Page 13 of You've Found Oliver

A breeze blows in from behind him, ruffling the waves in his hair. There’s a silence as we take each other in for the first time. Finally, I remember to say something.

“Ben?”

“Hey,” he breathes, almost with relief.

I can’t believe it’s actually him. Standing in front of me.

“I’m sorry about the text, I thought—” I start.

“It’s alright,” he says. “Not sure how we missed each other.”

“Yeah, me neither.”

Ben smiles. “Glad I finally found you.”

The neon sign blinks above our heads. He’s a little taller than I expected, more handsome than his photo. He nods toward the diner and says, “Are you ready to head inside?”

“Uh, yeah.”

I follow him to the door I tried earlier.

I’m expecting it to be locked. But for some reason, it opens easily for him.

Maybe I was pushing it the wrong way? Ben holds the door, letting me go in first. Red barstools line a countertop that runs down the center of the room.

There are a few people sitting inside, too.

Ben leads me to an empty booth near the back. As we take a seat, a woman comes to hand us our menus. I notice the silver ring on his index finger. We both are quiet for a moment, glancing down at our menus. Maybe he’s a little nervous as well. Eventually, he asks, “Do you like coffee?”

“Not really, but my friend told me it’s an acquired taste.”

“This place might not change your mind.”

“Well, not with that attitude,” I say.

We both chuckle. I look back down at the menu. It’s hard not to keep staring at him though. The person I’ve been texting all this time. Here we are, finally meeting in person. He must have noticed, because he leans back and says, “Do I look like what you expected?”

“Maybe a little taller. But I didn’t have much to go off of.”

“I probably should have sent a photo.”

“I like the surprise.”

Ben smiles. “I do, too.”

The woman returns and sets down some waters. I glance around the diner, taking in the checkered floors, the dated wood paneling. “I swear, this place looks so familiar.”

“Have you ever seen Twin Peaks ?” Ben asks. “It was filmed here.”

“You mean, this diner?”

“The whole town, actually.”

I glance out the window as scenes from the show fill my mind. “Oh my god, it totally was. The mountain and everything.”

“I was hoping you were a fan,” he says, smiling across the table. “See that barstool over there? It’s the same one Agent Cooper sat on.”

“Get out.”

“I think the mugs are original, too.”

“I’m taking one home.”

We hold in our laughs as the woman returns to take our order. I follow Ben’s lead and ask for a deluxe cheeseburger and a “damn fine” cup of coffee. Thankfully, she understands the reference. And likely tired of it, too.

Ben takes me in from across the table. Eventually, he says, “I’m really glad you showed up. I was worried you might cancel.”

“Of course not.”

“Hopefully the drive here wasn’t bad.”

“It was great. Had my driver take the scenic route.” I take a sip of water. “You have a car, right?”

Ben nods. “It’s my dad’s, but yeah. I like long drives though. You get to zone out and listen to music. Played some Velvet Underground on the way here.”

“You really are a fan.”

“I mean, aren’t you?”

“Yeah. I was just listening to them, too. On the bus, I mean.” I leave out the fact that I only made it through two songs.

“What’s your favorite album?”

Oh god. “Uh, the first one?”

Ben nods. “That is their most popular. Do you have a favorite song?”

What’s with these questions about the band? I’m about to make up a title, but maybe I should tell the truth. After all, I want him to know the real me, right? I release a breath and say, “I have to be honest with you. I don’t really like them.”

Ben tilts his head. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, I’ve tried . It’s just not for me. At all.”

There’s a brief silence. Then he breathes a sigh of relief. “Honestly, thank god. Because they’re not for me, either.”

“ I thought you were a fan.”

“Not exactly.”

“But you sent me all those videos.”

“Because I thought you liked them,” he explains.

“No! I only watched because I thought you liked them.”

It takes a moment for this to sink in. Then we both crack a smile, realizing what we’ve done.

“Wait a second,” Ben says, holding his hands up. “This doesn’t make sense. What about that song you asked about?”

“It’s the only one I know from them. Only because Sam used to play it,” I explain. “I just couldn’t remember the name.”

“So he was the fan?”

I nod. “Yeah. He and I never had the same taste in music. But it reminds me of him. That’s why I wanted to listen to it again.”

“Sure you had other things in common,” he says.

“Like you?”

Ben blinks at me. “What do you mean?”

“Your phone number. Remember?”

“ Right. I almost forget about that.”

“It’s weird to think about, huh? The reason we’re sitting here.”

Ben nods. “It does make an interesting origin story.”

“Definitely,” I agree. “Never thought I’d meet someone through my dead friend’s phone number.”

“Do you still have it saved under his name?”

I hesitate. “Of course not.”

Ben gives me a suspicious look. “Prove it.”

“Alright, fine—”

I pull up our messages. Then I turn my phone around.

Sam (Also Ben)

He squints at the screen. “You know what? I’ll take that.”

I sigh. “I can change it…”

“It’s alright,” Ben says with a shrug. “You don’t have to right now. I mean, it did belong to him first. And I know how much he meant to you.”

It’s really nice of him to say. Part of me wonders what Sam would think about all this.

In a strange way, he brought us together.

Just like he did with me and Julie. I fold my arms on the table and say, “You want to hear a story about him? There was this girl he was dating. I didn’t really like her at first. For months, we’d be in the same room and barely say a word to each other.

After Sam died, I didn’t know who else to talk to.

I figured she probably missed him, too. So I showed up at her house one night and threw rocks at her window.

And we’ve been best friends ever since.”

Ben smiles. “I’m glad there’s a silver lining.”

“Yeah. Sadly, she’s studying abroad right now.”

“Copenhagen, right?”

