“Why in gods name am I here?” Zoe groaned.

“Well it was recommended that once we leave the academy that we try and meet normal people.” Chloe started.

“Normal people,” scoffed Zoe, looking around the room. It was a drab room with scuffed wood floors and a dozen sets of chairs sat in fours. The walls were pasty white with cracked paint and there was a small cork board with blue felt with flyers about events in the locks area none of which would have interested Zoe so she didn’t bother looking closer.

“Oh you know what I mean.” Chloe shushed as more people filed into the room.

Chloe had made sure they were early so that the duo could ‘get chairs’ but in reality Zoe knew her sister was nervous. Having never been on a real date before she thought this speed dating shtick would be her way to find that.

If only she realised the boys at the academy and how so many swooned over her. Or maybe she did and wanted something different. Nah, her sister was smart but not smart in that way.

A duo of unimposing men sat across from the twins.

“I would like to thank you all for coming to our speed dating extravaganza” the unassuming woman in the middle of the room said.

Chloe elbowed Zoe in the side who hissed and scowled at her twin.

“Stop with that face,” Chloe said. “You’ll scare anyone who sits with us.”

“If they get scared by a look they won’t survive seeing you first thing in the morning.” Zoe laughed as Chloe huffed.

“Well I guess your right.” Chloe said, placing her hands in front of her mouth.

Her sister knew she was now racing through questions, ever since they were little this pose was Chloe’s ‘thinker’ it would also muffle her voice to which Zoe had started making a game of how many different ways she could tell her sister to move her hands.

“Stop thinking about it.” Zoe ordered, slapping Chloe’s wrists causing her head to jolt down. Laughing internally Zoe knew that was her favourite way of interrupting her sisters train of thought, despite there being many other options.

“You’re right,” Chloe nodded. “Let’s just enjoy it.”

“Unlikely.” Zoe smirked.

The woman blew her whistle and the shrill noise sounded the start of the three minute window to talk to the other pair.

Zoe couldn’t contain her boredom and yawned widely barely five seconds into the man’s introduction. He faltered and she smiled, he wasn’t going to be the one for her sister.

The first pair were painfully boring, Zoe had hopes for the second pair until she look at their haircuts and rolled her eyes. It looked like one firm slap would shatter the brittle hair on their little heads.

Zoe couldn’t believe there was so much hair product in the world to make hair look like that. But Chloe kept trying bless her, asking interesting question and getting bland responses.

Zoe was sick of these boys and their answer so shushed them mid sentence.

“Neither of you would be able to handle my sister. Sit in silence until we are done.”

“But-“

“Ah ah ah. Sweet silence from you.” Zoe hushed.

“Stop scaring everyone, I want to actually talk with someone.” Chloe complained.

“If they would stop shrinking away from me maybe they would have a chance.”

“You scare them before they can even get there, look next time just don’t say anything.”

“Fine,” Zoe huffed. Still not sure how Chloe managed to convince her to join her here.

“And no staring them down either.” Chloe added, Zoe shaking her head.

“No fun.”

The twins sat through several more pairs to no avail. Chloe had some fun talking to one man but she decided not to pursue after Zoe had convinced her she could do better.

“Urgh, what a waste of time.” Chloe moaned.

“Yeah it was,” Zoe agreed as Chloe looked to the floor in disappointment. “But, you still put yourself out there. That’s important.”

“What?”

“Ah ah. Don’t ruin the moment. You’ve done well, next time you meet people out and about you’ll remember your standards, at least you better.”

“Ha ha. You care about meeee.” Chloe smiled, bumping into her sister as they walked.

“I hate you.” Zoe said, bumping her sister back harder.

“You want me to be happyyyyyyy.” Chloe laughed bumping her sister even harder as the two returned home. Slamming into eachother harder and harder until Zoe knocked into Chloe bouncing her over the hood of a car. Both sisters laughing as Chloe got off the floor.