"We have two choices, the way I see it. Either we prove her wrong and make our dating for real, or at the end of all this we can declare ourselves Best Actor and Actress at this year's Academy Award," Vince said while looking at her in a strange way and continued, "What exactly do you mean by you don't really date like that?" Vince asked curiously.
"That's not important," she shot back, feeling too vulnerable already.
"If I know nothing about you, especially about your dating history, then that is really going to make it obvious that we're lying. I'd say it's very important." She knew he was right, but explaining her love life to someone else suddenly made it sound worse than it had always seemed to her.
"I don't date at all, okay? I find a certain comfort of having the occasional, sometimes more than occasional, man in my bed, but that's where it ends. I generally never see the person again unless I need something."
"That actually sounds kind of sad, Clarke. You're really missing out."
"You're crazy," she scoffed. "Most men dream of finding a woman that can give them what they want without any attachment. The only thing I'm missing out on is being stuck with someone; being tied down or being heart broken." She leaned back in her seat and crossed her arms.
"Those are not men; they are boys. And they are liars. Deep down, we all want more but are too afraid to go for it. Guys are bad at failing. You're missing out on the adventure of being in love. That is a tragedy, Clarke." Clarke glanced up into his eyes for a moment and then looked away.
"Love is a joke; something made up. It doesn't last," she responded, matter-of-factly.
"How do you know? Have you ever been in love?"
"No, but I know someone who was." Her mind drifted back to the picture of the blonde man with the pretty eyes who had his arm around her mother. Love had turned her mother into a bitter perfectionist when she used to be this beautiful care free young woman.
"Well, I know that if love came along for me, I wouldn't want to miss it even if I knew I'd only lose them in the end. But I've always wanted to experience everything out there, you know?" But back to this dinner party. What should I wear? I don't know if my wardrobe is that up to par with what all these rich people are going to be wearing."
She looked Vince up and down and made a face at his dirty torn jeans. Hopefully he owned something else because he was right. "Think Sunday best or nicer if you have it."