Day 5 (Thursday 18th December)

So today was probably the best day I have had so far since the time stop. This was definitely because I finally had someone to share it with; Alex. We basically did everything together today and it was great because I finally had someone to talk to. Alex was so great to talk to because he talked about things that interested me and had his own honest opinions which was great. It was like talking to myself sometimes but those thoughts quickly were washed away as our conversations continued.

After a slow breakfast we finally made it out of the apartment by about 10am and headed back to the entertainment centre where we had met. They had an awesome indoor maze we both wanted to check out. For some reason Alex seemed a little reserved around me this morning. He wasn't as talkative or outgoing as he was yesterday. At the time I just chalked it up to the excitement from finding me wearing off and the realisation that until a few hours ago we were complete strangers.

We got lost a few times, well I did, but Alex eventually led me in the right direction and we made it back to the game zone where I had played those games. We walked past all the deserted machines with their power off and went behind the counter at the back to turn the lights on in the maze. From the pictures out the front it looked like a pretty interesting maze as some parts were very dark and others were filled with obstacles. I looked forward to it a lot though I could tell Alex was a little nervous.

I brought this up with him before we went in and he admitted to me that he was a little wary of mazes due to an incident when he was a child and got lost in the maze. Despite my better judgement I accidentally let out a single laugh and felt really bad afterwards because Alex's face fell into even more worry and a little embarrassment. I then managed to convince him that the whole point of the maze was to get lost and that even if we did get lost he wouldn't be alone because we'd be together. I just told him to make sure he stuck close to me. At this suggestion Alex's face returned to normal and we entered the maze.

After walking around it for about five minutes and turning random corners we were beginning to feel a little bored. So far we had only seen the hallways we were walking through with paths going in every direction. It was about five minutes more until we came to our first obstacle which was actually a lot of fun. This obstacle turned out to be one of those net things which you have to commando crawl under. Alex went behind me and he kept ramming my bum with his head accidentally. He did it a lot though so I'm not too sure if it was all an accident and I started to think I was annoying him by going too slow so I sped up.

Around another corner we found ourselves facing a rope ladder which we had to climb across to continue. We could have gone around but where's the fun in that? One corner led us to a slide and another revealed a tunnel we had to crawl through. Then we found ourselves walking down a corridor that got darker and darker as the lights above us became dimmer as we continued along. I was at the corner that led into the completely dark section when I looked around to find Alex hesitating a few steps back. He then confided in me (after some coaxing) that he was afraid of the dark. I told him not to worry and to take my hand and that I'd lead him through.

So that was how we walked down the corridor. One hand was gently squeezing Alex's and the other was following the wall to my left. I couldn't see anything so I was relying on touch to work my way around. After a few corners and a lot of walking we started seeing light ahead. I told Alex to run with me the rest of the way because I could tell he really wanted to get out of there because his grip on my hand was deadly. We reached the light and stopped to catch our breath.

"Thanks" Alex said to me after letting go of my hand. He looked a little embarrassed so I assured him that it was alright and to make him feel better I told him that I was afraid of insects and spiders. It cheered him up alright and he promised to get rid of any scary creature we came across. It was sweet of him. I'm going to really regret posting my fear online but who cares? It made Alex feel better and that's all that really matters. God, I really hope that Alex doesn't read this.

After about another twenty minutes of obstacles and dark corridors I found myself at the exit of the maze but when I looked around I couldn't see Alex anywhere. I started to freak out so I yelled out his name but didn't hear anything. I ran back the way we came but there was still no sign of him. I decided to head back to the exit because he would have to come out that way eventually. When I did make it back I saw Alex's worried expression at the exit as he looked back into the maze.

I began to berate him for getting away from me but before I could say anything Alex had run up to me and grabbed me in the warmest hug I had ever felt. No hug I had ever had before could compare to this one.

"Don't ever do that again!" Alex commanded me while we were hugging. Somehow he had taken the wrong turn a little way back and I hadn't heard him call out to me. I thought it was weird that he didn't reply to my call but he said he didn't hear me. I suppose that made sense since the walls of the maze went from floor to ceiling so if he was a few corridors away he probably couldn't have heard me.

We headed out of the maze and checked our phones to see it was only 2pm. I began asking Alex what he wanted to do now (I had suggested the maze so it was his turn) when he interrupted me.

"Do you want to get something to eat with me?" The question surprised me. I mean, when we did eat we would of course eat together so why would he phrase it that way. I began to tell him this when he continued. "No, you don't understand what I'm asking." For a few more moments I still had no clue what he was on about. Then it dawned on me. Alex was asking me out. On a date.

"What?" I had replied. "As in a date?"

"Yes. I've been wanting to ask you all day. I've been really nervous because of it." So that explained it. "Lunch. Tomorrow. I'll move into the apartment one floor below you and I'll pick you up around 12. After lunch I'll plan something else. I'll go now and have a look. I'll see you tomorrow!"

With that he ran off. I'd never really thought about dating Alex before. Well, I mean I had dreamed about it the night before but I'd always thought it unrealistic. I never really thought I was his type.

I thought about that all the way back to the apartment and as I sat on the couch watching DVDs of Family Guy and The Simpsons all I could think about was Alex. It was 10pm before I checked the time again and so I had a quick shower and went to bed. Even now as I type this in bed I'm still thinking about Alex and what he must see in me. I suppose I'd better go to sleep then if I want to be up in time to get ready for our date. Oh, this was so exciting! I'm not generally one to get all lovey dovey but it was Alex. Wow, I sound like a teen romantic. Please don't think badly of me.

Until next time, this is EF signing out :)