Same Time Tomorrow
by The Scholar
Part 27: A Two-Way Thing
Allan: Why didn't you tell me it was your birthday?
Carl: What does it matter?
Allan: It matters, because if I'd known, I'd have got you something.
Carl: How? You're in America
Allan: I'd have still sent a card, or something.
Carl: Don't worry about it, it isn't important.
Allan: Sure it is, you turned 21 and in most States here you'd be legal to drink.
Carl: Well, in the whole of Britain I've been legal to drink since I was 18, so it's not really that big a deal.
Allan: Well, I just wish I'd known, seems to me that maybe we still don't know a lot about each other, but maybe when we meet up that can change.
Allan wasn't really asking a question, as Carl noticed the lack of a question mark at the end of the sentence and, therefore, assumed it was a statement of fact and, as a result, he took a deep breath before typing his next three words.
Carl: Allan, I'm scared.
Allan: Of what?
There was no hesitation in Allan's reply.
Carl: Nothing, it doesn't matter.
Allan: Sure it matters.
Carl: Not really, is just me being stupid.
Allan: Babe, if something is scaring you tell me, maybe I can help.
Carl: Really, it doesn't matter.
Allan: You wouldn't have said it if it didn't matter. Tell me, please. What's wrong?
Carl hesitated.
Allan noticed.
Allan: Carl, what is it? What you scared of?
Carl still hesitated.
Allan: It's us, isn't it?
Carl: What do you mean?
Allan: It's what you're scared of - us - meeting.
Carl: Well, kind of, I guess, but I'm being stupid, I know that.
Allan: No, you're not.
Carl: Sure I am, forget I said anything.
Allan: Babe, I'm scared, too.
Carl: What?
Allan: Honestly. You think I'm not?
Carl: I don't know.
Allan: Well, you do now. I'm as scared of meeting you as you are of meeting me.
Carl: Why?
Allan: Because I think you'll take one look at me and run a mile.
Carl: That's crazy.
Allan: Why is it? It's been going through my head ever since I told you I was coming to England.
Carl: Really?
Allan: Yes, really! Hey, you gotta remember that I'm older than you, boring in the extreme and certainly not as good looking, so sure it worries me meeting you.
Carl: The age difference doesn't bother me at all and as for not being good looking, well, hey, you should look in a mirror once in a while because I think you're bloody gorgeous.
Allan: LOL! Well, I do look in a mirror every day when I shave and I know I'm not, but thanks for the boost.
Carl: Not meant as a boost, just telling the truth.
Allan: Even so, being scared is a two-way thing. You're scared, I'm scared and I'd like to make a suggestion.
Carl: What kind of suggestion?
Allan: That when we meet if one or both us of us doesn't like what we see, we say hello and goodbye.
Carl: LOL!
Allan: I'm serious.
Carl: I know, but that's what makes it so funny.
Allan: Why funny?
Carl: Well, we can have a coffee at the very least. Hello and goodbye is hardly worth meeting up for.
Allan: Oh!
Carl: Hehehe.
Allan: Well, okay. But if after coffee we don't then we say goodbye.
Carl: Whatever.
Allan: I mean it. For all I know, you may as ugly as sin and have a horrible personality.
Carl: True.
Allan: Yeah, right, like that described you!
Carl: LOL! 
Allan: Hey, you used the smiley face.
Carl: So?
Allan: Nothing, is just I haven't seen that in a while.
Carl: LOL!
Allan: Hehehe.
Carl:
Allan: You're just too crazy for words.
Carl: Hey, I got a book.
Allan: Yeah?
Carl: Yeah, is awesome, too.
Allan: What kind of book.
Carl: A storybook, a gay one.
Allan: Oh, okay. What's it about?
Carl: These two guys.
Allan: LOL! I kinda figured that.
Carl: Oh, yeah, well, okay. LOL! It's this guy telling a story of how he knew he was always gay and how when he was a teenager he fell in love with this other guy that was his age when they met at a campground.
Allan: Sounds cool.
Carl: It is. You should read it.
Allan: Maybe you can read it to me when I call you.
Carl: Huh?
Allan: Over the 'phone, when I call.
Carl: What do you think this is? Jackanory?
Allan: What's Jackanory?
Carl: Oh, guess you never saw that.
Allan: Nope.
Carl: Was a kid's TV show in the UK, a famous person would read book over five nights or something years ago for kids.
Allan: Cool.
Carl: I don't know, I don't remember it, I just heard about it.
Allan: LOL! Well, okay, but still sounds cool and you can still read to me when I call, I just love the sound of your voice.
Carl: LOL! And you call me crazy.
Allan: What's the story called?
Carl: The Visitor.
Allan: Sounds good.
Carl: Call me later and you'll find out.
Allan: Okay, it's a date. Hey, I gotta run 'cause I have a meeting to finalise some details for this trip.
Carl: Okay, well same time tomorrow?
Allan: Yeah, but I'll call you.
Carl: Cool.
Allan: And don't worry, okay, whatever happens happens.
Carl: Okay.
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