The Man On The Bench

On March 15, 1970, the air carried a biting chill, but the streets of New York pulsed with life as they always did. Samuel adjusted the collar of his thrift-store jacket, feeling the weight of the night ahead pressing on his shoulders. His best friend, Jason, strutted confidently beside him, the party invite crumpled in his fist like a golden ticket to a world Samuel had only dreamt of.

This wasn't just any party—it was her party. Sara Colleen. The name sounded like a melody in Samuel's head, one he'd replayed too many times. Her laughter, the way her hair caught the sunlight in homeroom, the way she looked at him… or didn’t. She was untouchable, radiant, and way out of his league.

"You good, man?" Jason asked, lighting a cigarette with an air of nonchalance Samuel could never master. Jason was the kind of guy who didn’t have to try. Girls liked him without effort. Hell, everyone liked him without effort.

Samuel nodded, shoving his hands deep into his pockets to hide how badly they were shaking. "Yeah. Just... don’t let me make an ass of myself, okay?"

Jason smirked, exhaling a cloud of smoke into the night. "You? Never. Just don’t start quoting Shakespeare or some shit, and you’ll be fine."

Sara Colleen’s house wasn’t far from where Samuel lived, near Riverside Church and the peaceful expanse of Sakura Park. The sight of the cherry blossoms in full bloom had always been Samuel’s sanctuary. He’d sit under the trees, sketching or just dreaming of a life that didn’t feel so goddamn small. But tonight wasn’t about dreaming. Tonight was about Sara, about proving to himself that he wasn’t just some kid who melted into the background.

As they walked, Samuel felt the city’s rhythm sync with his heartbeat—erratic, hopeful, and a little bit terrified. This was his shot. His turning point. He couldn’t screw it up.

The night was cold, but the tension between Jason and Samuel was burning hot as they neared Sara Colleen’s house. The dim glow of porch lights outlined a gathering of silhouettes inside, laughter and music spilling out onto the street. Samuel’s stomach churned. This was it—the moment he’d been building up in his head for weeks, maybe months.

"Are you scared?" Jason’s voice broke through his thoughts, laced with that cocky edge he always carried.

"Hell yeah, man," Samuel admitted, flashing a nervous smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes.

Jason smirked, taking a long drag from his cigarette. "Yeah, well, she is the hottest girl in school. I’ll be shocked if she even knows your name, let alone starts dating you. You sure you wanna do this?"

Samuel swallowed the lump in his throat and nodded. "I do. I think I can get her to go out with me."

Jason let out a sharp laugh. "You’re crazy. Seriously. You think Sara is gonna pick you over all those other guys? The football team? The band kids? Hell, even that weirdo David she used to date? Why would she pick you?"

Samuel stopped walking, his sneakers scuffing against the pavement as he turned to face Jason. "Because I’m not like everyone else. I’m different."

Jason cocked an eyebrow, his smirk widening. "Besides being ugly, what exactly do you mean by different?"

Samuel chuckled under his breath, looking down as if the answer were written on the sidewalk. "Every Sunday, I see her at church. But she doesn’t know I’m there too."

Jason blinked. "Okay, and? What’s your point?"

Samuel hesitated, his voice dropping to a near whisper. "I’m a virgin."

Jason stopped dead in his tracks, his expression a mix of disbelief and amusement. "Bro, what? Speak up. I didn’t catch that."

Samuel exhaled sharply, his face flushing crimson.

Impressum

Verlag: BookRix GmbH & Co. KG

Tag der Veröffentlichung: 09.12.2024
ISBN: 978-3-7554-8039-6

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