[WP] You've just had your first date and are seeing each other off when suddenly your date starts regurgitating spiders. They immediately break down crying over their failure to hide this, but honestly, this is the best first date you've ever had, so you're not going to let this be a deal breaker.

Hope blossoms in my belly, that spark of something-like-butterflies twirling as I watch hir stand from our table. After splitting the bill, we couldn't help but stay and talk for another half an hour, but finally I had the chance to walk hir to hir car.

I stand and reach out a hand. Ze smiles again, that twinkle in hir eye. Then eyes drop, widen. My date leans over and retches, and spiders fly out of hir mouth.

"Oh my god. Are you okay?"

"You can't...you can't see this." Voice unsteady, leaning away. "I'm sorry."

"Hey, hey, you're okay." I place a hand on hir back. "Let me walk you out."

In tears, ze obliges, silently letting me walk hir out to the parking lot and refusing to face me. Ze hiccups a few times, more spiders crawling out of hir mouth and along hir skin, clothes, hair. When ze speaks again, hir voice is weak. "I guess I'll go now."

"You gonna be alright? I can stay with you, or we can call someone if you need."

"I'm not sick."

"Well, that's good."

"This just...happens to me. When my parents first saw it they kicked me out of the house. It's a part of me. Forever."

Kicked you out of the house? My heart twinges. "I'm so sorry that happened to you." I reach for hir hand, clasp it gently. "I'm not gonna do that. I know today was only our firat date, but I really like you, and-" I swallow. "Text me, okay? I want to see you again."

After hanging limp for a while, ze squeezes my hand back, and I let out the breath I've been holding. "Can you stay?" ze asks.

I will. I promise.