During a rainy day, a normal person would hide under layers of blankets to dispel the cold or drink something hot or just plain do anything to keep himself warm. But since they’re not normal people, deciding to eat the sweetest ice cream they could find and finish the whole gallon until they get diabetes and tonsillitis at the same time was as normal as they could get. Bennett a.k.a. the boyfriend for a year and counting was opening the container when Julia the girlfriend sat beside him on his sofa and gave him the spoon. She smiled while waiting for him to dig in then opened her mouth to receive the glorious manna from Häagen Dazs. He raised an eyebrow and reluctantly complied. Out of nowhere Julia asked him, “When did you realize you’re in love with me?”

He began to cough out the ice cream, obviously surprised by the question. Julia patted him on the back.

“Tell me,” she demanded.

“I don’t think that’s the smartest thing to do.”

“Huh?” was all Julia could say as Bennett shoved another spoonful into her mouth.

“Trust me Jules, that is one moment in both our lives, even I’m embarrassed enough to admit.”

“Wah ja hek ish sho emv—”

“Baby, swallow first. I can’t understand a word you’re saying.”

The girlfriend rolled her eyes at him with disdain as she gulped the ice cream. “I said, what the heck is so embarrassing about it? Did I do something stupid?”

He snickered. She frowned.

“Remember spring break, 2004. Michael’s party?”

-0-

It was when Julia asked him to give her a lift home. They’ve been friends for more than two years, since the first day of their college life to be exact, but it was the first party they attended together. Three a.m. was what was considered a decent time to go home in party lingo. Now, knowing him as a gentleman, in a manner of speaking, he is obligated to give her a lift or dire consequences will be faced, i.e. his head will roll when her father finds out she went home without, ahem, an escort. For she might have told a little lie that Bennett will be there just to get that golden yes from the most conservative father ever created. Luckily, he did come.

“So this is the new car?” Julia said, eyeing his new black SUV. “Nice.”

She knew he was grinning from ear to ear when he began his speech about the specs of his new baby. Being the good friend that she is, she listened. Okay, pretended was a better word. If given the chance to state her reason for being absent-minded, she would most likely say: I’m a girl, for crying out loud. I only have enough testosterone to squish a cockroach. You can’t make me produce more for all this man talk!

Knowing the sun will rise in about an hour or so, Julia was itching to go home. “Uh Bennett, home? Now? Please?” He stopped showcasing his new piece of machinery and began ranting how she never listened to him when he wants to tell her about his stuff.

“You know, you’re being unfair. You make me listen to all your girl stuff even about things I was better off not knowing,” he shivered. Julia snickered recalling the time when she would describe to him how her breasts would swell as she was about to get her period just to make him squirm or ask if she should get a Brazilian instead of a bikini wax while having lunch. Julia sighed, ah good ol’ memories! Reverting back from her reverie she smirked, apparently Bennett Prescott isn’t done complaining. “Geez and I thought I’m the girl here,” she muttered.

She patted him in the head to make Bennett shut up. “My dear, dear Bennett, I wonder how you would survive the outside world without me. Who would listen to your problems?” with that patronizing tone Julia perfected in high school, yanking his chain was always a piece of cake!

He gave her a quick glare as he continued to drive. “Remind me again why we’re friends? Because I’m this close to wringing your neck.” He pinched the air to demonstrate his thread-bare patience. Rumor has it, Julia is the only one who could make him lose it all.

“You want to know why? Because I attend our classes regularly therefore I have all the notes you obviously needed to study. We’re friends because I make all our reports while you’re partying your ass off every weekend. Because I’m your wake-up call the morning after cramming your brains out for an exam…” she stopped, “Need I say more?”

He hit the brakes in front of her house and turned to her. “Don’t be so dramatic, Jules. It was a rhetorical question.”

Julia stuck her tongue out at him. “Hmp, you always want to have the last word. Fine, if it’ll make you happy. Thanks for the lift.” She leaned closer to his face and gave him her sweetest smile.

Bennett stared at her, his gut warning him she was up to no good. Then his nose crinkled, “What the hell’s that smell?” He looked at Julia accusingly and gaped as he quickly got out of his car, “Oh God Jules! What the fuck did you eat at the party? A stink bomb? Oh God!”

“I’m sorry, I can’t help it! I was feeling gassy after that tequila!” She laughed out loud.

“Julia Madison you crazy bitch. You’re ruining the new-car smell! Get out of my car right now before I drag you out myself!”

Tears were welling in her eyes as she recalled the look in Bennett’s face. Utterly priceless!

“I can’t believe Halley was telling the truth when she said you're a silencer!”

She blew out the tip of her right forefinger as if it was a gun’s barrel. “Double 07, licensed to kill!”

“Are you sure you’re a girl? Because that fart is telling me otherwise.”

-0-

Julia gasped, “You freak of nature! When I farted?!! I can’t believe you!” and punched him in the arm. “That’s disgusting!”

“You’re calling me disgusting? You who farted in the first place!”

“I told you I felt gassy! Don’t expect me to hold it all the way! Seriously are you—” her words were cut off when Bennett kissed her. He had a satisfied smile plastered on his face after seeing her clear green eyes turn hazy.

“Okay,” she exhaled. “It was crazy.” He laughed and nodded. “You’re not going to tell anybody about that, right?” she glowered.

“I don’t think I’ve got the balls to expose that tiny fact as long as I live.”

Julia snorted. “Good,” and rewarded him with another kiss. "Why?" she asked quietly.

"Why what?" Bennett asked.

"Why at that moment?"

He shrugged. She placed her hand against his cheek. He was never good at expressing himself. He said solemnly, "When I saw how your face lit up when you laughed like that, I don't know, but something inside just clicked. It just felt right."

Julia agreed and somehow understood. It does feel right when they're together.

"Just give me a heads up next time all right? I don't think my body can handle the next dose of that toxic gas."

"Argh, you jerk!" and good-naturedly punched him in the arm again. Bennett was reaching inside his left pocket when Julia continued, “Oh God, I think major embarrassing secrets run in my family. I remember when I had to literally squeeze out the details from mom how dad proposed to her.” Taking the spoon from Bennett and began indulging once more in ice cream. “She was disappointed how unexciting dad’s proposal was. Can you believe he proposed, no wait, according to Mom, he just suggested they get married, at his ratty old couch? And she’s still holding it against him.”

“Really?”

“You have no idea.” Julia looked at him intently for a second, “Honey, if we decide to take things to another level, promise me you won’t do something like that?” Then growled, “Or I’ll never forgive you.”

Bennett swallowed an invisible lump in his throat and returned the ring box inside his pocket. He kissed her in the forehead, “I promise.”