“He’s a theorist,” Ethan replied to Carmen’s question.

            “Oh,” Carmen said with a sigh.

            “Why isn’t that a happy or a surprised ‘Oh’?”

            “Uh, no reason. I’m just tired, I guess. Take your time eating. I am going to get the sheets on the bed. It shouldn’t take long.”

            “Okay,” Ethan said quietly. Now he was worried. From Carmen’s response, he was beginning to think that she was biased against dating theorists. That would mean he wouldn’t have a chance, with her. ‘Oh, I see,’ Ethan thought to himself. He was hitting himself in his mind for two reasons, the first was for how he could miss the signs that he liked her, and two for sending her to someone else, even though he doesn’t exist. Overwhelmed and a bit angry Ethan finished his food and went in search of Carmen.

            “Hey, Carmen?” Ethan asked while approaching the bedroom door.

            “Yeah?” Carmen called back.

            “Do you need any help?”

            “Sure, come in.”

            Ethan entered the bedroom and found Carmen wrestling with a blue fitted sheet, trying to get all the corners on the mattress, but when she walked over to do one side, the other side came undone. With Ethan’s help, the fitted sheet was done in a minute and Carmen was so tired she climbed into the bed wanting to fall asleep right then and there. But she couldn’t with Ethan there. She sat up on the bed and looked at him, wondering how they were able to get this close.

            “I think I’m all set thanks to you. Are you okay to drive home? It’s dark out,” Carmen asked hoping to get some rest, soon.

            “Yeah, it’s no problem,” Ethan replied before walking out of Carmen’s bedroom. Carmen rolled off the bed, hopped on her feet, and walked Ethan to the door. “I’ll see you at the party, tomorrow then?”

            “Yeah, text me the information. Thank you for your help, drive safely. Text me when you get home,” Carmen said just before closing the door, once Ethan was out of the apartment. She didn’t even let Ethan reply. All she wanted was a shower and to get into bed. But before falling asleep she checked her phone for Ethan’s text. He had let her know he arrived safely and with that, she put her phone down and drifted to sleep.

            The next morning Carmen woke refreshed, as one does after a good day’s work. She was excited about going out and meeting new people. Her socializing ability went from zero to a good seven out of ten after meeting people at work. After washing her face and brushing her teeth she went into the kitchen in her nightclothes to find something to eat and looked around at her unfamiliar home. There were boxes strewn about and even the plates from dinner last night were still left out. Carmen found a snack she had packed away in the pantry and went about the apartment organizing things while picking yummy pieces of fruit gummies out a few at a time. When she finished her snack, she changed to take the boxes to the apartment’s garbage drop-off. After returning to her apartment she placed an order for groceries, consisting mostly of comfort foods.

            Not more than 30 minutes had passed before her delivery had arrived. She picked it up and immediately put everything away, filling up the freezer and cabinets. The last thing on Carmen’s list were the groceries and with those tucked away, she was finally done unpacking. After a walk around her new apartment, she returned to her bed. Her mind wandered towards Ethan’s long frame taking over half of the bare mattress, she was a little upset she couldn’t remember what his sleeping face looked like. Sitting back in her bed she automatically grabbed her phone and checked it for any notifications. She was particularly looking for Ethan’s message about the party, but nothing had come in yet.