flipping burgers.

As anyone with ears could tell you, the sound of an alarm clock is the most obnoxious sound known to human ears. Especially at five in the morning.

Daniel knew this all too well as his alarm started that morning. He rolled over in his bed and pressed the button on the alarm clock. He looked at the time and grunted as he yanked himself out of bed. Shuffling sleepily to his bathroom he began his morning routine.

Once showered he felt slightly more awake, he took to getting dressed. Looking over his face relieved he noticed his tanned skin had cleared up from a recent breakout. He brushed his hair and checked his root growth on his recent hair colour. He had dyed it a dark brown with a blue streak in the front. It hadn't been long so it hadn't grown out much.

Daniel worked in a fast food restaurant. Flipping burgers wasn't a hard job, nor was working the register. But working with the general public was enough to send you to a mental institute.

He got his bag and put his hat and apron in it, as well as his keys and phone, before throwing it over his shoulder. He grabbed a banana on the way out and on his way he pulled out his phone to check his social media and his dating profile. To his dismay both message inboxes were barren. he shoved it in his trouser pocket and locked the door of his small apartment.

Once at work, he put his hat and apron on in the staff room. As he turned to leave the door opened and the one saving grace to his day walked in. his best friend Josephine. Her ginger lions mane pulled into a loose messy bun under her hat, but strays swirled defiant down her freckled neck.

"Yes! Josie! What's up?" He exclaimed, raising his hand to greet her. She turned and when she saw him her eyes brightened

"Yes! Hey bestie!" she rejoiced relieved to see her friend working the same shift.

Once clocked in it was standard, burger orders going out and the loud machines and heat of the fryers almost drowning the hustle from the customers on the other side.

When Josephine and Daniel finished eight hours later the ache of their muscles was practically audible. Daniel sat in the staff room to wait as Josephine finished. He grunted as he sat down and sighed in relief when he had the weight off his feet. The dull ache continued and he leaned back in his chair and let his head fall back.

"Oh no Daniel's dead!" Josephine said feigning shock. She shook him dramatically. "No Daniel! who will filter the fryer on monday?" she said laughing, mocking the manager's voice.

He rolled his eyes at her and fake laughed. He was the only one who did it since the automated filter broke. They got ready to leave and decided to get lunch before they left.

The walk to the local coffee chain wasn't far and they chatted while they walked.

"Any luck on the dating website I showed you?" Josephine asked, curious. Dan shook his head and frowned.

"None of the guys on there even want something substantial, just hook ups." he complained.

They continued the conversation in the coffee shop while they ordered. Cold caramel frappe for Daniel, hot hazelnut latte with almond milk for Josephine.

"Well it can't be as bad as some of the messages I get. Listen to this." she pulled out her phone as they sat down. "Hey I like your profile picture. I said thanks, I put a lot of effort into picking one. Does that mean you aren't as pretty in person? I said it's not like I'm using filters and stuff. So he sends a pic of his dick." She turned the phone and lo and behold a picture of a dick. Daniel pretended to heave. Men could be pigs he thought to himself

"I tried to ask one guy what he did for a living, got a dick pic. It's like they only want to show their dicks off." Josephine groaned, exasperated.

Daniel patted her shoulder and gave her an apologetic look.

"I apologise for all straight men." he joked, pulling a chuckle from Josephine.

They parted ways and walked to their respective homes, waving before they were out of sight. He put his earbuds in, turned on the music app in his phone and walked home quietly. Ignoring the world around him.

Daniel felt the buzz of his phone and checked it, to find the dating app's icon on the top bar. He pressed it and it opened the app to the chat window.

*Hi, I'm Adam. I'd almost given up finding a match on this app!*

The message read, Daniel raised his eyebrows. This was the first message that didn't include a dick pic he had received so far.

Daniel thought this was very promising. He put his phone back into his pocket and continued walking home. By the time he got home and had sat down on the sofa he had almost forgotten about the message.

He logged into the app on his phone. He followed the message and went into the dating profile of Adam.The picture at the top was a man in his mid twenties, long brown hair and strong jawline, just my type Daniel thought to himself happily.

Daniel realised he had been staring at the picture and reading the profile for a while, wondering what to say. The perfect opening line was lost on him. Finally he typed a simple greeting and asked if he had been on the app long. The only thing he could think of and it didn't inspire romance in the slightest.

*Hi Adam! I had almost given up as well! How long have you been on here?*

Daniel decided to make a cup of tea and mull it over. What did he want to know about this seemingly perfect man? What would he want him to know about Daniel?

He didn't have to wait long, as the kettle clicked his phone buzzed once again.

Adam- *I have been on this app for a few weeks, how about you?*

Daniel- *same here, do you live in Cathtree?*

Adam- *I just moved here, how about you?*

Daniel- *Lived here my whole life*

Adam- *So you'll know all the good dating spots then huh?*

Daniel blushed, this was the longest conversation he had had on the app and he was grinning from ear to ear unable to rip his eyes from his phone.

Daniel- *I know a few places, how about I take you to my favourite coffee place?*

Adam- *I'd love that, are you free tomorrow?*

Daniel swallowed nervously, this was admittedly his first date since he came out to his family and friends. He didn't even know how this date should even go down.

Daniel- *Yeah I am, how about we grab lunch? Do you want to meet up about 12?*

Adam- *That sounds great! shall we meet outside the train station? I am out of town tonight but I'll get off the train about then.*

Daniel sent a thumbs up and put his phone down. He felt like he could squeal with excitement and nervous energy.