“What about that girl out there, the one sitting next to you?” he went on.

His words jarred her, and she turned to look at him even though she could only see the outline of his profile in the darkness. “A little overweight, not conventionally pretty…”

“I…do you know her?” Annie asked, slinking down the wall a little.

“No, not really.”

Annie felt that flood of relief again. “I didn’t really mean it, you know. I wasn’t trying to be cruel.”

“No one tries to be cruel.”

“Well, that’s an unbelievably rosy view of the world, isn’t it?” Regretting the words immediately, she admonished herself and wished she could take them back. She certainly wasn’t succeeding in making a good first impression. She found it harder in the dark, and the irony didn’t escape her.

He sighed. “Maybe I’m too much of an idealist.”

“Or a romantic at heart. I can understand that.” The silence grew uncomfortable, and Annie tried to think of a way to say she was going to get up and leave. This was just too strange. Besides, she needed an aspirin. Her head was beginning to ache. She surprised herself when she asked, “What’s your name?”

“Eric. You?”

“Annie.”

“Well, Annie, since we’re on the superficial questions, what do you do for a living?” She laughed, nudging him with her hip. She could almost hear him grinning.

“I’m a psychologist.” She enjoyed telling people that for the varied responses she received, ranging from fear to curiosity. People were either afraid she was trying to analyze them, or they asked her to.

“Should I pull up a couch?”

She laughed again, giving him another nudge.

“Hey, I bruise easy, watch it.”

This time she was sure she could hear the smile in his voice. She found herself genuinely wondering for the first time what he really did look like. “What about you?” she asked. She knew this was always the big question for guys, as if everyone of the masculine persuasion was defined by his profession.