Accompanying soundtrack: Fake Blood – "I think I Like It"

When Jen thought about it, ultimately the result was the same. She initiated a conversation with a complete stranger which had a positive outcome, and at the very least she should be proud of herself for that. She couldn't wait to tell H, not for bragging rights, but just to prove that she'd taken it all on board and had lived to tell the tale.

"Gilmore! It's so nice of you to finally call me! Up to this point I assumed you were dead in a ditch".

"I am. This is my ghostly spirit ringing to haunt your arse for the rest of your days."

"Shut it, dickhead, touchscreen phones don't work for spectres."

Jen laughed, "I'm currently on my way to yours, H. I haven't been home and YOU need to get the coffee on. I will then allow you to grill me in your usual, exasperating way. Has last night's entertainment left already?"

"She was gorgeous, tits like watermelons and an arse I could bite all day, but she's long gone darling! Kettle's on, get here soon." And with that H hung up.

'This is going to be worse than spending an afternoon with a child hocked up on sugar' thought Jen as she made her way across town, hoping to avoid getting too much more information from H and her nocturnal activities.

Jen arrived at H's place in a little over 30 minutes, and after a deep breath and a moment of hesitation she rang the doorbell.

The door opens "IN NOW", shrieks H and grabs Jen's jacket and pulls her inside. Pushing Jen through to the kitchen where the fresh coffee is ready on the table, H flops herself down onto a chair. "Beans, spill, now".

Jen sits down sedately, picks up her mug and takes a slow drink.

"Gilmore you rat, INFO!"

Jen smiled. "She beat me to the punch H. All that stupid preparation and I got out manoeuvred! I thought I'd pulled her and was leading the chat, and then WHAM! She invited me back to hers, straight out of left field".

"You went though, right?," H was desperate to know. "Tell me you fucked her?"

Jen pulled a face. "Seriously dude, your so damn crude! Yes, I went back to hers, and yes I slept with her. You don't need to hear any more details you perv!"

H grinned, "It's like pulling teeth talking to you sometimes. So, a one off, or are you going to see her again?"

"Well – she was cute right? But I didn't get her number. So I guess it was a one off. Although I'm not going to make a habit of it, that's for damn sure. It's way too much hard work. I can't be 'on point' all evening every evening."

She paused for a drink. "And I thought I had the control in the bar – I got the tables flipped on me. I'm confused by it all."

Seeing Jen struggling when she really didn't need to, H chipped in to break the post pick-up self-analysis. "Maybe you had the control all the way through. Your confidence made her feel wanted, and she knew that you were interested because you'd made the first move and gone over to sit with her. She knew you were a safe bet, but only because of all the leg work you'd already done. You made it happen. You made it happen" H smiled at Jen hoping she'd finally come round to seeing her way of thinking. "Got it?"

Breathing into her coffee, and watching the heat swirl from it, Jen nodded.

She didn't want meeting people to be a chore, she wanted it to be easy and relaxing. It always felt easy and relaxing with Emma when they were alone, even with all the shit that went round the periphery of the relationship. And that was the problem, there was the benchmark she'd set herself. Trouble was it just seemed unachievable right now. "So, where do I go from here then?"

"Onwards and upwards my dear - onwards and upwards! We are only just getting started - the chase has just begun. And besides, today is Saturday – we've got a whole 'nother night to look forward to tonight" H said, flashing a maddening grin at Jen, and getting up from her seat. "And in the meantime, let's see if there are any more delights waiting for you online," reaching over for the laptop and plonking it down in front of Jen.

The afternoon's internet lady trawl was largely unsuccessful, and Jen's head was swimming from looking at a million profiles. Using the internet to find prospective dates seemed like the most alien thing ever.

"How can I judge someone on a few lines of text and a self-photo?" Jen moaned. "Have you seen some of the things people write about themselves? Have they no pride? The main theme is going out, getting blitzed and pulling. I don't need to spend time with people who are sober for less time than they are drunk. I want a little bit of a class act, not drunken hookers."

H shot Jen that look, and she shut up.

Jen wasn't particularly happy about going out again, but H wouldn't take no for an answer, and she found herself getting dressed up again.

"Move your butt, Gilmore!" H shouted from the lounge. Jen appeared in the doorway almost at the same time. "Finally", H said, but pulling a face. "We need to sort your wardrobe out lady. You need more cleavage out honey, and less prim and proper".

"I don't need everything on show, I want people to guess what's underneath", Jen said defensively.

"Yeah but you need to give them at least a little hint", and H started fussing with Jen's top, until Jen smacked her hand away.

"Always trying to touch me up, huh H?" Jen laughed.

"In your fucking dreams, Gilmore! Now door – WALK!" and H playfully smacked her on the arse as she turned towards the front door.