Short Changed || #ONC2022

Chapter III

It was only when they found a large oak tree, kissed by morphing blue fairy lights, and lay on the golden blanket of leaves that they spoke.

"Um, so—"

"Yeah, I—"

Muffled, awkward laughter. Annabelle gestured for him to continue.

"What's your name?" he asked. "I can't keep calling you 'miss' all the time."

"Annabelle. Yours?"

"Luca."

Annabelle couldn't help but repeat it in her head. It suited him – a sweet, gentle name. Certainly better than Alvin the Chipmunk.

"Thanks for tonight, Luca," she said, turning to face him. "You really helped me out a lot."

He kept his gaze trained onto the stars above them, leaning back against his hands. "It's no worries. He seemed like... not a nice man."

"No."

"My younger sister..." He hesitated for a moment, before adding, "She was with a man who was not very nice. He pretended to be someone he was not, and he was not good to her."

Annabelle felt her jaw drop. Instantly, she propped herself onto her elbow so she could meet his eyes.

"I'm so sorry. Is she alright now?"

Luca smiled warmly. "She's alright now. Are you alright? After tonight?"

"Yes. I'm alright."

"Good."

Then, they went back to staring at the stars embedded into the sky, basking in the hum of their soft breaths.

It was amazing to Annabelle. How two strangers could meet by accident – could find themselves lying side by side, staring into the rich black night, with no words needed.

"What app was that?" Luca suddenly asked. "That you met him on?"

Annabelle winced. "Tinder."

"How does it work?"

Instantly, she was sitting up, her phone already in her hands. "Let me show you."

She jumped straight onto the app. Considered unmatching Al Moitzi.

Instead, she went to the home page, holding up her phone for Luca.

"So, you see a person, and if you like them, you swipe this way," she explained. "And if you don't, you swipe the other way. And if you both swipe yes, then you get matched, and you can start talking."

"How do you get it?"

"Are you wanting to give it a try?"

Annabelle nearly laughed as he flushed. It was the most shy she had seen him all night. Hell, he looked embarrassed. No more cunning eyes and mischievous laughs – once he was out of the restaurant, he was like a little, charming cinnamon roll.

"Maybe," he finally answered.

Annabelle grinned, tugging at his sleeve. "Get your phone out, then! We can do this."

Within minutes, she had it downloaded onto his phone. Meanwhile, Luca just stared at her, and she caught the strange amalgamation between horror and amazement in his face as he entered in his email.

"I'm scared," he told her quietly. "What if no one swipes?"

Annabelle snickered. "Look at you. You're gorgeous. Plenty of girls will be swiping on you."

Was that a strange thing to say to someone you had just met? Annabelle wasn't too sure – but she didn't let herself think on it. It was nearing midnight, and there were other matters at hand. Important matters.