Free Do-Overs by Christine Jarmola Page A

a no-win relationship no matter how badly I wanted to try.
    “It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance. I’m sure I will see you around,” he said as he turned to go.
    I had blown my perfect opportunity. I grabbed my purse and started digging for my eraser, my lifeline to hoping I could change the last two-minute conversation and say something that would make him stay. But, I couldn’t find it. I remembered with frustration that it was in my other purse from the afternoon. No chance to change the past. I was stuck like every other mortal, with only one timeline and no alternate responses. It didn’t feel fair. I wanted my do-over. I had come to expect this ability and felt cheated when I couldn’t. Was I really about to through a temper tantrum like a two-year-old simply because I had to live a segment of my life in the original time sequence like the rest of the world?
    Lurking in the back of my mind was a slow revelation that I had become spoiled. Maybe I was relying too much on magic and not enough on my own abilities. I didn’t like contemplating the fact. So I didn’t.
    For the moment I would have to rely on my own witty resourcefulness, which were hovering on empty. I was a goner. The moment had passed and he was walking away. And still I stood there my jaw hanging open like a mouth breathing dweeb and nothing witty or smart or even audible came forth.
    I started to make a frantic run to get the eraser in hopes there would be adequate time to redo the whole meeting.
    I stopped short of the sprint when miraculously he turned back and gave me an unsure smile. “I know you’re really busy and I have to get to a meeting myself, but maybe later, if you get your research done and you don’t have to do anything else majorly pressing,” and then he gave a self-conscience laugh, “What I’m trying to say, but not doing a very efficient job at, is would you like to, maybe, if you can find the time, go get some coffee—with me that is—later this evening?”
    Stop, Lottie, I told myself. Think. Don’t blow it. Just say yes. Keep it simple. Play it cool. “Sure, I’d love to. I only have a few hours of work. I’ll be through by 8:30.” Yep, I was so cool.
    “Usually I’m not done in the theater until twelve or one when we are in production. But tonight is just a theater club meeting. We should be finished about 8:30.”
    I gave a smiling nod. I sure hoped I wasn’t drooling on myself. Then ol’ Mister Reality checked in. Why was I so elated? Nothing had changed. Sure now I would get to know Al Dansby, but that would only make things worse. He was still unobtainable and I was still ridiculously infatuated.

 
     
     
     
    -17-
    Nobody Ever Said That Life Was Fair
     
     
    Waiting is one of those tiresome activities that takes no effort, yet still leaves you exhausted. So there I waited in the reading room of the library, for a coffee date with a guy that I sadly knew I had no future with. Yet, I anxiously waited still.
    No research had been done after leaving him earlier at the library. Rather I had rushed back to the dorm for a quick wardrobe update, mouthwash, make-up touch-up and more deodorant for good measure.
    “I thought you went to the library?” Stina said when she saw me back in the room. She and Rachel had just returned from a nutrition run to the grocery store, more cookie dough and Diet D.P.
    “I’m going out for coffee with a guy.”
    “Well, finally. You’ve been here for four months and no dates. Not that they haven’t been interested. So who is the lucky dude you finally consented to spend some time with?” asked Stina moving a pile of clothes off of her bed to sit down. It had taken a few dry runs to find the right outfit for coffee. One that said this is no big deal while at the same time making a statement that would last for a lifetime.
    “I hadn’t realized I was putting guys off. No one has asked.” Okay actually a few had, but with a time manipulation I had rewritten