Tina.
“Yep,” said Jaden.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, extending her hand out to him.
“Likewise,” he said, reciprocating the gesture.
“They still haven’t replaced the light bulb yet, I see,” said Tina, looking at the light fixture on the ceiling as she plunked onto her bed.
“Have you been waiting on a replacement bulb for long?” Jaden asked.
“A couple of days now,” Melanie told him.
“I’ll go get one from the front desk and replace the burnt one,” he offered.
“You might want to wait a few minutes before going down,” Tina suggested. “When I walked into the lobby area there was a notice on the desk saying that the desk clerk would be back in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
“So, how’d it go today?” she asked Melanie.
“Oh, it was a lot of fun. It was nice to be out there in the peace and quiet, away from city life. It was tranquil, serene; so very peaceful.” Melanie then pulled a cassette out of her nightstand drawer. “While raking leaves Jaden and I found a tape out there somebody must have dropped. It still works, believe it or not.”
“You actually brought that back with you?” Jaden asked, staring at the ancient technology.
“Yep, I did.”
“And it really does work?” he asked, wondering why she had even brought it back in the first place.
“Yep! Not sure who the artist is because the cassette is all faded but other than that, it works just fine. I was curious so I tried playing it as soon as I got in.”
Jaden was still in disbelief. “And you actually still have a cassette deck?”
“Yes, I do,” she said, as though oblivious to the age of CDs. Then she pointed to the small dual-deck player that sat atop the corner of her desk.
“Wow!” Jaden couldn’t help but be amazed. The last time he had seen one of those, he was still a child.
“Sounds like you had yourselves quite a bit of fun,” said Tina.
“Yeah, we did,” he said, smiling. “I wouldn’t mind going out there again, preferably when it’s a bit warmer though.”
“I should get ready. Todd’s expecting me,” Tina said, getting up.
“Where are you guys going?” Melanie asked.
“Not sure yet, probably go see a movie. I really don’t feel like going out, though. I’d prefer if we just got some videos. There’s a video rental store right down the street from his apartment.”
“So are you guys officially dating now or is it still ‘or something’?” Melanie asked.
“I think we still fall into the “or something” category; which neither one of us has figured out yet.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you two been in this “or something” status?” Jaden asked.
“For a few months now,” she said.
“Is either one of you seeing anyone else?”
“No.”
“Sounds like exclusive dating to me then,” he said.
“I suppose. I just wish we could talk about it and make it official.” She sighed. “But I don’t want to raise the subject and possibly end up messing things up.”
“Then perhaps it would be best if left unaddressed,” he suggested. “Provided that neither of you is carrying on in a manner the other would disapprove of, rather you’re sharing in activities that bring you closer, though undefined by your own subjective definition, I’d say yours is a safe relationship. Wouldn’t you think?”
“Do you charge by the hour?” Tina asked jokingly. “Are you… like… a couples’ counselor?” Tina continued. “I mean, it makes sense. It’s just that when I woke up this morning and walked out the door, I never thought I’d be coming back to quasi counseling. But you’re right. Why not let sleeping dogs lie, right? Forgive me for not being as eloquent but I agree with you. Melanie, this one’s definitely a keeper,” she teased.
“I definitely didn’t think of it that way either. Are you majoring in some kind of counseling or psychology?” Melanie asked.
“Nah. I suppose it’s all the books I read,” he said,
“Yep,” said Jaden.
“Nice to meet you,” she said, extending her hand out to him.
“Likewise,” he said, reciprocating the gesture.
“They still haven’t replaced the light bulb yet, I see,” said Tina, looking at the light fixture on the ceiling as she plunked onto her bed.
“Have you been waiting on a replacement bulb for long?” Jaden asked.
“A couple of days now,” Melanie told him.
“I’ll go get one from the front desk and replace the burnt one,” he offered.
“You might want to wait a few minutes before going down,” Tina suggested. “When I walked into the lobby area there was a notice on the desk saying that the desk clerk would be back in five minutes.”
“Okay.”
“So, how’d it go today?” she asked Melanie.
“Oh, it was a lot of fun. It was nice to be out there in the peace and quiet, away from city life. It was tranquil, serene; so very peaceful.” Melanie then pulled a cassette out of her nightstand drawer. “While raking leaves Jaden and I found a tape out there somebody must have dropped. It still works, believe it or not.”
“You actually brought that back with you?” Jaden asked, staring at the ancient technology.
“Yep, I did.”
“And it really does work?” he asked, wondering why she had even brought it back in the first place.
“Yep! Not sure who the artist is because the cassette is all faded but other than that, it works just fine. I was curious so I tried playing it as soon as I got in.”
Jaden was still in disbelief. “And you actually still have a cassette deck?”
“Yes, I do,” she said, as though oblivious to the age of CDs. Then she pointed to the small dual-deck player that sat atop the corner of her desk.
“Wow!” Jaden couldn’t help but be amazed. The last time he had seen one of those, he was still a child.
“Sounds like you had yourselves quite a bit of fun,” said Tina.
“Yeah, we did,” he said, smiling. “I wouldn’t mind going out there again, preferably when it’s a bit warmer though.”
“I should get ready. Todd’s expecting me,” Tina said, getting up.
“Where are you guys going?” Melanie asked.
“Not sure yet, probably go see a movie. I really don’t feel like going out, though. I’d prefer if we just got some videos. There’s a video rental store right down the street from his apartment.”
“So are you guys officially dating now or is it still ‘or something’?” Melanie asked.
“I think we still fall into the “or something” category; which neither one of us has figured out yet.”
“If you don’t mind my asking, how long have you two been in this “or something” status?” Jaden asked.
“For a few months now,” she said.
“Is either one of you seeing anyone else?”
“No.”
“Sounds like exclusive dating to me then,” he said.
“I suppose. I just wish we could talk about it and make it official.” She sighed. “But I don’t want to raise the subject and possibly end up messing things up.”
“Then perhaps it would be best if left unaddressed,” he suggested. “Provided that neither of you is carrying on in a manner the other would disapprove of, rather you’re sharing in activities that bring you closer, though undefined by your own subjective definition, I’d say yours is a safe relationship. Wouldn’t you think?”
“Do you charge by the hour?” Tina asked jokingly. “Are you… like… a couples’ counselor?” Tina continued. “I mean, it makes sense. It’s just that when I woke up this morning and walked out the door, I never thought I’d be coming back to quasi counseling. But you’re right. Why not let sleeping dogs lie, right? Forgive me for not being as eloquent but I agree with you. Melanie, this one’s definitely a keeper,” she teased.
“I definitely didn’t think of it that way either. Are you majoring in some kind of counseling or psychology?” Melanie asked.
“Nah. I suppose it’s all the books I read,” he said,
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