Princess Charming (gxg)

Part 10

Two days after I saw Hallie, I saw Victoria.

I was feeling like a terrible friend overall. I just had a date with her sister two days prior.

No, not a date. A hangout.

Victoria was starting her new job the next day, and she was nervous- so I invited her to come down to a good sushi restaurant near me called Megu.

We sat across from each other at the table, each with a glass of wine. We ordered sashimi and nigiri for us to split.

"Just get one glass of wine, okay?" I said, jokingly, "You don't want to be hungover for your first day tomorrow."

"No worries, I'm just getting one." Victoria winked at me.

"How are you feeling about tomorrow?" I asked her, "You're going to do so well."

"I hope so." Victoria said, "I really fucking hope so." she sighed, and then said, "So, my friend. What are you thinking in terms of work? Or school?"

"I have no idea." I said, "I am thinking I want to go back to school for something. Maybe Optometry or Physician Assistant school? I feel like I should try Medical School, even. But I don't really want to do that."

"I know you." Victoria said, "You don't want to be a Doctor. Or even a PA. You're letting your parents that you haven't spoken to in years get into your head."

She knows me too well.

"Okay." I said, "You're right. I would maybe like to do something more...science based. Possibly with genetics. That interests me a lot. But in the meantime, I do need to find a job. Anything."

"I'll help you out as much as I can." Victoria said.

"Don't worry about me. This dinner is about you. Tomorrow is going to come and go and it's going to feel like you've been at this job forever." I smiled at Victoria.

"Im actually kind of happy to be starting work tomorrow." Victoria said, "Even just one week without something concrete to do has been boring. And don't get me started on my family. Being around them all the time is not something I am used to."

Maybe I can somehow ask about Hallie.

"I agree with the boredom." I said, "But has your family been annoying? Your sister Leah is hardly home, right?"

Victoria nodded, "Correct. But when she is home, she's annoying. Everything is about Leah. All the time. And Hallie is just irritating. She's got a new issue every day. But I will say- the past couple of days she's been more pleasant."

"Has she been?" I asked, casually.

"Yes." Victoria's brow furrowed, "She hung out with some girl that she plays video games with online on Friday. She has seemed happier since then. She claims it was just a friend, but maybe it's more."

"That would be good for her." I said, my stomach filling with butterflies.

"Yeah. Someone else can handle her." Victoria said, "Until this girl gets tired of her too."

I don't know about that.

"Has Hallie had other girlfriends?" I asked Victoria.

"When she was a senior in high school she had a pretty serious girlfriend. Her name was Selena, she was at my house a lot. But she dumped Hallie when she went off to college. I don't blame her." Victoria said.

The more Victoria insulted Hallie, the more annoyed I got. But I had to mask it. I couldn't show her that I was getting really annoyed. Or how much I liked her sister.

"Well, hopefully she finds someone one day." I said quickly, and then thankfully, the food came.

"This place is so good." Victoria said as we ate. Then she smiled and said, "So. What are we doing for your birthday in a couple of weeks?"

"Please. You know that I don't care about my birthday." I said.

"I know. But I care." Victoria said, "I haven't been able to celebrate your birthday with you before because I didn't know you when you turned 22. So now for your 23rd birthday on July 8th- I'm going to do something for you."

"Just don't make it anything crazy, okay?" I responded.

"Deal." Victoria smiled.

When dinner was over, I hugged Victoria goodbye and wished her luck again at her new job.

When I got in my car- I had a strong urge to call Hallie.

And I felt awful for it.

But she picked up on the second ring.

"Hey." she said, sounding happy to hear from me, "How was dinner with Victoria?"

"It was good- I just feel terrible lying to her about this. She mentioned you, but I had to act like I barely knew you." I sighed.

"We can tell her if you want." Hallie said, "I'm not sure how she will react- but we can absolutely tell her."

"No." I said, "Not yet. I'd like to get to know you better."

"Same here." Hallie said. Then she paused before she  continued, "What did she say about me?"

"That you've been more upbeat since you got together with your 'friend' on Friday." I said, with a smile.

"Well, I mean- that friend is definitely making me happy." Hallie chuckled.

"She also told me about someone named Selena. Not in too much detail." I said.

Hallie's tone was less thrilled. "Oh." she said, "Selena is my ex from a couple of years ago. We dated for a year. She broke up with me when we went to college. I do consider her to be my first love, but I'm over it."

"Hallie, it's okay." I said, "You don't have to explain, at least right now. I was married. You're allowed to have an ex-girlfriend."

"Are you going to tell me about your wife...ex-wife...sorry, I'm not sure which one to say- one day?" Hallie asked.

"Ex-wife." I said, "Jocelyn and I were separated when she died. But yes I promise I will tell you about her. About the whole situation."

"I'm not trying to pressure you." Hallie said, "I guess I just want to get to know you."

"I know." I said, "You're not pressuring me."

I spoke to Hallie the whole way home. Hallie gave me butterflies. She made me excited. Yet I also felt like I had known her my whole life. There was a certain comfort in talking to her.

This wasn't like me. I was used to not caring. I was used to tossing girls to the side like they were nothing to me- because they were nothing to me. I know that sounds harsh. But I went through hell and back with my ex-wife.

And if I was going to let another woman in- she had to be worth it.

And I was thinking Hallie might be worth it.