Perfect Mate

On a brisk November day at Cocker University, a small Midwestern college in Ohio, Steve DeLane is eating dinner in the Lincoln Dining Commons with friends. As he leaves the table for a salad, Teri, a high school friend, remarks, “Haven’t you have enough to eat yet? You already have two helpings of tacos and refried black beans.” He ignores her and continues walking.

At the salad bar, he sees a beautiful, blonde sorority girl, Debbie Contray, on the other side. He thought to himself, ” Wow! What a beautiful girl that is. I wish I could have a date with her. That would make my year. If I ask her for a date, she may go out with me. Never hurts to ask her. She only could say no.”

As Steve approaches her, he starts to sweat profusely. When he was next to her, he taps her on her shoulder. She turns around and stares at him. Then he ask her, "Excuse me Miss?. ”

She turns around ask,"Am I in your way?”

Steve freeze for a moment. Steve replies, “Yes, you are. I can wait. I just need to get my favorite salad dressing is right there.”

She responds, “Oh, I’m sorry but I can’t decide what kind of dressing that I’m going to put on my salad. I can’t decide between Ranch and Italian dressing. Which one do you prefer?”

Steve answers, “I prefer Italian. What is your name?”

She responds, “My name is Debbie. It’s interesting that you like Italian because most guys eat Ranch because it makes them feel macho. I have two questions for you. What is your name because I didn’t quite catch it? And why do you like Italian?”

He answers, “My name is Steve Delane. I prefer Italian because I don't like taste of Ranch. I also am part Italian and my grandmother put it in her salad when I was growing up. You are very beautiful. What are you doing Friday night?".

Debbie replies, ” Thank you for compliment. I don’t know yet. Let me jot down my number on this napkin and call me on Thursday night after nine.” She hands him the napkin with herphone number on it. After that they both leave the salad bar.

Debbie returns to her table filled with her sorority sisters of Phi Beta Gamma. “Hey Deb, who was that guy at the salad bar?” asks Jess.

Debbie responds, ” His name is Steve. I think he is cute. He also asked me out on a date for Friday night but I told him to call me on Thursday for my answer.”

Jenn, her roommate, remarks, “Nice call! Are you going to go out with him?”

Debbie replies, ” Of course, I just wanted to find out how much he wants me. If he calls me, he really wants me bad. If he doesn’t call me back, he probably found someone else.”

Jess remarks, “Good Idea! What is the next course of action for you?”

Debbie replies, “I’ll just wait and see if he calls Thursday night.” She smiles and begins to laugh. They remain at the table for another ten minutes.

Steve returns to the table after being at the salad bar. He comes back with a grin on his face. Jeff, his roommate, says to Steve, “What is with that grin?” Steve remains silent. Jeff repeats the question.

Steve replies, “I got a date with a sorority bimbo.”

With a surprised look on his face, Jeff asks, “You’ve what?”

Steve repeats “I got a date with a sorority girl named Debbie for Friday night. All that I have to do is call her Thursday night.”

Jeff remarks, “How do know that she wants to go out with you? She might refused to go out with you Friday night when you call her on Thursday.”

Steve responds, “First, she wants me badly. Second, the ploy that she wants me to call her on Thursday was her way to check if I wanted her as much as she wants me.”

Teri comments, “So what’s the big deal, you’ve dated so many bimbos like her. Why do you want to date another one?”

Steve responds, ” I know that everyone here thinks that I’m going for another notch on my belt. That is correct but I consider this one my crown jewel because I might get two bimbos for the price of one.”

Jeff replies, “I know what you mean. You figure that she thinks that you are too much to handle. You go out with her and after a dinner and several other things, both of you return to her room. During your time there, one of her sorority sisters enters the room to help her with you.”

Steve remarks, “That’s correct Sherlock!! I am too smart for these sorority girls. This will give me a great story to take back home.” Steve and friends continue to converse for several minutes at the table and then they leave.

