PLAYHOUSE

EIGTHEEN

IRIS' POV

"That is just plain stupidity! What do they think were in? In a freakin fairytale?" Kim blurted, loud enough for the others to hear. We were at Tom's Diner for lunch and I just have to tell them about my problem because it was literally eating me up and I might explode anytime if I don't let it out.

"It hasn't been approved yet some states are already implementing it. That's sick." Megan spoke with the same amount of disappointment as Kim.

"You should see a lawyer, Iris. I know someone actually, and he's good at this kind of case." Vince said nicely and I appreciate that he really wanted to help.

"Thanks Vince, but I have already talked to one and he said that it would soon be approved. I may have a chance to keep Iver now but when it gets it's final approval, they might take him away from me if I don't get someone to stand as Iver's father figure.." My voice quivered, I was on the verge of tears thinking I would lose my nephew in one swift blink.

"We know how much you love Iver." Vince spoke. They had met Iver twice and surprisingly Iver mingled with them very well.

"Iris, I have an idea." Archie suddenly spoke. He pulled out his phone and started putting his pin code to unlock it. He had three attempts before it finally went unlock. "You see, Facebook has a new update, and it now has its very own dating section right here." He showed me the screen and I can tell that he was so proud of his idea. "You just have to open it and start chatting with people here..."

My gay friend started to scroll through some profiles and when he finally spot his choice he started typing "Hi :)" and the idea of actually chatting with people you don't know terrified me. Like, yeah I do appreciate that Archie just wanted to help me but I am not that desperate to actually chat people that I don't even know. I have watched so many news of girls getting molested and killed after they had met up with guys they only knew on social media.

I don't wanna be slain!

"Oh, look he replied!" Archie cheered, waving his iPhone at our faces.

"I don't think that's a good idea, Arch."

Thank God, Vince spoke. He must've noticed my discomfort look. I was never really a fan of any dating sites, even though a lot of my friends, even my own parents asked me to try them, no, I never did and never until now.

"That could be a little dangerous though. Chatting people you don't even know." Megan said in a moderate tone, who like me, isn't a fan of dating sites too. How old is she again? 22 or somethin'?

"Fine." Archie answered with twisted lips as he finally put his phone down. But I have the feeling that he might continue this chatting thing when we aren't around.

"Iris, don't you have atleast, you know, anybody that can fit in to this? I mean, you are definitely a good catch, there's gotta be atleast someone." Archie mouthed as he forked his pasta and slowly shoved it in his mouth, careful not to ruin his perfectly painted brown lips.

What the hell, there really isn't someone. This is really driving me crazy! I never thought I'd be so stressed at 26. And I never thought I'd actually be stressed over finding a father figure for Iver.

I used to like the concept of love and even imagined what it actually would feel like when I was younger. You know, two strangers meeting in the most unexpected time and place and you just find yourself haunted with each other's eyes and in that moment, you knew that it was them that you've been dreaming and wanting your whole life. I wish it were that easy, I wish every love story has their happy endings. But unfortunately- specially for me, things just won't work the way I want them to be.