Check in with Paul

You go to your class, then another. When that one finishes you look at your watch. You've got a couple more hours to kill before the big date, so you pull out your cell phone while walking back to the dorm.

“Hey Paul, what are you up to?”

“Nothing,” says Paul, breathing hard.

“You weren't jerking it while thinking about my girl Tina, were you?”

“Of course not!” lies Paul badly. “No, no, she's not... I don't even like redheads.”

“Uh huh, sure.” You hold back a laugh. “Hey, did you record that basketball game last night?”

“Sure did. Come on over and we'll watch it. Oh, and I noticed you missed trig class the other day. I've got some really detailed notes and I'll give them to you when you get here.”

You turn a corner and see your dorm. “Thanks Paul, I know you don't usually take notes, so I appreciate it.” All in all, Paul's a decent friend.

“Oh, I didn't take them. You know Rebecca, the lava-hot blonde girl with the glasses? Well, since you weren't there that day I took your seat next to her. I got the notes from her. AND I got her phone number, too.”

He's a decent friend except for when he snakes the girl he knows you've been working on for a month. A smile pushes your lips apart as you remember that you can do something about that now. You enter the dorm and head up the stairs.

“That's great, Paul. Hey, I've got an idea. I'm going on a date with Tina tonight. Why don't you call Rebecca and we'll double date?”

“Oh,” says Paul. “So... Tina would be there?”

“All night,” you say. “Not that you'd notice. Won't you be staring at gorgeous Rebecca?”

“Yeah, yeah, of course I will. But... I don't know if this is a good idea.”

You knock on Paul's door. When he opens it you turn off your cell phone and say, “Do it anyway.”

Paul's face struggles for a moment, then he tries to act confident again. “Sure. Absolutely. Go ahead and start the recording of the basketball game, I'll call Rebecca.”