Getting Back at Tyler Wilson

Chapter 9: A Work in Progress

Chapter 9:

Stella eyed her friend as she was picking out tomatoes in the supermarket, cart poised at the ready to move onto the next aisle for another inspection. The deep concentration on her face made her look like she was picking out the formula for world peace and not a simple, trivial task like picking out tomatoes. It was the same look she got on her face when she was distracted and wanted to be left alone.

Given that she hadn’t said a word (not even a peep) about her date with Tyler, her friend suspected that her prolonged silence and deep thought looks from the past week had something to do with said date. Knowing Lynn for a very long time, Stella knew when to take a hint and leave her alone and also when to press the matter.

“Are you ever going to tell us what happened on your date with Tyler?” This was a time for the latter.

Lynn looked at her before abandoning the tomatoes altogether and moving on. “There’s nothing really to tell.” Lynn paused to look at some apples before speaking again. “We had dinner, we talked. He asked me about myself. I avoided all talk about where I grew up; he told me about himself and not much has changed since high school about him. Same interests and stuff.”

“Hmm,” was all Stella remarked as she picked up an apple and started to munch on it. “Then why are you avoiding us?’

“I’m not avoiding you guys.” The denial came too swift, and too hotly, to be the genuine denial of a fact.

Stella didn’t bother to respond. She just gave Lynn that ‘oh, really?’ look and continued munching on her apple.

Truth be told, Lynn was avoiding everyone because since that date about a week ago, Tyler hasn’t called her, for work or personal reasons. She didn’t know what to make of that other than even ten years after high school she still wasn’t Tyler Wilson material.

Lynn gave an exasperated sigh and pushed her cart down the aisle, forgoing the apples as well. Stella strolled along behind her and Lynn was grateful her friend’s mouth was too busy chewing to follow up on her avoiding issues of late.

The only reason she cared whether or not Tyler called her was because of Operation Getting Back at Tyler Wilson. She didn’t at all care for the guy or his stupid ‘by the book’ peck on the cheek. During her solace time in the past week, she had time to go over her date and realise that he was playing the charmer, and more than likely, he’d be following the rules of the game by not calling her until three days after the first date. But since he’s such a dude-boy and all, he’d probably not call her until next week. Well, Lynn would go along with his games, for now, until it was time for him to dance to her tune. If he was willing to go to such lengths, it has to mean he’s interested, right?

“Are you avoiding Tyler as well?” Apparently finished with her apple, Stella strolled in step with Lynn and started to push the cart with her. The green sticker for the apple she ate was pasted on her wrist, and stood out like a tattoo on her ivory skin.

“I think he’s avoiding me,” Lynn replied honestly. No sense in hiding from her friends. They knew her too well to never stop pestering her.

“The regular ‘don’t call too soon after a date’ thing, you mean?”

“I think so,” Lynn hedged. “But it’s at work too. He hasn’t checked in about the exhibit. I’m the one in charge of it, so I would know if he called or came in, but he hasn’t. The only communication I’ve had with him is through his secretary.”

“So now you’re thinkin’ you’re not Tyler Wilson material, aren’t you?” Stella guessed correctly.

Like she said, her friends knew her too well. But she still didn’t want to admit it, in case it made her sound pathetic. “Something like that.”