Unblind Date

�Cinematographically, it was stunning, but really, the entire movie was a lame excuse for mass merchandising and hype. The storyline was overly complicated, the performances were unspectacular, and the plot dragged inexcusably... don�t you think?�

Kaytlin squinted as she walked out of the darkened movie theatre, trying to adjust to the light. As for her companion�s question, she really had little idea what the heck he was talking about. She�d tuned out after the first few words.

�Ummm... I kind of liked it,� she admitted. �I guess I wasn�t really paying that much attention to the details.�

�Really, Kaytlin.� Her date shook his head disapprovingly. �It�s Star Wars. Everyone already knows the story. You have to pay attention to the details. Anyhow, didn�t you read the reviews? I completely agreed with what the Times� critic said about the dialogue being wordy and falsely elevated, and I thought that the effects were overblown and a poor cover for an otherwise weak and ineffective film that...�

Geez, it�s a freakin� movie, Kate thought to herself, tuning out once again. When she�d met Tom while golfing with friends the previous week, he�d been witty, seemingly intelligent, and, she had to admit, definitely cute. That�s what you get when you agree to a date after only half an hour of conversation, she chided herself. But who knows, maybe he�s just one of those film freaks. Things might improve once we get out of here.

Trying not to fall asleep as Tom droned on about the movie, she groaned inwardly and tried her best to appear interested. She had a feeling it was going to be a long night.

*****

�Oh, my God, didn�t you just love it? I mean, like, Ewan McGregor is so hot, and the effects were amazing!�

Which one was Ewan McGregor? Tyler wondered, trying to match the actors to the characters as he walked out of the theatre. He hadn�t been that familiar with the Star Wars trilogy to start with, and now, after seeing The Phantom Menace, he was even more confused.

�Yeah,� Tyler replied, trying to sound even half as enthusiastic as the girl walking beside him. �It was pretty good, wasn�t it?�

�Pretty good?� His date looked at him as if he�d lost his mind. �It was, like, the best movie I�ve seen in since Titanic! And you know, I don�t just say that about any movie, because I totally adored Titanic. I mean, didn�t you? But this might even have been better, because the acting was so amazing, and like, George Lucas is a total genius, and...�

Mark, I�m going to kill you, Tyler vowed silently. Hilary, his date, was a friend of a friend of his, and Mark had sworn up and down that he just knew she and Tyler would hit it off. �I�m telling you, man, she�s cute, she�s funny, and she�s smart!� Mark had promised. Uh, maybe, he thought to himself, but you forgot to add �total ditz� to that list. Maybe it�s just one of those Star Wars things, he thought hopefully. Maybe I just don�t get it. Maybe Mark was right and we will hit it off... once we get out of here.

�...and when I was a kid, I used to watch the trilogy all the time, and I was, like, in love with Luke Skywalker, but now I think this one might actually be the best of all of them, except that I wish Harrison Ford could do, like, a cameo in the next prequel. What do you think, Tyler?�

Tyler suddenly snapped to attention at the sound of his name and wondered how he was going to answer a question he hadn�t heard. He had a feeling she wouldn�t notice if his reply had nothing to do with the original topic. He sighed inwardly. It was going to be a long night.

*****

�Do you want to go get something to eat or something?� Kate asked brightly the second she was able to interrupt Tom�s tirade against The Phantom Menace.

�What?� Cut off mid-sentence, her date looked confused before answering. �Oh. Yeah, sure. Anyhow, where was I? The score. Right. Like I was saying, it was a synthesized ripoff of the original trilogy score, which was so far superior that...�

He�s smart, Kate thought sourly. Maybe a little too smart. As they walked towards the theatre exit, her eyes wandered, and she suddenly spotted a familiar face coming out right behind them.

�Like, when Ewan first came on screen, oh, my God, he looked so hot, and I am so jealous of Natalie Portman, imagine being like, the one female among all those hot guys in the cast...�

�Tyler!�

Tyler stopped suddenly and looked around as a very familiar voice cut through Hilary�s nonstop chatter.

�Someone you know?� Hilary asked curiously as he located the source of the voice and started walking towards her.

�Kate, what are you doing here?� he called, wading through the crowd to his partner�s side, his date struggling vainly to keep up with him.

�The same thing you�re doing here, I assume,� she replied with a laugh. �Watching Episode I.�

For the first time, Tyler noticed the handsome young man standing with his partner. As Hilary finally made it over to join him, he was suddenly rather glad she was there, no matter what he�d been thinking earlier.

