Dating Dilemma

by Michelle Leyland

  I try to distract myself by texting the girls on the way there and soon arrive outside the ten-pin bowling center. Matthew is already there waiting for me.

  “Hi,” he greets cheerfully. “You okay?”

  “Yeah, I’m fine,” I answer quickly, although I feel anything but fine because I’m so nervous.

  “You look great,” he comments, looking a little shy for once.

  “Thanks,” I answer blushing.

  “So are you any good at bowling?” he asks me, turning back to his wonderful, chatty self.

  “Not that great,” I admit, although Chloe told me this is a good thing, since boys hate losing.

  “Me neither,” he admits, which surprises me.

  Doesn’t a boy usually act like they’re great at everything because they’re too embarrassed to admit they’re bad at something? Most boys do, according to Kate. I just hope Matthew doesn’t throw a tantrum if I win, like Kate warned me.

  “Don’t worry, I’m not that bothered about it being a competitive game or anything. We’re just here to have fun,” he says, probably realizing I look nervous.

  “Okay,” I agree, although I still feel worried all the same.

  We pay at the counter for two games, change into bowling shoes and then go to our alley, which is right at the end. Not many people are playing so far and I’m glad there isn’t. Hardly anyone being around makes me feel more relaxed.

  “Do you want to go first?” he asks as he types our names into the machine.

  “No it’s fine, you can go first,” I answer, feeling shy and less confident.

  He takes his go and knocks down six pins. I feel nervous as I watch him. What if I’m terrible? He’ll probably wish he’s nothing to do with me. He’ll be embarrassed that I’m actually his date and maybe future girlfriend.

  He takes his second turn and knocks down two more, leaving two at the edge still standing.

  “Okay, your turn,” he smiles at me.

  I smile back at him nervously and walk over to get a bowling ball. I’m still nervous as I pick up the first one and try to lift it, but it’s so heavy I nearly drop it on my foot.

  “Here, take this one, it’s much lighter than the others,” he offers, handing me a smaller, pink bowling ball that children probably use.

  “Thanks,” I say gratefully, taking it off him. I awkwardly place my fingers into the holes and walk to the line on our bowling alley.

  All of a sudden, I completely forget how to bowl. That’s what happens when I’m nervous, my memory just goes. I know I have to roll it into the pins, obviously I’m not that stupid, but I’ve forgot how I’m supposed to position myself and swing my arm, and I don’t want to do anything in case I do it wrong and look like an idiot.

  “Need help?” he asks.

  I cringe, feeling so embarrassed that he’s noticed. “Yeah please,” I answer. “How do you bowl it?”

  I feel myself cringe even more. He’ll probably think I’m a complete idiot now.

  “Don’t worry, it’s easy,” he reassures me and helps me position myself correctly. My skin tingles with excitement at feeling his arm against mine.

  “Now you just swing your arm forward and let go of the bowling ball,” he says, holding my arm to show me how to swing correctly.

  “Okay, thanks,” I say, still feeling very embarrassed.

  He goes back to the seat to let me do it on my own, so I take a deep breath and bowl. The bowling ball rolls from one side to the other while going down, but it hits five pins over when it gets to the end.

  “Well done,” he congratulates me. At least he doesn’t think I’m stupid. “Now you just need to try and get the five on that side.”

  I get another light bowling ball and try again. I only manage to hit two more, but I’m still pleased.

  We continue our game for another half hour. Matthew is heaps of points ahead of me at first, but then I start catching up, getting the hang of bowling at last, until I’m only nine points behind him.

  At the end of the game, I’m in the lead by four points, but I suspect Matthew deliberately didn’t do well on his last two turns so I could win.

  We play a second game after that and this time Matthew wins. Luckily, he doesn’t start bragging about it like most boys do and just smiles as I congratulate him.

  We both get a Slushy drink from the cafe and sit having a chat. I’m surprised how easy it is to talk to him now I’m not so nervous around him and we seem to be getting on well again.

  When it’s nearly six o’clock, Matthew walks me back to the bus stop and stays talking with me while I wait.

  “Do you want to see each other tomorrow?” he asks, looking a little sad that I have to leave.

  I feel bad, “I’m sorry but I promised to hang out with my friends tomorrow,” I answer, knowing that we need some serious catching up to do. “Maybe we can see each other Monday after school?”

  “Okay,” he smiles, “I can meet you outside the school gates, or after dinner if that’s better?”

  “After dinner would be great,” I say and smile too, feeling so happy that he wants to see me again after our second date.

  Obviously this is a very good sign. I wonder how many dates we have until we start a relationship. I’ll have to ask Chloe tomorrow to see what she thinks.

  “I’ll text you,” he promises. “I’m really glad you still want to see me.”

  “Me too,” I answer. “I mean, I’m happy you want to meet me again.”

  We both feel pretty shy and embarrassed now, so he quickly changes the subject.

  “Well, enjoy tomorrow with your friends,” he says.

  “Thanks, I will,” I answer.