I blink at him. “Did I mention Julie already?”

Ben thinks about it. “It might have been from one of your messages when you were still texting Sam…”

I keep forgetting about those messages. I must have sent hundreds of them. Ben has read some of my deepest thoughts; he knows things I’ve never told anyone else. But I’m only getting to know him now. I look at him and say the quiet part out loud. “I forgot how much you already know about me.”

“I suppose that’s true. Hopefully, that’s not weird.”

“I wouldn’t say weird,” I answer. “After all, I was the one messaging you. But it gives you an unfair advantage, if you know what I mean.”

“You’re right about that.” He leans back, crossing his arms. “Why don’t you ask me some questions, then. To even out the playing field. Anything you want to know.”

“Anything?”

Ben nods. “It’s only fair, right?”

“Okay, I like this idea.” I rub my chin, thinking of some questions. “Let me start with an easy one. What’s your favorite color?”

“Green.”

“Like light green, or dark green, or—”

“More like the color of your eyes,” he says, smirking.

I hold back a smile. “Do you have siblings?”

“It’s just me. Though I always wanted a twin.”

“Would you be the good twin or evil one?”

“Obviously the good one.”

“Hmm. That’s something an evil twin would say…”

The waitress arrives with our food. Ben takes a sip of coffee. Then he sets it down and says, “Next question. And feel free to get more personal.”

“Alright. Where do you see yourself in ten years?”

“My parents want me to be a software engineer,” he says, running a hand through his dark hair. “Which wouldn’t be the end of the world. But my goal is to work for an observatory. Or even become a professor, if I don’t get sick of school.”

“Are you close with your parents?”

He nods. “I’d say so. Maybe more with my dad.”

“Have you always lived in Bellevue?”

“I actually grew up in Sacramento. My family moved when I was fourteen.”

“What’s your deepest regret?”

His brows slightly raise. “That’s quite the jump.”

“Give me an honest answer, too. Not how you wish you got better grades or something like that.”

“What if it’s a little depressing?”

“Ben.” I give him a look. “I’ve been texting my dead best friend for a year. Doesn’t get more depressing than that.”

“Okay, you’re right.” Ben stares at the table, taking his time with this one.

“Well, if you want an honest answer, I wasn’t always an only child.

I had an older brother. His name was Peter.

He was a few years older than me. We weren’t exactly the closest growing up.

I didn’t speak to him much after he left for college.

” He looks at me again. “That’s probably my biggest regret.

Not making an effort to talk to him. Send a text here and there.

I wish I had picked up the phone and called him sometimes.

I never thought there’d be a day I couldn’t anymore. ”

“I’m sorry about that.”

“It’s alright,” he says. “It’s been a few years.”

“Doesn’t mean it hurts less.”

“There are harder days for sure,” he admits.

“I know the feeling.”

He looks at me. “Can I ask you about Sam?”

“Sure.”

“How long were you two friends?”

“Since seventh grade.”

“That’s a long time,” he says.

“We were best friends. I’m sure you got that from my texts.”

“I did.”

Another question pops into my head. “How come you didn’t just block me?”

“Why would I block you?”

“Because of all my text messages,” I say. “It must have been annoying, right? You could have blocked me at any point. But you didn’t.”

“I might have considered it at first,” he admits. “Then I realized why you were sending them. I figured you needed the space to talk to him again. I didn’t want to take that away from you.”

It definitely would have hurt if the messages couldn’t go through. “I appreciate that,” I say.

Ben smiles a little. “And if we’re being honest, it was nice to hear from someone. Even though I didn’t know who it was. Your messages came when I was feeling alone. I thought about texting you back a few times. Of course, I never did.”

“You must have been surprised when I called.”

“You could say that…”

“What was going through your mind, when you saw the number?”

“I figured it was an accident,” he says, shrugging. “But a small part of me thought you might have needed someone to talk to.”

“So you picked up.”

“Yeah. I did.”

We smile at each other. A few weeks ago, I didn’t know someone was on the other end.

Now here we are, sitting at the same table.

The truth is, I did need someone to talk to.

I just never expected it to be him. It sounds like he might have needed someone, too.

Ben takes the first bite of his burger. We share some fries and order milkshakes for dessert.

Hopefully, we’ll get to come here again one day.

It’s dark when we leave the diner. Streetlamps illuminate the sidewalk as Ben walks me to the bus stop. I wish we could hang out a little longer, but the last bus leaves at nine fifteen. I told Ben he doesn’t have to wait with me, but he does anyway.

“Thanks again for the invite,” I say.

Ben smiles at me. “I’m glad you came. I had a really good time. Hope the place lived up to your expectations.”

“Yeah, it felt like being on the show. I wish I had taken something as a souvenir.”

“Actually…” Ben pulls out a pen from his pocket. “I accidently grabbed it after we signed the check. But I’m sure they won’t miss it. Here, something to remember the night.”

I turn the pen in my hand. The letters “RR” are written on the side of it, which is the name of the diner from the show. “Thank you. I’ll remember to steal something for you next time.”

“Hopefully, that’s your way of saying you want to see me again.”

I smile. “Of course it is.”

I think about asking him what his plans are next weekend, but headlights appear down the road. The bus has arrived a few minutes early. The doors open, but I don’t want to go yet.

“Thanks for waiting with me,” I say.

“Don’t mention it. Let me know when you make it back, okay?”

We hug each other goodbye. Then I climb inside the bus. Ben doesn’t head back to his car right away. He stands at the corner, hands in his pockets, watching the bus drive off.

The moment he disappears from view, I rest my head against the glass. I know this is the first time we’ve met in person, but I’m starting to miss him already. I close my eyes and replay the night in my head.