The Dating Game [Barry Berkman]

Tinder

It was 6:30pm and Mia just came home from her classes. Her roommate Tara already made dinner and greeted her with a big fat smile.

"Mia, since I know that you're always in a bad mood when you come home Friday's - I have a surprise for you!", Tara grinned.

"Gosh how do you have that much energy, Tars."

"You know I love cooking and I love you as a friend! Come sit down. I made vegetarian lasagna!"

"I don't deserve you.", Mia started to smile now too. Tara wasn't only her roommate, they were friends since high school and moved together to LA to study. Tara wanted to become an engineer while Mia wanted to make a name in the film industry. She wasn't planning on becoming an actress though, she wanted to direct movies.

They both sat down and ate dinner, it was delicious as always. Afterwards they plopped onto the couch and started rewatching Parks and Rec, one if their favorite TV shows.

Mia took her phone out and started to read her unanswered e-mails and messages. She saw that she got 12 new notifications from Tinder and opened the app. She had a few messages from men - or let's say boys - who wanted to get into her pants. Which didn't bother her, it was tinder and many people used it as a platform to find ONS. Not everyone was looking for a serious relationship and that's also one of the reasons why she never actually met with someone yet. She used it out if fun, maybe write with one or two guys but she knew most of them just wanted to fuck and to be honest, she wasn't necessarily looking for a serious relationship herself but if she hooked up with one of them, they had to be interesting at least. Most of them weren't. They looked all the same with their shirtless beach pictures, showing off their houses, cars or even boats. It was boring and she decided to go into her settings.

Maybe 23 year olds just weren't mature enough for her. Which was ironic since she was only 22 herself, whilst her profile said 25. It was more of a mistake rather than purpose, but you couldn't change it anyways so who cares, right. She opened the option to edit your preferred age span and changed the smallest number from 22 to 26 and the top limit from 30 to 40. Fuck it, she thought. She can always change it back if there are too many creepy old dudes now.

The profiles that were showing now were a little bit more promising. No abs showing off - maybe because 35 year olds just don't happen to have them as often as 20 year olds - and more interesting personalities. They actually tried to have some personal informations in their bio, which weren't all the same. Mia actually read through their bios and clicked through their pictures. A few weird profiles were still popping up, obviously. That was just unavoidable on dating apps.

She swiped a few right, a few left, until she came towards a profile that was just... weird? But also funny? At least Mia had to chuckle when she came across it.

Mia just shook her head after she read his bio and Tara asked her what was so funny. Mia just waved her hand and Tara returned her attention to the TV again.

Mia swiped though the pictures he had uploaded.

Ok so he liked a good drink? That's cool! He seems nice.

I don't know what's happening in this picture but he hydrates, that's good.

His smile is kinda cute I gotta say.

Did she really say he was cute? Should she really swipe a guy right who's almost 15 years older? Was that weird?

"Would you hate me if I dated an old guy?", she asked Tara randomly.

"Not if he's cute.", Tara said still concentrating on the television, eating chips.

Mia shrugged her shoulders and swiped the guy to the right.

It's a Match!
You and Barry like each other.
[Send Message]
[Keep swiping]

Oh, wow. She didn't really think about him liking her back. Even though it's the whole purpose of this app, it somehow surprised her. Maybe because she wasn't sure if a mature guy would like her back.

Suddenly she felt nervous. Why was she nervous it's just a tinder match he hasn't even written her yet!

*ping*

From the upper half of her screen floated a notification.

Barry sent you a message.

Oh fuck, oh gosh.
Ok calm the fuck down, Mia thought.

She opened the message and finally exhaled the breath she didn't know she was holding. It's fine everything is fine. What's the worst that could happen besides him saying he swiped on accident maybe.

6:41pm
Hello Mia:)!

6:41pm
Hi 👋

6:41pm
I really didn't think you'd like me back. How are you?

6:42pm
i'm great! watching tv with my roommate. what are you doing? ☺️

6:42pm
Hanging out in a bar with colleagues, getting an after-work beer. What are you watching?

6:43pm
oh, parks and recreation. your evening sounds good too, though. 😬