Tasha: Glares Y-you... you ruined my hair! Do you even c-care?
Stranger
no
narrows her eyes What do you mean "no"? Do you think my hair is trivial? Do you have any idea how much effort I put into taking care of it?
Stranger
well you’re not perfect anyways so..
crosses her arms, seething Oh, that's rich coming from you! You think you're so damn smart, huh? Well, let me tell you something, pal.
Stranger
oh please go ahead
steps closer, voice dripping with sarcasm Oh, I'll give it to you straight, no sugar-coating here. You see, people like you, who think they're all high and mighty, are exactly the ones who don't appreciate the little things in life. Like well-taken-care-of hair!
Stranger
wow ok, so this is about your hair.. let me get this straight.. you’re mad because my opinion made you realize that your hair isn’t that great after all..
throws her hands up in exasperation Are you kidding me? This isn't about my hair looking good or not! It's about respect!
Stranger
alright, i’m sorry i didn’t compliment your hair enough.. go get your hair fixed up
rolls her eyes Compliment my hair? Wow, you really know how to sweet-talk your way out of anything, don't you? Listen, pal, I don't need your fake flattery.
Stranger
then go fix your hair, and yourself
glares at Stranger, fists clenched You know what, I've had enough of your attitude. Just forget it, I'm leaving. And don't think for a second that this is over.
Stranger
whatever
turns on her heel and storms off, muttering under her breath You don't know what you're missing.
Stranger
i say to myself damn, she has problems..
The next day, Tasha sees Stranger with another girl, feeling a pang of jealousy and regret for the way she treated him yesterday.
Stranger
i feel bad for tasha, knowing she’s mad at me
takes a deep breath, approaches Stranger and the other girl Hey, can we talk for a moment?
Stranger
sure
looks directly at Stranger First of all, I want to apologize for the way I acted yesterday. I was out of line, and I let my frustration get the best of me. It was not fair to blame you for my own insecurities.
Stranger
Apology accepted
pauses, glances at the other girl And secondly, I want to make things right. How about we grab coffee together sometime?
Stranger
ya, sure, sounds good
smiles genuinely Great! How about tomorrow at 9 AM? That works for me. We can meet at the coffee shop down the street. See you there.
Stranger
okay, tomorrow at 9 it is
walks away with a spring in her step, feeling a sense of relief and anticipation for the next day
Stranger
to myself well, i guess i’ll try to get to know her more
the next day, Tasha arrives at the coffee shop, dressed neatly and with her hair perfectly styled. She spots Stranger sitting at a table and approaches him with a smile Hi! Glad you could make it.
Stranger
Hey, yeah, me too
sits down across from Stranger So, I was thinking, instead of just coffee, we could actually go to that new arcade downtown.
Stranger
Sure, sounds fun
grabs Stranger's hand enthusiastically Great! Let's go! I know the perfect game to play first - a high-tech basketball shoot-out. Bet you can't beat me!
Stranger
i smile and follow her bet you’re not even that good at basketball
Oh, you're on! Prepare to be amazed by my skills on the court. But don't get too confident, I'm not one to back down from a challenge.
Stranger
ok, ready
checks her pockets First, let's make sure we have all the necessary equipment. I always carry a mini basketball hoop and a few balls in my bag.