“Rachel where have you been?” I’m sitting in my chair with a book in hand and unsure of why someone is asking me that when it seems that I have been here for hours.

“Well, right here.”

“Thanks. That’s not obvious. I feel like I haven’t seen you for days though. What’s been going on?” Gen does look genuinely interested.

“Nothing really.” I begin to put my book down and shrug off the question. “What about with you?”

“No way. Your not getting out like that. I have to hear from someone else that a certain someone made you dinner.”

“Oh that? Honestly nothing serious. I wouldn’t consider it anything.”

“Well that’s depressing. Why are you even wasting your time with it?”

“I don’t think it’s wasting my time.” I don’t. I enjoy the time we spend together but if everything is going to be summed up to how it all looks, it looks like we are interested in one another but all this kid tells me is how he doesn’t like me or want to date me. How can I tell Gen that? That will just prove her point that I’m wasting my time. Maybe I am. That’s for me to realize though.

“Okay, well if your not wasting you time, then. I don’t know that’s your opinion of things. If you don’t think you are then what am I to say differently. Just remember to keep your options open and don’t be closed off to someone.”

Yeah, that’s easier said than done.