Dinner with Daphne and Nicole

Nicole lives in one of those apartment-style suites on campus, a cushy space for four complete with its own kitchen. Daphne’s busy putting together a quick marinade for three salmon steaks, while Nicole is rolling out the dough for some homemade pasta. You’re not much of a chef, which means that you’re on salad duty for tonight.

“How did you and Daphne meet?” you ask Nicole. “I thought you did high school back home, Daphne.”

“I did,” Daphne nods. “But I did an exchange program one summer during high school. Nicole’s family was my kind host for the time.”

“We loved having you,” Nicole smiles. “I still remember the shock on your face, the first time we took you to a restaurant.”

“The portion sizes, so big! No wonder all Americans are so large,” Daphne laughs.

“Not all Americans,” you say. “I seem to be in the company of two women who are in great shape.”

“Oh, we’ve got a sweet talker here,” Nicole says.

“That is the other thing,” Daphne says. “Everything is sugar coated here.”

“Whoa whoa whoa, slow down,” you say. “What’s wrong with having a nice, sweet dessert?”

“To start with, the main courses taste like dessert,” she says. “Then the desserts. There is such a thing as too sweet.”

Nicole looks at your skeptical expression and laughs.

“Same reaction I had, back in the day,” she says. “That’s why I’m not letting her anywhere near this cake in the oven.”

“Thank God,” you say.”It’s not an American apple pie unless it gives you diabetes.”

“That’s the spirit,” Nicole laughs, while Daphne shakes her head, silently mortified.

You continue to chat and cook for the next hour or so, until, at long last, the food is ready. Your stomach’s been grumbling since the end of the soccer match, and you can’t wait to dig into the meal in front of you.

“Wow, the two of you are damn good chefs,” you say, surveying the spread in front of you.

“Try it first before complimenting,” Nicole laughs. “Some wine, everyone?”

“Of course. Though I am surprised they let you keep that in the dorms here,” Daphne says.

“They don’t,” Nicole winks. “But what are they going to do? Check all of our cabinets daily? I’m legal, I popped out to the store earlier today to buy a bottle… so if we finish it off tonight, nobody will ever be the wiser.”

“Well then, you’d better fill up my glass,” you say. “Got to get rid of all the evidence.”

“That’s the spirit,” Nicole laughs.

Once everyone has their glasses filled, you dig into the food. The pasta is rich and creamy, the salmon perfectly seasoned and tender, while your salad is… a salad. It’s not bad. Just, nothing special. After clearing half your plate in the space of two minutes, you realize that you really need to slow your pace down with some conversation.

“Nicole, tell me about your photography,” you say, “It sounds cool—how’d you learn?”

“Oh, it’s more of a hobby than anything else,” she says. “I got really into it in high school after taking a class. I was pretty hardcore about it back then, doing everything old school in a darkroom. But I don’t really have the time for that these days, so it’s all digital.”

“What do you usually like to photograph?” you ask.

“All sorts of things, but these days, I like to do people,” she says. “Especially people that I know. I find it such a creative act, trying to capture someone’s essence in a single image. When you get it right, it’s such an amazing feeling. And then they get to keep it for the rest of their life.”

“Dang, you’re making me wish I knew how to take good photos,” you laugh, and she smiles.

“It’s all about being in the right place at the right time,” she says. Then looking down at the table: “Wow, we really cleared out those plates.”

“I was famished,” you say.

“It was good food all around,” Daphne says.

“And there’s more still to come,” Nicole says. “Ready for pie?”

Of course you are. A minute later, everyone’s digging into a hearty serving of apple pie, wine glasses refilled, and the conversation has turned to your hobbies.

“Seriously Alex?” Nicole says. “I feel like…” She pulls out her phone, quickly scrolling. “Yes, I knew it, I have your song in this playlist that I made over the summer… holy crap, that is so cool. Are you still working on something new?”

“I’ve been working on a few tracks,” you say. “But progress has been slow. I thought I’d have more time to get into my hobbies during college, but with heavy classes and all the social events going on… I’m busier than ever.”

“Not to mention training for your soccer team,” Daphne says.

“Of course, how could I forget,” you laugh, and the two of you share a look.

Nicole catches on, glancing quickly between the two of you.

“So Daphne, should I be reading anything into the fact that you brought Alex here today? I think I’m sensing something…” Nicole says, grinning cheekily.

Daphne puts her fork down and gives Nicole an unexpectedly stern look.

“He is a friend,” she says. “A good teammate.”

“Uh-huh,” Nicole says. “That’s why he’s the only one of your teammates here. All the other guys on the team. They’re horrible teammates.”

“That is not what I meant,” Daphne says.

“So… why is he here?” she asks.

Daphne gives you a look. It’s a fair question. Why are you here?

“Well, the team’s sort of split up to do their own things tonight. It’s like Daphne said… um… she’s a good friend, and a great captain,” you say. “So it’s natural that I chose to hang out with her.”

“Riiight,” Nicole says, clearly unconvinced. “Well, I’m going to use the bathroom. When I get back, there’d better not be any hanky-panky going on. But I’ll be a few minutes… um… feminine stuff to take care of, y’know, so if you need to get it out of your system… no excuses when I get back.”

With that, she leaves the table, looking all too smug. Daphne glances at you once Nicole is gone.

“So… why did you decide to join us tonight?” she asks.

Daphne +10