Swipe For Love

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Annette was with her friends, Collin and Joanne at Joanne's apartment drinking coffee early at the afternoon.
It was Saturday and all three of them wanted just to relax and do nothing.

"So. I was thinking of going shopping next week. Does anyone want to join?", said Joanne.

"It depends on the day. I have a busy week- schedule.", said Annette.

"Yeah, we know, you busy busy fat cat.", said Collin.

"I am not a fat cat! I haven't gain any weight. Joanne TELL HIM!, said Annette pointing at Collin.

" Well, babe... ", she shrugged.

" No shit! You are just messing with me! Because you know I haven't been to the gym the last whole week and that it's eating me up!"

Collin and Joanne just looked at each other and then smiled.

"Admit it.", said Annette.

"OK, fine. We are not even allowed to make a joke. Look at that.", said Collin leaving out a small laugh.

"You bitch.", Annette giggled.

"OK, now stop. It's time to focus on my situation here. I wanna impress Peter."

" Fair enough.", said Annette.

"I also want new lingerie.", Joanne winked.

"J, you have tons of them!"

" There's always an excuse to buy lingerie. And one of the reasons now has the name PETER on it."

"Atta, girl.", said Collin lifting his eyebrows. "And when will we meet this Peter-guy?"

"Soon. Promise. But speaking of spouses, boyfriends and stuff, have you found anyone, yet?", said Joanne looking at Annette.

"Why are you even asking!? You know that every single time the answer is no. And the best of lines: I don't need a man to make me happy blah-blah-blah.", said Collin with an ironic tone.

"Well, stop with that. No, I haven't and I don't want to. So, everyone just stop asking me and keep pushing about that. I am getting sick of this.", Annette placed abruptly the coffee mug on the kitchen counter causing an instant powerful sound.

"You better watch out for my mug, young lady!", said Joanne pointing out at the coffee mug. "OK, fine. Do whatever you want. Be alone forever if that's what you want. I remember back then you dreamed about getting married, having kids, growing a family, falling in love. What's the matter with you?!", said Joanne loudly and harshly looking directly on Annette's eyes.

Silence.

Annette was struggling with a knot wrapped inside her neck. Like she couldn't breathe. She didn't want to remember what happened in the past.

" I can't. ", said Annette grabbing her bag and rushing out of the apartment, loudly closing the door behind her.

"You told her as it was. It was hard. The thing that happened to her. But she has to move on! She can't just avoid it for ever. She has to face her fears.", said Collin worried.

"I hurt her. I was harsh. I shouldn't have pushed more. We have told her many times over and over. Don't you think that maybe we exaggerated a bit?", said Joanne as her face expression went from worried to sad in an instant.

Collin didn't answer. He just looked down and then up to the ceiling. He was confused and worried, too.

Annette was walking down the street as quickly as she could. She was mad, mentally wounded. She was so drown into her thoughts that she didn't noticed a man walking towards her from the opposite direction and eventually she bumped into him. He was looking at his phone at that moment, probably texting.

"Oh, I am so sorry. I didn't mean to bump into you. Are you alright?"

"Yes, don't worry about it, miss. I hope you are OK."

"Yes, I am fine, thank you. Excuse me.", she said and forced a smile while preparing to cross the road in order to her car at the other side.

"You sure? You seem a little confused or maybe abashed."

"No, I am OK. Thank you, though, have a nice day.", she said and disappeared.

Later that day, at night, she decided to get a drink at a bar. She wanted to be alone and just drink for the rest of the night. She grabbed her coat and went to a bar nearby called Block.

She entered the bar, looking at all the people that were inside and then she sat down in front of the bar and asked the barman for a drink. She was feeling like it was a Jin tonic day.

Maybe later I could order a vodka or shots of tequila. We will see.

As she was sipping her drink and checking her phone, a man near her was ordering a drink from himself. With the corner of her eye, she thought he seemed familiar to her. She ignored her thoughts until the man eventually spoke to her :

"Uhm, I am sorry miss, but I think we've met before."

Annette looked right at him. And then she realized he was the guy that she bumped into hours earlier at the street.

"Oh, yes. Of course. I bumped into you a few hours ago. Well, sorry about that."

"No big deal. I don't want to seem like a creep but I have an instinct to help people. It can be also a disadvantage.", he chuckled and Annette smiled.

"No, it was a good gesture, thank you. I didn't need any help, but it was nice of you."

"OK, then. I am glad that you are in a better mood now. Anyway, I am Mark.", he extented his hand and Annette shaked it steady and gracefully.

"Annette. You live around here?"

"Pretty much, yeah. I love this place."

"Me, too. It's really authentic."

"I am glad I met you again. It was nice meeting you.", he said smiling.

"Me, too."

"Take care.", he said taking a last look and then going further inside the bar to a group of people.

Annette finished her drink but didn't feel like taking an other one so she decided to head home.

Collin and Joanne tried to reach her all day after she left Joanne's apartment that morning. She also received a text from her sister, too. Probably, Collin and Joanne talked to her.

She looked at her phone and then at the wall.

I'll text them tomorrow. I can't deal with this right now. I want to sleep. Such a weird day, wtf.