More talking

“So, I think this is the point where I ask you to tell me more about yourself.” David had never found himself capable or willing to play the part of the smooth operator, opting instead to go for the much more effective antithesis of big, clumsy and charming.

“Well, I was born and raised in Peoria, had a pretty normal upbringing,” there was the briefest hint of hesitation from Amanda as she said that, barely noticeable but enough for David to pick up on. Still, either it was just his imagination or she would tell him about soon enough if Kathryn’s plan of getting them together, which might or might not actually exist outside of his suspicions, panned out.

“Got through High School relatively undamaged, went on to college where I met Kathryn, and Bryan.”

“And you studied…?”

“I studied American History, mostly, which meant that I ended up knowing way too much about early 19th century America. And then I ended up becoming an archivist, and haven’t had much of a social life ever since.”

“I didn’t think being an archivist would be so demanding?” David hoped that he would come across as curious rather than condescending.

“Yeah, well… I only got the job really because my predecessor had made such a mess of everything. It’s a fun job and the pay is more than enough for my tastes, but the last one and a half years I’ve spent living like a nun.”

“Obviously, you’ve had time for running at least.” David blurted out.

“Have you been checking me out?” Amanda cocked an eyebrow and raised the corners of her mouth a little into a smile which David hoped was meant to be a bit naughty.

“Uh… well…” David suddenly felt a bit flustered.

“But yes, I do enjoy a bit of running,” Amanda said, showing David some mercy by letting him off the hook, “its good therapy. But mainly, it’s that and hiking, reading and music that I’ve been able to enjoy ever since I moved to Chesterville, so when Kathryn called and told me that she had a friend who needed my professional help, and who was sort of cute and a bit quirky, I thought, you know, why not?”

“Cute?” Now it was David’s turn to cock an eyebrow and smile mischievously as Amanda adjusted her glasses and looked down at the table, her cheeks suddenly appearing to have a bit more colour about them. A few moments of silence followed.

“But what about you? From what I remember about dating,” Amanda stopped for a moment before continuing, “or this, I don’t think that I’m supposed to be doing all the talking.”

“Born in Minnesota, went to high school, joined up, got out, went to college, became a teacher and ended up here.”

“That was swift. At least I remembered to mention my hobbies.” Amanda smiled again.

“Apart from reading and writing, it’s listening to music mostly. And I have a passing interest in sports, although I was considered a bit weird while growing up because I never cared much about baseball.”

“And you’re a teacher. Do you like it? I mean, I’ve never managed to figure out whether or not it’d be a good thing to be a teacher in a small town like this.”

“Yeah, I like it so far. But you do get that sense every once in a while that some of the kids aren’t enjoying high school as much as they ought to be able to. Some girl still got a bad reputation for something that someone claimed happened years ago, or a boy is too fat and too awkward. You kind of want to help them out somehow and be supportive of them, but I haven’t figured out how to do that yet without coming across as overbearing or as a busybody.”

“But anyway,” David looked up towards the street outside, “it looks like the other guests are starting to arrive.”