Isaac got out of his car and walked up the path to the front door. It had been some time since he had last gone on a date. For that matter it had been some time since he had last left Taylor alone for longer than it took to do the grocery shopping. So he was nervous for two reasons.
He was just lifting his hand to knock on the door when it swung open.
"Hi Ike," Nikki said cheerfully.
"Hi," Isaac smiled. "How you doing?"
"I'm good," she replied, stepping out and closing the door behind her.
"That's good."
The two headed to the car.
It was funny how things worked out. They had continued to talk to each other after the whole "convince Tad we're going to murder someone" thing. Nikki never knew the real story behind their pranking Tad. Isaac still wasn't sure what cover story Zac had given them, but he and Nikki never really spoke about it, so what did it matter?
The two were headed for the local ten pin bowling, following that with, well, whatever the kiosk felt like serving. It had been Nikki's idea, and Isaac didn't mind - but it was the first date he'd taken anyone on that didn't involve the classic 'dinner and a movie'. Well, except for Myra, but that was 'lunch and a movie'.
"I should warn you," Nikki said as they put on their bowling shoes. "I suck at this."
"It was your idea," Isaac pointed out.
"Just because I'm bad at this, doesn't mean I don't like it."
Isaac laughed.
The game began. Isaac (who was being a good boy and not cheating by using his telekinesis), went first (despite his gentlemanly offer to let Nikki go first). He knocked down four on his first roll and two on his second.
Then Nikki had her turn and made a strike. After she had finished doing her little dance of excitement, Isaac eyed her suspiciously.
"You weren't trying to lure me into a false sense of security with that 'I really suck at this' comment, were you?"
Nikki laughed.
"Nah," she replied. "The irony gods are just trying to make a fool of me."
"Ahh, I see. The irony gods."
"Yep."
"I have a friend named Marco who talks about those," Isaac mused as he picked up a bowling ball.
"See? I'm not the only one who's aware of their existance."
"I wonder. Do the irony gods have their own following? Y'know, worshippers, churches..."
"Ironically, no."
Isaac laughed.
Not long after the strike, Nikki did nothing but throw gutterballs for about three or four rounds, and Isaac came off the winner of that game by about thirty points. In the second game, they both improved, but Isaac still beat Nikki, this time by forty-seven.
They stopped to have hot dogs, hot chips and drinks, and then Isaac took Niiki back home.
"That was fun," Nikki said. "We should do that again sometime."
"Sure," Isaac agreed.
There was a momentary pause, then Nikki reached around to give Isaac a hug. Isaac hugged back, and kissed her cheek. Then they parted, and Nikki went back into her home, and Isaac got into the car and returned to his.