The Rules of Dating

Chapter 1- Don’t Settle Down For Less

Have you ever felt lost?

Like you were the only person in the world trying to find your way out of a maze, but there was so many obstacles in your way that you either want to give up and cry or tackle the hurdle with open arms. For me now, I wanted to give up and cry. I feel so lost at the moment with hundred….no million….no scratch that, over billion men out there that I could date and find the one for me, however I tended to date frogs. It felt like the universe is against me finding my happiness, all I am asking is for the stars above to sprinkle some of their sparkly dust so I could find my Mr Right.

Honestly is it too much to ask? 

I have always planned my life from A to Z, from high school till now. Without any focus my life would have been in the opposite direction, a mess. I have successfully passed all my studies and gained my degree with flying colours and my career is soaring, feeling content with that part of my life; however I wish I could say the same about my love life. According to my list I should be dating my soul mate right about now. Yes, but instead I was sitting in my comfiest PJ’s, bawling my eyes out.

“He used the oldest break up line ever! It’s not you it’s me!” I sobbed, blowing my nose into a tissue before throwing it down somewhere on the floor amongst the others.  I took another tissue out before babbling, “I mean what is wrong with me? Ever since I broke up with Jack every guy I dated after him was never ever interested in me.”

“That’s not true, there’s……” My best friend Jasmine trailed off.

I threw my hands up in the air, “See! You can’t even name me one guy who was interested in me. After I demanded Paul to be honest with me and not to feed the ‘It’s not you it’s me’ crap, he told me he’s in love with his ex and he got with me to make her jealous.”

“What a bastard!” Jasmine spoke with venom.

“I know!”

“But I don’t understand why you are crying over him. You just went out for one week and all you did was complain about how he never paid much attention to you.” Jasmine asked curiously.

I snorted, “I’m not crying over that jerk! I am crying over my destiny, why do I always date ugly slimy frogs. According to my list I should be dating my Mr Right but instead I am sitting here with you crying my eyes out.”

“I’m confused, are you crying because you date frogs or you messed up your stupid list.”

“Oi, don’t say anything about the list.” I retorted.

Jasmine put her hands up in a surrender manner, “I have been your friend since beginning of high school and I don’t understand why you have to write a list for everything.”

I shrugged my shoulders, “It’s just an old habit which is hard to break.”

“Emma, I do love you but you are so weird.” Jasmine laughed.

I couldn’t help but smile.

The next day when I woke up due to my stupid alarm clock going off, I felt utterly tired with a banging headache. I walked to my bathroom to see my red hair all tangled up and my ocean blue eyes were red and puffy due to crying last evening.  After a nice hot shower I tried to maintain my hair into a nice high ponytail before working some magic on my eyes to help my puffiness and redness. After I looked decent enough to get out of the house I felt better feeling like I could tackle a hurdle of problem at that moment. The sun was shining high in the clear blue sky making me feel motivated for the day ahead; unlike 10 minutes ago I didn’t even feel like going to work and having to bother with customers. Wow that’s how quick my mood changes from depressed to motivated, I wonder if my destiny could change its mood from the awful dating experiencing I’m having to the love of my life entering through my doors. I sighed heavily knowing that my wishful thinking will go unanswered. 

I parked my car at my usual place and looked across at my little business that I had started since I graduated from University. I had high hopes of having my own business and when I was motivated to go through with it no-one had ever thought I would be able to make it. Well with my hard work and sweat I had finally made it and now after two years my business is still doing so well. I have never been so proud of myself until I opened the doors to The Clothing Palette.

I unlocked the shutters and went inside to start my daily routine before I opened up for the customers. I went to my office to see what I had on my list to do; I had a delivery coming in today which meant most of my day would be spent on sorting that out.  As soon as I done my little tasks around the shop and sorted the money in the till, I was ready to open the doors.  The first two hours always went slow because hardly anyone ever came which meant I could usually finish some tasks, however today I had nothing to do so I just sat down and stared out at the window. I wasn’t really focusing on anything; the only thing I was seeing was the past week with the jerk.  How I should have left him on the first date when I had realised this was going really bad but I was being stupidly optimistic that maybe he did like me and beyond his awful characteristics maybe there was something for me to like. But I was dead wrong.

“Hi Emma,” I heard someone come through the door. I looked up to see Mia making her way towards me.

“Hey, I didn’t know you were working today?” I asked.

“I am.” Mia answered chirpily.  “So what’s got you so lost in thought?” She asked she hung her jumper and bag on the hook.

“Oh, the usual.” I answered flatly.

“Is this about your new guy, Paul?” Mia asked, slumping down next to me.

“You mean the ex guy.” I said bitterly.

“Oh no, what happened?” She asked her green eyes filled with concern.

“The same thing that happens to me every time, he wasn’t interested in me. I was there thinking beyond his awful characteristics, maybe deep down there might be something I may like about him, but all I did was waste my time.”

“No Emma, you should never ever settle down for less. If you don’t like the guy from the beginning you dump his ass, not look past his faults and try to settle down for something you don’t like.”

“I know your right. It’s just when I look around and see my younger sister with her boyfriend or my best friend Jasmine all loved up with her fella. I just feel so lonely.” I whispered the last part not wanting Mia to show me pity.

“Your time will come where you will be all loved up that I would want to throw up. But promise me you will not settle for less.” She said sternly as she slid a length of her blonde hair behind her ear.

“Yes I promise.”

“Good, we should start some work.”

“Excuse me, who is the boss around here?” I asked with my eyebrow raised.

“Err you,” She rubbed her neck awkwardly.

“Good to know. Well we don’t have anything to do until the delivery comes in.”

“Oh well, I might as well nip out to buy some coffee.”

“Get me the usual please.”

“Will do.” Mia said as she wrapped up in her jumper before heading out.

While she was out I picked my paper and pen up, writing down the simplest thing that I won’t forget.

Don’t settle down for less

I knew then I had to change my strategy in dating so I could find someone who was interested in me and me only.