Unknown
Hey Tamara? It’s Landon Geary. I was supposed to be going on a date with your roommate Melanie?
Landon
Sorry to bother you.
Tamara’s heart starts pounding in her chest.
Why is Landon Geary texting HER?
He’s only the hottest guy in her Art Appreciation class.
And all of her friends know that she’s been crushing on him for MONTHS.
She takes a deep breath and tries to play it cool.
Tamara
It’s no bother, but wait — how did you get my number?
Landon
Melanie gave it to me. She told me that she couldn’t go on our date.
Landon
And that I should text you because you’d explain.
Landon
Yeah um…you don’t know what happened?
Tamara
Actually, no. She ran out the door ten minutes ago and left her phone behind.
Landon
It’s okay. You can tell me.
Tamara
Alright. I hate to be the one to tell you this…
Tamara
But Melanie skipped off to a party down the hall. I’m really sorry!
Landon
Don’t apologize. It’s not your fault she ditched me.
Landon
Did she tell you we had a date?
Tamara
Look, I *really* don’t want to hurt your feelings…
Tamara
But yeah, she did.
Tamara
And she told me she didn’t want to go on it.
Landon
Wow. Well, I guess that’s fair.
Landon
You know I’ve never actually met her before, right?
Landon
Our parents know each other and they set us up.
Landon
I only said yes so they’d stop bugging me about going out with her.
Tamara
Sounds like you were as excited about this date as she was, LOL.
Landon
Actually, this is a relief.
Landon
Now I can work on my art appreciation paper that’s due Monday.
Tamara
I was working on the same paper when I heard your text pop up on her phone, LOL.
Tamara
You and I are in the same class.
Tamara
Yup. When Melanie told me she was going out with this dorky guy named Landon Geary…
Tamara
I knew exactly who she meant!
Landon
Hold up. She called me a dork?
Tamara smiles. She doesn’t mind that he’s a dork.
Tamara
Dorky is definitely a good thing, LOL.
Tamara
I guess her parents told her you were overloading your classes this semester?
Tamara
Just for the fun of it?
Landon
Guilty as charged! Sounds like my reputation precedes me 🤓
Landon
But back to talking about art appreciation class…
Landon
How do you know who I am?
Tamara
Well, you have a lot of friends there…
Tamara
And I’ve heard them calling you by name.
Landon
🤨 You must sit pretty close to me if you can hear our conversations.
Tamara blushes furiously.
Is now a good time to tell him that she was wildly envious about his date with Melanie?
That she wasn’t even sure she’d been able to hide that envy from her best friend?
Landon
What do you look like, Tamara?
Landon
Maybe I’ve seen you in class.
Tamara
I don’t really stand out in a crowd.
Landon
Are you the one who always sits right behind me and my friends?
Tamara’s blush gets hotter.
Landon
You wear those fun, nerdy t-shirts all the time?
Hottest blush in existence!
Tamara
I usually wear a ponytail.
Landon
Yeah. I’ve definitely noticed you.
Tamara celebrates with a little silent cheer.
But then she shakes her head, clearing it of evil man-stealing thoughts.
She shouldn’t be hitting on a guy her best friend was supposed to date!
Tamara
I’m not sure this conversation should be going where I think it’s going.
Landon
And where would that be?
Tamara
Bad Roommate Jail.
Tamara
I feel like I’m about to poach you from Melanie!
Landon
But Melanie obviously shafted me.
Tamara
Even so, roommates don’t DO this.
Landon
Agree to grab a coffee with a guy your roomie never even went out with?
Tamara doesn’t know what to do…
Her phone dings with another text just as Melanie comes bopping into the room.
Melanie
Tamara, you’re not going to BELIEVE this!
Melanie
I was talking to Dave Jensen at the party…
Melanie
And he wants to take me somewhere alone.
Melanie
Eek! DAVE JENSEN THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!
Tamara
Oh my gosh! That’s amazing.
Melanie
I know. He is my fate.
Melanie
Oh my God, I am so in love…
Tamara
Mel, by any chance, did you forget to cancel your date tonight?
Melanie gives her a perplexed look.
Tamara
Landon texted. He said that I’d explain why you couldn’t make the date?
A shutter drops behind Melanie’s eyes and she purses her mouth.
Tamara instantly recognizes her best friend’s not-so-perfect poker face.
Tamara
Melanie, come on. It wasn’t cool of you to drop that on me.
Melanie
Girl. You seriously didn’t see that I’d planned this all along?
Now it’s Tamara’s turn to look perplexed. Melanie’s face cracks into a wide grin.
Melanie
My mother set me up on a date with Landon Geary!
Melanie
As in, the guy you Instagram stalk daily.
Melanie
Tamara, you do. I’m your roommate. I see you doing it.
Melanie
That’s why, when I got set up with Landon…
Melanie
I thought it’d be the perfect opportunity for you to meet him.
Tamara
What?! That’s why you ambushed me??
Melanie
Please! You never would have agreed to it if I asked.
Tamara opens her mouth, and then closes it.
Melanie is right. Tamara always puts her friends first.
Even if it means seeing them go on a date with someone she likes.
Melanie
See, now you don’t have anything to feel bad about! Besides…
Melanie
Like, seriously — I’ve got Dave Jensen waiting for me.
Melanie
Now it’s time for YOU to go for the guy you like.
Melanie scoots out the door.
Tamara’s mouth hangs open.
She still can’t believe that Melanie arranged this whole thing…for her.
She looks at her screen to check the text that already came in from Landon.
Tamara can’t help it. She still feels a little conflicted.
She puts her phone aside.
She really doesn’t want to be THAT roomie—
The one who poaches guys.
She sits down to start working on that paper again…
But it’s no use — her mind is on Landon.
When she feels a presence in her doorway, she startles in her seat.
Landon is there, leaning against the doorframe — broad-shouldered, lanky, cute.
Tamara
What’re you doing here?
Landon
Showing up for my date.
Tamara
Your date with Melanie isn’t happening, remember?
Landon
I’m well aware of that.
Landon
I texted her to officially call it off.
Landon
She’s okay with it. Believe me.
Landon
She told me all about her master plan.
Tamara
Did you tell her you were coming over here?
Tamara
To hang out with ME?
Tamara’s phone dings with a text from Melanie.
Melanie
Have an awesome time 😉
Landon gives Tamara a hopeful grin.
Landon
Are we in the clear?
Tamara
Yes, but I don’t want her to think this is how I generally operate…
Landon takes a step into the room, pumping up Tamara’s pulse.
Tamara
That I’m a man stealer…
Landon
Do you or do you not want to go out with me?
Landon
There has to be a reason you always sat right behind me in class.
She starts to smile, and he holds out his hand to her.
Tamara
There was definitely a reason.
Somehow, his smile grows.
Landon
So what do you say? Yes or no?
There’s nothing left to doubt.
She stands up and takes his hand, her heart bursting with all the pent-up longing it’s been hiding.
