Christmas' Early Miracles

Triple Date (1)

Chapter 7: Triple Date (1)

***

“You did what?! Going on a triple date with your ex and his sister is absurd…” Frank remarked, although it was too late for such a statement to make a difference…

It had already been about a week since their last encounter, they exchanged information and now they were texting…

“I already know, please don’t remind me.” Ciel sighed heavily although it felt like a burden he was also surprisingly chipper at the same time.

“Not to mention that you’re poor, remember? Aren’t those two used to nice restaurants and pricey stuff? How are you going to treat them at all?” Frank asked while crossing his hands in a thoughtful manner.

To that, Ciel gave the most possibly mature response he could muster. He proceeded to block his ears and like a kid, he sang out loud. “LALALA PLEASE DON’T UPSET ME ANYMORE!”

“Stop acting like a kid and start thinking clearly… This isn’t a joke.” Frank sighed heavily looking at his friend that pretended to ignore him.

“Peanuts.” Ciel suddenly stopped his shouting and was eerily quiet.

“Eh?” Frank stared at him with bewilderment.

“I want to eat some peanuts.” Ciel’s voice was unusually calm like a river.

“…sure… we have some in the kitchen.” At Frank’s response Ciel stood up with some stiff robotic movements and headed there to eat some.

“Um… I didn’t think you’d be able to eat those since you know… nuts…” Frank followed after the man and tilted his head to the side in confusion.

“Ugh…” Ciel paused his hand mid air as he was about to eat another handful of peanuts. The ones that he’d already eater felt like they were stuck in his throat. “Is this really an appropriate time to make such pre-pubecent jokes at me?”

“Damn that was a the most sophisticated sounding sentence I’ve ever heard you say.” Frank chuckled a bit but then he turned serious again. “What are you going to do man?” This time it didn’t seem like there was anything he could do to help him.

“It’s just… I think I seriously have something wrong with me.” Ciel slumped his shoulders, he looked defeated.

“And why’s that?” Frank asked him while moving closer. They hadn’t spoken about a serious topic in a while.

Ciel braced himself, the words didn’t come out of his mouth any easier however. “Because… my heart was beating faster yesterday when I was around him… he held my hand… and I just…”

“So… where do the peanuts come in?” Frank suddenly asked as he looked at his friend strangely.

“They’re good for your heart!” Ciel said while raising a single one up in the air and holding it as if it was some special medicine of sorts.

“I’ve literally never heard that before…” Frank let out another long sigh, he looked exhausted to say the least.

“Oh, was it something else then? I actually forgot… never mind then…” Ciel threw the peanuts aside on the kitchen counter. He didn’t like eating them anyways, but since he thought he had to, he did.

He was a simple man.

“You’re such a mess… what are you planning to do now?” Frank asked him once more. “You have to take some time and consider everything that happened and what you truly-” He was interrupted.

“What else can I do? I’ll go and I’ll wow her.” Ciel suddenly declared as he puffed out his chest in a typically manly manner. Only he was quite slim and his manliness didn’t really show through at all.

“You changed your tune awfully fast… tell me… is it that you still like Dante?” Frank asked him while sitting next to his friend around the kitchen counter.

Ciel looked down at the nuts he’d spilled out then back at his friend. “Dante? Me? Still like him? As if I ever did…” He crossed his arms rather dramatically.

“I thought so as well but by the way you’re acting right now, I can’t help but wonder… if maybe you used to love him more than you realize.” Frank said with a gentle smile that didn’t seem to suit the ridiculousness of this strange situation.

“I don’t… really know, it happened so long ago and it was so fast… that I kind of zoned out while we were dating, I guess…” Ciel explained, even if he tried to recall his memories from back then were so distant and vague…

“Then think about it, use the time to think properly and--!” As Frank tried to speak his mind a loud ringing sound was heard.