�Tyler, this is Tom,� Kate introduced, gesturing to her companion. �Tom, this is my partner...�

�Ah, the famous skating partner,� Tom said. The two men shook hands, Tyler trying his best not to give Tom a suspicious look while he was at it.

�Oh, uh, this is Hilary,� he remembered, introducing his date. �Hilary, this is...�

�Oh, I know, your partner, Kaytlin,� Hilary finished. She turned to Kate. �You know, I totally love you guys, you don�t know how long I begged Mark to get me a date with your partner here, but for the longest time I thought he was involved with you.� She giggled. �So okay, I guess I was wrong, but sometimes it just seemed like...�

�Uh, so you�re a friend of Mark�s?� Kate interrupted.

�Yeah, for like, ever, we�ve known each other since grade school,� Hilary answered. �You know, for awhile, I used to skate, too, Mark and I even skated together for awhile, when we were like, really young, but then I guess I lost interest and he didn�t...�

�Um, we were going to go out for coffee or something,� Kate cut in, flashing her partner a look that said, �Does that chick ever stop talking?� Her partner shrugged helplessly. �Do you guys want to join us?�

The idea of going out for coffee with his partner while she was with a guy and he was with a girl just didn�t sit well with Tyler.

�Uh, no, you guys go ahead,� he responded. �You don�t need us tagging along.�

Kate laughed, but the look in her eyes said, �Tyler, say yes. Save me, I�m dying here!�

�C�mon, it would be fun,� she urged. �Don�t you think, Tom?�

�Yeah, sure, why not?� Tom agreed, totally missing the silent communication going on between the partners.

�Okay, then... Hilary, you don�t mind?� Tyler asked his date.

�Oh, no way!� she answered enthusiastically. �The more the merrier!�

�What did you two think of the movie?� Tom asked Tyler and Hilary as the foursome made their way out of the theatre. �Didn�t you think that it was overblown, overhyped, and a weak excuse for a blockbuster?�

�Oh, like, no, I loved it!� Hilary countered. �I thought it was awesome!�

�But didn�t you think that the original trilogy was by far superior?� Tom questioned. �Cinematographically, this one was excellent, but in terms of performance, script, and general effect, I believe the original trilogy employed cinematic technique in a way that far surpassed that of Episode I.�

�Well, I�m not sure.� Hilary contemplated that for a minute. �Because, okay, like, in the original trilogy, Harrison Ford was so hot. And the guy who played Luke, I forgot his name, he was amazing, too. But this one, it had Ewan, and oh, my God, he was so cool, and Liam Neeson...�

�Where did you find this chick?� Kate�s eyes asked her partner.

�Where did you find that guy?� he responded with a look.

As their dates rambled on about Star Wars, the partners exchanged a glance and both shrugged imperceptibly. The glance said one thing and both read it clearly - �Thank God we ran into each other. Thank God.�

*****

�I knew from the beginning that it was going to be lacklustre,� Tom was saying as the group walked into Mars, a trendy nightclub/cafe. �I mean, really, who would make such a huge cinematic mistake? Business-wise, of course, it was sheer genius, it�s sure to make millions, but artistically, you just don�t tamper with films like that.�

�But, like, George Lucas had a story to tell,� Hilary argued. �Just because the original Star Wars was, like, legendary and stuff, doesn�t mean he shouldn�t try to top it if he has a good idea, right?�

Walking behind their dates, the partners were clearly bored. Tom and Hilary had not stopped talking about Star Wars for a second since they�d left the theatre. Even on the car ride to the cafe, Kate had been forced to endure Tom�s endless criticism of the film, while Tyler had had to put up with Hilary listing 101 reasons why Ewan McGregor was the hottest actor alive... except, of course, for Leo.

Seeing their dates engrossed in conversation, Kate nudged her partner in the side.

�Are they ever gonna shut up?!� she mouthed.

Tyler rolled his eyes. �I doubt it,� he mouthed back.

�...and when my firm was assigned the Star Wars contract for Movieline.com, I was telling everyone at the office that it was all about crass commercialism,� Tom was saying when Kate tuned back in. �Unlike the trilogy, which really started out as an indie film and had more integrity...�

�Your firm did a Star Wars account?� Kate asked, deciding she had to at least try to sound interested. �You said you work in graphic design, right?�

�I�m a webmaster,� her date replied in a superior tone. �And yes, we did a site for Movieline.com this month...�

�Oh, my God, you�re a webmaster?!� Hilary exclaimed. �Get out! So am I!�

Both partners turned to Hilary at the exact same time.

