9.50 Salvatore’s First Date

Janessa and Salvatore met at The Fountain. He was a bit late, but when he finally arrived, they shared a hearty laugh at their matching outfits.

First, they hit the dance floor.

Next, they went to the bar area to sit and talk. He was still tickled by outfits. “You know we’re meant to be, right? I mean, who shows up to a date with matching outfits if they aren’t meant to be, right?”

“Salvatore…I’m not looking for ‘meant to be,’ or ‘the one.’ I’m looking to have fun. Can we just stick to having fun?”

“Oh, well, yeah…if that’s what you want.”

“It’s what I want.”

He struggled with where to take the conversation next. “You’re still working out, I see. You look great!”

“Thank you! So do you.” There was an awkward silence. Janessa remembered how well they used to get on back in high school, but something was different now and she wasn’t quite sure what it was. “So…you said you were unemployed. What do you really want to do?”

“Don’t laugh, but I really want to get a place out in the woods…maybe in Granite Falls. I want to be close to different types of foliage and bugs, you know? I just love nature. And…you know…I hope to get married and have a couple of kids too, but…you know. I’m still looking…”

Talk of marriage and finding soulmates seemed to be on everyone’s minds, and she grew weary of it. However, she smiled—although very fake—and wished him well. “I’m sure you’ll have everything you want, Salvatore.”

It was a strain to keep the conversation going, so she suggested that they call it a night. She kissed him and said that she would call him sometime. We all know what that means.