Chapter 10: The Date That Wasn’t

The sun filtered through the curtains of Max's dorm room the next morning, illuminating the chaos of clothing and textbooks scattered across the floor. Max lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, his mind racing with thoughts of last night's speed dating event. The laughter, the terrible food, and the unexpected thrill of it all had been overwhelming.

But what stood out the most was the conversation Jamie had sprung on him. A date? With someone he barely knew? It sounded ridiculous, but deep down, a small part of him was intrigued. Maybe this whole college experience was about stepping out of his comfort zone. Just as he was about to drift back to sleep, his phone buzzed on the nightstand.

He groaned and rolled over to check it. Jamie had sent him a message: "Don't forget about the date! I'm setting you up with Sophie from the speed dating event! Meet her at the campus café at 5 PM!"

Max stared at the message in disbelief. "I didn't agree to this!" he muttered, tossing his phone onto the bed. But deep down, he felt a twinge of curiosity. Sophie had seemed nice enough during their brief encounter, but what if she was a total disaster?

He sat up, rubbed his eyes, and tried to shake off the dread settling in his stomach. "Alright, Max. Just think of it as a casual hangout. Nothing serious," he told himself. "It's not like you're signing a lifetime contract or anything."

The hours dragged on, each minute feeling longer than the last. He kept checking the clock, his mind racing with all the possible outcomes of the evening. Would he embarrass himself? Would they even have anything to talk about? The anxiety was palpable, and it only intensified as 5 PM approached.

Finally, he decided he couldn't put it off any longer. He threw on a decent shirt, ran a hand through his hair, and took a deep breath before stepping out of his room. As he walked to the café, he mentally prepared himself for the worst-case scenario—crickets chirping, awkward silences, and perhaps even a dramatic exit.

When he arrived at the café, it was buzzing with students grabbing coffee and chatting excitedly. Max spotted Sophie sitting at a corner table, nervously fiddling with her phone. She looked cute, with curly hair and bright eyes that lit up when she noticed him.

"Hey, Max!" Sophie waved, a smile breaking across her face. "I'm so glad you could make it!"

"Uh, yeah. Me too!" Max replied, sliding into the chair opposite her. "Thanks for… uh, agreeing to meet?"

Sophie laughed, and Max felt a little more at ease. "Of course! I thought we could get to know each other better. So, what do you think of the speed dating event?"

"It was definitely an experience," Max said, trying to sound enthusiastic. "The food was… interesting."

Sophie chuckled. "Interesting is one way to put it! I've never had whipped cream and gummy bears on a taco before. Quite the combination!"

Max nodded, grateful for her light-heartedness. "Yeah, it's like they were trying to create culinary chaos. Maybe I should write a review for it."

"Please do! I'd love to read it," Sophie said, grinning. "So, what's your major?"

"Uh, I'm studying psychology," Max said, relaxing a little more. "I thought it might help me figure out why I keep ending up in these ridiculous situations."

Sophie raised an eyebrow playfully. "Oh? So, you're basically analyzing your life like a sitcom?"

"Exactly! I'm just waiting for the laugh track to kick in," Max replied, laughing along with her.

Their conversation flowed more easily as they exchanged stories about their families, childhood antics, and the occasional embarrassing moment from high school. Max found himself enjoying her company more than he expected, and the nervousness that had gnawed at him began to fade.

But just when he thought everything was going smoothly, the topic shifted to dating. Sophie leaned in, a mischievous smile on her face. "So, Max, what's your type? Do you like a girl who's adventurous, or do you prefer someone more… grounded?"

Max felt his stomach drop. "Well, um… I've never really thought about it too much. I guess I just like someone who can make me laugh?"

"Good answer! Humor is key!" Sophie replied, beaming. "I mean, what's the point of dating if you can't have fun together?"

"Exactly!" Max said, relieved they were still on the same page.

"And what about you? What do you look for in a guy?" he asked, curious about her perspective.

