January 5th, Saturday
Ever since they were little, Petra and Mirren had always been compared to each other.
It didn't matter that they only shared their father, that they were four years apart and that they had very different personalities and passions, they were always compared and considered very similar.
And for some things, it was objectively true.
They were both very skeptical about love, very closed emotionally and ambitious, albeit in different ways.
But otherwise, they were total opposites.
Mirren was a bookworm, Petra an athlete.
Mirren was the silent treatment type, Petra would explode if she got angry.
Mirren was neat and punctual. Petra was messy and always late.
But there was one thing that had always united them, besides the fact that Mirren had cared for Petra far more than any parent, and it was the deep hatred they both harbored for their stepmother.
Well, for pretty much every stepmom that came into their lives every few years.
The one of that period, now in the family for three years, was the worst up to that moment: Bonnie Clyde. A name, a program, from Petra's point of view.
And sadly, every Saturday night they were forced to put up with the weekly family dinner that no one except their father liked.
Usually, it was an expensive dinner, too long, where it was only Brogan Hart talking, with his wife just encouraging him and ignoring the stepchildren.
It was no wonder that the two siblings were so skeptical about romance, they had never had concrete proof of the existence of true love, or at least real love, not driven by economic motives.
At the moment, Petra and Mirren were in the exact same position, sitting next to each other facing their flirty parents, arms crossed and wearing the same expression a mixture of skepticism and disgust.
Both had finished eating a long time ago, but unfortunately until they all finished no one could get up from the table.
“Guys, I wanted to give you an announcement, I almost forgot” Brogan interrupted the chatter to address his children, only remembering their presence at that moment.
‘Please don’t be pregnant. Please don’t be pregnant’ Petra and Mirren prayed together, in unison. Bonnie was only a few years older than Mirren, so it was a very plausible option, and a very disturbing one.
“Next week I have a business trip. I’ll leave on Monday morning. You'll be here alone with Bonnie. Mirren, I entrust you with the reins of the company” he winked at his son, who tried not to roll his eyes and replied with a bitter smile.
“Considering that I'm only an apprentice, I don't think the success of the company already depends on me” he pointed out, in a low voice.
“Ha ha. Don't worry, we'll fix it soon. By the end of the year you will get your own office, you can be sure of that” Brogan reassured him.
Mirren only nodded assent.
He tended to never talk about work with Bonnie around.
Petra was secretly grateful to be the second child, and to be a woman, because she hadn't been forced to take her father's path in the economy and could devote herself to what interested her most: politics.
Mainly international affairs, because at least, working abroad, she would have managed to escape Saturday dinners.
Unfortunately, she still had a long way to go.
“I hope that by the end of the year you will also find a new apartment, with the salary you have” commented Bonnie coquettishly.
“Bonnie, dear, we've already talked about this. Mirren will stay here until Petra's graduation” Brogan reminded her, jovially.
Indeed, a twenty-five-year-old man who still lived with his parents despite having a secure and high-paying job was almost unthinkable, although not uncommon in that city.
Felix also still lived with his parents, in the house next to theirs.
Petra suspected that the real reason Mirren had refused to move was to keep from getting too far from his best friend, as well as to save her from being alone at Saturday dinners, and generally in the same house as the Bonnies.
“I understand, but you spoil them too much. They should be independent of each other. Don't you find they spend too much time together? They also have the same group of friends” observed Bonnie, with a worried face. Petra ignored what she was probably implying, because it would have been playing her game.
“Tsk, I don't consider Felix Durke my friend, thank you very much” she objected, clenching her fists without making it too noticeable.
Not that she had anything against Felix, really, but she considered him more of an annoying inconvenience. She had to put up with him, he bothered her and end of the story. If it was up to her she would have just ignored him, but sadly he was her brother's best friend and kind of a big brother to her best friend, so she just had to interact with him.
“Oh, how are the Durkes? It’s been ages since we last had them for dinner. When I get back we'll have to invite them” commented Brogan, continuing to eat and ignoring the point of his daughter's comment.
Mirren's expression softened slightly.
“Sounds like a really good idea” he approved, with a smile.
“But darling, it's barely been two weeks. It was the Christmas holidays” Bonnie tried to dissuade him, even though she had long since learned that not even with her persuasive power it was possible to get an idea out of her husband's head.
Usually, it was a curse for the children, but sometimes it turned out to be a blessing.
In this case more for Mirren than for Petra, who didn't have the slightest relationship with any of the Durkes, except, perhaps, with Tender, the youngest daughter, who, however, always spent more time with Mirren and her older brother, during those dinners.
“What's wrong with inviting them again? They are always excellent company. Bartie and I have a card game pending” Brogan reflected, all puffed up, shushing his wife, who wrinkled her nose but didn't reply.
Luckily dinner didn't hold any more bad news for anyone, and when Brogan finally finished dessert, Petra was the first to get up and run to her room, to check her phone, chat on her computer, and finally go to sleep.
When she picked up the phone, though, she realized the day's news wasn't over.
In fact, Amabelle had just added her to a group. A group with an unreassuring title.
Baelle created the group “Matchmakers <3”
Baelle added you
Baelle added Normal guy
Baelle: When you see this message, give a whistle… even literally if you want. We have plans to make!!! :D
Normal guy: whistle
Baelle: Petra, when you finish dinner answer, I want to write when everyone is online ^^
Baelle: YOU ARE ONLINE! ANSWER!!
Okok
whistle
Baelle: GREAT!
