Nick Fraser is a true romantic. He wants the guy instead of the girl, but other than that, he wants everything his favourite rom-coms depict: the courtship, the passionate first kiss, the fairy tale wedding. But after breaking up with the love of his life, Nick wonders if anything fairy tale will ever happen for him.
Then he meets Katie, who’s just like a rom-com heroine. She’s sharp, funny, sweet, and as into music and punk culture as Nick is. What’s more, he’s incredibly attracted to her, even though she’s a woman. Nick has never considered he might be bisexual, but his feelings for Katie are definitely real.
When Katie reveals she’s transgender, Nick starts to see how much he doesn’t understand about the world, queer identity, and himself. He is hopelessly in love with Katie, but this isn’t a fairy tale, and Nick’s friends and family may not accept his new relationship. He wants it all, but does he have the courage to make his fantasy a reality?
Katie cleared her throat before she spoke again. “Pretty in Pink has gotta be my favourite.”
“Oh, good choice. But I still haven’t answered the romances in eighties or nineties. That’s just ... too hard. It’s like Sophie’s Choice, but instead I’m caught between When Harry Met Sally and Pretty Woman.”
“Should we call it a draw, then?” Katie stuck out her hand for a shake before waiting for Nick’s response. “Because I’m not really sure I know the answer either.”
“Okay. I like that. A draw sounds fair.”
Nick placed his hand in hers once again, the touch more prolonged this time as they shook. Katie’s smile was slightly more crooked than before, and after their handshake was done, her gaze darted back to the bus window. Is she nervous? Upset? Did I say something bad about her choices? Nick’s throat felt dry from all the talking, and he wished he still had some coffee left. Katie’s voice had cracked more than once when she’d spoken too long, making Nick think she also needed a drink. Maybe that’s why the game’s over now. Nick didn’t even know what other categories he’d left out from their round, only that he liked hearing her opinions. They lined up with so much that he liked, but when they had differences, it was interesting rather than conflict inducing. At least, that’s what I thought. When the bus merged onto the highway and had completed its last pickup stop until Toronto, Nick found his iPhone again and skimmed through the songs. All he wanted to hear now was something, anything, from one of the films they’d just finished analyzing.
“Hey, so,” Katie said, shifting in the seat to address him. “Sorry to bug you again.”
“No -- you’re not. Not at all.”
“Good. So what are the odds you’re going to Toronto for a concert tonight?”
Nick’s face fell. “Slim to none. I’m at a buddy’s for the afternoon.”
“But tonight, you’ll be free? Do you want to go to a show? I’ll be there. My friend’s band is opening.” Katie dug through her purse without waiting for a response and pulled out a crumpled flier. She straightened it out against her thighs and then handed it over. “The venue is on Queen Street, just outside Chinatown. Small place, but there are still tickets. If there aren’t any by the time you show up, I can still get you in.”
Nick took the flier without saying yes or no. The art looked like something out of the old riot girl days: a mix of collage and cut-up renderings, with a couple really tough-looking rocker chicks at the centre. The Hellcats and Over the Empire were written in scrawled font at the bottom.
“What band is your friend in?”
“The Hellcats.”
“And you’re not in it?”
“Nah, but I’m a favourite around there. Always going to shows, and sometimes I design the fliers, or bartend if they’re really desperate. Not this one, though. I’ve done logos in the past, but I was too busy this past month to draw much for them.”
Nick nodded again. He moved his thumb over the door times: seven P.M. His stomach sank. “I probably can’t go. This thing I have to do this afternoon is for a bunch of old university friends, and I just know I’m going to be dragged halfway across Toronto doing other stuff afterwards for old times’ sake.”
“You can bring your friends,” Katie suggested. “Friends are always welcome.”
Nick considered this for a moment, but pushed the idea away. Alex, Levi, and Nick had all met in the music scene, but that had been for indie bands with acoustic guitars. Nick had a feeling that if he showed Levi this flier, he would laugh instead of thinking it was cool. Nick liked Katie -- even if that was a complicated statement to even acknowledge -- and he sure didn’t want this person who also loved John Hughes and pop-punk to be made fun of by Levi’s less inclusive taste in music.
“I appreciate the thought,” Nick said carefully, “but they probably won’t be interested.”
“But you are?”
“Oh, definitely. This sounds like it’s right up my alley.”
“Well, that’s nice to hear. Any kind of encouragement for musicians nowadays is great. And hey, if your thing ends early, stop by. No pressure if you don’t.”
“Okay, thanks.” Nick smiled again as he slipped the flier into his wallet, next to the bus ticket. “I’ll try.”
“It’s all I ever ask of strangers. Just try.”
Katie’s gaze lingered for a moment before she took out her purple iPhone. She hooked up her headphones and put on an album that Nick couldn’t see the title of. Nick finally selected the Romeo + Juliet soundtrack he’d had on his iPhone. Only for the retro songs. That was the only reason he wanted to listen to this.
As the scenery passed them by, Nick noticed that they both kept one headphone out of their ears, as if waiting and listening for the other person -- just in case.