�You are?!� they questioned in unison.

�Yeah, for Dimensions Inc.,� she replied, completely missing the note of shock in Kate and Tyler�s voices. She turned to Tom. �So, who are you with?�

�Aquezada,� he replied.

�So you guys are the ones who got the Movieline account!� Hilary flipped through the cafe menu as she spoke. �Damn, and I really wanted to work on that one, too. I had this whole design planned, with like, futuristic-looking frames, and interactive java and everything!�

�I think frames are really overused in web design today,� Tom argued. �You see, I decided to go for a really streamlined look, but we did use interactive java and hyperscript, and we made use of the latest shockwave technology to...�

�Uh, guys?� Kate gestured to the waitress who stood by their booth, waiting patiently to take their order.

�Just coffee for me, thanks,� Tyler said, pushing the menu aside.

�Carrot juice,� Tom and Hilary ordered at the exact same moment. The two looked at each other for a split second, then laughed.

�You, too?� Hilary asked, giggling. �All my friends think I�m like, crazy or something, but I just tell them they�re the ones who are crazy, pouring all that caffeine and sugar into their systems.�

�Exactly,� Tom agreed. �And have you ever tried it with ginseng?�

�Oh, I heard that was, like, a total energy boost,� she said curiously. �Is it good?�

�I�ll have an iced cappucino,� Kate ordered over the health food chatter. �And I heard the raspberry cheesecake in this place is out of this world. Anyone wanna split it with me?�

�Oh, no way, I�m on a diet,� Hilary replied immediately. �I mean, look at you, you�re a skater and all, you can probably eat anything, but I gain weight just looking at the stuff...�

�I try to avoid sugar,� Tom said self-righteously.

�I�ll split it with you,� her partner volunteered.

�Okay, then, one piece of raspberry cheesecake,� Kate told the waitress, flashing her partner a grateful smile.

*****

As the foursome waited for their drinks to arrive, Tom and Hilary continued their computer chatter, and the partners struggled vainly to get a word in edgewise.

�Do you find that Windows �98 goes all wacko on you when you�re working with large .gif files?� Hilary asked. �I mean, once, I was working on this account for AMC Theatres, and every time I tried to upload any graphic files larger than three megs, everything would just go haywire on me.�

�Try converting the files to .jpg format and uploading separately,� Tom advised. �Or do what I do when I�m working with graphically oriented material... use a Mac.�

Doing his best to keep from yawning, Tyler turned his attention to his equally bored partner, who was doing an admirable job of appearing to understand their dates� conversation. First date outfit, he thought to himself as he snuck an appreciative once-over. Not too dressed up, but not too casual, either. She was wearing a black tank top with a short, flippy black skirt and a pink cardigan sweater, with strappy sandals on her feet. Hilary, though he had to admit she was very pretty, seemed overdressed for a movie date in a shimmery slip dress, her brown hair done up and her face immaculately made up. There was something about his partner�s tousled hair and minimal makeup that he found appealing... more appealing than all the model-perfect Hilarys of the world.

Kate noticed Tyler smiling at her and smiled back. Good old Tyler, she thought to herself. Imagine if I�d had to sit here and listen to Tom drone on alone. She shuddered at the mere thought. He was so cute when we were golfing... why�d he have to go ruin it by opening his mouth? She idly glanced at her date, then at her partner. Tyler was smart, probably as intelligent, if not more so, than Tom, she mused, but he didn�t feel the need to flaunt it 24-7. Definitely an attractive quality in a guy...

�Coffee, two carrot juices, iced cappucino, and raspberry cheesecake,� the waitress announced, setting down four glasses and a plate. �Enjoy.�

�How do you drink that stuff?� Hilary scolded Tyler only half-teasingly. �I mean, c�mon, you�re like, an athlete, and that stuff is nothing but pure caffeine. No nutritional value whatsoever.�

Tyler shrugged. �I figure I�m healthy enough to live a little,� he replied with a grin. �I mean, the thought of beta karotene in liquid form kind of scares me.�

Watching Hilary sip at her carrot juice and knowing her partner�s comment had gone right over his date�s head, Kate had to stifle a laugh. She sliced off the point of the cheesecake wedge with her fork and slid it into her mouth.

�Oh, my God, this stuff is amazing!� she declared, then had to resist the urge to laugh once again when she realized she sounded exactly like Hilary.

