So this was just going to be one of my usual unplanned stories where the direction changes every time I sit down and write. But now I have thought of something which I really like. It's going to be how I set out the first few chapters. Hope you like it.
Read and Review. Please. I love your reviews guys. I only got one for the last chapter. :(
Thanks to sailaway for the review.
Number One
"So, date one of two. Are we ready?" Louise looked up at me. We hadn't been that successful in finding dates. They had been a little off put by Louise's upfront manner. I didn't really care though.
"Yep, set for lift off," I answered.
"Okies, can I go play Play Station. I have to beat Uncle Seth and he said he'd be online at the moment,"
"Sure..." The word was barely out of my mouth when she hurried away into the playroom. The doorbell rang.
*****************
"No thank you, I'm a fruitarian," replied Date number one at my offer of carrots.
"Oh, I didn't realise, sorry," I replied.
"It's ok,"
"What exactly is a...fruitarian?" I asked being polite as possible.
"We believe that fruits and vegetables have feeling so we think cooking is cruel. We only eat things that have actually fallen off a tree or bush - that are, in fact, dead already."
"Right. Right. Interesting stuff. So, these carrots..."
"Have been murdered, yes."
"Murdered? Poor carrots. How beastly!" I exclaimed, jokingly. Louise burst into laughter, but my date found it less amusing.
****************
"She was..." I began.
"Weird," Louise said finishing my sentence.
"Would we say weird?"
"Yes, Dad, she was incredibly weird. I couldn't stand a vegetarian, never mind a...what was she again?"
"Fruitarian. Ok, I guess you're right. Better luck tomorrow,"
***************
"Do you play soccer?" Louise asked politely at the dinner table.
"No. And if it were up to me little girls wouldn't either," Date number 2 replied. Louise glared at her.
"Well, if it were up to me you'd be fat and ugly, as a representation of your personality!"
"Louise!" I tried to be assertive, but it was very hard to stop laughing. This woman was unbelievable. She was wooden, no personality at all.
"I think I should leave," My date standing up, her eyes fixed on Louise. She didn't wait for me to show her out. When we heard the door slam Louise and I burst into hysterics.
***************
"Hey," Seth said at the other end.
"Hey,"
"Checking you haven't forgotten about our barbecue tonight,"
"Nope, I haven't,"
"Good because it's been too long since I had a showdown with Lou," It made me laugh at how generally excited Seth was about playing video games with my 8 year old.
"Whatever Seth," I laughed.
"Talking of Lou, how did your date hunting go?"
"Can we stop calling it hunting? It's like I'm going out and capturing them in nets,"
"Ok, how did your date SEARCHING go?"
"I learnt what a fruitarian is,"
"What the fuck is one of those?" I heard Summer's call in the background, something about not swearing in front of the kids.
"I'll explain later, I've got to go be a goalkeeper,"
"Better you than me," I laughed at the thought of Seth playing soccer.
"Bye,"
"Bye,"
****************
"Where are Jake and Dan?" Louise asked when we arrived, before anyone else could speak.
"In the yard," Seth had barely finished her sentence when Louise ran off in search of her twin cousins. I followed Seth into the kitchen.
"What you thinking of doing?" Seth said as he got beers out of the fridge.
"This summer?" I asked.
"Yep,"
"I don't know. Louise is pretty hooked on the idea that I'll have a girlfriend before she goes back to her Mom."
"I bet she is. How's Hannah?"
"I really don't know. I mean she's off around Europe with this bloke, I don't know if it's any more serious than the others. When I picked up Louise she sounded alright. I think she just got a promotion or something. I don't think she's changed though. I'll never get how she can be so irresponsible, so unorganised." Seth was silent. "You ok?" I asked.
"Yeah, just thinking,"
"About?"
"It's so strange how a few years ago you knew everything about Hannah, everything that was going on. Now you know diddly squat. It's really weird."
"It's called divorce. You and Summer still good?"
"Brilliant. She wants to try again, now we're 30 and everything, she's starting think if we don't have another soon it'll be too late. Basically I'm sexed out,"
"Poor you," I said sarcastically.
"I know,"
"Where is Summer?"
"Work...oh, I just remembered. She's got a new person in her office; she's bringing her over for dinner. You don't mind?"
