Blue Eyes

Chapter Two

After two weeks of playing hard to get for no apparent reason, DeShawn finally decided to accept Eric’s offer of a free meal. She had spent about ten minutes just staring at herself in the mirror while debating whether to go for the natural look or to apply a face full of makeup. Since they were only going to the movies and dinner, she decided that she would combine the two looks for a more neutral appearance. She lightly brushed on bronzer to enhance the cinnamon undertone of her brown skin and used gold shimmer eye shadow to intensify the darkness of her brown eyes. The next task would be trying to decide what to do with her fading chestnut brown, dyed shoulder-length hair that only shined under the sky. After making the decision to transition back to the natural state of her hair’s texture, trying to make it look presentable was becoming more difficult. She eventually decided to flat iron her hair and wear it down since the weather’s humidity was low that day. After applying a thin layer of nude lipstick and spraying on some perfume, she was ready for her date with Eric.

Since she didn’t know him on a personal level, she instructed him to meet her at their agreed destination the following Saturday. They decided to eat first since it was already later in the afternoon. Surprisingly, they both loved Asian cuisine and shared a common interest for a local Chinese Restaurant, The Flower Garden. DeShawn arrived ten minutes earlier then their decided time and was shocked to see Eric already there. He was dressed attractively and looked just as good as she remembered. She felt awkward in not knowing how to greet Eric, who was practically a stranger, so she just refrained from any physical contact during the initial greeting.

“How long have you been waiting?” DeShawn politely asked.

“Not long. I don’t like being late,” Eric replied.

“Me, neither. It’s rude and disrespectful of people’s time.”

“Agreed.” 

They were soon seated and provided with menus. She peeped over the top of her menu to see that he was staring right back at her.

“You already know what you want, don’t you?” he asked while slightly laughing.

“Yeah, I do. I always get the same thing. I’m boring like that,” she giggled.

“Then I guess that’s another thing we have in common because I regularly order the same food, too.”

“I guess so.” She tried to hide the smile forming on her lips.

They both ordered their favorite meals and sipped on lemonade as they waited. What started off as awkward silence, turned into a fulfilling conversation.

“So, tell me. Why are you single?” Eric questioned her nicely.

“Because I haven’t been focused on dating since ending my high school relationship,” DeShawn answered honestly.

“Oh really?”

“Yep. How about you?”

“The same I guess. I had an off-and-on situation with this girl named Roxy during high school and early college. I never really dated seriously but Roxy stayed around for years. We’re still friends, though. Are you friends with your ex?”

“Not really, but Bobby still wants to get back together,” she explained.

“And I’m guessing you don’t?”

“Not at all.”

“Why? Did he treat you bad?”

“Never. I just want more out of life than mediocracy and he doesn’t seem understand that.”

“Is he some kind of a bum?”

“More like a bum outside the hours of 8am to 5pm.” DeShawn laughed.