Fan Fiction |
by Jenny Tran
“Today’s topic is how to keep the fire alive after three or four years of serious dating.” Billie began as she clasped her hands together, she loved having everyone’s full attention, it was by far the best class she had ever taught “Most people say the first year of the relationship is the hardest, once you get through it the other skeletons in the closet start to emerge during the second year. By the third year, it should be smooth sailing.” The group chuckled at the irony.
“How about if some of us never made it past the first year?” Anesa asked.
Billie nodded “Good question. This is my personal opinion, it simply did not work out. A relationship takes time and effort to make it last long. Someone obviously gave up along the way. If you don’t want to fight for something, then in truth you don’t want it that bad.”
Travis raised his hand and Billie acknowledged it with a welcoming smile “What if two people were dating for six years and still didn’t work out?” She was stumped, not to mention speechless “Would that apply to what you just answered?”
She smiled “No, that I would blame on fate. Maybe it wasn’t meant to be? Or maybe the two had tried so hard that they eventually ran out of steam and couldn’t continue to keep going.”
“What kind of things can you do to keep the fire going?” Kelly asked.
“Those of you that have dated someone for more than three years, I think the ladies will agree with me that your significant other is not the same as he was during the first year of courtship. He was in tune with your feelings, he went out of his way to do anything and everything for you. It’s a known fact that guys change during the term of the relationship, but women change after a marriage. I do feel sorry for the guys that see the bad and ugly of their new spouses.” She paused to let the laughter die down “It is said most of the men’s fear of marriage is because their married pals tell them horror stories about their wives’ sudden change of personality. The beautiful woman they once dated was not a cream faced, curler in hair, pajamas wearing, bed ridden slob.”
“In defense for the women, I think that should not effect men at all.” Ellena said sternly.
Billie tilted her head at her best friend “Why do you say that?”
“Simple, girls make themselves look nice for their men. They have no idea what we go through every night to keep the skin soft and the hair full of life. All they see is two hours worth of hard work. But once they see the stages that we have to go through, they freak out and suddenly go whining to their friends. I think it’s totally unfair.” Ellena had a few supporters as they nodded in agreement.
Kyle stood up suddenly and defied “Not true. We wouldn’t mind the change if we were WARNED before hand. Say during the second year of dating, show the guy what you go through and I’m sure they will understand. I mean, five years is a long time to know someone not to mention get use to them. Then after marriage, you show a different face? It’s like we just married a stranger!” the guys grunted in agreement.
Billie was impressed by his response but she could see the fire burning in Ellena’s eyes. Something had gone wrong between them, she could tell “Before you put on your boxing gloves, I think both of you have very great arguments. But at the same time, this is just a typical guy and girl response. True, most women are afraid of showing their real face, meaning take off all the makeup and dress in casual clothes that does not accentuate their figures. They are afraid of the men’s reaction, afraid that they won’t get the attention they crave anymore. So tell me, if we came to class with no make up and dressed in a pair of old jeans and a plain white t-shirt, what would you guys think?”
Anton had the guts to respond, “I think you ladies would be as beautiful as you are right now. Maybe even more. Contrary to what you believe, men do like their women without makeup.” He turned to Anesa with a short smile as she began smearing her blushed cheeks.
“I second that.” Travis raised his hand.
“Self conscious can be a great demon.” Billie sighed “But I think it’s wonderful that you believe that, Anton. It gives us all hope that one day we’ll meet a guy that would not care what we look like underneath the layers of costume we put on every day.” The group nodded with smiles “We’re getting a little off topic here.” She laughed and clapped her hands “What are the little things we can do to keep the fire going?”
“Sexual toys!” Anesa blurted out. The class laughed at the response making her cower back with embarrassment.
Billie smiled “Not a bad idea, but I was thinking a little less physical.”
A girl in the middle row raised her hand “Maybe go out with other friends?”
“Yes! Definitely. When two people are dating for years, it is said that every day becomes a routine. They see each other the same time every week, it becomes insignificant. The question of…what do you want to eat tonight or what movie do you want to see tonight becomes irrelevant. I suggest that everyone rejoin their own group of friends. See each other less and try not to make a schedule out of it. The most pleasant surprise is a true surprise. Give yourself time to miss each other. If you are there, how do you expect someone to miss you?”
“How about taking short vacations?” Jimmy suggested.
Billie nodded “That’s a good one too. When life becomes too predictable suggest to your partner that you take a mini vacation. Say to a condo at the beach or travel to the countryside, away from the lights and sounds of the city. A change is always good for the relationship.”
“How do we keep the romance from dimming?” Anesa asked with special interest.
“That, my dear…is up to the couple. Maybe once a month, take the time to go out to a candle lit dinner or head up to Mountain Peak and look at the city lights together hand in hand. Sit along the beach at night and reminisce about how you two met and how fate had brought you there. There are plenty of things to do to keep the moment going. I suggest that you two leave your cell phone somewhere else so there are no distractions.” Billie smiled as she bowed at the class “I want to thank you guys for making this a very memorable semester for me. We have one last course next Thursday but I wanted to show you my appreciation before the moment passes.”
“And thank YOU for being such a great teacher.” Anesa complimented. The group groaned at the attempt to kiss up “What? She’s my friend now, I can be sweet.”
“Thank you Anesa.” Billie turned to her students “Let’s do a little test.”
“Goodie! I love these tests!” Anesa was the first to stand up.
Her giddy excitement was contagious as everyone began to stand up. Billie waved them down to the front with her “Okay, I want the people that have had a relationship that lasted one year or less to sit in the front two rows. The third and fourth rows are for people that have been in a two or three year relationship. The last row is people that have had four years or more.” She crossed her arm while observing the movement. A few seemed to be thinking where they belong. After everyone seated, she noticed Ellena stood by her side “Oh right, I forgot about you.” Smiling, she decided to keep her in the front “Just stay here.”