  I spot the bus coming into view and put my hand out to signal. The bus slows down and pulls up in front of me.

  “See ya, Vanessa,” he says, giving me a quick hug before I leave.

  I smile and blush, shyly giving him a hug back. “Bye.”

  I jump onto the bus, feeling so happy I feel like I can fly home, and drop into an empty seat. The bus starts up and I wave to Matthew through the window as the bus pulls away and starts driving me back home.

  Chapter 20

  I can’t stop thinking of Matthew when I arrive back home and have dinner with my family. I feel so incredibly lucky, knowing there is a better chance to be his girlfriend now.

  I can’t wait to talk to the girls, so I log onto the laptop and go onto Facebook to talk to them. At first, none of them are online, so I finish some of my homework ready for Monday.

  Finally they come online so we do a group message and begin some serious gossiping.

  Kate: So, how did the date with Matthew go, Ven?

  Ven: Really well. We had a good game of bowling and he said he wants to see me Monday after school.

  Chloe: You’re definitely in there, babe.

  Gina: Was he okay doing bowling? He didn’t go into a boyish strop did he?

  Chloe: And please tell me you let him win!

  Ven: He was fine. He didn’t act like that at all. We both won a game each but I think he let me win the first one.

  Kate: I’m so shocked! Is this guy real? LOL

  Gina: Sounds like a good catch.

  Ven: Chloe, how many dates am I supposed to have before me and Matthew start a relationship? ‘Cause things are going pretty well so far.

  Chloe: Sometimes it only takes 1 or 2, then others it might take 3 or more. It depends on how long it takes you both to decide whether you want to be together or not.

  Ven: I hope it doesn’t take too long. I already know I really want him to be my bf.

  Gina: It shouldn’t take long. It sounds as if he really likes you too.

  Ven: (blush) I hope so.

  Chloe: Speaking of good catches; how was it with your future bf, Gina?

  Gina: I told you, it’s not like a date. We just hung out as mates today.

  Kate: So have you decided whether you’re actually going to go out with him yet?

  Gina:
I’m still not sure. He seems so sweet and I admit he does seem like he would be a great boyfriend. Maybe I will be his gf once I’m ready.

  Chloe: I think you should just go for it instead of being boring and waiting around. Who wants to be single anyways if you’ve already got someone you like begging to be your bf.

  Kate: Yeah Gina, just forget about that creep and go out with Chad. He’ll be sad if you keep him waiting long.

  Gina: I know, I feel mean as it is.

  Chloe: Then just say YES!

  Gina: I’ll think about it.

  Kate: (rolls eyes) So how was it with Mr Dishy at McDonalds, Chloe?

  Chloe: We had a great date and he asked me out! Updating my relationship status now!

  Ven: I’m so pleased for you! Way to go Chloe!

  Gina: Lucky thing.

  Kate: I wish I knew your secret. You’ve only known him for a day! But I guess now Jamie and I are finally together it doesn’t really matter.

  Gina: So you’re saying that after Ven gets with Matthew I’ll be on my ownio?

  Kate: No, you’ll finally see sense and be off snogging Chad LOL.

  Ven: Don’t worry, we’ll all still hang out with you, even if we do have bfs.

  Chloe: Yeah just be with Chad. You know he’s perfect for you!

  Kate: Yeah and I’d love to see that creep’s face when he sees what he’s missing.

  Gina: Kate! Don’t be so mean to Lee. That’s one of the reasons I don’t want to go out with Chad yet.

  Chloe: Babes, I’m sorry to say this again, but he didn’t really give a stuff about your feelings when he moved on, so just do what you want and don’t bother about him.

  Gina: …

  Ven: You okay Gina?

  Gina: Yeah, I’m fine.

  Ven: Don’t worry, I’m sure he would feel hurt if you do go with Chad, but you can’t feel like you’re not allowed to move on with your life just because of him.

  Kate: Yeah, you’re single now so you have a right to get with someone if you want to.

  Chloe: If I was you I wouldn’t worry too much about things. Just let him deal with it.

  Gina: Got to finish my homework now, I’ll see you all tomorrow.

  Ven: Ok, bye!

  Kate: See ya Gina

  Chloe: Really hope I haven’t upset you Gina. Bye

  Chapter 21

  After having fun on Sunday with the girls, it’s back to school on Monday morning. We all look pretty glum now the weekend is over, but strangely Chloe arrives looking very excited, but we guess it has nothing to do with getting back to school

  “Guess what?!” she exclaims to us, a little too loudly for this early in the morning. “Y’know that totally cool, new night club called Bliss?”

  “Yeah,” we all answer.

  Luckily we manage to remember, even though it is early in the morning.

  “Well, I saw the posters up this morning when I passed it on the way to school, and it said the under sixteen night will be starting this Wednesday!” continues Chloe and we all smile at each other excitedly.

  “Cool,” grins Kate. “So I guess we’re all going?”

  “Obviously! There’s no way we’re missing this,” says Gina. “I can’t wait to go.”

