Knock Me Down - [COMPLETE]

6 - The Date

"All cleaned up you almost aren't ugly"

Holden flicks me off, "Shut up. That's not how you treat someone that's about to pay for your meal"

"Dude, what? No manches. I can pay for myself"

He shakes his head, "Come on, let me do this. You always chill around me at parties instead of having fun and meeting other people, man. Let me pay you back"

"I don't because I don't want to. You don't owe me anything. You're fun to be around. You could be hanging out with your friends. The people that invite you. You make the party experience bearable"

He has his eyes focused in front of him but the corner of his lips curl up, "Just accept the free meal"

"Du—"

"How about this? You can pay for the next one"

"You gotta let me" I nod satisfied.

He's so uncharacteristically happy today, "I didn't say this earlier but you look really good"

"Thanks. I even did my hair. Fresh curls just for you. Well, tried to."

"Still. It's cute"

Cute, cute, cute. Never handsome. Or dashing.

We're inside 'Moretti and Bianchi's" It's familiar but it was the sort of business I never bothered to think twice about even if I've lived here for twelve-ish years. Like a prop in a movie.

The inside is small and full of tables draped in burgundy tablecloths. They each have candles and a mini vase of artificial flowers in water with shiny glass gems. The kitchens visible from our table where a man comes out. He looks kinda like Holden. But he's blonder with hazel green eyes.

I expect an accent with the many pictures of family members on the wall. It's stereotypical but I hope to hear it. Except I don't when he shakes Holden's hand and says, "Holden, you didn't say you were comin' by. It's been awhile, since your mom's Birthday"

He takes a look at me for a moment and goes on to half way ask, "Is this, uh, your...?"

"Mateo. This is Mateo. I wanted him to try the pizza here"

I stick my hand out and remember my moms manners, "Nice to meet you, señor, er—um, Mr. Moretti"

I let my Spanish slip and almost forget Holden's last name. Not the smoothest introduction. The man laughs it off.

"It's Samuele, or Sam. How 'bout you boys hav'a seat? Waiter'll be out in a sec"

We're towards the back by the windows to get the view of the street.

"The pizza's so good. You're gonna love it. You like salami and mushrooms and stuff like that?"

I nod, "Yeah, I never bother to say what kind of pizza I like 'cause I'm always the least picky person in the room"

"But do you have a favorite topping?"

I try to think of one, "No. Taste wise I don't have one. I know I have a least favorite. But favorite concept of pizza topping is cheese"

"Concept of pizza topping?" He's smiling, confused.

"Yeah, like-like... something you really like even though quality wise it might not be so great. Or something you're not really supposed to put on pizza. Like putting fruit on pizza. Like eating cotton candy at the fair as a kid. It's a gateway to diabetes but the memories make it good"

"And that applies to pizza how?"

"Think about it. No toppings. Before you put a topping on the standard pizza there has to be cheese, a canvas. The possibilities, man. Most average pizzas are just cheese pizza with more stuff on it"