Just Like Me

Beep, beep, beep!

Kronii slowly opened her eyes and looked at her clock in iritation. She didn't remember setting an alarm. 10 o'clock. That's way too early. Why the fu—

Kronii lunged forward into a sitting position. The date! Kronii quickly got out of bed and and glanced at the calendar on her wall. There was a big pink circle on the 29th. Inside the circle was a name. IRyS.

All drowziness had already left Kronii, replaced with the constant thumping of her heart. She could feel heat radiate from her face.

"Oh boy. Oh boy." Kronii placed one hand on her chest and fanned her face with the other. After taking a few deep breaths, Kronii headed to the bathroom. She had to look her absolute best. She couldn't fuck this up. It was her who asked IRyS out, after all. It was crazy how she was able to do it. She had just blurted it out. It took both Kronii and IRyS by surprise but IRyS had said yes. Kronii doesn't think she'd be able to do it again even if she rewound time.

After taking a shower and making herself presentable, Kronii opened her closet and scanned through her clothes. A few dresses, hoodies, flannels, shirts, sweat pants, skirts, jeans, sweaters, jackets... She scanned top to bottom, left to right and scanned through them again. And again. Finally, Kronii started throwing some clothes onto her bed. One by one, they piled up on her bed. After Kronii had empied a quarter of her wardrobe, she turned around and rummaged around the pile on the bed.

"Come on, there must be something suitable for a first date..." Kronii muttered under her breath. Looking at the big pile of mess that was her clothes, Kronii wondered how IRyS managed to do it. IRyS had always been impeccably dressed whenever Kronii saw her. IRyS was always the center of attention in parties and such. IRyS was so unlike the mess that Kronii was. But today, that IRyS was going on a date with her. Anxiety once again settled in Kronii's stomach. Oh shoot.

"I can do this. I can do this."

After much back and forth, Kronii finally settled on an outfit. A turtleneck, skirt, and a jacket. Something more on the casual side. Pretty without looking like she's trying too hard.

Dressed up, Kronii looked at the time. 11 o'clock. She had an hour left. It would take 15 minutes by foot to go where they promised to meet up. Plenty of time. However, Kronii immediately grabbed her bag. I'd better get going. I don't want to embarrass myself by being late. Rechecking her appearance in the mirror one last time, Kronii headed out of her house.

Halfway to her destination, Kronii stopped in her tracks. She turned her head to look at the store right beside her. A flower shop. She pictured herself giving flowers to IRyS. A smile blooming on IRyS' face. IRyS calling out to Kronii in gratitude. Kronii slowly moved towards the shop.

"Wait, wait." Kronii paused. "Who the heck gifts flowers on the first date?"

Kronii pondered. Would IRyS even like them? Maybe she'll find it awkward. But maybe if it's a small bouquet, she'd find it cute? If she really did buy IRyS flowers, what colors should she get? Pink, just like her signature color? No. A million people must've bought her pink flowers. Then blue, Kronii's signature color? It would be much more personal gift. But should she really be buying flowers? It would be terrible if IRyS thinks she's being overbearing on the first date. Kronii argued back and forth in her mind for several minutes.

In the end, Kronii bought a small bouquet of blue flowers. She looked at the flowers in her hand.

"Ugh. Stupid, stupid, stupid." Kronii kept chanting quietly. "What if she thinks I'm uncool?"

While agonizing over her decision to buy flowers, Kronii finally arrived at the spot she promised to meet IRyS for their date. Kronii checked her phone to see she arrived 40 minutes early. She was relieved she still had so much time before IRyS showed up. She could calm down her nerves while waiting for her. She started walking towards a nearby bench.

"Kronii?"

A voice called out for her from behind. Kronii spun around in surprise.

"IRyS?"

There stood IRyS, with a shocked expression that must have mirrored Kronii's own. They both locked eyes, their mouths opening and closing but no sound leaving their lips.

Finally, IRyS spoke. "Hi. You're early, Kronii."

"H-hi. You're early too, IRyS." While replying, Kronii saw IRyS' eyes drift downwards. Kronii also let her eyes wander to take in IRyS fully.

IRyS was in an outfit as cute as ever. Black stockings, shorts, and a shirt that showed off her shoulders. And in IRyS' hand was a small bouquet of pink flowers. Kronii immediately glanced down at her own small bouquet of blue flowers.

"Pfft." IRyS started giggling.

IRyS had arrived really early with a bouquet of flowers. Just like me.

"Heh, heh." Kronii started chuckling and burst out into full out laughter. "Ahaha!"

IRyS joined in the laughter.

A few minutes passed and they calmed down. Kronii held out her bouquet to IRyS.

"Here, a gift."

"And this is for you." IRyS shyly held out hers.

They both exchanged their gifts and brought them close to their faces. Blue flowers for IRyS and pink flowers for Kronii. IRyS opened her mouth.

"They're so pretty. Thank you."

Kronii replied, "I should be thanking you. These are lovely."

IRyS smiled bashfully. "Oh yeah? Lovely just like me?" IRyS gave a short twirl.

Kronii smirked. "Yeah. Lovely just like you."

Both looked down, heat radiating from their faces. IRyS slowly looked up and spoke.

"Then shall we get going?"

Kronii looked up. She smiled. "I'd love to."