  “Me neither,” I say, feeling so happy at thinking maybe Matthew will go with me. “We could all bring our dates!”

  I feel extremely excited. In the past, it would have made me feeling lonely and sad going to a club without a date or boyfriend, since I don’t usually have one, but now things are different. For once I’m lucky enough to have a guy who will go with me and that feels great.

  “Well, you three could go with your guys,” Chloe says, looking sad. “Danny’s too old to go, remember?”

  “Aww, that’s sad,” Gina says sympathetically.

  “Will you be inviting Chad?” Kate asks Gina.

  “Of course I will,” she answers, blushing.

  “What’s with all the blushing?” asks Chloe suspiciously. “I thought you weren’t interested in having a relationship with him?”

  “I know, but he’s just been so sweet to me,” says Gina, looking blissful. “He keeps sending me wonderful texts and they’re much better than the ones any of my other boyfriends used to send.”

  Kate does a quick impression of Gina’s blissful look, over exaggerating it a bit, and I giggle. Gina is too busy in Chad World to notice, so Kate luckily gets away with it.

  “So you’re changing your mind about him now?” asks Chloe hopefully.

  “I might be,” answers Gina grinning.

  “Good for you,” says Kate. “I’m glad you’re finally moving on from that creep.”

  “Wait,” says Gina, suddenly looking serious. The blissful smile is vanishing from her face. “What if he’s going to be there?”

  Obviously the ‘he’ she mentioned is her ex-boyfriend Lee. We are all still being sensitive around her and not saying his name, so he is still known as ‘he’ or ‘that creep’.

  Chloe looks awkward, not knowing what to say. “Well….heaps of people from our school will be going…so maybe he will.”

  Gina looks scared all of a sudden, “I can’t go if he’s there! There’s no way I’m going to be anywhere near him, especially if he’s with her.”

  As you might have guessed, ‘her’ is the girl Lee is now with. We’re not allowed to mention Chelsea’s name either, so she’s usually referred to as ‘her’, ‘that girl’ or even ‘that slag’ in Chloe’s case.

  “Don’t worry about him,” Chloe reassures her. “It’s a big club and they’ll be loads of people there, so even if he does go, you might not even see him. Plus we’ll be here for you and we’ll stay well clear of him if he does turn up.”

  “Yeah, you have to come. You can’t let him spoil all your fun, Gina,” insists Kate.

  “And you can’t just not go somewhere just in case he’s there,” I say reasonably.

  “But I can’t,” she insists. “I can’t bear to see him and that girl all over each other again. It makes me feel sick just thinking about it.”

  “Oh, you don’t have to worry about that,” says Chloe, with a sly grin. It’s always a tell-tale sign that she’s got some mega goss. “I heard on Friday that the slag’s gone off with someone else now.”

  “Really?” I ask and feel surprised.

  I do kind of wish I could just get another boyfriend that quickly; although I don’t want as many boyfriends as Chelsea has had. Chloe is right, that girl is getting a bad reputation with the boys and that isn’t a good thing.

  “Yeah, I heard she’s going out with Gerry Parkinson now,” replies Chloe excitedly, loving to spill the hot news.

  “Eww,” comments Kate and looks disgusted.

  Gerry Parkinson is in the year above us and he’s the worst behaved boy in school. There’s even rumors going around that he takes drugs.

  “So he’s single now?” asks Gina, looking stunned.

  Chloe playfully hits her on the head with her magazine. “Don’t even think about it!” she warns her. “You don’t want to get back with that creep again, even if he does come crawling back to you. Besides, you’ve got Chad now.”

  “Yeah, you’re right,” says Gina and looks a bit shameful. “Just hit me over the head if I think about him again.”

  “Deal,” says Chloe and then jokes, “but next time it’ll have to be with my maths textbook, there’s no way I’m getting my mag confiscated in class.”

  At lunch, we all eat together at the cafeteria as usual. I’ve been feeling excited all day in case I see Matthew. I look out for him at every opportunity, hoping that maybe we can chat at school now that we’re going on dates and know each other.

  Unfortunately, I haven’t seen him at all yet, so I decide to text him instead:

  Hi Matt, I’m going to Bliss night club with my mates on Wednesday night. Wanna come? xxx

  He soon replies:

  Yeah sure. Thanx 4 inviting me. Do u want me to call for u and walk there
? Or do u just wanna meet there? xxx

  “Where are we meeting before Bliss?” I ask the others.

  Chloe looks thoughtful, “can we meet at yours, Gina?”

  “Yeah, that’s okay,” she answers.

  “So we’ll all meet at yours at seven and get ready together?” Chloe asks us and we all agree. “It opens at eight so we should get there in time.”

  “Where should I tell Matthew to meet me?” I ask them, feeling a little sad that he won’t be able to call for me at my house and walk there with me like he’d suggested.

  “The park?” suggests Kate. “Me and Jamie are meeting there anyway ‘cause we’ll be walking through on our way there.”