Baelle: Okay then. First of all, I want to explain why I created this group
Normal guy: I suppose it’s about your resolution. And you added me because I’m not someone you will match
Baelle: Yeah! You got it!! :DD
What about me? Shouldn’t you match me too?
Petra didn't like the idea, at all, but perhaps it was better than getting in the way of the group's romantic business. She was far too little interested in the matter, and Norman was more than enough help. Actually Amabelle could very well have done it on her own.
Baelle: But helping me is your resolution ;)
Nope, never agreed to that
Baelle: I added it to you because surviving wasn’t enough
Baelle: Don’t worry, you won’t do much
Baelle: You just have to keep an eye on Mirren, Felix and if possible Clover
No
Baelle: You are amazing! Thank you for accepting! :D
…
Normal guy: You already have plans in mind?
Baelle: Yes! Wait…
Baelle: I’ll go in order!!
Baelle: I already have a list of possible matches, we just have to figure out how to match them
Let me guess: my brother and Felix?
Baelle: YEEEEEESSSS!!!! They are the best couple and with a higher chance of success
Baelle: They are basically already a couple
Baelle: And they are so in love! It’s obvious!! <3
Not obvious to them
Baelle: That’s why we have to make them realize
Normal guy: The others?
Baelle: Soooo… I totally can see Max and Sonja. They are colleagues, and there is chemistry between them, from what I know about Sonja. I’ll observe them. Especially Max, seeing that we are neighbors. And I’ll observe Denny too.
Normal guy: I bet you want to match Denny and the guy from two days ago
Baelle: Awwwww, they are so perfect!!
You don’t even know him, and you don’t know what they said to each other. He could be a psychopath
Baelle: Two words: Norman Effect
Normal guy: …what about me?
Baelle: Maybe I’ll explain in a few chapters. Anyway, I know these things and Danny and Mathi are a match made in heaven!
I guess I’ll take your word for it
Normal guy: I’m not so sure. Denny is not even gay
Baelle: …
…
Baelle: …
…
Normal guy: …what?
Baelle: AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!!!
Yeah… sure
Come on, it’s so obvious. You can’t have noticed that
Baelle: And if even Petra agrees…
What do you mean by that?
Baelle: Nothing :p
-_-
Normal guy: Fine, let’s imagine Denny will come out of the closet and he will fall for that guy… what about Clover?
Baelle: Duh… Diego!! *u*
I knew that wanting to add him to the group wasn’t selfless of you
Baelle: I still wanted to add him, but I rushed things a bit. They look good together. And, who knows… maybe Clover will achieve her resolution ;)
…by marrying him?
Baelle: Never say never, right? :D
Normal guy: …I won't say how statistically improbable this outcome is
No, maybe you should so that she won’t be too confident and stop her madness
Baelle: I don’t care, the Norman Effect is strong enough to keep my expectations high!
Normal guy: This is starting to worry me.
Fine, so we have the matches. What now?
Baelle: I admit I don’t have many ideas, even though I did a rom-com marathon to prepare myself
Don’t you have an exam on the 11th?
Baelle: Yes, but it’s Cinema History, so it’s on theme!!
I doubt it, but go on
Baelle: For the time being I was thinking of observing them and letting them interact in some way
Baelle: I divided them between us
Baelle: Felix, Mirren, and Clover are entrusted to Petra
Baelle: Mathi, Diego to Norman
Baelle: And I’ll take Max, Denny, and Sonja.
Normal guy: Wait, how can I check on Diego and Mathi? I don’t even know the latter.
Baelle: All three of you are in the same dormitory. It will be a child’s play observing them from afar. I’ll check their room numbers and I’ll tell you!
Normal guy: Fine, but only when I’m not studying
Baelle: Amazing!
Same for me. I won’t spy on my brother from the keyhole, nor Felix from the balcony. And I only see Clover at the gym, just so you know
Baelle: A perfect place to obtain gossip :D
Hmpf
Normal guy: …sorry if I’m asking this question, but what about Petra?
Baelle: What about Petra?
What about me?
Normal guy: I’m excluded because I’m aro-ace, and you can’t match yourself, but don’t you have any plan for Petra?
If you have one, I’m out of this group. A single role in this crazy plot is enough
Baelle: …let’s say…
Baelle: …I haven’t thought about it yet
Baelle: As of now, Petra is excluded from my machinations. Four couples are enough
Works for me!
Normal guy: Okay, just asking
Baelle: You know… emojis never killed anyone, so putting them won’t destroy your credibility :p
Yes they will
Normal guy: I agree with Petra
Baelle: :(
Baelle: I tried
Baelle: Whatever, give me all the information about the subject you can gather, so that I will manage to make a plan
I don’t think I will have much to say
Baelle: Anything is fine: Mirren walking the dog, Felix drawing out on the balcony. Schedules and routines.
Normal guy: Isn’t stalking illegal?
Baelle: This isn’t stalking, it’s a casual yet attentive observation
You know, maybe I have something. My father wants to invite the Durkes for dinner when he comes back
Baelle: GREAT!!!!
Baelle: Wait…
Baelle: What do you mean “when he comes back”??
On Monday he’ll have a work trip, he will stay away for the entire week. A week without him with Bonnie -__-
Baelle: THIS IS GOLDEN!!!!
??
Baelle: I have a great idea. I just need to chase Bonnie away from home and make sure she’ll stay out. The weather is on my side, and if Norman comes… yes, yes, it can be done!
Normal guy: ??
Look, if Bonnie stays out of home, you can do whatever you want
Baelle: Oh, I’ll do something great!! Expect the perfect plan! ;)
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