Internet Love

Internet Love

"I don't know if I can go through with this Emma!" Sighed Rachel as
she dragged the brush through her long Auburn hair,
"Don't be silly, just get ready or you'll be late - anyway, you can't
put this to waste," Emma picked up the stylish blue dress that was
carefully draped across the back of the chair, "You'll look great in
this&;#8230;Oh Rachel! For heavens sake stop pulling that
heart-rending face, this is just the pick-me-up you need",
"Is it?
"Yes! - It's been three months since you broke up with Nick, you can't
pine forever, you've got to move forward."
Rachel dropped the hairbrush into her handbag with a groan and looked
at her watch,
"I suppose I'd better finish getting ready then, I'm meeting him in an
hour. It's just so exciting," she said sarcastically
"That's more like it, I'll go downstairs and leave you in peace," Emma
walked over to the bedroom door, then paused, "Forgive me for sounding
stupid, I know this is a blind date but how will you know who he
is?"
Rachel hesitated for a moment, "Promise you won't laugh?"
"Promise"
"He's going to wear a red carnation,"
Emma made a hasty retreat from the bedroom, unfortunately not
containing a hearty laugh,
"Well if you think that's funny," Rachel shouted after her; "I'm
wearing one too",
Rachel sat back down at the dressing table, the whole idea was totally
insane, and she could not imagine what had possessed her to go through
with it. She reached into her handbag, took out her purse, and
carefully slid a photograph from the note compartment,
"Why can't I get over you Nick?" She whispered, feeling the familiar
wrench escalating in her stomach.
Theirs had been a good relationship; one that she thought would last.
Maybe complacency had crept in; she really didn't know how it had gone
so wrong. Things had started to turn when Nick got his new job working
in computer configuration, something Rachel knew nothing about. She
could see now, looking back, that she had shown no interest whatsoever,
mainly because she didn't understand the first thing about computers.
So neither support nor interest was shown. If only Nick could see her
now.
After they'd split Rachel had taken evening lessons in computing at the
local college, and found to her astonishment, that computers weren't
the fear-provoking monsters she had thought they were. She actually
enjoyed her new vocation.
Ironically it was through the computer that she met Ice, her date for
the impending evening. She had logged on to the Internet after learning
about its potential from acquaintances at college; it opened up a new
and fascinating world to her. She hadn't realised it could be so
interesting. One evening, out of curiosity, she entered a chat room
under the name of flame, it was here that she got chatting to Ice,
obviously the choice of names having a little to do with it. From then
on, it was an evening ritual when she got home from work. It Was quite
strange to have a conversation with someone by purely typing, even
stranger that they had developed a relationship. She had read about it
happening to others and followed all the precaution guidelines, not
giving telephone numbers, addresses etc.
Now here she was about to go out and actually meet Ice face to face, it
suddenly seemed a rather daunting thought; she didn't truly know what
he
Looked like, she felt though she knew him through their communications
on the computers.
The idea was quite romantic really; better though if she hadn't been
harbouring her memories of Nick.
Emma came back into the room with two glasses of wine,
"Come on! You're still sitting there, hurry or you'll be late",
Forty minutes later Rachel was ready, she opened the drawer and her
stomach churned as she took out the red carnation.
"Aren't you going to wear your flower?" Smaned Emma as Rachel was
about to leave, Rachel flashed her friend a false grin as she closed
the door behind her, she had decided not to wear the flower until she
saw him, that way at least if he looked strange he wouldn't know who
she was. They had arranged to meet outside the local cinema at eight o'
clock, again she had followed the safety code. They were then going off
to an Italian for a meal. There was quite a gathering outside the
cinema, obviously waiting to go in to see the film. Rachel glanced
through the crowd; she couldn't see any signs of anyone sporting a red
carnation, but whom she did see approaching her had her stomach doing
double somersaults.
She looked down trying to avoid him, as she was tapped on the
shoulder.
"Rachel? Hello how are you?"
"Nick!"
"You don't mind me coming over do you,"
"No don't be silly of course not," looking at him she felt all the
familiar feelings flood over her,
"You're looking well Nick, how are you?"
"Oh not so bad and you?"
"Yeah so so,"
"So what film are you going to see then?"
"Sorry? Oh- well I'm not going in exactly, I'm meeting someone",
"Who's that then? Anyone I know?"
"Oh just a work friend," She lied,
"What film are you seeing then Nick?"
"I'm not sure, I'm waiting for someone too, we haven't decided what to
see yet",
"Oh I see," she tried to sound flippant, she really wanted to ask him
of what sex might the friend be that he was meeting,
She quickly glanced around, dreading the prospect of seeing someone
wearing a red carnation. She felt awkward and didn't know what to
say,
"Guess what I've learnt?" She at last said,
"What's that then?
"Computers,"
Nick raised his eyebrows; "I'm impressed!"
"Oh it's great, should have learnt a long time ago"
Nick looked thoughtful for a moment, "Rachel - I've,,,"
"Yes - What?"
"No- nothing, it doesn't' matter,"
Rachel frowned, "No, tell me what were you going to say?"
He paused a moment, "I've missed you you know,"
Rachel felt her face flush and her heart race a little,
"Have you?"
He was twiddling the button on his jacket, "Yes I have,"
"I've missed you too," she whispered feeling a mixture of emotions
sweep over her, "I never did really know why we split up,"
"No me neither, let's sit down for a minute," they walked over to a
bench, Rachel gave another quick nervous look around then glanced at
her watch,
"Looks like we've both been stood up doesn't it," said Nick as he
pushed his hair back from his face,
"Does doesn't it?"
"You don't fancy a drink do you?" He asked hopefully,
"I'd love one," she replied, a little too eagerly
They both stood up smiling and walked slowly away, neither one saw the
other discretely drop the red carnation to the ground.