Fall fell

DESPERATION

   @elnisstory
                        
                         CHAPTER ONE

Coco Parker was always the girl with a plan. She color-coded her notes, organized her closet by season, and had a five-year plan for her career as a marketing executive. Her friends affectionately called her "The General" for her ability to coordinate their social lives with military precision.

But despite her outward confidence, Coco's love life was a mess. She had a string of failed relationships with guys who couldn't handle her intensity, and her last boyfriend had left her for someone "more relaxed." Coco was starting to think she was allergic to love.

Her job wasn't much better. Coco's marketing firm was going through a rough patch, and she was stuck working long hours for a boss who seemed to enjoy making her life difficult.

Coco's social life consisted of weekly brunches with her friends, who were all paired off and starting families. She felt like the odd one out, stuck in a cycle of swiping through dating apps and attending awkward blind dates.

In a moment of desperation, Coco's best friend, Angela, burst into Coco's apartment, holding her phone aloft like a trophy. "I've got the solution to your love life, Co!"

Coco raised an eyebrow from her spot on the couch, where she was surrounded by marketing reports and empty coffee cups. "What is it this time? A blind date with a friend's cousin? A speed-dating event for people with 'unique' interests?"

Angela plopped down beside her, undeterred. "Nope. This is different. It's a new dating app that matches you with your perfect partner. It's called 'HeartYOU'."

Coco snorted. "Sounds like a recipe for disaster."

But Angela was undeterred. "Hear me out. This app is different. It's not just about swiping through profiles. It's about finding true compatibility. And I think it could be just what you need."

Coco sighed, setting aside her reports. "Fine. Show me."

Angela grinned, opening the app on her phone. "Okay, so first you fill out this questionnaire... "

As Angela walked Coco through the app's features, Coco's skepticism slowly gave way to curiosity. Maybe, just maybe, this app could help her find someone who shared her love of order and planning.

But when Angela got to the part about the app's "spontaneity" metric, Coco's doubts returned. "Wait, what? You want me to rate how much I enjoy surprises and trying new things?"

Angela nodded enthusiastically. "Yes! It's all about finding someone who complements your personality."

Coco hesitated, unsure if she was ready to open herself up to that level of unpredictability. But Angela's encouragement eventually won out, and Coco agreed to give HeartYOU a try.

With some trepidation, Coco filled out the questionnaire, answering questions about her hobbies, values, and relationship goals.

When they finally reached the "spontaneity" metric, Coco hesitated. "I don't know, Angela.. I really don't like surprises. Can't I just say 'no' to all of these?"

Angela laughed. "Trust me, Co. This is the fun part. Just be honest. How do you feel about trying new foods?"

Coco shrugged. "I mean, I like trying new restaurants, but only if they have good reviews and I can make a reservation."