Jana
"Hey, Jana! Wait up!"
I stopped in the middle of the sidewalk and waited for Christie, Melanie, and Katie to catch up to me.
"Oh, hi, guys," I replied as they reached me. "I didn't see any of you in the hall so I thought maybe you were already at Bumpers. Where's Beth?"
"Drama Club," Christie answered as we continued down the sidewalk. "We've been looking for you too. Where were you at lunch today?"
I grinned. "I ate outside. With Funny. And Mark."
Melanie squealed excitedly and Katie groaned.
"Oh, no. Another match-making moment, right?" Katie teased.
I laughed. "Of course."
"So? How'd it go?" Melanie cried, grabbing my arm. "Details, details!"
I giggled. "Well, I dunno. I think it went fine. Mark and Funny are really starting to get more comfortable around each other. I barely ate anything I was laughing so hard. Those two are a riot!"
"I just imagine them on a date," Christie chuckled. "They'd probably never stop cracking jokes."
"Doesn't that make you kinda wonder?" Katie mused as we neared Bumpers.
"What do you mean?" I asked, puzzled.
"Well, whether or not they'd be good for each other," she continued. "Humor is important in relationships, don't get me wrong, but sometimes you have to be serious. If all they ever did was joke around with each other... well, how could they ever know if the other person was sincere?"
"That's the silliest thing I ever heard!" Melanie cried, shaking her head. "They're perfect for each other. I don't think 'too much humor' could ever be a problem. You're just too serious all the time, Katie Shannon."
"I think Katie has a point," I interjected. "But I really don't think it'll be a problem. Once they start to get to know each other, I bet they'll be more serious. Right now I'm still trying to break the ice between them."
"I guess," Katie said with a shrug.
"What other plans do you have up your sleeve to get them together, Jana?" Christie asked. "Anything we can do to help?"
I shrugged. "I'm not sure yet. I want to be casual about it... you know- keep Mark from getting TOO suspicious. Yet I want him to get the point in time to take her to the dance."
"Hmm, yeah," Melanie said, pursing her lips. "That might be a difficult boarder not to cross. But whatever, like Christie said, we'll be glad to help. I'd really love to see this whole thing work out between Funny and Mark."
"Me, too," Christie agreed and Katie nodded.
I smiled. "You guys are the best," I said happily. "I know I can always count on you all."
"Maybe next you should try getting them both in a group setting next," Christie suggested. "Mark might really start to get suspicious if you keep up the meetings with just the three of you guys. All five of us could do something and get the guys to come, too. It would give them another chance to get to know each other without any one-on-one pressure, and besides- it'd be fun."
"You're right, that's a good idea," I conceded with a nod and a smile. "Let's see... what's a good group activity?"
"Mini golfing?" Melanie suggested as we rounded the corner.
"At this time of year?" Katie asked increduously, raising an eyebrow. "I don't think so. We need something indoors. Hey, Jana- what about bowling?"
We all started laughing. My mom and step-dad, Pink, are both avid bowlers (well, actually, Pink is- my mom enjoys it too, but goes mainly just to spend time with him) and have gone bowling together every weekend for almost as long as I can remember. My friends and I have kind of a joke about bowling and how it's something 'old people' (aka our parents) do for a good time, but none of us really mind playing. I think it's kinda fun actually.
"Truthfully, that might be great," I replied. "None of you would mind, right?"
"Not me," Christie said. "I like bowling."
"Me, too," Katie interjected. "I like playing with friends, anyway."
"Yeah," said Melanie. "I stink, but I like it. Do you think Funny would be willing to go with us?"
"Sure," I said confidentally. "Especially if Mark goes. I really think she's starting to like him a *lot*. She didn't stop smiling the entire time we were all eating lunch together."
"Funny's always smiling, so what else is new?" Katie laughed and I made a face at her.
"What night do we want to go?" Melanie asked. "We'll need some time to tell the guys about it and make sure they can come."
"Well, today's Thursday," I murmered. "Tomorrow might be too soon. How about we plan for Saturday night? I'll talk to Randy- I'm positive he'll be happy to go. We've gone bowling together a couple times."
"He'd better go," Katie said firmly. "That way it'll seem at least *somewhat* natural for Mark to be there."
"We don't just have to invite our boyfriends," Melanie said and Beth laughed.
"Well, good thing since I don't have one," she pointed out.
Melanie blushed slightly. "I just meant that we could invite a couple of the other guys we're pretty good friends with. Like Derek Travelstead or Jon Smith."
"That could work," I agreed as we reached the entrance to Bumpers. "We'll talk to Beth about it when she gets here and then decide who we'll ask to go with us."
"Sounds like a plan," Katie said with a smile and we all grinned at each other. This was going to be fun!
