Benny and Jon had a pretty good jam session, even though Odie started howling halfway through and Garfield wrecked the living room to cause a distraction.

"So, er, you like Lisa Lynne?" Jon said in a weak attempt at conversation as they took a break for refreshment.

"Yeah, she's great," said Benny. "Why?"

"Oh, no reason," said Jon quickly.

"You like her or something?" asked Benny.

"She's my friend. Of course I like her."

"Friends don't look at each other the way you two do," said Benny, grinning.

"What do you mean, 'you two?'" asked Jon.

"You mean you haven't noticed?"

"No," said Jon. "And even f I did she told me she'd never speak to me again if I asked her out one more time."

Benny shrugged. "All I know is that I've been friends with Lisa Lynne since college, and I've never seen her look at anyone the way she looks at you." He adjusted his glasses, and the subject was closed. "That was a killer jam session. Same time next week?"

Jon nodded, barely listening. So Lisa Lynne actually liked him!

Benny left, and Jon stood there lost in though until he felt a sharp pain in his ankle. Garfield was demanding food again.

A few days later, Jon was sitting on the park bench in his best clothes, a hideous polka-dot leisure suit (well, he didn't think it was hideous even if every woman who walked by snickered at him, kids screamed and ran away and Garfield had fled to be avoid being seen with him). He would have brought the flowers, candy, and jewelry he had gotten, but Garfield had eaten the flowers and candy, hocked the jewelry, and used the money to buy more flowers and candy, which he had also eaten.

"Nice suit," said Lisa Lynne archly when she saw him.

Jon was so nervous he missed her slightly sarcastic tone. "Thanks!"

"What's the occasion?"

"Oh, no reason," said Jon airily. "Take a walk with me?"

"All right," she said, suspecting nothing. She took his proffered arm.

As they walked along, Jon tried to figure out how would be best to broach the subject with her, as he did not want to make her angry. He tried many imaginary lines in his mind but decided they were all horrible. Then he thought of Benny, and what he said about never seeing Lisa Lynne look at any one they way she looked at him. Jon was struck with the idea that he might just look at Lisa Lynne to see what Benny had meant, and then decide what to do from there.

Lisa Lynne had just come from work – her hair was slightly tousled, her clothes slightly rumpled, but looked calm and at ease. Her hand lightly touched his arm. Every now and then she'd sneak little glances at him, then look away and smile. When he said something she thought was funny, she'd laugh, and give his arm a friendly little squeeze. When he said something serious, her eyes would meet his and she would lean in closer, listening intently.

As he was watching, Jon suddenly realized something.

"Lisa Lynne," he said. "Do you read the personal ads often?"

She lowered her eyes and a faint blush swept across her cheeks. "For fun sometimes."

"You're lying," said Jon, astonished that he knew this. He became more astonished when she confirmed it by blushing even more heavily.

"I can't believe it!" said Jon. "After what you told me – "

Lisa Lynne cut him off. "I know. Stop looking. But sometimes I get lonely."

She looked at him again, and something in her eyes made Jon feel bold. "You don't have to be alone, Lisa Lynne."

"Jon, remember what I said – "

"But I'm not asking you for a date," he persisted, taking her hands in his. "I'm asking you to be my girlfriend." He thought that was a very clever line and wondered why he had not thought of that sooner.

But it didn't work. "Please don't," Lisa Lynne whispered.

"I can't stand it any longer!" he said. "Listen, Lisa Lynne, I like you a lot. You told me I was looking too hard. Maybe you've stopped looking so much that you can't see when you do find the right one – even if he's standing right in front of you with a big fat orange parrot on his shoulder!"

As much as it pained him to do, he let go of her trembling hands, turned his back on her, and left. He felt her eyes follow him. Good – let her watch him leave for a change.