Strings of Fate

115–Cards and concentration

As promised, it doesn’t take long for Alex to arrive and the pizza arrives soon afterwards. Actually, Megan went all out with ordering a variety of pizzas as well as drinks, garlic bread and even some kind of spicy chicken side that the pizza place was apparently offering as part of a deal. We lay out all the food on the coffee table and sit around in the living room to eat. Hmmm, with the addition of Alex, there are now twice as many guys here as there are girls. This seems kind of unbalanced.

“You know, this lunch is very guy–heavy. Why don’t we have more girls to invite?” I wonder aloud. Megan jumps into the conversation immediately.

“THANKYOU I’ve said it before. I’m always so outnumbered. I always thought it was because Bels doesn’t love inviting over heaps of girls since that time one of them tried to sneak upstairs to look at his room.” I raise an eyebrow.

“Uh, WHAT?” I ask in horror. Megan shrugs.

“She wanted to move up the hierarchy a bit, she thought that if she got to know more about Bellamy she could seduce him and yada yada. It was a wasted effort, she had no hope. But after that we stopped having many female guests.” Megan explains.

“Well that’s crazy. Actually, I know the perfect solution. You guys need girlfriends so you can bring them along. Then we don’t have to worry about them being weird AND we get company. It’s the perfect solution. So, Darrien I already know you’re technically single, for now at least. But what about you guys?” I ask, Aaron is already shaking his head so I face Alex and Shaun, ignoring Megan’s embarrassed choking from beside me. Alex immediately shoves a slice of pizza into his mouth in an attempt to avoid answering. my arms and just wait. Eventually he chokes the food down and shakes his head slow. 09:21

+10% Bonus

“No, I don’t have a girlfriend.” he replies, his voice croaky from swallowing too fast. I turn on

Shaun next and he also shakes his head.

ladies on my dance card.” He answers, pauses then continues in a

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115–Cards and concentration

no. But actually, now that I think about it… is Amber single? I did decide that I wanted

mean, I don’t know

maybe.” I conclude. Shaun immediately. throws himself to the floor and begins genuflecting

on, promising me ridiculous things like his life savings and his firstborn child. I roll my eyes and tell

one of them really NEEDS to be here, but Aaron would usually be with me at work right now and Darrien isn’t going to leave while Megan is still here and hanging out willingly. Megan and I sit beside each other on the couch with her laptop and start working out what needs to be done to change her classes to all be online. It mostly looks casy except for one class that seems to have a face–to–face component. After

ninety percent of that energy is coming from Darrien as he gives it

me he’s enjoying the win. I suspect the fact that Darrien can’t stop glancing 09: at Megan is

eye contact with Aaron who just shrugs. He might enjoy

actually much. Darrien probably

the game that

cares about

lost so many times it’s

hour of this I notice the red thread on my chest

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115–Cards and concentration