92. Pickle

She was talking a blue streak. He looked down trying to appear aloof but he was completely focused on what she was saying. He formulated a response, rethought it and decided it was best to keep quiet for now. She became invigorated by his lack of response and relentlessly assailed him. He waited for her to change tact like she always did. Then it occurred to him bitterly that this time might be different. He would have to seize the chance.

91. Josephine

The talk wasn’t going her way. She had planned and envisioned a completely different interaction, one where she was in charge. But he prodded her to divulge feelings she had been unprepared to bare. He accused her of self-editing that projected an aloofness he saw past. The moment had come to fess up.

90. Lord of Lords

He was determined to relax and chill out once and for all. Apparently it would take some practice. The toll of the past few months left a black hole in his heart, he had certainly self-medicated to get through it. This, on the other hand, should be fun. He was holding a tiny aperitif, but he really wanted another beer.

89. Soos Seuss

Others thought about his place in life, he did not. Every moment was a highlight and he moved through it surefooted and with a sense of hilarity about everything. His focus now demanded more. He analyzed what he saw and dissected his choice with care. Yes, the Dr. Seuss book would make the perfect gift for her.

88. The last dance.

It might have been their last dance together. She thought of it with a nostalgic taste in her soul desperately wanting to discover if he had that feeling too. She knew in her heart that neither one had experienced that sort of abandon in a long time being pulled apart as the stars conspired against them. But they had good reason, she could never put up with his sloppy kisses and therein lay the fateful strike under a cloud of his B.O.

87. E and C

The group of teenage tourists thronged along the pavement and down into the underground. They were oblivious except for one. She teared up and remembered that day starkly. It was the empathic rush that overwhelmed her even though she had only been a child watching it on TV in Nebraska. She wanted to blurt out to the others that they should be respectful. But it was clear they just wanted to find the Abercrombie store.

86. Old School

He pulled his car over and dashed out into the darkness. The anxiety squeezed his throat and threatened to bubble over. What he thought he could handle he clearly could not, and his body rebelled. He stared at the beacon of light encased in metal wishing for help but not wanting to ask for it. His mind desperately ran through a list of who he should call. Then the phone rang and startled the pants off him.

85. Pamalot

She was like a doll that he dressed up. It was a total turn on for him and she just wanted to please him. But she soon tired of the game as it became abysmally superficial. She craved a deeper and more meaningful connection. Until he bought her those killer boots, she decided dragging it out further was harmless.

84. Yellow

He tried his best to relax. But every inch of him said to run. It was his pattern, a bad habit he was aware of and trying to break. He was of course setting about it in every wrong way possible, looking for things and ideas to settle him that just didn’t fit. Quite simply, it would take the right woman to arrest the fight or flight in him.

83. Thong

She knew exactly what she was doing though it seemed nonchalant. He looked on admiringly as she went about pretending to accomplish her daily details. Every nuance had been rehearsed for an audience of one. She played the game well and he was none the wiser, falling for it like a silly rabbit.

82. Beach

I probably shouldn’t have bought those answers. But there is no way I can get caught. I hope Beth isn’t cluing in. She is being so vibey and passive aggressive. It’s impossible for her to know about Greg. So not worried about that, though it would be easier to handle than her knowing anything else, I have so much on her, she wouldn’t dare. It’s college, no one will remember a thing. And that test will finally get me through this bullshit and these people I will never see again.

81. Soos again

She didn’t know how to take it. She had used all her tricks to get through to him and the truth was, she was running out of ideas. He moved through everything shielded from life. It was beyond body language, it was his entire way of being, like he just couldn’t commit to being there. Yet he kept engaging with her. It was thoroughly frustrating. She would have to truly take charge.

80. Winter

He did it all for the love of his family. Shift work was brutal, sleeping in the daylight hours and working at night, it defied circadian rhythm. Time and half was worth the martyrdom he took on. He really only saw his kids on the weekend and his wife had stopped waiting up for him. He never felt lonely though, darkness was his companion.

79. The Fat Lady

Just when she thought it could get no worse he said he had to stop in to check on his mother. She braced herself as it was only 9 O’clock, and feigning an early morning wasn’t going to work yet. Amazingly his mother was just as embarrassed that he would show up on a date. She immediately made killer Magaritas with premium Tequila. It was the start of a beautiful friendship.

78. Hot dog

It was an excruciating date. He spoke excessively about himself like a bloated salesman on a used car lot. He was determined in professing his admiration for her, yet she barely spoke, and at a certain point, gave up at trying to do so. His idea of a fun outing consisted of going to an “I’m young-at-heart” amusement park. She felt like a fool surrounded by the teenagers alternately whooping it up or sticking their tongues down each other’s throat. She didn’t bother telling him she was vegetarian when he ordered dinner.