Trish nodded. "Yeah, finding new restaurants definitely has possibilities. We can scope out reviews in advance."

Dan, who'd been chatting with a few soccer players, leaned over to the girls. "What has possibilities? Girls wearing bikinis to school?"

The girls frowned at him.

"Don't you wish!" Trish snapped. "We were talking about Ella and Sara's upcoming double date. They're trying to find a good place in Manhattan."

Dan's eyes widened. "I know lots of places."

Sara took another bite of her vanilla pudding. She waited expectantly.

"Well, that is, if you all like hole-in-the-wall pizza joints." He slapped the table with his hand and laughed loudly.

"That was very insightful," Ella grumbled. She sighed. "Sara, why don't you ask your boy where he planned to take you? Oh, and do tell him that Bentley and I will now be joining you." She sipped her milk through a straw.

"Yikes. Yeah, I better let him know this new plan," Sara giggled. As she sent the text message to Kurt, she could only anticipate his expression, upon reading it, would be as horrified as Bentley's.

Dan turned his attention to Sara. "So...double date, huh? Who's your new guy?" He lifted an eyebrow. "Or girl?" Standing up, he did an exaggerated look around the room. "Anyone I know?" He sat back down. "It's me, right?" He winked at her and took a bite of his apple.

Sara smiled kindly at him. He was really cute. But before she could say anything, Ella interrupted.

"It's Kurt Mayor, dork!" she said, sipping her milk.

Dan rested his elbows on the table. "Seriously? Kurt's in college."

Ella poked him in the shoulder with her fork. "Dude, college guys can be fun," she laughed.

Dan stuck out his tongue. "Kurt's cousin is in that film. What's it called? X-Men Take Mars? I just saw it a month ago. It's terrific. They made bank on that flick!"

He took another bite of his apple. He chewed with his mouth open. "Sara, you should tell Kurt to have his cousin, Ryan, cast you in the next movie. You're hot."

Ella swatted him upside the head. "Quit hitting on her, Dan. She has a boyfriend."

Dan chugged a glass of juice. He wiped his mouth on his sleeve. "Still, even a minor speaking role in a hit movie can be a good deal. If you're lucky. It's worth a shot," Dan said.

Sara balanced her chin in her hands. "Kurt said his character gets eaten by a monster!"

Dan roared with laughter, thumping his fists on the table. "Okay, then. I have GOT to see that movie when it comes out. Watching Kurt get creamed by a sharp-toothed, gloppy creature from Mars would be the HIGHLIGHT of my life. He was so hardheaded his senior year here."

Dan wiped tears from his eyes. "Sara, if you're in the X-Men movie, you and Kurt might get eaten by the Mars monster, together!" He flung a hand over his face. "SAVE ME, KURT! SAVE ME!" Dan said.

Trish finished her salad. "I don't want to see Sara get eaten by a gross Mars monster." She hugged Sara.

Surprised, Sara hugged her back. "Thank you, Trish!"

"Well," Ella said. "Maybe that Mars monster is allergic to girls? Sara could sacrifice Kurt instead!" She leaned towards Sara from across the table. "We can all plan to watch it together and cheer!"

Sara made a face. "Ironically, we already have a Mars monster! Our field hockey Coach Mars, aka The Martian?"

Ella and Trish gave her air fives. "Totally, true, girl," Ella said.

Sara dug into her bag. She found her lip gloss and started to reapply it to her lips.

"Oh, can I have some?" Ella asked. She reached forward and snatched the lip gloss out of Sara's hands.

"Sure. Help yourself," Sara said. Ella really had no manners!

Dan burped loudly. Apparently, neither did Dan.

Sara's phone beeped. She glanced at it. And started laughing again.

Kurt had responded to her text message about the double date with Ella and Bentley.

-Do not show this message to Ella. (screaming face emoji) ~Kurt