Almost Pt. 03.2

"Truth is everybody is going to hurt you: you just gotta find the ones worth suffering for." - Bob Marley

Note: This is a small add-on to finish up Part 3. Working on part 4 and hope to have it up soon.

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Cheryl went thru Dan's door and left it open before she sat down his bed. Dan turned away in his chair from the computer and smiled, "Good morning Cheryl, how's my favorite matchmaker?". She smiled to him and asked, "Hi Ya Dan. I'm good, but you know why I'm here. So, tell me, Dan, what did you think of Samantha? Did you like her?"

It was time to pay the price of admission into the dating world for Dan. And that price was to be paid to Cheryl with some honest answers. The easy part was Cheryl, was the only other young women besides his sister Deb he could say anything to without feeling uncomfortable. He enthused, "First I want to say, Cheryl... you are the best! Holy Smokes! Before last night I would never have believed that you could find someone I think is so perfect. I don't know how Samantha feels, but I enjoyed myself immensely. She knocked me out. I've been so busy this past year that I haven't had much of a social life, and last night it was suddenly clear. Like a light bulb going off over my head I became aware just how lonely the single life can be. And no matter which way this goes, I owe you big time. If you ever, and mean EVER need a favor, I don't care what it is; I will do whatever I can to help you. Please, I really mean that. Just say the word, and I'm there for you."

There is a point in everyone's life when we lose our innocence, but as long as it's still in someone's eyes, they still have it. Cheryl could still see a flicker of that remaining in his eyes. Everything he said was with such sincerity. And the way he was smiling when he spoke made Cheryl smile back even more at his excitement and simple spirit of goodness. Maybe Dan had grown up under a bubble. So what? He wasn't afraid of looking uncool nor was he scared, to be honest with her on how he felt.

Cheryl beamed backed, " So what did you like about her? Was she too fat for you?"

Cheryl was going to get a few pokes in before this conversation was over. Very cheeky ones that Dan easily surrendered to suffer because felt he had it coming.

Thinking for a moment for the right words, "Cheryl, what was there not to like about her? I loved her brown eyes and her hair. What ever perfume she was wearing was intoxicating. She has a killer smile and beautiful lips. But, I need to ask you something... "

Pausing a second, "Ahem...Cheryl, don't you think Samantha is a bit out of my league? I felt like was with a movie star last night and couldn't help but wonder, why in the heck would this woman want to date me? She's like a 10, and I'm a what? 5, maybe 6 tops. Did you do good by me? Sure enough, but I don't believe Samantha got much of a deal with me last."

Cheryl considered each and everything Dan said carefully before replying. "Dan, let's get something clear before we discuss last night anymore. I'm going to say some things that are true, but don't let them go to your head? K?"

Dan became more serious as he leaned back in his chair and nodded affirmatively.

Cheryl laughed out loud, "Dan relax already!" She couldn't help but laugh again before she spoke, "This isn't a police interrogation! I just want you to understand that you ARE a very attractive man. I know 7 or 8 other women that would be happy to go out with you anytime. And guess what? Samantha thinks you are a ...well, I haven't asked her if you're a 9 or 10 yet, but you're a really good looking man. I think you're a good looking man. And if we were to questioned a group of women in a random survey, they would all agree that you're a good looking man. This is the last time I am going to discuss this with you, so get rid of whatever nonsense you have running thru that thick head of yours that, "Samantha is out of your league." Personally, I believe you and Samantha make an awesome looking couple. I know, I made the match myself.", Cheryl laughed.

Dan was leaning forward again in his chair hanging on every sentence. Cheryl's words to boost his self-esteem was working as he held on to each one. Cheryl had to get him to lighten up a bit, but before she could, Dan confessed, "Cheryl, I said something really stupid last night after you and Brian left. I mentioned before I hadn't been on a date in a while (like never) and...."

Cheryl saw the discomfort in his face and gently replied back, " It was a first date. People can say things that seem to come out wrong. It doesn't mean a thing. Do you mind if I ask what you said?"

Dan looked directly into Cheryl's eyes and then down at his feet. "Well, Samantha and I were talking back and forth, and I ran out of things to say..."

Cheryl was finding this quite amusing, but the suspense was killing her. What could he have said that would be so offensive. "That happens Dan, what you say?"

" I asked Samantha, did she believe in love at first sight?"

Cheryl would have burst out laughing if Dan wasn't so serious, " Dan, you're worried because you said something like that to Sam? That's a big compliment. There are only three things women need in life: compliments, compliments, and compliments. I mean sure, that was a big one for a first date. I take it Sam didn't like it?"

"I don't think so. Samantha got all serious after that. But then she gave me her phone number later so; I don't know what to think. "

"Then Dan, you did exactly the right thing. I'm not saying what you said would work for just anyone. Samantha is a very sensible woman. And a sensible woman is guided by her head when she's dating, and by her heart when looking for love. You showed your vulnerability, and those feelings are your soft spot. Women know men have to have a soft spot. Why do you think she gave you her phone number?"

Dan was now muddled more than ever. "So have you spoken with her yet? I was thinking of asking her out again."

"We did speak, and she told me she had a nice evening."

Dan remained silent and looked into Cheryl's face for more. A little disappointed add, "That's it?"

With her teacher/student tone she added, " Dan this is the adventure of dating. You need to ask her yourself those kind of questions. They make up part of the communication that facilitates a relationship. Also, a lot of guys are very intimidated by an attractive woman like Samantha. I'm not going to keep saying this, but Sam thinks you are handsome, ok? You get it now?"