�Is it?� Tyler cut off a piece, deciding to try it for himself. �You�re right, it is,� he agreed. �You guys sure you don�t want to try it?�

�Nope.� Hilary wrinkled her nose. �That�s, like, a zillion calories right there.�

�And the raspberries probably aren�t organic,� Tom added, declining.

�Your loss,� Kate laughed, as the partners set about making short work of the slice.

�Whoops.� Tyler laughed as their forks collided over the last bite. �Go ahead, you take it.�

�No, you take it,� Kate objected.

�No, seriously, take it!� he insisted.

�No, I...� The partners� eyes met, and they grinned at each other. �Here.� Kate cut the remaining chunk in half and held one of the halves out on Tyler�s fork. �C�mon, open up!�

Tyler laughed and obediently ate the piece Kate fed him. Hilary and Tom were oblivious to the entire exchange, having apparently found yet another inexhaustible subject to discuss... hockey.

�...and from the beginning, I said that the Leafs would make it to the final four and then lose,� Tom was explaining. �I mean, against the Sabres, they�re clearly inferior.�

�Uh uh, no way, Leafs in seven,� Hilary contradicted, shaking her head so her dangly earrings shook. �Cujo all the way. I�m telling you...�

�But Dominik Hasek is just so far above him,� Tom insisted. �When it comes to real goaltending skill, I have to say that...�

But he was interrupted by an excited squeal from Hilary.

�Oh, my God, they�re playing RICKY MARTIN!� she gushed, as the strains of Livin� La Vida Loca filled the club. �He is so hot!�

�Definitely,� Kate chimed in, glad to have something she could agree on.

�C�mon, guys, we have to dance!� Hilary drained her carrot juice and leapt up. �Tyler, let�s go!�

Tyler flashed his partner a desperate �Save me, quick!� look.

�Uh, we just ate,� Kate hesitated, looking at the now empty cheesecake plate. �You know, maybe we shouldn�t...�

�Oh, c�mon!� Hilary�s eyes fell on Kate�s date. �Hey, Tom, what about you? Wanna dance? You won�t mind, will you, Kaytlin?�

�Oh, no, go right ahead,� Kate encouraged, a little too eagerly.

*****

As Hilary dragged Tom onto the dance floor, the partners watched them until they were out of earshot.

�Thank God!� Kate exclaimed the second she was sure she and Tyler were alone. �Geez, I don�t think I�ve ever been this bored in my life!�

Her partner banged his head on the table with a thunk. �Remind me to murder Mark tomorrow,� he groaned. �If I get out of this alive, that is.�

Kate glanced furtively over her shoulder to make sure their dates were still busy dancing, then leaned across the booth towards Tyler.

�How do we get out of here?� she hissed.

�What do you mean?� he asked, confused.

�This is obviously not working out for either of us,� Kate replied. �So we need a plan to get out of here, and as fast as possible, too! I don�t think I can stand anymore of this sitting around, smiling and nodding while Tom goes on for years about who knows what!�

�If I hear another �like, you know�, I�m gonna have to throttle Hilary,� her partner agreed. �Okay, so what do we do?�

�I don�t know.� The partners sat silently for a minute, thinking. Suddenly, Kate snapped her fingers. �I�ve got it!�

�What?� Tyler asked eagerly. �Anything that�ll get us out of here!�

�Do you have your cell phone with you?� she asked.

�Yeah, why?� he answered, baffled.

�Okay, when they come back, I�ll say I have to go to the bathroom or whatever and disappear for awhile,� Kate explained. �I�ll go to a pay phone and call your cell, and when it rings, pick it up and pretend I�m Viktoria.�

�I think I can guess where you�re heading here.� Tyler nodded understandingly. �So she�s gonna say she needs us for a last-minute emergency practice of some sort...�

�... and whoa, lucky coincidence, we�re both here, so you tell her she doesn�t have to call me...� Kate continued, a mischevious glint in her eye.

�And we tell �em we�re really sorry, but that�s what skating�s like, and we have to leave,� Tyler finished. �Am I missing anything?�

�Nope, you�ve got it just right.� Kate sat back and polished off the remainder of her drink.

�But... isn�t it kind of mean?� Tyler wondered doubtfully.

�No meaner than they were for practically ignoring us the entire night.� Kate looked over at the dance floor and made a face. �Besides, I think our dates have hit it off quite nicely. They�ll enjoy each other�s company more than they�ll enjoy ours, and vice versa.�

�Okay,� Tyler decided. �Let�s do it.�

�Shh!� Kate motioned for him to be quiet and tilted her head to where Hilary and Tom were making their way back to the booth. �Have fun?� she asked them sweetly.

