Hita - Anita Claire Page 0,38
the back of a garage. The apartment is kind of run down, but the garage and backyard give them the space they were looking for. This year they’ve invited a lot of people. Sam’s been busy brewing holiday beer while Meredith is taking care of the details. All the princesses plan on showing up.
As the guests arrive, Isabelle, Olivia, and I, the three single princesses check out Sam’s friends. They’re all the brothers we already know from his fraternity. Isabelle gets an annoyed look on her face as she watches Ben, one of Sam’s friends. Back in college they dated. He always ran hot and cold telling Isabelle he wasn’t interested in having a girlfriend, though now he shows up with his arm around some bottle blond.
At one point I finally voice to my friends what I’ve been mulling over, “I’ve been thinking about online dating.”
Olivia and Isabelle both stare at me with a horrified look. I tell them, “I watched a Ted talk by this woman, she’s a math girl like me. She said she wrote down the traits that she wanted in a man. She then wrote down her traits. She did research on what made a compelling listing. Of the guys who responded to her listing, she gave them points for each of the traits she was looking for. The guy who came out on top she went on a date with, and wound up marrying.”
“Do you think it’s that easy?” Isabelle asks.
“Are you ready to get married?” Olivia questions.
“She didn’t say she got married the next day,” I tell them.
Isabelle ponders what I said, finally coming back with, “I guess we can try it. I sure would like to go out with a guy I like who likes me back. I’m spending way too much time with the Beatles these days.”
Olivia rolls her eyes before questioning her, “You’re not going out with Paul again?”
Isabelle puts her hands up before answering, “No, but I’m afraid that Paul will come out as my perfect guy. We sound so good on paper, but in reality we’re a disaster.”
“Then you know more of the characteristics that you like and those that you don’t,” I tell her.
Isabelle gives me a long look as I can see the wheels turning in her mind. “Okay, I’m in. I’m not meeting any guys on my own. Let’s work on it this weekend.”
Olivia shakes her head as she tells me, “I’m too busy with school to start that kind of dating.”
Isabelle and I agree. “Tomorrow, let’s write up our lists.”
***
Heading over to Isabelle’s at noon, it takes us no time to raid her kitchen. Her parents are back east at her grandparents for Thanksgiving. Her mom cooked up a storm, leaving Isabelle with a refrigerator full of food.
Sitting down at her kitchen table she asks, “Where do we start?”
Taking control I reply, “Write down what you want in a guy.”
Watching Isabelle stare at the blank sheet of paper, I realize in her mind she’s probably drawn a picture of Paul. Figuring I need to change tactics, I decide to interview her in the hopes of helping her figure it out.
After a couple hours of this inward analysis, we’re so mentally exhausted we head into her garage where she pulls out a couple of skateboards. I was afraid of this. Isabelle and Juliette get along well since neither of them can sit still. I might be good at ping pong, but skateboarding looks like a disaster waiting to happen. After about ten minutes of sketchy skateboarding on my part, I sit on my board while Isabelle shows me the tricks she’s been working on. At some point she joins me as we both sit on our skateboards while we talk about life.
After dinner I convince Isabelle to join me at Game Kastle. Once there, we head past the rows of computer games and comic books to the counter in the back of the store where I hand Hal, who mans the back counter, a couple of complementary tickets I’ve received for winning and placing in tournaments. On a white board affixed to the wall behind the counter the following choices are listed: Star Wars, Star Trek, Friday Night Magic Booster Draft, or Friday Night Fragfest.
I tell Isabelle, “I’ve watched Star Wars with you, so it’s the safest bet.”
We walk through two rooms before I see the sign, “Star Wars X-Wing open play bring your squadrons and test your skills against the ace squadrons.”
We pass a couple