…
Garfield was frantic, and nervous, and anxious, and frantic. His anxiety reached new heights as he nervously fidgeted in the dorm room, his mind racing with a mix of excitement and apprehension. He ran his fingers through his hair repeatedly, trying to tame any unruly strands, as if his appearance held the key to a successful date. The room was filled with a hodgepodge of scents—a combination of freshly applied deodorant, the lingering fragrance of toothpaste, and the minty aroma of the handful of candy he had devoured, even though he had just brushed his teeth.
Victor observed his friend's frenzied state with a mixture of amusement and mild concern. He watched as Garfield paced back and forth, unable to contain his nerves. With a teasing smile, Victor couldn't help but comment on the evident jitters. "Man, you need to calm down. You act like you've never been on a date before."
Defensively, Garfield stopped his pacing for a moment, shooting a quick glance at Victor before resuming his restless movements. "I've been on a date before." He protested, his eyes darting towards the window, his anticipation growing. "Just never with someone like... Kori..." He let out a wistful sigh as his gaze fell upon the parking lot, where Kori's vibrant green jeep came into view.
Intrigued by Garfield's fixation, Victor joined him at the window, his own surprise evident on his face. "Damn." He muttered, not expecting the sight of the stunning redhead before them. "How did you manage to swing that?" Victor couldn't help but wonder aloud, his eyes fixed on Kori as she gracefully stepped out of her car, exuding an air of confidence in her daisy duke shorts and sandal pumps.
Garfield's heart swelled with a mix of joy and disbelief. He had managed to capture the attention of this incredible woman, but he couldn't quite comprehend how. "I have no idea." He replied, his voice tinged with awe.
Suddenly, Victor's teasing nature took a turn towards a more serious topic. He leaned closer to Garfield, his tone lower. "She's an older woman, mature, experienced. Do you have protection?" He asked, a hint of amusement in his voice.
Garfield's eyes widened at the unexpected question, his mind struggling to process the implications. "Protection?" He repeated, his voice laced with uncertainty.
Victor, ever the straightforward friend, raised an eyebrow and chuckled. "You know, in case you get lucky tonight." He said, nudging Garfield's side playfully.
The idea of going on a date with Kori was already a whirlwind for Garfield, and the concept of getting intimate seemed light-years away. "I, um... I mean, do you think I will?" He stammered, his face turning several shades redder.
Seeing his friend's increased anxiety, Victor quickly reassured him, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Don't sweat it if you're not ready. Take things at your own pace." He advised, understanding the overwhelming emotions that his friend was experiencing.
Garfield nodded, his mind still reeling from the sudden shift in conversation. "I just haven't wrapped my head around the possibility of such a thing." He admitted, his voice filled with a mix of wonder and uncertainty.
"Well, it doesn't hurt to be prepared," Victor replied, pulling open his nightstand drawer to reveal an assortment of colorful contraception options. "Pick a color, any color." He said, a hint of a mischievous grin on his face.
…
Upon seeing Garfield, Kori's face lit up with a radiant smile, and she gracefully stood up from her leaning position on the car. "Are you ready?" She asked, her voice filled with cheerful enthusiasm.
Garfield couldn't help but mirror her excitement. "You bet." He replied eagerly, his eyes shining with anticipation.
As Kori skipped over to the driver's seat and Garfield hopped into the neon-colored jeep, feeling a surge of exhilaration. Kori started the car, and the cheerful tunes of pop music filled the air as they zoomed off the campus grounds.
During the drive across town, Garfield found himself mesmerized by Kori's presence. Her long, luscious hair swayed gracefully in the wind, and her infectious smile illuminated her face as she joyfully sang along to the song playing on the radio. It was a moment of pure enchantment, and Garfield couldn't contain the heartfelt words that escaped his lips. "You're beautiful." He found himself saying aloud.
Kori turned towards him, her smile widening even further. She wrinkled her nose playfully and gently shoved him. "You're so sweet." She replied, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
In that moment, Garfield's mind began to wander, imagining a future together—a love story that unfolded with all its beautiful moments. They were two college students who met on campus, their connection growing through unconventional encounters. She bought him coffee, they shared dinner at her place, and from there, their love only blossomed. Gradually, their lives intertwined—moving in together, building their careers, and celebrating milestones. They adopted a cat after their first anniversary and a dog after their second. And as their third anniversary approached, they began to dream of starting a family together.
Suddenly, the abrupt halt of the jeep brought Garfield back to reality, and he quickly glanced around, realizing that they had arrived at a quaint house in a peaceful neighborhood. The small house exuded a sense of warmth and charm, with a profusion of flowers adorning the porch steps.
"Come on, Garfield!" Kori exclaimed with excitement, hopping out of the car.
Grinning from ear to ear, Garfield eagerly followed her up to the front door. Kori opened it, and the mouthwatering aroma of cooking lasagna filled the air, instantly increasing his appetite.
"It smells amazing," Garfield remarked, his stomach growling in agreement as he stepped inside the house.