RIIIIING, RIIING, the sound of the man’s phone alarm went off…

“Oh, sorry, I have to go on the date now.” Ciel said as he started getting ready, washing his teeth, styling his hair…

“Ugh… do whatever you want. I’ll be here if you need me.” Frank said as he headed back to his own room.

“Love ya Frank… in a totally not gay way.” Ciel said through the bathroom door with white foam from the tooth paste still in his mouth.

Frank glanced at him through the hallway and then closed his door. “Whatever…” He muttered lowly under his breath.

*

*

*

‘When I said I’d go on a date with him… I didn’t think it would be like this actually…’ Ciel’s thoughts as per usual were all over the place…

“Um… why am I sandwiched between you two, again?” Ciel asked with a gentle sounding voice as on his left side was Angelica and on his right, boxing him in tightly was Dante… The seats opposite of them were empty…

“Isn’t it obvious? Because neither of us wants to sit next to our sibling on a date!” Angelica remarked casually as she pressed her shoulder against the man on her right. “What? Are you uncomfortable? Want that scary brute to leave?” Angelica had this cheerful teasing voice that made her sound incredibly playful.

“You’re the one that should leave… and strop pressing against him like that.” Dante interrupted as he pulled Ciel in by his shoulder towards himself. Angelica just pressed forward however. In complete contrast to his sister, his voice was low and somewhat intimidating.

“If anything you shouldn’t be pulling him like that! He looks all scared.” Angelica continued, she seemed to be having fun at the very least.

“I’m alright.” Ciel remarked with a bit of a shaky voice.

“See? He doesn’t take issue with it, so why do you?” Angelica remarked while staring down her brother.

“Because it’s my date as well…” Dante continued in a deep protruding voice.

“What would you like?” The waitress stepped towards them with a careful smile upon her lips. She obviously had no idea what the situation between them was, nor was she interested enough to start to question them.

“Now be polite…” Angelica spoke a warning to her brother.

“I’ll have the chicken with rice and an ice tea.” Dante ordered quickly.

“I’ll have… um…” On the other hand Ciel sat there a bit conflicted staring at the menu, but there was one huge issue that he couldn’t ignore…

‘Suddenly looking at the menu I completely lost my appetite… because these menus don’t have prices on them, meaning everything in it must be very expensive…’ Ciel thought to himself trying to refocus his vision.

Dante gently nudged the man next to him and spoke quietly. “Don’t worry about her, just order whatever you’d like.”

“No, it’s not that… I just, it’s difficult to chose when there are no prices, hah…” Ciel said as he turned towards him slightly. They exchanged a quick look and in Dante’s eyes, Ciel looked like he was sparkling, when in reality the man was probably just sweaty from nervousness over the price they’ll likely rack up…

“I’ll pay, don’t worry about it.” Dante confidently declared.

“Eh? You’re paying bro? Then I’ll order more!” Angelica said as she excitedly ratted off a few more items off the menu.

“I’ll only pay for his half and my own, you pay for yourself.” Dante corrected her instantly.

“Nah, Ciel will cover for me, he invited me after all.” Angelica said while squeezing the man’s shoulder.

“You can’t be so shameless-” Dante reprimanded his sister.

Ciell stood in between them like a mediator. “It’s alright! It’s true… since I invited you both, I’ll pay for everyone, don’t fight.”

“That’s not fair though.” Dante slumped his shoulders a bit disappointed.

“You’re just angry not everyone is as stingy as you are!” Angelica remarked with a playful air about her.

“Am not.” Dante spoke coldly.

“Then how about that time at mother’s place when you-” Angelica was cut off.

“Don’t even mention it.” Dante’s voice was deep and brooding.

‘These siblings… I can’t tell if they’re very close and get along, or maybe just… outright dislike each other…’ Ciel wondered to himself, the tension in the room was odd… the two were clearly on the opposite ends of the personality spectrum and Ciel who was sitting in the middle of these two half siblings… he just didn’t know what to do…