Wednesday afternoon, Steve is studying in library when he decides to take a break. Steve thinks to himself, “Tomorrow, I will call Debbie. I hope that she is not like every girl that I dated. Although I dated so many girls in my life, I can’t find the one I want to get close too. Some of them wanted me for my looks and other wanted for my money. I want a girl to love me for me. I am changing my approach with her. I will act to be myself and try to take it slow. I will also keep my wealth out of the conversations until I know who she is.” He finishes his work and leaves the library.

Thursday night, Steve calls Debbie. He asks her, “Will you go out with me tomorrow night?”

She replies, “Yes, I will.”

He asks her, “Why did you need these couple days to answer?”

She responds, “Steve, I had a bad experience during the summer and I was thinking about it. I am over it now since I learned that you must look forward not back.”

He replies back, “What happened?”

She responds, “It’s a long story. I’ll tell it to you tomorrow.” They continue to talk for another hour.

Friday night, Debbie is listening to the radio while waiting for Steve. The phone rings. She answers the phone. She asks, “Who is it?”

The voice on phone replies, “Debbie, it’s me, Steve. I’m down in lobby in dorm complex. Can I come to your room or must I wait in lobby for you to escort me there?”

Debbie replies, “Steve, just wait there. I’ll coming down now. From there, we can go to dinner.”

Steve replies, “Okay, I’ll see you then.” He hangs up the phone. Debbie hangs her phone up. She turns the radio and lights off. She leaves the room and locks the door. While waiting for her, Steve gazes out the lobby window admiring the peaceful night. Debbie enters the lobby and says, “Hi! Steve.“.

Startled, Steve replies, “Hi Debbie! you look beautiful tonight. Where do you want to go for dinner?”

Debbie replies, “Thanks for compliment. Several friends of mine recommended a small Italian restaurant at the end of street across from campus”

Steve says, “That’s a good choice. I heard some reviews about it from classmates also. Any food is better than commons food.” She laughs. They left the lobby of the dorm.

While walking towards a restaurant, Debbie gazes at window display at store window depicting a warm spring break. It reminds of her summer shore trip. Steve asks her, “Are you okay? You’ve gazing at that window for a while now.”

Debbie replies, “I’m okay. The window just brings back a bad memory.”

Steve says, “Can you tell why it is a bad memory?”

Debbie responds, “I’ll tell you after dinner. If I tell you now, I might not feel like eating.” Steve just nods his head. They went into the restaurant.

Inside the restaurant, they ask for a table for two. At the table, Steve pushes Debbie’s chair in. He sits down. Debbie remarks, “What manner you have! Chivalry isn’t dead. You’re such a gentlemen.” Steve remains silent and blushes. Debbie says, “You’re so quiet. You barely talked to me on the way to the restaurant. Are you shy?”

Steve replies, “I’m a little shy around girls.” She looks at with grin. He says, “What’s with that look?”

She replies, “I thought that you were more open because you approached me so calmly at the dining commons. Why are you so quiet because you are so mannerly and handsome?”

He responds, “I’ve been through too many bad relationships that I am afraid to ask girls out. I’m taking this one slow because I just don’t want to lose another one.”

She comments, “That’s amazing. That happened to me too. I can understand why you want to start off slow. Where are you from?”

He replies, “I’m from a small town in Eastern PA. Where are you from?”

She responds, “I’m from North Carolina. I’m biology major. What is your major?”

He responds, “I’m an English major. I want to be a journalist someday. What are your expectations?”

She replies, “I want to go to medical school and become a doctor.” At that point, their meals arrive. While they are eating, they continue to talk.

After dinner at a park on campus, Steve asks Debbie, “Is that bad memory the same bad experience you told me about last night?” Debbie remains silent. He says to her, “Just tell it to me. I just sit here and listen to you. I am good listener. Are you going tell me or not?”