Sophie shrugged. "Honestly, I like someone who's confident and doesn't take themselves too seriously. Life's too short to be stuck up, right?"

Max nodded, feeling a sudden sense of camaraderie. "Totally! Like the time I tried to impress a girl with my cooking skills and nearly set my kitchen on fire. That was a fun evening!"

Sophie burst into laughter, the sound contagious. "What did you make? I hope it wasn't anything too fancy!"

"Just a simple pasta. I forgot to check the boiling water, and let's just say the pasta turned into a science experiment," Max admitted, his cheeks turning slightly pink with embarrassment.

As they shared their tales of culinary disasters, Max started to feel more at ease. They were just two people sharing stories, nothing more, nothing less.

Just as they were getting comfortable, the café door swung open, and in walked Jamie, a mischievous grin plastered across his face. He spotted Max and sauntered over.

"Hey, buddy! How's the date going? Are the sparks flying yet?" Jamie teased, waggling his eyebrows dramatically.

Max rolled his eyes, suppressing a laugh. "Not yet, but I'm sure you'll be the first to know if they do."

Sophie giggled, and Max felt a surge of confidence. "But I might have to call in a fire extinguisher for any potential disasters."

"Fire extinguisher?" Jamie echoed, feigning shock. "What kind of date is this? Should I be worried?"

Max shot him a glare. "Just a casual hangout, you know? No flames involved… yet."

"Good! I was worried we might have to change venues to the nearest fire department!" Jamie quipped, leaning against the table.

Sophie laughed again, her eyes twinkling with amusement. "At least I'd have a good story to tell if we had to make a quick escape!"

As the banter continued, Max felt a warmth spread in his chest. Maybe this wasn't so bad after all. He looked at Sophie, who seemed genuinely interested and easy to talk to. It was a refreshing change from his previous experiences.

But as the evening wore on, Max couldn't shake the feeling of uncertainty. Would this fun and lighthearted interaction lead anywhere? Or was he just setting himself up for another round of heartbreak?

They finished their coffees, and Sophie suggested they take a walk around campus. "It's such a nice evening! Plus, I could use some exercise after all that… mystery food," she joked, wrinkling her nose in mock distaste.

"Great idea! Just promise me you won't make me try any mystery smoothies!" Max replied, his heart lightening at the prospect of spending more time with her.

As they strolled around campus, the conversation flowed effortlessly. They shared silly stories about their high school experiences, their first crushes, and the quirks of their families. Max felt a genuine connection forming, and for the first time in a while, he started to believe that maybe this whole dating thing wasn't so terrifying after all.

But just when he thought things were looking up, they approached a group of students gathered outside the dormitory, laughing and chatting animatedly. Among them was a familiar face—Chloe, who seemed to be orchestrating some sort of event.

"Hey, you two!" Chloe called out, spotting them. "What's happening here? Is this a date I didn't know about?"

Max felt his face flush. "Uh, we're just hanging out!" he stammered, glancing at Sophie for support.

"Just hanging out, huh? I see how it is! Well, you should totally join us for a game of charades! It's going to be epic!" Chloe exclaimed, her excitement palpable.

Sophie looked at Max, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I'm in! How about you, Max?"

"Charades? Sure, why not! Let's see if I can embarrass myself in front of more people," Max said, chuckling nervously.

The three of them joined the group, and Max found himself caught up in the energy of the moment. As the game progressed, laughter erupted around him, and Max couldn't help but feel a sense of belonging.

But in the back of his mind, a nagging question lingered: was this budding connection with Sophie more than just a fleeting moment of fun? As they played charades, Max kept stealing glances at her, wondering if he was brave enough to pursue something more serious.

The night wore on, filled with laughter, silly impressions, and the occasional awkward silence. And as Max engaged with Sophie, he realized that maybe, just maybe, this was the beginning of something beautiful—or at least, hilariously chaotic.

End of Chapter 10

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