Modern Knights

Word reached Sebastian that there was a beautiful girl in Dallas. Her father had built a vast empire of pop-up adds before the dot-com bubble. He had gathered many riches. So rich they said were her ornaments that she wore, not one, not two, but three Cartier bracelets around her wrists. Her house, it is said, boasted a moat of Jacuzzis which protected the glistening cars in the driveway. The news of this woman had spread to Sebastian’s native Burbank by way of his friend Robert who attended college with this beauty. Robert, boasting endlessly of her beauty and elegance, had told Sebastian that she did not want to date right now. Robert, out of friendship (and jealousy) had given his word not to reveal the name of the beautiful girl. However, after several beers and incessant pestering, her Instagram handle was revealed to Sebastian. Elated, Sebastian searched her handle, “GraceSmelly.” In a stroke of good fortune, she was public! He could see her photos! He scrolled through them all, one by one, savoring the charm and finesse of each image. However, when he was 18 photographs - and a year – deep his clumsy hands accidentally double tapped on one of the pictures. His own heart froze as the condemning red heart at the bottom left hand side of the screen glared back at him. He had liked a photo of her from too long ago. She would think he was creepy. That was the end of that. Sebastian bid goodbye to his friend and took to bed with a heavy heart and a pit of shame in his stomach. The next morning, Sebastian groggily awoke to the sound of his alarm clock. He reached over to hit snooze on the alarm but as soon as his eyes fell on the screen he felt as if he would never sleep again. For on the screen was a notification from Instagram. “GraceSmelly has liked your photo.” All was not lost! She had liked him back. This was a sign.

Robert was to go back to school the next week and Sebastian’s break extended a week later than that. Coyly, he phoned Robert asking if there was anything going on at his college when Robert came back. Robert replied that there was to be a darty: a veritable feast of gentlemen and maidens of different Greek clans gathered around mead and contests of skill. “I’ll go with you!” Sebastian exclaimed, “I could use a veritable feast.”

Immediately after hanging up, Sebastian called to the other room. In sauntered his twin brother Edgar who has totally been a part of this story the whole time. By all accounts, Edgar was the superior twin. He was smarter; a coder and a debater. Outside of this, Edgar was a champion surfer and swimmer. The sun had kissed Edgar’s skin and hair blonder and tanner than Sebastian’s ever could be. Muscles seemed to ripple beneath his t-shirt like the waves that had shaped them. Pasty and out of shape, Sebastian could not compare. But Sebastian had a plan.

The trio set off a week later. The journey was uneventful but with every passing second Sebastian grew more and more excited.  Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, they landed in Texas. In the quiet of Robert’s frat-clan house Sebastian revealed his plan. Edgar accepted, Uneasy regarding the implication of the thing, but charmed by his brother’s brash cleverness. The next day, the darty began.

The feast was held on an open field outside the frat-clan. As promised, gentleman and ladies gathered from around the campus sporting their clan colors and letters on shirts and headdresses. From across the crowd Sebastian spied her. He alerted Edgar and ducked back into the house. Edgar leaned over to Robert, “Say, that blonde girl over there. What’s her name?” Robert replied, “oh that’s Grace, she’s so cool.” “She single?” “Yeah, but she likes it like that.” “What do you mean?” “She just thinks she’s too good for everyone. One of those.” “So, no chance?” Well, I mean… she likes smart guys, and she likes athletic guys and she likes guys who are good at things. The problem is that you have to be better than she is. She’s won’t look at you twice otherwise. And believe me, it’s like nearly impossible to be. She’s brilliant and crazy good at beer pong.” Oh… we’ll see about that then.”

Quickly, Sebastian ran back into the house. Moments later he strode back out again. However, the Sebastian who strode out was obviously shone brighter than the Sebastian who had strode in. As Robert preoccupied himself with the goings on, no one seemed to notice. Confidently Sebastian strode up to Grace. The rest is history.

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