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caterinasingh · 5 years ago

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Speed Meet | Cat & Frankie

@vpholloway

Valentine’s Event, 2020

Note: Each paragraph switches perspective, starting with Caterina

Once again, the buzzer rang, indicating it was time to move on. Caterina gave a wave to the previous person, (rather relived they were leaving - they seemed unable to stop talking about themselves) and readied to meet someone else. A person sat across and Caterina put on a smile, reading over the name. "Good evening, my name is Caterina. How are you enjoying your evening so far?"

Frankie settled in across from the woman and set xir jacket over the back of the chair. She had been vaguely familiar at first, but from the name Frankie was almost certain that they had went to high school together. "Hello. It's Cat Singh, right? I'm Frankie." Xe returned the smile. This event was just as much catching up with people as meeting new ones for Frankie. "And my evening is going great. How about yours?"

The woman blinked in surprise when the other could pull out her name, but then dismissed it. She did write for the paper after all. But there was something about the other seemed familiar. "Yes, that is correct! Have you read some of my articles before?" she questioned, trying to get to the root of why xe knew her full name. "That is great to hear. It has certainly been entertaining, although part of me wishes I could bow out for a minute to people watch, you know what I mean?"

Frankie thought for a moment. "Most likely, but I recognize you from high school. I was only a couple years above you. It's fine if you don't remember me though." Xe looked around at the people in the restaurant. "Observing can be fun, but I do enjoy interacting with people. This event could use more breaks, though." "Oh goodness, I didn't remember you. I feel like I should have. You're an administrator at Edgewood High now, aren't you?" Caterina felt a bit guilty about that, but she had a fairly small circle of actual friends in high school. "I agree. It feels like a whirlwind, I can hardly remember the details of everyone I have met. Regardless, what brings you to this event?" Xe nodded. "That's correct. I'm the Vice Principal now." Xe really wasn't offended to not be remembered, but would take this opportunity to catch up. "I don't think anyone in here expects you to remember what their favorite food or animal is. I'm just here to see new faces around town and catch up with others. It's a fun idea for Valentine's day to have platonic meetings as well." "Is it odd being the Vice Principal of the school you attended?" she couldn't resist the question. Caterina could hardly imagine stepping foot back on the school grounds now. "That's very true. It's all about seeing if there's any chemistry - platonic or romantic. I must say, some of the men here have no idea how to talk to woman, oof," she added in a hushed tone. "I agree. I prefer it to a Valentine's day dance." "In a way, yes, but I no longer remind myself of high school every day. Now it's work." Frankie snorted. "Few do." Regardless of xir gender identity, many men interacted with xim as a cis female. "I don't think they've had a Valentine's Day dance here in years." "Really? How long did it take for that separation to occur?" Caterina couldn't help but snicker in agreement at xir comment. She'd dealt with plenty terrible flirting today. "Really? I remember it was nearly an annual thing during our high school years, but I only recently moved back. Guess I've been out of the loop." "Well, college sure helped. But even when I got back to Ashwood, I guess a few years?" Frankie wished that xir mother had been around to discuss xir decisions and experiences going into education. "I think it was because of a big fight that happened at the dance a few years ago. Some people ran into their ex's and the situation really escalated." Frankie was glad xe hadn't been there. "Where have you been?" Caterina gave a nod at that. Still not something she could wrap her mind around, but that wasn't what she wanted to learn about zim. "Another fight at a dance? This town is really not meant to have formal dances." But now she wanted to know who had started the fight. Maybe she could dig up an old article. "Oh, I've been all over. Mostly in California, but I was in Eastern Europe for some time as part of the Peace Corps. What did you do before becoming the vice principal at the high school?" "Apparently not," Frankie conceded. "Wow, that's really cool. To be honest, I haven't left Edgewood much. I just went to college for education and started working right away. What got you into journalism?" The woman grinned at their compliment. "Thank you. Oh, travel is amazing if you can do so. It really helps expand your world view. Part of it was travelling and meeting so many interesting people. Another part was frustration with how the truth can be obscured...or glossed over for preferable tales. I think it is important the truth be told...but what about you?" "I think it's important that people take the opportunities to see the world when they can. Sometimes Edgewood feels like its own little world." That wasn't always a negative thing, though. Some people had completely fulfilling lives in their hometowns. "I'm sure you see a lot of misinformation in your field. It's great that you are driven to fight that, though. As for me, I also hold the truth in high regard. But I understand that truth can be relative. I was a history teacher before joining administration, so I know all about there being two sides to a story." "Day in and out. It feels like I'm sifting through lies sometimes and mining for truth. But thank you. It is fulfilling to finally get to the bottom of different issues." That was a little bit of an exaggeration, but she did still deal with lies more often than not. "I'm sure you deal with it enough being the vice principal, too, huh? Do you deal with students much in administration? I honestly never quite knew what the role principal or vice principal entailed."

"That sounds difficult." Xe laughed. "Yes, we do hear many lies from the students. Like many jobs, it's mostly paperwork and meetings, but I try to be involved with students, more than is strictly required." Caterina gave a hum of acknowledgement. "That makes sense..." there were questions she wanted to ask xim, but none she knew she would get answers to. There wasn't much time left on the clock, but Caterina was terrible at sitting in silence. "How have you been enjoying your evening thus far? Meet any exciting people?" Frankie was fine with the silence that settled for a moment, though xe was aware that the timer was ticking. "It has been going pretty well. I enjoy catching back up with people, such as yourself." Xe gestured towards Caterina. "As for interesting people, I do think that one man was using this event to build his pyramid scheme. He did make selling candles sound very tempting." Caterina beamed at the compliment. "Yes, it really is excellent to reconnect with different locals." Especially now that she had her life together and correct any misconceptions about where she was in life now. "There are pyramid schemes for selling candles? I thought they were usually for management or workout classes, you know?" Frankie shrugged. Xe would admit though that candles made an odd pyramid scheme. Some years selling candles would be a fundraiser for some clubs at school, though. "Yankee Candle should watch its back though." Xe dug in her purse and pulled out a business card then showed it to Caterina. "They even have business cards. What about you? Meet anyone interesting?" The woman couldn't help but snicker at zir comment. "Business cards too?" She eyed them in amazement. "Wow, yeah, these sure do scream that something fishy is going on. I can't say I've met anyone quite that interesting, mostly been reconnecting with people in town...though there was one man parading around as an expert in love. I'm sure you know as well as I do what that means, but from an outside standpoint, he was interesting." "I would have to say that they are well made, but the design choice is a bit questionable. I don't think they are getting a call from me." Xe put the business card back in xir purse, fully intending to throw it away later. Frankie laughed. "I'm honestly not sure that I do, but I don't think I would trust him on it." Caterina let out a hum hearing Frankie's comment. "Well...just that, he thinks he is some sort of womanizer, but he either has a lot of 'notches in his belt, because women have faked it around him', he just think he knows what women want, or some combination of the two. Either way, he knows nothing of women or love is what that means."

Frankie winced. "Oof. He sounds full of himself. And I don't see why they would think potential partners would be impressed by their past relationships?"

Caterina shook her head. "I can only guess that they think having any experience, regardless of how poor it is, is impressive." Before Caterina could dive any further into the topic with xim, the buzzer rang loudly. "Oh, I guess that is the end of our time. It was a pleasure to catch up with you again, Frankie. Perhaps we should do this again sometime?"

Frankie agreed with a smile. "Yes, it was nice to catch back up with you, Caterina. I hope to see you around."

#edgewoodevent #event: speed meet #c01: frankie #vpholloway

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