sleeveless light grey jogging shirt with color-matching long sweatpants.

Dan sighed loudly. I was confused, but also felt like I wanna punch him. Just a tiny bit.

"Hmm..."

"What is it?"

"You don't have make up either. Well, then."

Dan left the room and walked to the hall. He stopped at Kris' door. He knocks on her door. The door opened and she spoke immediately.

"What do you want, Dan?" She asked

"You have make up, right?" He asked

"Yeah. Why?" She sighed

"Can you help me?"

"No." Then she slowly shuts the door. But, Dan held it open. "Wait, please?"

"Tch. Why do you need my make up?" She opens it back up

"Not me, her." He pointed at me

"Why? "She asked Sam on a date. And she needs to look good."

"Fine. When's she leaving?"

"Hey, Volta. When are you going?" Dan asks me

"Uhh... I don't know." I shrugged my shoulders

"6 PM. That's when she's leaving." Dan stated

"Are you like her micro-manager?" Kris asked, sarcastically?

"Funny." Dan smiled. "It's already nearing 3 PM. So, now please."

"Now? Fine. Volta come inside."

"Is Dan coming inside too?" I asked

"Sure. I guess." Kris said as she opened the door all the way

"Just don't make a mess of the place." Kris requested

"Yeah sure."

Kris told me to sat down on the floor with her. She opened up a bag and spilled out all of its contents. Bottles of all sorts.

"So, Volta... Why Sam?" She asked. I didn't respond then she asks again "Why not Dan?"

"Umm... I don't know."

Dan then leveled to her ear and whispered something. I could hear it though. "I kinda set her up with him." Dan whispered

"Oh, cheeky bitch." Kris responded aloud

"Sam does have a big crush on her." Dan claims

She then nods.

Kris grabs a big brush and patted it on a box? Some sort of dust. "Fold your lips." She said. I followed. "Close your eyes too." I followed, again. She then brushes my cheeks with the big brush she had. Then I think she wiped something with her hands to my cheeks. Something sticky but also slick. "Don't freak out, 'kay? Just stay calm"

I nodded gently.

She then uses something that was like a dull pencil on my eyelids. From the inner edge all the way to the outer edge. "Now open your eyes." She said. Then I saw the thing she held. It was like a pen. Then she uses a brush thing. Something similar to a pipe cleaner. Then brushes my eyelashes up with it.

"Show me your lips. She said

I did. And then she grabs a lipstick—that I recognized. Then she gently pats my bottom lip with it. Then with her finger, she spreads the lipstick on my lip.

"Now purse your lips."

"Purse?"

"You rub 'em together."

So I did. Then she pats two more times with the lipstick on my top lip and spread them again.

"Purse them again."

After I done that, she stared at me. Then she looks at Dan. She grabs my cheeks with one hand and turn my head facing Dan.

"What else do you think she needs?"

Dan then examined my face closely.

"A place for the date."

"Okay, then. my service here is done."

"Thanks for helping out."

"Uh... Thanks, Kris."

"You're welcome, miss."

Kris then walk us out of her room. She held the door open. "Good luck on your date, Volta."

"Umm... Yeah. Thanks, again."

"See you around, Kris."

Kris then shuts the door quietly. I then was confused on what to do next. Dan started walking while playing his phone. I followed behind him.

"Idly City Annual Festival. You're in luck, Volta. You have the perfect place. And the right time too."

"Idly City Annual Festival?"

"That's your place of Date. At 6 PM. Ask Sam to go by train. Unless you could teleport, of course."

"Okay."

"Anyways, I gotta go. See you around, Volta. Good luck. And have fun."