Page 5 of Luna Ascending

A bottle of wine and nothing to eat later, and I've somehow agreed to traipse into town for a night out. Only after I agree does Liz fish a bizarre looking flyer for 'Dating With a Difference' from her elegantly large purse and thrusts it at me.

Mates-4-Life are throwing a light hearted speed-dating night for all creeds. Mates-4-Life is the UK's #1 singles events company in the market. We host exclusive events tailored to YOUR unique needs – this invite indicates you've been specially selected and we think you could find your potential match at our highly sought-after event. You may invite a friend, but be sure to request management add them to our exclusive guest list by texting “MATES-4-LIFE”. We're excited to see you at the event.

“What a weird flyer!” I glance towards Liz “No... noooo! LIZ!”

She peers hopefully at me and my heart sinks

“I've got you on the guest list...I knew you'd keep me company. I need a rebound!”

“It's fucking speed dating Liz – You KNOW I'll hate it. Anyway, I have nothing to wear!” Even to me it sounds weak and whiny, and she looks undeterred.

Liz pulls a brand new dress from one of her many shopping bags and thrusts it at me. It fits, rather too well, and I glower at her in suspicion. This feels like a set up. I'm about to scold her when I catch a glimpse of myself in the mirror.

The emerald green cloth clings in all the right places, and it highlights my copper curls amazingly. I awkwardly admire my own reflection, fiddling with my charm bracelet.

“I wish you'd take that old thing off” Liz grumbles “It doesn't go with anything!”

“Would you listen to yourself?” I retort “you sound like a teenage fashionista! You know it's special – I've not seen my aunty since the day she gave me it! It stays on.”

Liz rolls her eyes and goes back to finalising a lift. It's a small miracle, considering what very different lives we lead, that we've become friends.

There's Little Miss Rich-Kid not thinking twice about demanding her chauffeur transport us in luxury to some fancy-ass hotel half way across town and there's me, a school librarian, who scrapes together enough money to get the bus to work, and occasionally has to walk. And this is my life far better than where it started out.

By the time we're stepping into the leather innards of the sleek black car I'm seriously regretting agreeing to this. Liz on the other hand seems determined to forget her woes and is gearing up to make a night of it. She eyes my shoes critically, “You need to show those legs off more – I should've lent you some proper heels”

“Nope” I say resolutely “this is going to be awkward enough tonight without me stumbling around like bloody Bambi on the Lambrini!”

The venue is high class, and the security on the door seems a little extreme, even for a bunch of rich kids with rich daddies.

The speed dating goes as badly as I could have imagined; none of the men who sit down at my table seem remotely interested or interesting. Liz, of course, attracted several long looks as soon as one of her sleek high heeled boots touched the marbled floor. It was like they smelled her pheromones – heads turned.

It's a relief when we reach the evening's halfway point. There should be enough time to grab anther drink and collar Liz. Surely she has to be feeling this highly contrived evening has run its course? Perhaps we can sneak off early.

Once I track down Liz, it's clear we are having very, very different evenings. I groan inwardly.

“He's here” she hisses in my ear, half deafening me “and, he's down to be one of my speed dates!” She fails to hide a smug grin “He actually looked almost pleased to see me, surprised, but pleased.”

And there vanishes my hope of spending the rest of the evening on the sofa with a hot chocolate and girly movie.

I wonder if she had an idea he might be here... I eye her with a degree of suspicion, but she's now trawling through the list of names on my speed dating app trying to look innocent.

“Oh, he's on your list too” she points out the name 'Tavey' “Don't you be stealing him now!”

“Ladies, Gentlemen, and Everyone Else, if you would like to take your positions the second half of this evening is about to begin” the tannoy booms “We hope you enjoy your night. Swipe right on any interesting dates on our fabulous new app – mutual matches will be sent phone numbers and you can take your romance from there! Remember to tell your family, friends and packs you met at MATES-4-LIFE!”

What a weird turn of phrase! I don't have time to consider the guy's bizarre diction because a large, well muscled man plonks himself down ungraciously in the seat opposite. Looking slightly goofy he stretches out an arm to introduce himself.

“Tavey!! And you are??”

“Freya... pretty sure it says on my name tag”

I have to admit I quite like the look of this guy, Liz's guy, but the evening is draining me of the ability to make pleasant small talk. He doesn't look perturbed, instead letting out a big guffaw of laughter.

“Itispretty awful, isn't it?!” Tavey says loudly in the direction of the organiser, earning himself a glare “but... these things serve a purpose I guess?” He looks less certain.

“If the purpose is to waste hours of my life I'll never claw back, sure” I grin.

The next 5 minutes pass quickly– I can really see why Liz likes this guy. I'm not attracted to him, but he's so easy to talk to it's a huge relief. With all my other dates tonight it's either been like pulling teeth, or they've talked to my breasts the whole time.

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