To use the word “nervous” to describe Frankie would go beyond an understatement. “Terrified” would have been more accurate.   She wasn’t ready when Saturday came. She had been obsessing over the date incessantly over the days that had passed since Shuya had invited her, but it did nothing to actually prepare her for the day when it actually arrived. It took every ounce of self-restraint that she could muster to not get dressed and ready hours earlier than she needed to be, and the day dragged by because of it. It felt like she was waiting at a starting block when an appropriate time to start getting ready arrived, and she made use of every second, fussing over her outfit until she decided on a sleeveless cream colored mini dress with a flared hem over black leggings, pairing it with a brown leather jacket and brown, cream and green patterned flats before turning her attention to her hair, pulling it up into a high bun similar to the way Noa had worn hers at the mixer. She finished getting ready a little early, and checked and double checked her appearance in the minutes that passed, until a knock on her door sounded, signaling Noa’s arrival.   Frankie could tell that Noa’s intrigue had been piqued at the idea of meeting one of Shuya’s cute athlete friends; she looked beautiful in an emerald top under her own black leather jacket and blue distressed jeans, her hair down and framing her face in bouncy coils.   “Alright, it’s the big night!” Noa said, grinning as she laid eyes on Frankie. “You look cute.” Frankie smiled sheepishly.   “Thanks…I see you cleaned up a little as well.”   “Hey; who knows what could come out of this.” Shuya and his friend were meeting them at Pier 39, and so Frankie and Noa employed the use of a Lyft to get them to the pier, a place Frankie had only been to maybe once or twice as a kid. It was heavily populated that night, and she even recognized a face or two from AIASF among the crowds of people as she and Noa left the car, stepping onto the curb at the entrance of the busy pier. Frankie’s eyes scanned the crowds of people as her anxious heart raced in her chest, searching for the slightest glimpse of Shuya among the multitude of faces. Her heart skipped a beat as she spotted him sitting at the octagon of benches just a few yards away, dressed for the night in a black and white Henley shirt under an open black hoodie and jeans. He sat with his hands drumming against his legs as he spoke to the person reclining in the seat next to him: a lean guy with long legs, who smoked a cigarette leisurely as he responded to whatever Shuya was saying.   “There he is.” She pointed to them and Noa followed her finger, and Frankie could sense her tense up.   “I know that’s not who I think it is…” Frankie gave her a curious frown as she led her over to them, catching Shuya’s attention.   “Frankie-chan!” As he spoke his friend looked up and over at them; his eyes landed on Noa and, to Frankie’s surprise, a deep, harsh frown covered his otherwise handsome features.   “You!” Both girls paused at his rough outburst; he glared at Noa as he stood from his seat, revealing himself to be an inch or two taller than Shuya. “What the are you doing here?”   “Me?” Noa said incredulously, her temper immediately sparked. “What the are you doing here?!”   “No way,” Shuya’s friend declared, shaking his head as he turned from them. “There’s no ing way I’m going on a date with her – forget it.”   “Hika-chan-”   “Forget it.”   “And what makes you think I want to go on a date with you?!” Noa demanded, craning her neck as she walked up to him; there was at least a six-inch height difference between them, and it was almost cute, if Frankie hadn’t been afraid that they were going to rip each other’s throats out. He turned slowly, glaring down at her.   “What?” he growled.   “I don’t want to go on a date with you,” Noa said pointedly, placing her hands on her hips and standing on tiptoe. He scoffed, giving her a onceover.   “You would be lucky to get a chance to date me.”   “I’d rather set myself on fire.”   “Um…” Frankie interjected slowly, catching their attention; they both turned to frown at her. “You guys know each other?”   “This is the coworker