Kyle and Anesa were seated next to each other in the front “Yeah, we beat them!” the two gave each other high fives as they turned back to the other rows, which grew less until the top row sat Travis and Jimmy.
Billie tapped Anesa’s desk and cleared her throat “I wouldn’t be celebrating, you are one of 90% of the people in the dating world.” She pointed to the completely filled up first and second row, while the third was barely filled with a handful.
“So where do you stand?” Kyle asked “Should I make a seat for you?” he teased.
Billie smiled “No.” she stepped to the back and took her place next to Travis “I belong with the 1%.” She nodded to the front where Ellena stood shyly “Ellena is .09% of the social dating world.” All eyes turned to Billie “I just wanted to show you guys how many people have a hard time hanging onto a relationship.” She pointed to the front row “And how many tried but still could not succeed.” Her finger moved to the third row “And the few that made it thus far, but still did not succeed.” Getting up, she walked to the front next to her friend “And the one in a million that is still waiting for the perfect guy.” She finished with a smile “It is not a crime to wait and I suggest the people in the front take a little more time to know the other person before jumping into a new relationship.”
Anesa turned to see Anton smiling at her from the third row. She returned the wry grin and back at Kyle “I guess the joke’s on us.”
She overheard the comment and quickly corrected her “Although it is not a wrong thing to test out the waters. If you don’t have failed relationships, how do you know what you want in the next one? It is absolutely normal for some to jump from one relationship to the next. This all goes with personality, what kind of person are you? Do you enjoy the courtship but not the serious part? Would you rather date someone you know for sure won’t hurt you in the end? Or date someone that you know will eventually turn into marriage? I knew of this girl in my last class that was lucky enough to find her perfect man but she waited for years to find him. She knew after two dates that he was the one. Of course, she was smart enough not to tell him that.”
“Why?” Ellena asked innocently.
Billie smiled and turned to Travis “What would your first reaction be after the second date and a girl says she knows that you’ll marry her one day?”
“I’d run for the door.” Travis answered truthfully as the guys laughed, “Nothing scares a guy more than a quick commitment.”
“But at the same time, I know a few guys that loves the relationship time and rather skip the courting. So there are plenty of different people out there. Some will be very compatible to you and there are those that you wouldn’t want to meet again after the first date.” Billie spoke solemnly.
“Exhibit A.” Anesa pointed to Kyle and blew up with laughter.
Billie grinned, “Here comes my least favorite time of the night. I have to kick you guys out.” The group was surprised at how quick time flew by as they marched out. She pulled Ellena to the side and whispered in a low voice.
Kyle noticed the action but decided not to question “Come on.” He nodded to Anton, who was talking to Anesa.
“What’s your rush?” Anton asked with a frown.
“Yeah, aren’t you gonna wait for Ellena like you always do?” Anesa asked. She too finally noticed something different about them.
“No, she doesn’t want me to be around, why should I put myself out there.” He asked stubbornly.
At that moment, Billie walked over to them “Kyle, can we go get a drink?”
“Me?” he asked in surprised and turned to Travis, who raised his brows curiously “Why?”
She didn’t wait for him to answer, as she grabbed his arm and pulled him out “You drive because I gave Ellena my keys to the car.” She saw his car parked down the row of meters and waited for him to unlock the door “Monet’s.” she advised shortly as he began to drive away.
Looking confused, he turned to her “What is this about?”
“You’ll know when we get there.” She looked straight and didn’t bother to make eye contact with him. After fifteen minutes, they made it to the front as he had the valet guy move his car “Come on.” She took his hand and took him inside. The place was swarming with single girls.
“What’s going on?” he asked when he earned a few whistles.
Billie crossed her arms “Single girls night. Most guys come for a one night stand.”
“And?” he didn’t know where she was going with it.
“Oh, don’t give me the innocent crap. You know you’re in a candy store. So pick your choice.” She brought out a hand.
“I think you’ve lost it.” He muttered and began walking away when a girl blocked his way. Her knee high boots clinked with each step closer to him.
“Hi cutie.” She purred seductively while placing her arm around his shoulder and neck.
Kyle turned to Billie but she had disappeared from her position. She couldn’t save him either, pulling the girl’s arm off his shoulder, he backed away “Look Miss, I’m not interested.”
“How about a three some?” she asked.
He paused, it was his fantasy to have two girls at the same time. But for some reason, it sounded more repulsive than appealing. Kyle smiled as he stepped closer to her “Honey, you’re too good for this. Go home and take off the makeup, I know you don’t want to be here. One night stands only fill the void for the night but you wake up empty the next day. I know, I’ve been there.”
The girl was not only embarrassed but offended “Shit, if you don’t want to, I can find any guy that wants to!” she snapped.
“How about a drink stranger?” a sultry voice asked from behind.
Kyle sighed tiredly as he turned to reject another girl when a smile crawled on his face “A drink would be nice.”
Ellena handed him a beer while she smiled “That was nice what you just said.”
He laughed, “I’m surprised I didn’t get slapped in the face.” Looking around, he asked her “Where’s Billie? What are you doing here?”
“She went home.” Ellena shrugged “She wanted me to see for myself. We agreed to meet here and she told me that I would know once and for all if you are a changed man.”
“And?” he smiled proudly.
“I wouldn’t believe it if I didn’t see it for myself.” She laughed. He moved in for a hug “I’m sorry I was mean.”
He pulled away “Let’s talk somewhere else.” He felt settled with his arm around her shoulders as he ignored every other girl in the bar. Maybe it was what love felt like? He saw no one else but Ellena.