A subtle sigh escaped Lyanna’s slightly parted lips as she studied her reflection in the mirror. Seeing the clock’s reflection that read 8:30, Lyanna unclipped her hair, letting the auburn curls pool around her face as she touched up her lipstick. She didn’t have too much makeup on, for first dates were first and foremost about first impressions, hence the title. She wanted to look natural, with an understated glow. Not too much eye makeup – really just a light touch of mascara coating her lashes and a maud colored lipstick. Her freckles stood out against her pale skin and covered her sharp features but there wasn’t much one could do about that, unless they wanted to wear hoards of foundation; which she did not. She was wearing a dress that wasn’t too tight, or showy; something with lace, and something someone would wear on a casual date during the summer. And after a quick once over, the woman nodded curtly at her own reflection and then walked over to collect her things. A small clutch that housed her phone, wallet, lipstick for touch ups and of course, her keys. Leaving her apartment at exactly 8:45, Lyanna walked over to the 1 train and headed uptown.
When she got to the girl’s apartment, Lyanna glanced down at her watch before walking up to the door. She pushed what she presumed to be the intercom and waited for an answer. “Hello, it’s Lyanna, I believe you’re expecting me?” She said into the microphone. God she sounded like an escort – which wasn’t too far off her actual profession. She never guessed in a million years that she could make a career out of teaching people to date. It’s not as if she grew up saying, “mommy, daddy, I want to date everyone!” There was a god awful time in high school where all the people she fancied were quite awkward, and she too, so the dates were a disaster. Right then and there, she never guessed she would be doing such a thing. Especially not after one of the guys spilled a milkshake on her and then tried to feel her up. She was interested in science, always thought she’d become a doctor of sorts, perhaps a medical examiner as morbid as that seemed. But moving to America, her friend got her the job and it just kind of stuck. She was good at what she did – teaching people to date and what not. It was an odd profession indeed, and usually when she told people they mistook it for prostitution, but she drew a clear line at sexual stuff. Perhaps if they were a novice to the whole thing, she would explain as best she could. But no, sex for money, was a no. There was once when she first started off, she fell head over heels for a woman and that turned out to be hell. After the woman found someone else, she no longer required Lyanna’s services and she quickly realized that she was just a business transaction. So she kept her personal affairs out of her work and learned not to get attached. She would never admit this to her clients, but at heart, she was a bit of a cynic. She didn’t believe in romantic gestures, only the facade of them all. If she spent the time analyzing it, which she didn’t, she knew it stem from losing her parents at such a small age. But of course, she wouldn’t dwell on that fact. The past was the past and she didn’t want the thoughts to weigh her down.
Waiting outside, Lyanna held a single, red rose in the palms of her hands, just waiting for… Aurora was it? The card said she was engaged before, but for whatever reasons, it didn’t work out. Being engaged, well Lyanna had never done such a thing, but she assumed it took a great deal of your life. So it was understandable that Aurora needed help with the single life. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear, Lyanna wrapped her shawl closer to her body as a light, July breeze blew past her. When the woman finally showed up, Lyanna could tell a sense of intrepid was upon her. “You look absolutely stunning,” her posh British accent concurred. A bright, welcoming smiling painted her features as she handed Aurora the rose. “Cheesy, I know.”
Over a year ago Aurora woke up wrapped in Barry’s arms, sheets tangled around their legs and their dog nudging her hand desperate for breakfast. It was laying there listening to Barry breathe and letting her mind wonder that she realized she couldn’t go through with their marriage. She loved him, that was for sure, she just wished that she didn’t feel incomplete. Something was missing in her life and she knew that Barry couldn’t provide it for her. And it was in that moment that her heart broke into a thousand pieces. She knew she had to break up with the one person who treated her like a princess, who tolerated her no matter what and who saw the best in her.
Their breakup was somehow both peaceful and nasty. They both loved one another so much but even Barry had started to realize that they weren’t meant for one another and it made them bitter and sad. They split calmly, she took the dog, he took their sofa. And the two kept in contact despite how hurt they both were.
A year had past since then and Aurora had yet to go on any real dates. Of course there were things here and there, but nothing stuck, nothing felt right and no one caught her interest. Her friends set her up on many blind dates and each time she shot it down. They weren’t smart enough to keep up actual conversation, they only wanted to fuck, they didn’t care about anything...there were a multitude of reasons, but it all boiled down to the fact that Aurora was picky and she hadn’t dated in 10 years. She had never dated in the adult world.
But her friends set her up on one more blind date and she had to accept. The astronaut was dressed in a deep v, white above the knee dress, red heals and a creme clutch. She curled her hair, put in some simple earrings, slid on a decorative ring and touched up her makeup while she waited for this new girl to arrive at her apartment. She heard the bell to her room be buzzed and she knew that meant the woman was here. A quick ride of the elevator and a couple steps and she was at the door. “Ah--Thank you.” She said both to the compliment and to the rose, her delicate fingers wrapped around the stem of the rose and she brought it to her nose for a sniff. “You look quite beautiful yourself.” She said with a faint smile.
