Trish nodded. “Yeah, finding new restaurants definitely has possibilities. We can scope out reviews in advance.”Dan, who’d been chatting with a few soccer players, leaned over to the girls. “What has possibilities? Girls wearing bikinis to school?” The girls frowned at him. “Don’t you wish!” Trish snapped. “We were talking about Elly and Sarah’s upcoming double date. They’re trying to find a good place in Manhattan.” Dan’s eyes widened. “I know lots of places.” Sarah took another bite of her vanilla pudding. She waited expectantly. “Well, if you all like hole-in-the-wall pizza joints.” He slapped the table with his hand and laughed loudly. “That was very insightful,” Elly grumbled. She sighed. “Sarah, why don’t you ask your boy where he planned to take you? Do tell him that Bent and I will now be joining you.” She sipped her milk through a straw. “Yikes. Yeah, I better let him know this new plan,” Sarah giggled. As she sent the text message to Kurl, she could only anticipate his expression, upon reading it, would be as horrified as Bent’s. Dan turned his attention to Sarah. “So…double date, huh? Who’s your new guy?” He lifted an eyebrow. “Or girl?” Standing up, he did an exaggerated look around the room. “Anyone I know?” He sat back down. “It’s me, right?” He winked at her and took a bite of his apple. Sarah smiled kindly at him. He was really cute. But before she could say anything, Elly interrupted. “It’s Kurl Mayor, dork!” she said, sipping her milk. Dan rested his elbows on the table. “Seriously? Kurl’s in college.” Elly poked him in the shoulder with her fork. “Dude, college guys can be fun,” she laughed. Dan stuck out his tongue. “Kurl’s cousin is in that film. What’s it called? X-Men Take Mars? I just saw it a month ago. It’s terrific. They made bank on that flick!” He took another bite of his apple. He chewed with his mouth open. “Sarah, you should tell Kurl to have his cousin, Ryan, cast you in the next movie. You’re hot.” Elly swatted him upside the head. “Quit hitting on her, Dan. She has a boyfriend.” Dan chugged a glass of juice. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. “Still, even a minor speaking role in a hit movie can be a good deal. If you’re lucky. It’s worth a shot,” Dan said.Sarah balanced her chin in her hands. “Kurl said his character gets eaten by a monster!” Dan roared with laughter, thumping his fists on the table. “Okay, then. I have GOT to see that movie when it comes out. Watching Kurl get creamed by a sharp-toothed, gloppy creature from Mars would be the HIGHLIGHT of my life. He was so hardheaded his senior year here.” Dan wiped tears from his eyes. “Sarah, if you’re in the X-Men movie, you and Kurl might get eaten by the Mars monster, together!” He flung a hand over his face. “SAVE ME, Kurl! SAVE ME!” Dan said. Trish finished her salad. “I don’t want to see Sarah eaten by a gross Mars monster.” She hugged Sarah. Surprised, Sarah hugged her back. “Thank you, Trish!” “Well,” Elly said. “Maybe that Mars monster is allergic to girls? Sarah could sacrifice Kurl instead!” She leaned towards Sarah from across the table. “We can all plan to watch it together and cheer!” Sarah made a face. “Ironically, we already have a Mars monster! Our field hockey Coach Mars, aka The Martian?” Elly and Trish gave her air fives. “Totally, true, girl,” Elly said. Sarah dug into her bag. She found her lip gloss and started to reapply it to her lips. “Oh, can I have some?” Elly asked. She reached forward and snatched the lip gloss out of Sarah’s hands. “Sure. Help yourself,” Sarah said. Elly really had no manners!Dan burped loudly. Apparently, neither did Dan. Sarah’s phone beeped. She glanced at it. And started laughing again.Kurl had responded to her text message about the double date with Elly and Bent. -Do not show this message to Elly. (screaming face emoji) ~Kurl