"No, it's fine." Almost right on cue I heard the door opening. Summer came into the kitchen, closely followed by one of the most beautiful people I had ever seen. She had long hair that hung loose down her back. It was hard to say what colour it was, there were so many shades of browns and blondes. Her face seemed perfect. Nothing was out of place. Her eyes were the most brilliant of greens. I didn't even get onto looking at her body the first time I saw her, her face was too mesmerising.
"Hey," Summer greeted Seth with and peck then pulled me into a hug. "Ryan, this is Marissa, Marissa, Ryan," Summer introduced us. I shook the beautiful woman's hand.
"Nice to meet you," I said.
"You too," She replied. I dropped my hand back down to my side. I was suddenly conscious of every movement I made.
"Where's Louise?" Summer asked.
"I think she's in the backyard with Jake and Dan," I said.
"How is she?"
"Her usual vivacious self."
"Still hate clothes, makeup and boys?"
"Yep, it's starting to look like you'll have to have your own daughter if you want someone to dress up," We wandered outside. The kids were playing in the pool. I felt rude, I hadn't interacted with Marissa yet, but I wasn't sure what I should say.
"So, what do you do?" I asked, sipping on my beer, trying to play it cool.
"I'm a journalist." She smiled back.
"Same as Sum. Are you a fashion person as well?"
"I don't write about it, no. I do a column."
"Cool,"
"And you?"
"Architect,"
"Designed any buildings I'd know?"
"Nah, not really..." Summer interrupted me.
"He's too modest to admit, but he's done quite a few...things."
"Ok, Sum." Louise came running up.
"DAD! You've got to play nets! We're having a penalty shootout!" I stood up, not too enthusiastic about the fact that now Marissa would see me making a fool of myself playing soccer.
"One penalty each," I said.
"Three," She replied.
"One,"
"Three,"
"I'll do two at the most,"
"Okies!" She said running off.
"Do you think she's always like this or is it just that Hannah never plays sports with her?" Seth asked amused.
"I really don't know." I ran after her.
****************
"Seth, come on!" Louise tugged at Seth's arm.
"Come on Dad!" My 8 year old nephews pleaded in unison to their father.
"Later guys," Seth said, brushing them off. "You can play on your own for a bit," The kids walked away, sulking.
"Another?" Summer asked gesturing toward filling up Marissa's wine glass. I hadn't had chance to speak to her much, between playing and eating there hadn't been much time.
"Sure," Marissa said.
"So, Ryan you haven't told me how your dates went," Seth said, starting conversation.
"Interesting. They were very interesting. I don't think I'll let Louise choose again,"
"You let your daughter choose your date?" Marissa seemed amused by the idea.
"She wanted me to date, so I figured she could choose. It was never going to be serious anyway. A bit of a game."
"Come on then, how did it go?" Seth pushed.
"One was a fruitarian," Summer burst out laughing.
"How did you find that out?" She said.
"I offered her some carrots," Summer was in hysterics, Marissa joined her.
"Wait up; what the hell is a fruitarian?" Seth looked confused.
"Basically they believe fruit and veg have feelings and they only eat stuff that's fallen off the tree,"
"That's not funny, it's freaky," Seth said. "How about the other one?"
"Louise and she had a little disagreement. Louise told her she should be fat and ugly, representing her personality." Seth laughed.
"I wish I could have seen that!"
"SETH! You shouldn't encourage it, neither should you Ryan!" Summer glared at me. "She's only 8; she shouldn't be coming out with things like that,"
"Trust me, this girl was awful, I just wish I had thought up that line,"
"Ryan, grow up," Summer moaned.
"I think it's sweet," Marissa laughed.
"You're the first," Summer grunted. "Every girl he's ever met, they're never right. He dates them a couple of times then never phones them back."
"Wanna do something this weekend?" I suggest, changing the subject.
"I was thinking of getting the boat out." Seth said.
"Sounds fun," Louise came to us again.
"Marissa," We all turned to face her.
"Yeah?" Marissa looked shocked that she was the reason Louise had come.
"Have you ever been told you're pretty?"
"Um..." Marissa looked confused by Louise's question. "I...guess," She seemed quite modest. I couldn't understand why. She was pretty, very pretty.