"I sure hope so." Kori replied enthusiastically, her eyes sparkling with pride and anticipation. Just as they entered, a hefty cat swiftly approached them. "My little Silky!" Kori exclaimed, scooping up the cat and showering him with affectionate nuzzles as he purred contentedly.
"Little?" Garfield muttered quietly, realizing there was nothing remotely 'little' about the cat in Kori's arms.
Kori extended Silky towards Garfield. "Here, make yourself at home. Dinner should be ready soon." She said, her voice brimming with warmth and hospitality, before gracefully strolling into the kitchen.
Garfield sat down on the large teal couch as Silky nestled in his lap. He absentmindedly stroked the cat, his eyes wandering around the room, taking in the vibrant colors expressed in framed pictures and throw pillows that reflected Kori's feminine personality.
Lost in his thoughts, Garfield didn't notice one of the bedroom doors opening, and he was startled when a girl's harsh voice abruptly pierced the air. "Who the hell are you?" She demanded, her arms crossed defensively.
Startled and taken aback, Garfield quickly rose from the couch, accidentally dropping Silky, who let out a loud meow as he landed on the floor. "Who are you?" He countered, his voice confused and surprise.
"You're in my house, genius. I get to ask who you are." The girl retorted, her words laced with hostility.
"I'm, um... with Kori. Are you her roommate or something?" He asked, stumbling to find an explanation.
A smug expression crossed the girl's face. "Maybe you're not as stupid as you look." Before Garfield could respond to her snide remark, Kori cheerfully entered the room, diffusing the tension.
"It's done! Oh, Garfield, I see you've met my friend, Raven." Kori exclaimed, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness in the air.
Garfield mustered a polite smile, glancing at Raven, who seemed to derive amusement from the situation. "Your name's Garfield? Geez, Kori. Where did you find this one, the comic bookstore?" Raven mockingly remarked.
"Raven, be nice. Garfield is the one I took out for coffee yesterday." Kori interjected, gently chiding her friend's rude comment, before guiding them both into the kitchen.
"Oh, the one that can't stay awake during class?" Raven inquired, her tone still apparent with amusement as she sat down at the table.
"Yes, now be nice. I will not have you scaring away another one of my friends." Kori said as she and Garfield sat down.
Unfazed by the lingering rudeness, Garfield's attention was immediately captured by the delicious spread on the table. A bottle of wine stood prominently, accompanied by garlic breadsticks, a fresh salad, and, of course, a piping hot dish of lasagna.
"I'm not the one scaring them away." Raven muttered under her breath, her comment not going unnoticed by Garfield. Before he could inquire further, the front door swung open, and Kori's face lit up with excitement as she rushed to greet a dark-haired man who had entered the house.
"Hi, honey!" Kori exclaimed, her voice filled with joy and affection.
Time seemed to slow down as Garfield watched Kori approach the man and share a passionate kiss with him. In that instant, his love story came crashing down, and his heart sank in his chest.
Beside him, Raven quickly picked up on Garfield's sudden change in demeanor. "Did Kori forget to mention she had a boyfriend?" She asked, obviously knowing the answer.
"Yep." Garfield responded bitterly, a noticeable frown etched on his face.
"Yeah, she does that a lot." Raven casually remarked, nonchalantly grabbing a breadstick from the basket and taking a bite.
"Raven." The boyfriend addressed, a teasing tone in his voice. "I see you finally brought a boy over."
Raven smirked, her eyes gleaming mischievously. "No, Dick. Your girlfriend did."
"Richard, this is my new friend, Garfield. Garfield, this is my boyfriend, Richard." Kori happily introduced.
The two boys exchanged awkward glances, their discomfort palpable. "Kori." Richard began as he gently took her arm and led her out of the kitchen, his voice lowered to a whisper, though the others at the table could still hear.
"Oh, Richard. Garfield is just a friend." Kori reassured him.
"But does he know that?" Richard questioned, concern evident in his voice.
"Don't be silly, of course he knows." Kori replied confidently.
Raven turned to Garfield. "Did you know?" She asked.
Garfield let out an exasperated huff. "What do you think?" He responded bitterly.
"Yeah, Kori is a little naive when it comes to this kind of thing. Don't feel bad. You're not the first guy she's brought home for dinner." Raven revealed, her words offering little comfort.
Garfield huffed again, his gaze drifting toward the bottle of wine on the table. Without hesitation, he reached for it, an attempt to drown his sorrows.
"Oh, going to drink our troubles away, are we?" Raven commented, her tone both teasing and understanding.
"Doesn't hurt." Garfield muttered bitterly as he poured himself a full glass.
The dinner continued, with Richard and Kori returning to the table. They engaged in small talk, although Kori remained blissfully unaware of the underlying tension and awkwardness that permeated the room. Breadsticks, salad, and wine were passed around, with most of the occupants eager for the night to come to an end.
Garfield had contemplated leaving the moment he discovered Kori had a boyfriend, but considering the effort she had put into the meal, he didn't want to be rude by abruptly walking out. So, he stayed and drank wine, and ate dinner, and drank more wine, and engaging in forced small talk with her boyfriend, and finished the bottle of wine. However, Garfield failed to learn from past experiences, as his tolerance for alcohol proved to be lacking.
…