_________________________________________
Analysis indicates a
Relationship Score of 68 out of 1000.
The readout on his headsup display did not
bode well for the remainder of his date. She was likely seeing the same
information right now — assuming she’d kept the readout active during their
date — and was trying to figure out a way to get out quickly. Max thought back
to the rules about paying based on relationship score. At a 68 he shouldn’t
have to pay for the date. But if she wasn’t looking at the score then he might
still need to pay. But if she was
looking at the score and he tried to pay she would know that he’d given up. Max
kept his focus on Sue’s face. He did his best to not look up and to the right
where the display hovered. The lens made the text look as if it floated just at
the edge of his peripheral vision, but if he looked toward it, it would slide
into view and give him contextual options that he could navigate by looking
around. Normally it wouldn’t be a big deal — like if he was riding in a car on
the way to work — but Sue seemed very fixated on eye contact, so Max had
trouble using his headsup without being caught. That was probably another
reason why he’d gotten a 68. Usually just getting her name right scored at
least a hundred. Sue really did not like him.
“I had a nice time,” Max tried to wrap
things up. Even if he played every move right from here on out the best he
could hope for would be a 150. That wasn’t even good enough for people to share
a cubical at work, let alone go on a second date.
“Yeah,” Sue wasn’t even bothering to
continue with the pleasantries. That took some of the pressure off at least.
Max reached out to the sensor in the middle
of the table. The communication chip in his hand connected to the payment
system at the bar and his headsup gave him the option of paying the whole bill
or splitting up the check. He froze for a moment. The same quandary. But did it
really matter? His score was so hopelessly low that nothing could help him. But
Sue might leave a review of the date on his profile. A bad score wasn’t all his
fault, but not paying for the date would be a sure sign to other women that Max
wasn’t worth the time. He flicked his eyes across the options and paid for her
too-expensive cocktail along with his own beers.
Sue slid a smile across her mouth that her
eyes didn’t agree with, “Thanks.”
“Sure, want me to call you a car?” Max knew
the polite things to say.
“No, mine’s been circling for a while.”
Not only did she own her own car, but she’d
had it circling. She didn’t even consider Max worthy of sending her car to park
itself. She wanted to be able to leave instantly. And there she went.
__________________________________________
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