�Yeah, totally!� Hilary motioned to the waitress. �Another carrot juice, please... and make this one with ginseng, �kay?�

Kate stood up and slid out of the booth. �I�ll be right back... just need to use the restroom for a minute.�

Tyler sipped at his lukewarm coffee as the other two chattered incessantly about their latest web accounts. Three minutes later, a telephone ring interrupted the conversation. Both Hilary and Tom reached into their jackets for their phones.

�Uh, I think it�s mine,� Tyler informed them, grabbing his cell phone from his jacket pocket. �Hello... Viktoria? Is there something... What? Costume fitting? Uh huh... But does it have to be now? We�re kind of busy right... She�s leaving tomorrow morning? So that means... Uh huh... Yeah... okay. You don�t have to call Kate, she happens to be here as well... Yeah, long story. So we�ll be there in fifteen minutes, okay?... Okay. Bye.�

�You have to be somewhere in fifteen minutes?� Hilary asked as he got off the phone.

�Yeah... I�m really sorry, but that was our coach,� he told her, trying to look disappointed. �We�ve got to do a last-minute costume alteration... our designer is leaving for L.A. tomorrow morning and there�s no other time she can do it before our next competition. I�m so sorry about this...�

�Sorry about what?� Kate asked innocently, appearing at the booth once again.

�Viktoria called,� he informed her, trying to keep a straight face. �We�ve gotta be at Leslie�s to fix the costumes in fifteen minutes.�

�Now?� she asked in surprise. �Can�t it wait �til tomorrow?�

�Leslie�s got to fly back to L.A. tomorrow... she�s on deadline,� he ad-libbed.

�I guess we�ve gotta go, then.� Kate looked suitably apologetic. �Tom, I�m really sorry, but that�s skating.� She sighed. �It�s a 24 hour job.�

�That�s all right.� Tom stood up and got his jacket. �I�ll give you a ride...�

�Oh, no, you guys stay,� Tyler objected. �I can give Kate a ride, since we�re going to the same place anyhow. But Hilary...�

�Don�t worry about me.� Hilary waved a hand to dismiss his concern. �Tom will give me a ride home! Right, Tom?�

�Yeah, sure,� he replied, unfazed.

�Okay, then... I guess we should be going.� Kate leaned over and gave Tom a peck on the cheek. �Thanks, it was fun... I�ll call you sometime, okay?�

�Sure.� Tom smiled at her as Hilary gave Tyler a hug and said goodnight. The partners waved goodbye and exited the cafe.

*****

�How much do you wanna bet those two see each other again after this?� Kate asked the second they were out the door.

Tyler shook his head, laughing. �Good money. God, am I glad to be out of that! Never again. Never again will I let a friend set me up.�

�And never again will I accept a date with a cute guy I meet at the golf course,� Kate declared, sliding into the passenger seat of Tyler�s car.

�Kate, is that how you met him?!� Tyler exclaimed. �C�mon, really!�

�Really,� she confirmed sheepishly. Seeing her partner�s look, she tried to defend herself. �He seemed smart, and nice... and he was cute!�

Tyler just laughed at her. Laughing and teasing all the way, they drove back to her apartment, where he walked her to the door.

�Well, I guess this is goodnight,� she said lightly as they stood outside her door.

�I guess so... goodnight, Kate.� He didn�t receive a response. Instead, she stood there just looking at him, until he looked back curiously. �What are you thinking?�

�Oh, nothing important,� she replied. �I was just thinking, since the date didn�t exactly work out, I guess I have an extra goodnight kiss to put in storage...� She took a step closer to him and looked him right in the eyes. �Unless, of course, you want it... do you?�

Caught under her unfaltering gaze, he could do nothing but nod. She leaned up, and gently, very gently, brushed her lips against his. He just stared at her for a long, silent minute before drawing her into his arms and responding to her soft kiss with one that left them both dizzy.

�Goodnight, Tyler,� she whispered, slowly disentangling herself from his grasp.

�Sweet dreams, honey,� he whispered back, still dazed. �See you tomorrow?�

�Yeah,� she murmured. �Tomorrow.�

Hm, Tyler thought to himself, waltzing on air as he made his way back to his car. Maybe some first dates weren�t so bad, after all.

Well, thought Kate, smiling to herself as she stood in her doorway, watching him go. I guess some blind dates end up less blind than we'd think.


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