“Really?” He laughed reading my sign, “Vegan from my head TO-MA-TOES? you’re not even vegan love.”
“I’m here for moral support!” I beamed holding a thumbs up. “And aren’t the little tomato drawings cute?”
“Very.” He agreed. “I appreciate you being here and always wanting to hang out with me…I’m not really used to having that.”
“Of course my beautiful boy,” I told him, grabbing hold of his hand. “We’re two peas in a pod, where you go I go.”
“Did you really just slip another vegan joke in there?” He frowned, “Armani, whoever told you that you’re a comedian lied. Enough, can we rest?”
“You’re such a meanie,” I grumbled.
“Hey, guys it’s time to start off!” A chipper brunette with extravagant face paint called out to us. “Cool posters!”
And at that we embarked on a three-hour long walk around the small town, focusing on places near popular butcheries, chanting phrases and attempting to talk to people and start a conversation about the planet and its limited resources. It became pretty clear that River knew far more about the topic than I did though, so I willingly let him do most of the talking.
Soon enough my feet began to get tired and I tugged at River’s sleeve asking if we could stop at the nearby comic book store that was having an event where people dressed up as their favourite characters.
“Please can we just look around?” I asked hopefully,
“We might lose the group…” He responded, looking back hesitantly.
“Oh come on everyone’s going to the food market anyways after, we’ll meet everyone there,” I told him.
“Okay, but only fifteen minutes then we can go get something to eat, I don’t want you not eating because of comic books.” He reckoned and I excitedly pulled him inside with me.
We made our way to the DC section and I gushed over all the collectable comics and River did his very best to pretend he knew anything about superheroes. It was kind of him to just accompany me and listen to me ranting on and on about something I was passionate about.
Just then I noticed a tall red-haired boy with curly hair and a face full of freckles staring at River from the opposite side of the shelf, every time River looked up, he glanced away with a flush on his cheeks. I overheard his sister telling him to not be a coward and just shoot his shot and I smiled at the realisation that he was totally crushing on my boyfriend.
“Don’t look now but you saw the redhead over by the Marvel shelves right?” I whispered to River,
“Yeah, why?” He wondered.
“Well, he’s totally checking you out,” I confessed.
“I— no he’s not,” River muttered, suddenly seeming shy.
“He is, I heard his sister asking him to be confident and just ask you out.” I disclosed.
“Oh.” River shrugged. “What a shame we’re basically engaged.”
“Ha ha very funny.” I rolled my eyes, “Wait engaged!”
“Ignore that, look at this cool Batman shirt.” River showed me, it was plain black with a very tiny Batman logo in the corner, it was almost unnoticeable.
“Well, it’s very you,” I assured him and he smiled.
“You think so?” He wondered propping it up.
“I know so.” I nodded, wrapping my arm around his waist and leaning onto his shoulder. I looked back and saw that the red-haired boy seemed disappointed, I mouthed the wordssorryto him.
But I wasn’t sorry, River was mine and I was very happy about that.
Afterwards, we made our way back to the food market at the farm, we spread out a picnic blanket by a tree and sat down underneath the shade. River brought along Spice-Roasted Cauliflower with Green Beans and a bowl of rice for us to share. I brought back two cups of lemonade and River cringed when his was too sweet so I swapped ours out. I leaned against the bark of the tree watching the families, couples and friends having a fun time as we transitioned into the new year. It was a very eventful and happy day for me, one that perhaps I’d never forget.
I thought back to that moment in the bookstore and how that other boy was obviously checking River out but when I’d brought it up to him he almost seemed avoidant and uncomfortable, which was exactly what had led me to ask.
“Hey River?” I spoke, taking a sip from my glass as he turned to face me.
