Dating is scary. Conversation is scary in the context of a date or pre-date. It's like, each lapse of silence is a miniature time bomb, tick, tick, ticking, while both parties frantically try to disarm it. It's like treading on thin ice, constantly wary of falling through the surface. And this situation only seems to get worse with age.

Hormonal matters never seemed this complicated in high school. It was all furtive glances, gossip, anticipation. And if by chance, the right two people meet and sparks fly, ah the rapture of first love. No irony, no reservation, and no defenses.