1 Empty Romance

Start writing I'm a 29-year-old Danish American, with sandy blonde hair and red highlights. I'm 5′5, and while I don't think I'm ugly, I'm definitely not the prettiest person around. For some reason, I seem to attract the weirdest guys, even though I'm not trying to! The last date I was on ended embarrassingly, and I made a complete fool out of myself. Let's just say it didn't end on a high note.

It was a pleasant surprise when I met Richard in a dating chat room. We seemed to get along very well and had a lot in common. We talked a lot on the phone and texted each other for two weeks before we decided to meet in person. I thought it was a great start and was looking forward to meeting him.

"Hi, Richard," I said, waving to him. "Wow, you are beautiful. I'm glad we've been talking," Richard told me, looking happy. "Me too," I said, laughing a little. "So, are you looking for a friendship or something more?" he asked me. "I'm looking for a friendship that will develop into a relationship and grow into something meaningful," I replied, a little taken aback when Richard gave me a strange look. "I'm sorry, but from our conversation, I got the impression that you were looking for a weekend fling or friends with benefits," he said, while I just stood there in disbelief. "Wait a minute, I wasn't trying to give you that impression! We were just flirting back and forth. I never said I wanted a fling or friends with benefits, and you already have a girlfriend? Why didn't you tell me you were in a relationship?" I asked him, feeling a bit indignant. "Because you didn't ask me," he replied, leaving me in stunned silence. Richard was making it seem like it was my fault for not knowing he was in a relationship, and that I should've asked him about it.

I was so incensed by Richard's response that I had no desire to stay in the park any longer. I felt incredibly embarrassed and foolish, so I quickly said goodbye to him and that he shouldn't call me again before I made my way back to the car. I drove to Cafe House in Lone Creek where my best friend Sophia worked, attempting to drown my sorrows in a milkshake. I couldn't believe that I had been so foolish to think that Richard would give me the response I was hoping for.

Sophia is a 28-year-old American-born country girl with short feathery hair and a friendly, no-nonsense attitude. Standing at 5′6", Sophia is not single, nor is she looking, but she doesn't mind sharing her honest opinion when asked. She is a person who speaks her mind and is always polite when doing so.

When I walked into the cafe, Sophia kindly looked over at me and could tell from my expression that something was wrong. I sat down at the counter and put my head in my hands. Gently, Sophia asked me, "Was the date with Richard not what you were hoping for?" I sighed and shook my head. "No, it didn't go as planned. He thought that I was looking for a casual relationship rather than something more serious." taking a deep breath.

Sophia poured me a glass of sweet iced tea as I told her about my experience with the guy I was interested in. "To make matters worse," I said, "He told me he had a girlfriend and I should've asked him before we met." I felt embarrassed and foolish for putting myself out there and sighed as I looked out the window. "Beth, stop being so hard on yourself," Sophia said, laughing. "It happens! I've done it many times too. Cheer up, you'll find someone or someone will find you!" Despite her assurance, I couldn't help but feel a little disapproving of the situation.

I decided to stay at the cafe for the next two hours until Sophia finished her shift. After that, we headed over to where Josh was so that we could meet up with Nikki, Jamie, and Alex to hang out.

They were at the Old Ranch & Grain Feed Mill, which is three miles outside of town and closed last year. This place had become a popular spot for anyone looking to enjoy the tranquility of the river and the peaceful atmosphere, and some even came to find romance. People just loved to hang out here and take in the sights. It was a wonderful spot to relax and take a break from the hustle and bustle of life.

Josh is a 27-year-old African American man with short brown hair and standing 5'6 inches tall. Despite his occasional tendency to be a drama queen, Josh is a genuinely sweet and caring person, who loves to cuddle. He is a real teddy bear at heart!

Nikki is an engaging and friendly 28-year-old woman from Puerto Rico with long reddish-brown hair and a bubbly personality. Standing at 5′4", she is a talkative sweetheart who can easily captivate you with her conversation if you let her.

When Sophia and I arrived, we saw Josh standing by the river's edge, skipping rocks into the water and talking to Nikki, Jamie, and Alex. I greeted them cheerfully, saying, "Hey, you troublemakers!" They all turned to us, and Nikki jokingly replied, "Someone's date didn't go too well. If it did, she wouldn't be here. Cough Heather! Cough, Heather!" I chuckled, then replied in good humor, "Says the person who is in the same boat as I am. Single, looking, and striking out."

I was saying to Nikki, "Let's not forget that our friends can help. We know a lot of people, after all." At that point, Josh, Sophia, and Jamie all laughed. Josh then said, "You two know that I'm right." He then proceeded to skip some rocks into the river. Nikki seemed taken aback, and responded, "Josh, really? You know someone?" I was quite surprised that Nikki had made such a comment, considering Josh's orientation. Josh stopped what he was doing and turned to look at Nikki. "Just because I'm not straight doesn't mean I don't have any heterosexual male friends," he explained warmly and politely. We all stood there looking puzzled and amazed at Josh's statement.

Josh and I were standing by the river with an open field across it when Jamie suddenly said, "Josh, we've seen some of the guys you hang around with, and they are way out there." They all laughed as Josh replied, "All right, you jokers. Heather, I have a single friend, and from the way he has been talking, it sounds like he is looking for a girlfriend. I might be wrong, but who knows." I looked over at Josh and smiled, feeling a little daring. "Okay, set me up with your friend. What do I have to lose besides my self-respect?" I asked. Sophia then joked, "Girl, you lost your self-respect hanging out with us a long time." We all laughed, and I felt like I had made a big decision.

Smiling, I asked Josh, "Any ideas on when we should meet after you set things up?" Josh replied, "I will talk to my friend tonight and ask him to meet up at the Stone Shack in Clear Field tomorrow night. Don't worry, this guy is a party animal; he will show up." I nodded my head in agreement, and Jamie then asked, "So, what name should Josh use to tell his friend about you? You go by two different names, Heather and Beth. The last thing Josh wants to do is confuse the guy." I replied in a polite and friendly tone, "Call me by my first name, Heather before you start wondering why. My mother decided to give me my great-grandmother's first name as a middle name to keep her memory alive." Josh nodded and said "Cool," before going back to skipping rocks in the river.

Nikki walked over to Sophia, who was sitting on a rock and sat down beside her with a sad expression. Sophia noticed and gave Nikki a little nudge. She smiled warmly and said, "This isn't a sad zone, so let's cheer up." Nikki looked up at Sophia with a soft smile, and Sophia could tell what Nikki was thinking. She reached out and patted Nikki's shoulder reassuringly. "I know what's going through your mind, but I promise I'll ask my friend to meet us at Stone Shack tomorrow night. That'll be fun, right?" Sophia smiled gently at Nikki to show her she could be trusted.

We had a lovely time together for the next two hours, laughing and talking away. The setting of the old Ranch Grain & Feed Mill by Cotton Creek River made for an exceptionally beautiful late summer evening, and we all really enjoyed the time spent in each other's company.

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