Debbie responds, “Okay, I will. I am telling because I want this thing to pass. My roommate Jenn told me to tell you to begin our relationship on solid ground. While on vacation down at the shore with friends, I met this wonderful guy. We met on the second night at a party at a beach house. From that night, we spent the entire time to together. On the last day, he said that he was going back to college in Massachusetts. He gave me all the information in order to contact him. The next week, I wrote him a letter. Before I left for school, I received a letter from him. In his letter, he said that he found someone else at home. He also said that I was just a recollection from his trip. He also said that he didn’t want me to write to him anymore. I cried that night. During this semester, my mind hasn’t been here. When you asked me out, I was unsure what to reply. I am so afraid that I am going to get hurt again.” She paused for moment.

Steve asks,” Why did you choose to go out with me? Is it a sorority thing?” He thought for a moment, “I hope it is not a sorority stunt.”

She replies, “It is nothing to do with my sorority. All the frat guys I know are drunks, jerks, or both. Jenn convinced me that in love, a person must take risks to enjoy it. I will never know if next guy I meet will be my perfect mate. I want to give you this chance. Are you willing to give me a chance?”

He replies, “I would love to give you that chance. Unlike frat boys and summer girl, I do not sleep with every girl I meet. I have too many short term relationships that I wish that would have lasted longer. I want this relationship to grow into a long term relationship. You never know that we might get married and grow old together.”

She responds, “I like your idea on love. I think that if we take one day at a time, we might last forever.”

He remarks, “That is no problem for me because you are too beautiful and special to let get away.” They continue to talk throughout the night.

Saturday afternoon, Steve is shooting basketball with Jeff. Jeff asks Steve, “How did your date go last night?”

Steve replies, “It was one special night because I found my one true love.”

Jeff responds, “Explain to me. I knew you for years. You had several girlfriends in the past. Why is this one so special? Don’t give me that she is beautiful stuff.”

Steve says, “What do you mean beautiful stuff?”

Jeff replies, “Every girl that I met which you dated is beautiful to you. In the end, you dumped her. What makes her different than the rest? “.

Steve replies, “It is a chemistry thing with this one. Debbie had a spark that I connected. She showed me her vulnerable side that I understood. Most of my old girlfriends never showed me this. They wanted the gifts and the meals. Not one told me about herself. I never connected emotionally with one of old girlfriends. I also feel if this relationship fails, I learned something. I rather lose in love not to love at all.”

Jeff responds, “I hate when you quote song lyrics. If she is that special, when I am going to meet her?”

Steve replies, “Here she comes now with a friend of hers. Hi! Debbie.”

Debbie says back, “Hi! Steve.” Steve introduces Jeff to Debbie and her friend. Debbie introduces Jenn to Steve and Jeff. They start playing basketball. While playing basketball, Jenn remarks to Debbie, “Don’t let this get away.”

During course of the game, they stop the game when Debbie falls on the ground and Steve rushes to help her. He asks her, “Are you okay?” He gets on the ground beside and looks at her knee. She looks at him and nods her head yes. They started laughing.

On the other side of the court, Jeff sits on the bench and takes a sip of water. Jenn walks towards and he asks, “Do you want some water?”

She responds, “No, thank you. What do you think of them? I think there are so cute.” Jeff remains silent. Jenn continues, “You have no comment or reaction on our friends dating. Are you jealous?”

Jeff replies, “I’m not jealous. I am happy for them. They look good together. I know Steve long enough to see him to go through several girl friends. I hope this one last.”

Jenn nods her heads and says, “We can hope that they last. We as friend must support, be there for them, and stand back. Look they are getting ready to play again. We better join them.” Jeff nods head in agreement.

When the game ends, Jeff and Steve are walking back to the dorm. Jeff says to Steve,” You and Debbie are good together. Don’t be stupid and let her and let her walk away for you. If you need me, just call me."

Steve responds, “You’re my friend. I know that you are here for me even in my stupid and bad times. I do everything in my power in order to keep me and Debbie together. I am getting hungry. Do you grab some pizza instead of some dorm food?” Jeff nods his head in agreement. The two friends walk to a local pizza parlor for food.