The bell rang. Lizzie put away her lunchbag and turned her science manual to the proper lesson for the day. She pushed any thoughts of Dario out of her mind as she wrote Plant Life Cycle on the board.
On the walk over to her car, dragging her huge rolling crate of papers to grade at home, her thoughts turned back to Dario's message. Should she give him another chance? Maybe he really meant what he said and he realized that she was too good to let go. Maybe he wanted to start all over again. How many countless romances did she read where the hero or heroine made a huge mistake, choosing someone else who wasn't worthy of their time to finally realize that the hero or heroine was who they should've picked all along?
There were two classic novels that flashed in Dinah's mind- Persuasion and Pride and Prejudice. Jane Austen was the master of writing about people who realized their mistakes and took steps to fix it. Maybe in a twenty-first century guy's way, that's what he was doing, just like Mr. Darcy, Elizabeth Bennett, and Anne Elliott.
"Ugh," she groaned as her crate toppled over to the side as the elevated sidewalk ended. It happened every day without fail, and every day without fail, Dinah said she would be on the look out for it. As she rearranged her crate to continue on to her car, she berated herself as well for overthinking this whole Dario situation.
They went out on one freakin' date. He didn't follow up like countless other guys did, and now he just wanted to talk to her. Maybe she should give him a chance. What if she didn't and he did turn out to be someone that was going to be important in her life? What if the intense feelings she felt after their date were justified?
Ok, she thought, just talk to him. Don't make a big deal about it. Feel him out. If he continues to be a jerk or if he does the disappearing act again, block him.
Once she opened the trunk of her car to deposit the crate, she slid into the driver's seat and took out her phone and opened up Messenger.
No new messages from him. She guessed he was still waiting for her response. She still had a few questions to ask him, but there was no way that she was going to give the okay for them to officially talk to start over again so soon.
Dinah: How did you find me on FB?
Dario: I looked up your first name. Not many Dinahs in Miami.
So he actually searched for her. That confirmation made her feel somewhat good, that he thought of her and took the actual time to search and find her. She wrinkled her brows. Something wasn't adding up.
Dinah: Why didn't you just send a message on my cell?
Dario: I don't have your number anymore.
Dinah: Uh… how?
Dario: I got a new phone.
Dinah: Ok.
From then on, Dinah and Dario texted every day. She didn't have to say yes or no to talking to him, she just did through her actions.
But just texting wasn't enough for her. She wanted to meet him again. Dinah didn't know why he delayed in asking her. So one night, right before she was going to call it a night and go to sleep, she took the big leap.
Dinah: So… are we going to hang out soon?
Dario: Well, when do you want to?
Dinah: Maybe this Saturday?
Dario: Sure, Where to?
Dinah: Maybe we can try something new… like hanging out on the beach?
Dario: South Beach or on the actual beach?
Dinah: The actual beach… maybe Key Biscayne? It'll be cool to just walk on the sand. I'm tired of just going out to eat.
Dario: Ok. Sounds cool.
She furrowed her brows in doubt. He was being too blasé about this. A tinge of frustration coursed through her.
Dinah: You do plan on actually showing up, right?
Dario: Why wouldn't I?
Dinah: Because you stood me up last time.
Dario: When did I stand you up?
Dinah: When we planned to go to Starbucks.
Dario: I never confirmed.
Dinah's mouth dropped open and she held the phone in her hands as she jumped off the bed, her thumbs moving furiously on the screen.
Dinah: What? I gave you a place and date. I asked you the day of and you said yes. I asked you two times and you never responded.
Dario: Yeah, that means I didn't confirm.
Dinah: That's pretty crappy and wrong.
Dario: Things happen. But…did you ever NOT have a good time when we hung out?
Dinah: We only hung out once and that's not the point. I waited for you to tell me a time and you never did, so how can I trust that you won't do the same thing now?
Dario: I won't. Scout's honor.
Dinah: Were you ever a scout?
Dario: LOL. No, but I promise. I'm going to show up on Saturday.
Dinah: You better, because it will look so shitty if you leave me hanging, especially when I WILL be there waiting.
Dinah placed the phone on her nightstand and ran a hand through her hair. Did she totally mess this up? Was she acting too desperate? She couldn't help it. She didn't want a repeat of a few months ago to happen again and if he even thinks of doing that again, she'd block him so quick he wouldn't know what hit him.
No, she acted fine. She was standing her ground. There were moments to be nonchalant and show a too-cool-for-you attitude, but with a guy standing up a girl you had to tell him what was allowed and what wasn't. This time, she needed to set the date, place, and a specific time and hold him to it.
Dinah: So this is the plan. No excuses. This Saturday at Key Biscayne, seven o'clock. I will be there.
Dario: Ok. I'll be there too.
Dinah exited the app and plugged in her phone, ready to do her ritual of shutting off the lights in her apartment, brushing her teeth, and getting all snuggly in her bed before letting herself fall into a deep slumber. But as her head hit the pillow and the darkness of the room enveloped her, she thought of how she either made the best decision of her life to meet him, or made the biggest mistake by wasting any time on Dario.