All in the Games Work Part 1

Cienna is new to Dallas, Tx, and is feeling out the dating scene as well as trying to determine what it is she wants in a relationship at this fragile place in her life.

Cienna sat on her couch in an over sized sweatshirt, yoga pants, and rollers in her hair. She had just gotten her Chinese take out, and was starting to get into her reality TV back-to-back marathon. Just as the opening theme song started to play, she hears her cellphone ring. DAMON LAME-O showed up on the screen, and she immediately rolled her eyes reluctantly answering the phone. “Hey You…What’s going on?” She tried to sound genuinely interested since he always accused her of sounding unhappy when he called. Damon chimed in “I’m good, chillin, trying to see what you got planned for tonight? Or are you kickin at the crib?” Damon was trying to feel her out and see if she was free and down for a visit. Cienna quickly wanted to erase the notion that she was free, so she came up with a believable story. “No, I’m actually getting ready to head out with my girls. You know, drinks, gossip, that whole thing.” (Ugh.. why must I do this day after day) She thought to herself. Cienna lied so easily when she wanted to, and could turn down a date like nobody else. All she really wanted was to sit on her couch, catch up on old Real Housewives reruns, and eat her food. Damon had been beating around the bush of asking her out for weeks, he constantly tried to give the impression that he wasn’t interested in her, and just wanted to be “casual” friends. Cienna could tell what he really wanted, and therefore she tried desperately to avoid being alone with him. He would only call after 8pm, and always phrased his request to hangout as; What you got up tonight? or Getting into anything later? She hated when men approached her like she was just something they could “do”, or like she was some random girl they could just call up for a good time, or some easy jump-off, and refused to be treated as such. Therefore, she did what any normal woman would do in this situation; she played the game….

“Ohh Damon, I thought about you; but I never heard back from you after I sent you that text earlier today, so I assumed you were busy. Had you called sooner I’d be free, and it’s too late to break my plans with my girls, we haven’t caught up in weeks. Another time I’m sure.” Cienna said in a sexy, but sad tone. Although being out with him was the last thing on Earth she wanted to do, she still wanted him to feel "special". Damon was a short, bald, beady eyed, fat guy, and he usually smelled like cheap cologne. What made matters worse, he was arrogant and cocky, simply because he was educated, had a good job, and thought very little of women. Cienna would have cut him lose weeks ago, only he was a good conversation when he wasn’t being himself. She was also an educated, successful, funny, and talented woman, but for some reason she kept meeting men who would only see her as a piece of a*s, and nothing more. Even with all his flaws, she didn’t have the heart to embarrass or hurt him, so she sweetly brushed him off from when he tried to invite her out last minute, or when he expected her to be free. Damon feeling a little put off, tried his best to show he was a little interested in seeing her, without sounding desperate. “Well do you know where y’all going? I mean, we could hook up later, you know maybe if we’re in the same area, I could stop through.” He said so nonchalantly as if he didn’t care either way. “Yeah, that would be great, I’ll keep you posted.. Bye!” She said sweetly, as she tossed her phone to the other end of her sofa, as if to move it and him as far as way from her as possible. Cienna had already met her share of losers since moving to Dallas from her small town of Bridgewater, Indiana. There was Randy, who has 7 children by 4 different women in 3 different states. Then there was Albert who seemed to be more interested in, let’s just say the other team. Then she was set up on a blind date with Trae’, short for Trae’Mario who has 4 kids, and a full mouth of gold teeth, claiming to be a successful entrepreneur, however he didn't own anything, that she knew of. After each date she waited on Ashton to jump out and scream “PUNK’D”! Only her life wasn’t a show, but each guy was truly a joke.

Aveena, Cienna’s older sister, called her from a cab while she was headed to the airport from Denver, Colorado. “So, what did you end up doing last night? The usual dinner and a movie I suspect.” Aveena said jokingly. “Of course, what other way to stay away from drugs, morons, and unplanned pregnancy. But no, seriously; do you remember that guy Damon I told you about? Well he asked me out AGAIN.” Cienna sighed so loud it sounded like wind rushing through the phone. “Wait he asked you out and you said no?” “Well he didn’t ask me out on a date, he asked what I had going on, and it was already almost 9pm on a Saturday night. He assumed that I didn’t have anything planned, and he could just catch a young hot desperate girl at home.” "Bahahahahaha, ohh so he figured he was just gonna run up on you huh?" Aveena laughed so loud in the phone, as her sister shared her sad story with her. “What’s so funny? I’m serious. What makes a man think he can call you up on a Friday, or Saturday night after 7pm and assume you aren’t doing anything? That’s a game! He’s trying to see if you’re free, and if you are chances are you aren’t with anyone, or aren’t meeting anyone. They think they can offer some free company, come eat your food, drink your alcohol, and possibly get lucky. It’s tired and it’s old. I can do better.” Cienna was very stern in her statement. Aveena knew her sister was head strong, and believed if she felt this way about a guy, then it could very well be true. “The game is simple, you call after 7pm, and ask me to meet you the same night; it’s not gonna happen. You call me on the weekend and ask me out after not speaking to me all week; it’s not gonna happen. Make time for me, and I’ll make time for you. Treat me like a jump off, and you can keep hopping to the next broad.” Cienna knew how the game was played, and wasn’t interested in playing by anyone’s rules, except her own…