“English.”
“Seems fitting for the business Max runs.”
“It’s funny you say that. Max was always more interested in History than English but once he went to college and got introduced to different kinds of literature, rather than the typical everyone reads in high school, he fell in love with the written word.”
“I’m going to have to give him shit for that now.”
“Don’t tell him I said anything!” Melanie pleaded and I couldn’t help but smile at the look of horror on her face at her brother figuring out she was talking about him to me.
“I promise to only make one side comment to him.”
She rolled her eyes at me and this time I let the conversation die into a natural silence. We looked out the window, watching a few people that walked by, commenting on a few odd outfit choices we saw.
“I loved reading about Greek mythology the most when I was in high school.”
I turned to Melanie who was staring at me. I wondered how long she’d been looking on or more so. How long ago did she move her chair to the side of the table, so we were sitting next to each other, rather than across from each other?
“I’m a huge fan of Greek mythology myself,” I respond.
“You are?” Melanie cocked her head to the side. A look of disbelief crossed her face and I tried not to laugh.
“I am. I loved studying about it in college. I took a couple of Greek mythology classes between History and Literature. I even took a Latin class as well. The culture intrigues me.”
“Same here. Anything I can get my hands on I love to read or watch about.”
“If that’s the case, I have a comic I’d love to show you. It’s about Persephone and Hades.”
Melanie quickly put her drink down and placed her hand over mine.
“Wait!” There was a stunned look on her face as she reached into her back pocket, bringing her phone out. It was only seconds before she was shoving the device in my face, showing me exactly what I’d been about to tell her.
“You mean Lore Olympus?!”
“Yeah,” I laughed at Melanie’s enthusiasm and when she pulled the phone away, I saw a genuine smile plastered across her face as she looked at me.
“It’s one of my all-time favorite comics and it’s not just the story but the illustrations as well. It’s just so cool to see the story come to life in a different way than just words or even so, the way most people read about it.”
“Exactly. We can see these Gods in our time and see them be almost human for a second. It’s quite a refreshing rendition to the Greek mythology world.”
“Did you see it was being optioned for a show too?!”
“I had not but that sounds exciting. I wonder if it will be animated the way it is in the comics or if they are going to change it.”
“I hope they’d keep it the way it is but if anything, seeing that story come to life in a different way would be amazing to watch.”
“I hope you wouldn’t make me watch it alone.”
It was a long shot but I stuck the comment out there in the open, hoping with how this coffee date was going, Melanie would sink into the words and move this in the direction I wanted it to go.
“Smooth move there, Jack.” She shook her head and leaned in closer to me, just like she had at the bar. “I said this wasn’t a date.”
“Yet here you are in a dress, sitting next to me, giving me the smile I’ve been so desperately wanting to get from you.”
“My smile?” She moved her hand to her lips and looked down at her drink.
I reached out, tucking my fingers under her chin and lifted her head up.
“You’re smile, Melanie.” I gave her a small smile myself. “Since I’ve known you, I’ve never seen the smile you give others directed toward me. Now, you’ve given me a smile that I’ve never seen you give anyone else.”
