Kate
Mia, where are you?! I WANT MY MARGARITA!
Mia
OMG, Kate. I just met the most amazing guy.
Kate
No way! What happened?
Mia
I was waiting for our drinks and felt a tap on my shoulder.
Mia
I turned around and there he was!
Mia
Tall, dark, and handsome.
Mia
Well, first we talked.
Mia
We figured out we are both on spring break and had the same favorite drink.
Mia
And get this — we’re both from Wisconsin.
Mia
We pretty much had everything in common!
Mia
Then before he left, he wrote his number on my napkin.
Mia
I didn’t actually get his name 😬
Kate
You took THAT long to get our drinks and you didn’t even get his name?!
Mia
It was loud by the bar!
Mia
That is SO not my fault!
Kate
So now what? Are you going to ask him?
Mia
NO WAY! That is SO embarrassing!
Mia
How about I give you his number and you text him.
Mia
You can ask who it is and pretend you got the wrong number when he answers!
Kate
That’s actually not a bad plan…
Mia
OK cool! Here’s his number.
Mia
Just ask his name and text me as soon as you know!
Kate
Wait, where are you going to be?
Kate
I still want my margarita!
Mia
LOL sorry. You’re gonna have to wait…
Mia
A hula competition just started and I am totally gonna sneak in!
Kate
Fine. I’ll do your dirty work.
Kate opens the contact information for the mystery man.
Why is she helping Mia with yet another Spring Break hook-up?
Unknown
Hey beautiful! I’d recognize that Wisconsin area code anywhere. How are you?
Wes
It’s Wes, from the bar.
Wes
You get THAT many guys’ numbers during Spring Break that you can’t even keep track?
Wes
To be honest, I’m shocked that you texted me.
Wes
Well for one, you’re absolutely gorgeous.
Wes
Two, you’re incredibly smart.
Wes
And three, you’re a really great listener.
Wes
You’re kind of the whole package, you know?
Kate laughs out loud, wondering who Wes is talking about.
Mia is gorgeous and smart, but a great listener?
Kate wouldn’t exactly describe Mia that way.
Kate
Mia, what in the world did you tell this guy?!
Kate
Wes! The guy from the bar!
Mia
Well, he seemed super smart sooo I kind of told him I was getting my PhD.
Kate
Wait, what?! And what is your PhD in?
Kate
You mean Anthropology?
Kate
Like the study of humans and human behavior?
Kate
Like the PhD program that I’M IN?!
Mia
Lol Anthropology is way less cool than Anthropologie.
Kate
So what, he just believed you were a PhD student?
Mia
Well, then he started talking about how HE’S getting an Anthropology PhD too!
Mia
At first, I just thought he meant he was a model 😛
Mia
Anyways, he started talking and talking and talking.
Mia
But his face was sooo beautiful that I just kept staring at him and nodding.
Kate
Well, that explains why he thinks you’re a good listener.
Mia
LOL! He said that?! That’s hilarious.
Mia
Doesn’t matter though. I found a WAY cooler guy while hula dancing.
Mia
IDK. Do whatever you want.
Mia
I have to go. My turn to dance! Byyyye!
Mia always hangs out with such dumb guys.
It would have been cool to meet a smart one for once.
Wes
Hey…Sorry, did I say too much?
Kate
What? No, Wes. I just…
Kate
I don’t feel like you actually know me, is all.
Wes
Well, let me get to know you more then.
Wes
Idk. Let’s start simple. Why anthropology?
Kate
Haha okay…you of all people should know that is not a simple answer.
Kate
I’ve just always found people fascinating.
Kate
We as humans are so different, but so similar too.
Kate
We make mistakes, we learn from mistakes, and then we make the same mistakes again.
Kate
We fight, we destroy, we create.
Kate
Everything we do has been done before.
Kate
And to be able to look at the past, and see the present and the future is just…
Kate
So what about you? Why Anthropology?
Wes
I can sum it up in one word.
Kate
And what’s that one word?
Wes
I’d rather tell you in person.
Wes
There’s a bonfire on the beach tonight at 10.
Kate
Yeah, that sounds great.
Wes
Perfect. Can’t wait to see you again, Mia.
Kate’s heart drops as she suddenly realizes her mistake.
How can she meet Wes at the bonfire if he thinks he’s meeting Mia?
Kate
Mia, I need a favor from you.
Mia
Sorry girl. No can do.
Kate
Wait, what?? I haven’t even told you the favor yet!
Mia
Out on a boat and losing service. Sorry lady!
Mia
Have a great night and see you tomorrow!
Kate shakes her head and looks in the mirror.
She brushes her hair and put on makeup.
As she throws on her sundress, she takes a final look.
Maybe not as hot as Mia. But pretty in a different way.
Kate heads down towards the beach, her nerves forming knots in her stomach.
How will she even know who Wes is?
Will he even want to talk to her after he finds out she isn’t actually Mia?
Kate spots the bonfire and makes her way towards it, lingering at the edge of the crowd.
She looks around, but there’s no sign of a mystery man with green eyes.
Just then, her phone buzzes.
Wes
You know, it’s warmer if you stand by the fire.
Kate feels a warm hand on her shoulder.
She turns to see a pair of dark green eyes staring into her own.
He’s tall, dark, and handsome.
Kate takes a deep breath, smelling the sea salt in the air.
Wes
I’m Wes. Nice to finally meet you…
Kate
Kate. My name is Kate.
Wes
Nice to meet you Kate.
Kate
But wait…how did you know…?
Wes
Your friend Mia was nice.
Wes
But once she started talking about how great the displays at Anthropologie were, I knew she wasn’t being honest.
Wes
But then she told me she had a friend who actually was getting a PhD in Anthropology.
Wes
Well, then I was intrigued.
Wes
She pointed you out across the bar and…you were so stunning.
Wes
I knew I had to meet you.
Kate blushes, but she’s still confused.
Kate
Wait. So, why didn’t you come up to me?
Kate
Why didn’t Mia just introduce us?
Wes
She said that you would be too shy to talk to me at a bar.
Kate
I guess that’s true…
Kate
So Mia tricked me into texting with you.
Kate
And you knew her plan? To pretend that I was her?
Wes mugs an adorable wince.
She’s going to murder Mia.
Kate
I mean, I guess that all makes sense. So…
Kate
But why didn’t you just tell me you knew I wasn’t Mia?
Kate
You know, after we’d been texting for a bit.
Wes
I guess I didn’t want to scare you away…
Kate
So you invited me to a meet up at a bonfire? Yeah, that’s not scary at ALL!
He really is gorgeous. And buff.
Wes
Why did you come here tonight?
Wes
Despite the risk and despite the fear, why did you come?
Kate
I don’t know…I just…
Wes
Like I had to meet you?
Kate
So now that I’m here…
Kate
Why do you study anthropology?
Wes
I told you. I study anthropology because of love.
Wes
Because love is the thing that keeps us going.
Wes
Love is the thing that makes us do things, despite fear and despite the odds.
Wes
It’s something every human experiences.
Wes
And when you find it in another person, the feeling is just…
Wes lets the emotion behind his words hang in the air.
He lifts Kate’s chin and her eyes lock on his.
The tension is thick in the salty night air.
Wes
Kate, I think I’m finding that feeling with you.
Wes wraps his free arm around her waist, pulling her in closer.
He leans forward and brings his lips to Kate’s, kissing her slowly and deeply.
After what seems like an eternity, the two separate.
Kate leans into Wes, taking a deep breath.
