Tara smiled. "Cool!"
Tara tapped the table silently, not sure what to say.
"So what made you want to go into the career your in?"
Tara thought for a moment. "I always loved water, and animals. My mom told me that when I was little, it was impossible to keep me out of the water. In Australia we lived by the coast and I spent a lot of time in the water, swimming with dolphins and turtles, identifying corals and fish…….my grandfather loved water too." She fingered a silver locket that hung around her neck. "He always told me, 'Tara, so what you want to do, not with others want you to do. And maybe one day, when I'm gone and can't help you anymore, maybe you can do what you love in my honor.' I promised him I would do what I loved, I promised to fight for what I believed in, for him. And I promised not to give up fighting. But when he died last year, I almost lost my fight." She said, slowly and carefully.
(Do do
Do do
Do do do do do do do do do doooooooooo
Do do do do do)
Darren nodded, he processed every word carefully, it was clear this mattered to her. "But you kept going," He smiled, "I think he'd be very proud,"
Tara nodded. "He helped me through…..a lot, to say the least." She took a deep breath. "I am soooo sorry, I'm dumping all this heavy stuff on you. That's…..definitely not something to do on a first date…"
"No, no! I think it's probably better this way anyways. Get to the deep stuff because that is more important than knowing your favorite color or animal or something,"
Tara smiled, eyes glittering. "It is, isn't it? I guess…..well, every guy I've dated before has always cared about material things, meaningless things. And hated deep conversations. I'm the end, I usually got dumped or had to break up with them." Tara said, with a slight tone of annoyance. "Then again, not every person can be the perfect Prince Charming you are." She teased.
"I wouldn't say 'perfect', but I can deal with a Prince Charming," he laughed, "I find it's better to get to know the real you now than later,"
Tara nodded. "I agree 100% with that. Which means it's your turn." She said, placing her elbows on the table and resting her chin on the backs of her hands. "Why did you come into Marine Biology?"
"Well, my story isn't nearly as good as yours," Darren smiled, "Like I said I was born in San Francisco, my brother and I went to the beach and there was a dolphin that was caught in some plastic that was digging into it's fin. We called for help and a rescue center like the one we work at came minutes later. I got to see how they helped and I've always wanted to help, in fact, I went to college to become a surgeon originally. The dolphin survived but they had to amputate it's, that's a whole other story,"
(Like in Dolphin Tale……lol)I
Tara nodded. "Your story is just as good as mine. It's what makes you…well, you. I think that's a sweet story." She finally said.
(The movie? IT IS! I haven't seen that movie since it came out, no joke)
(I've seen it like a billion times, courtesy of my younger sister. One of my dream jobs would be to be a marine biologist……)
(That's a really cool profession. I've looked into it a few times because my friend wants to go into it)
(I mean I've got like…….four or five years until college to think abt it and my parents kinda want me to stay closer to home….so I'm thinking abt it.)
(Nonetheless that is super cool)
(Also I need to sleep because I am very tired. I will be here tomorrow)
Tara nodded. "Your story is just as good as mine. It's what makes you…well, you. I think that's a sweet story." She finally said.
"Thanks!" he smiled, "It was one of the cooler things of my strange childhood,"
Tara smiled. "Strange is just another way of saying different." She said randomly. "Strange is interesting and fun. Normal is boring."
(I saw Strange. I thought Marvel. My head is wired funny…)
