Marian and Kris are waiting in line for food from the Cafeteria. The cafeteria line is moving quickly. Marian's plate has tacos, french fries, and a cookie. Kris grabbed tacos, salad, and some fruit. The friends take their trays to an empty table in the front of the cafeteria. A few conversations are happening around. After listening to some coworkers talk about a flaw they found in a code, Marian and Kris start eating. Marian checks her phone for a minute and Kris asks, "Are you expecting something?" Marian puts her phone away all hurriedly. "I'm sorry. Just my sister and her girlfriend asking me for advice."

Kris takes a drink of her water. She doesn't have any sisters. Just one brother. She is jealous of Marian's bond with her sister. "What about? How to become the favorite child?" Marian smirks at this comment, "What are you talking about? I will never give up my title as the golden child." She looks all proud. Kris starts shaking her head. "I don't know how you have such a good relationship with your parents. I am jealous. My parents and I only know how to fight. I don't think we have ever had a healthy conversation"  Marian smiles, she knows she is lucky. Her parents have always been nothing but supportive of all her choices. But, to be fair, her choices have been pretty respectable. Unlike her sister, who is more bold when it comes to how she lives her life.

Kris leans back. "I bet you have never upset your parents." Kris is right, Marian has always been living up to the expectations of her parents. Marian asks Kris, "Why do your parents even care what you do?" Kris sighs, "It's because of who I am, how I live my life, basically the very core of who I am is what upsets my parents. They want me to be your typical American wife. Pretty, quiet, married to someone with 2.5 kids and a white picket fence." Marian looks at her friend and gives her a look of assurance, "I think you are doing pretty well for yourself when it comes to achieving the American dream. You are a manager at a good business with benefits and respect. What else is there?" Kris starts to get angry, "I know. But if I am not marrying some catholic husband and having kids, I am not living up to my full potential."  Marian smiles, "do you even go to church?" Kris, "I do on Christmas, Easter, and Mother's Day. But never for myself. I go with my family." 

Marian starts shaking her head. Her parents have never been anything like that. They are just happy that she is happy and working a job she likes. Marian realizes she could have it so much worse. Marian, "So if you really want to please your parents, you need to be dating someone? Have you ever had a boyfriend?" Kris looks down, 'no. I have been more concerned about my job than I am about dating. I don't know how you manage to do both." Marian looks down too, "You know about Theo, so it's not like I am doing it well." The two friends go back to quietly eating. They typically try to avoid comparing whose life is worse. Marian likes to keep their conversations more positive.

Marian gets an idea, "What if you date someone from work? You already are here all the time." Marian starts looking around the cafeteria for potential candidates. Kris, "I don't want to date someone at work. That could lead to a weird power dynamic." Marian thinks for a second, "What about Jayce?!" Kris gasps and laughs. "Are you serious?  He is like 10 years older than me. And he isn't married yet. For a reason. That's enough on that terrible idea." Marian doesn't know many guys at work except the ones they work with. But she has been helping Robin find love so maybe it could work with Kris too.

Marian starts looking at the cafeteria door. She gets another idea. "I think you could still date someone from work. You never know, they could be different when they leave here. Just because they act a certain way at Blahco doesn't mean they are like that normally. Let's make a challenge. I want you to ask out the next person who walks through the door." Kris puts her food down and smiles, 'I don't know how I feel about this. It could be anyone." Marian tries to convince her friend, "But you haven't been on a date in forever. At least this way you go on a date, it doesn't even have to be a good one. Just something to get you started." Kris looks intrigued, "okay. Let's do it." And with that, the two friends turn to look at the cafeteria door. Kris has her arms folded, she is feeling very anxious about this, but Marian is right, she won't get anywhere if she keeps up what she is currently doing.

At this moment the door opens. Marian turns to look at Kris's face. Because she wants to see her reaction to her new date. It would be even better if he is hot. Chances that a hot engineer works with them are low. Even lower that he is hot and Catholic. Suddenly Kris's face turns bright red. Marian turns to look back at the door. Walking through the door is Graham. Marian busts up laughing. This couldn't have gone any worse. Kris covers her face as she speaks, 'this was obviously the worst idea ever." Marian is almost cry laughing at this point. She can't believe the luck. Graham is the worst person for Kris. They both already know him too well. He is so public about his dating life that everyone at work hears him talking about things. Kris could never go out with Graham. The entire company would hear about it. 

Marian finally stops laughing. She gathers up her lunch and clears her trash as she leaves. Kris is walking next to her. Kris, "At least one of us had a good time at lunch. That was the most stressful thing I have ever agreed to." Marian grabs Kris arms and links up with her as they are walking out. "Good thing I don't believe in torture. You are off the hook, best friend." Just as they are about to leaving Robin is walking into the Cafeteria.  Marian holds the door open for him and he looks at her and nods as he walks in. The friends are walking up the stairs when they pass Aurora. Aurora waves at them and asks, "Are you coming back from lunch? Did you go to the cafeteria?" Marian nods her head. "yup, taco day is always popular." Marian continues walking back to her office she gets a little half smile across her face. Maybe she just failed with Kris, but it  looks like Robin and Aurora are on lunch together. Hopefully he will take her advice from last Friday. At least someone could be benefitting from her help.