The first time Alex picked her up for their date, Haley couldn’t help but smile when she saw him pull up in the parking lot. His car was a beat-up Honda Civic, the kind that had seen better days, but somehow it felt right. He was sitting behind the wheel, gripping it so tight his knuckles were white, his gaze focused ahead as if he were preparing for battle.

Haley raised an eyebrow and slid into the passenger seat, the smell of coffee and something vaguely like pine trees lingering in the air. “You good?” she asked, amusement in her voice.

Alex jumped a little, clearly not expecting her to be there so soon. His eyes darted to her, and then quickly back to the road. “Yeah, uh, I’m great. Totally calm. No big deal.”

“Right,” she said, grinning. “No big deal at all. Just a casual BLT run.”

His lips twitched, a nervous smile threatening to escape. “Exactly. Just two people, some sandwiches, and the fate of the universe hanging in the balance.”

Haley laughed, her heart light. She hadn’t realized just how much she was looking forward to this until now. There was something about Alex’s nervous energy that felt… endearing. Like he wasn’t sure how to act, but he was still trying. And that was more than enough for her.

The drive to Merritt’s was filled with easy conversation, the kind that felt like it could go on forever. Alex asked her about her classes, her latest favorite book, what she thought about the local band she’d seen last weekend. She found herself laughing more than she had in a while, her nervousness slipping away with every question he asked.

When they arrived at Merritt’s, Alex found a spot near the outdoor tables, the sun beginning to dip low enough to cast a warm, golden glow across the street. They both stepped out of the car, the warm summer air wrapping around them as they made their way to a little wooden table.

"Here we are," Alex said, his voice almost sheepish. "Merritt’s. Home of the best BLT in town. You ready?"

Haley raised an eyebrow, teasing, “We’ll see about that.”

The waitress came by, and Alex ordered for them both—two BLTs, extra crispy bacon for Haley, just a touch of mayo for him. She couldn’t help but smile at the way he knew exactly what she’d want, like they’d been doing this for years instead of minutes.

They sat outside, the soft clink of silverware and the hum of conversation around them as they ate, both of them savoring every bite of their sandwiches. Haley had to admit, the BLT was... impressive. The bacon was perfectly crispy, the tomato ripe and juicy, and the bread—she had to give it to Alex—the bread really was perfect.

“This… is really good,” she admitted, taking another bite.

Alex’s face lit up, a little proud grin tugging at his lips. “Told you.”

She laughed, shaking her head. “Okay, you were right. But I’m not going to make a habit of admitting it.”

“You’re a tough customer,” he said, a playful glint in his eyes. “I like that.”

They finished their sandwiches, the conversation drifting easily from one topic to the next. They talked about everything—from the weird things they’d done as kids to their favorite childhood movies. The kind of conversation that felt like it could go on forever without running out of steam.

As the night wore on and the light began to fade, Haley took a sip of her Snapple Iced Tea, feeling the cool sweetness on her tongue. Her eyes drifted down to the cap of the bottle, and for some reason, she felt compelled to keep it. She twisted it off, staring at the little snap on the top of it, her fingers brushing it as she held it in her palm.

Haley slipped the cap into her pocket, a small gesture, but one that felt like a promise. This wasn’t just another date. It was the beginning of something real. And she had a feeling it was going to be exactly the kind of story she would look back on and smile about.

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