500: An Anthology of Short Stories
The Crush

Danté fell instantly for Joshua the minute he walked into the seminar venue. His fair skin only accentuated the mole perched slightly above the left corner of his kiss-me-please pink upper lip. Danté’s knees turned to wobbly jelly when Joshua smiled at the group; it was a million-watt mischievous grin that caused his green eyes to squish into slits. Danté suddenly had great trouble breathing normally.

When Joshua selected the empty seat next to Danté, it was an enormous temptation to reach out and touch this vision of a striking young man.

“Hi,” Joshua greeted Danté, completely oblivious of the effect his voice had on his neighbor. “Is it okay if we pair up for the activities we are supposed to do in this course?” Joshua asked amicably.

“Yeah … yeah. Sure, I guess,” Danté stammered like a besotted fool. Inwardly, a monologue started that said, “That’s because you are a fool! This guy would never be interested in you! Look at him: muscular, drop-dead gorgeous and smelling like a scented model.”

Joshua interrupted the inner tirade with, “I think we should swap numbers. Here, let me add my number to your contacts,” he offered and reached out to take the unresisting Danté’s phone.

The rest of the seminar was a blur; Danté could only function on the very periphery of concentration. No day had ever felt as simultaneously wonderful and agonizing as this one.

One week later, to the absolute disbelief of Danté, a beautiful friendship had developed between the two of them.

“You know, I never thought I would be attracted to somebody like you,” Joshua admitted freely. “Not that there’s anything wrong with you,” he was quick to point out. “It’s just that my usual type, if I can call it that, is neither intellectual nor contemplative. Yet, here I am, beside one of the most deep-thinking individuals I have ever met, and I’m one extremely happy chappy,” he joked.

With an exaggerated eye roll, Danté let the cocky twenty-two-year old know how much weight his remarks carried.

“Well, you’re not my usual type either, if I’m totally honest. I usually go for the nerd-type. You know, the bespectacled, whip thin, awkwardly anti-social ones? Muscular hunks like you typically have me walk the other way,” Danté said teasingly to see how Joshua would react.

Joshua’s infectious laugh echoed cheerfully through the fairly empty fast food restaurant. Some of the patrons glanced over and smiled in spite of themselves. Joshua had that effect on nearly everybody.

“So, you think I’m muscular and a hunk? And you haven’t even seen me naked yet,” he stated impudently. He laughed uproariously at the bright crimson that darkened Danté’s visage.

“You’re incorrigible! What makes you think I’d ever want to see you naked?” Danté dared to retort, heart and pulse beating a raucous timpani in excitement of laying eyes upon Joshua’s pectorals.

“Well, we both know it’s your heart’s desire, dear,” Joshua said before he leaned forward to kiss her luscious lips.