Dan never saw himself as a handsome man. He never thought himself as the kind of guy women would find attractive. A lot of women had flirted with Dan, but he never picked up their intention that's what they were doing. He just thought they were being nice.

That's the problem when you a genius.

The absent minded professor type of genius that is. An absent minded professor isn't stupid. They are forever spinning the Rubik's cube within their mind looking for solutions to problems while doing the most mundane task; like, while sitting at a party. The few parties Dan had attended in past year on campus were by orders of the Agency. It was important for him to appear like a regular student for security reasons.

His task at these parties was simple. Mix and mingle with the other students and repeat the same story over and over again. "Hi, I'm Dan Hamilton. Yeah, it's my first year. No, I don't get out much cause of my course load. What am I studying? Some technical stuff with computers as a minor but my major is theoretical and applied mathematics. But it doesn't come easy for me. I also have a part time job that keeps me busy, so that's why you haven't seen me around before. What are you studying?"

The first month before school, he practiced that story provided by the Agency over and over again until it became a reflex for him to repeat it anytime the question about his curricular activities came up in conversation. But the truth of the matter? Well, that's another story.

Alexander Daniel Hamilton had been a child prodigy. In psychology research literature, the term child prodigy is defined as a person under the age of ten who produces meaningful output in some domain (an area of study) to the level of an adult expert performer. Child prodigies are rare, and in some domains, there are no child prodigies at all.

Alexander Daniel Hamilton started reading independently and at the age of 2 watched his father add up his bank statements and corrected him.

Dan was doing junior high school math at the age of three.

Dan had his IQ tested at the age of 5. The child genius scored with an IQ of 173.

With almost no formal training in pure mathematics taught himself college-level calculus at age 7.

Earned the highest SAT score in his state including a perfect 800 in math by age 10.

Generated his own theorems in number theory and Bernoulli numbers by age 11.

Dan was youngest medalist in International Mathematical Olympiad history, won a bronze medal at the International Physics Olympiad at 12 years of age.

Won a Bronze medal at the International Mathematical Olympiad (IMO) at 13.

At the MIT interview entrance examination in mathematics, Dan came first out of all 530 candidates sitting the examination at the age of 14.

Graduated MIT at age 15 with a double major in mathematics/physics.

He sent to Harvard and was awarded Ph.D. at 16 for a dissertation on mathematical logic.

Finally, Dan accepted a position as a full-time assistant professor at MIT at 17 years of age. This is when he became of interest in the Agency.

Indeed, Alexander Daniel Hamilton was a mutant human aberration commonly referred to as a "freak of nature." But in a good way. And even with all of the above, Dan carried terrific memory power regarding general knowledge and geographical statistics. He could recollect details of 213 countries and can answer questions about world geography, per capita income, gross domestic product, politics, the economy, etc. Also, his favorite internet porn was a web site called, "College Girls Gone Wild."

The Agency knew all.

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And then with a sly smile, Cheryl added, " Dan this is the adventure of dating. You need to ask Samantha yourself those kind of questions. They make up part of the communication that facilitates a healthy relationship. Also, a lot of guys are very intimidated by an attractive woman like Samantha. But remember Dan, you're a very handsome man too. And Sam thinks you are handsome, ok?"

At that moment Brian walked into Dan's room still dripping wet from his shower with only a towel loosely wrap around his waist. He looked down at Cheryl sitting on the unmade bed and Dan sitting at his desk. Looking back to Cheryl, "Hon, I got to tell you something you may not want to hear."

Cheryl looked up with concern. "What is it baby?"

Brian looked at Cheryl with a serious expression. "Cheryl, you know I love you right?"

"Sure Brian, what?"

"And that I trust you and Dan being alone?"

"Is the something a matter Brian? I was just talking with Dan about last night. That's all."

"Cheryl, we've always been honest about telling each other how we feel about stuff?"

Dan began to look with concern at Cheryl, "Is everything ok Brian? Are you unhappy about something? "

Brian ignored Dan and continued looking at Cheryl, "Cheryl we know each other pretty well, and I have to say, that seeing YOU sitting on Dan's bed is making me feel uncomfortable."

"Oh Brian, we're just talking sweetie...it's nothing...don't be angry."

"Cheryl let me finish ok! The reason I feel uncomfortable is I know how you are about cleanliness, so if I were you I'm not sure I would be sitting on Dan's bed. "

With that Brian broke out in laughter and walked out of the room.

Cheryl looked at Dan and rolled her eyes. Dan gave a small laugh, and the room became suddenly quiet.

Cheryl let out a deep breath and for the first time looked around the room and finally down at the sheets on Dan's bed. There was a used tissue at the bottom of the right corner of the mattress. Dan saw what she saw at the same time and quickly got up and stumbled grabbing the tissue to throw it away. Cheryl shot off the bed like she suddenly discovered she was sitting on a hot plate. She looked at Dan with the used tissue in his hand and in a slightly embarrassed tone, "So that's about it huh? Ok...well then....we'll talk some more later. "

Cheryl turned completely red with embarrassment, slightly smiled, turned and quickly exited the room while yelling down the hallway, "BRIAN, you're such a DORK!"

Dan heard her as he looked down at the tissue still in his hand, "Fuck, Fuck, Fuck, Fuck...FUCK!"