Tuesday, 6:47 PM - Phone call.
"Dude, I need a favor," Dani's voice sounded urgent on the other end of the phone.
Marcos put down his pen on his Civil Law notes and leaned back in his chair.
"Tell me."
"Friday night. Pub in Malasaña. The usual one. I need you to come."
"What's going on?"
"Inés." Dani sighed. "We're meeting up but she doesn't want it to be an official date. She says she's going with a friend and that I need to bring someone too. You know, so it's not so... obvious."
Marcos smiled. He knew that story. Dani had been after Inés for weeks, running into her at various pubs and never daring to approach her, and she, in turn, always found a way to keep him in permanent limbo.
"Okay, count me in."
"Really?" Dani sounded surprised. "Just like that?"
"What did you expect? You're my buddy. Besides, I don't have anything better to do on a Friday."
"Dude, you're the best. I owe you one."
"You owe me like twenty, but who's counting." Marcos picked up his pen again. "What time?"
"Ten thirty. And Marcos... Inés said her friend is a bit... special."
"Special how?"
"I don't know. She just said that. Not to be surprised."
Marcos shrugged even though Dani couldn't see him.
"I don't care. Well, if she's blonde, better. I'm going for you, not for her. See you Friday."
He hung up and went back to his notes. Easy. Quick. No complications.
Thursday, 9:15 PM - Laura's room.
"No."
"Laura, please."
"I said no, Inés."
"You don't even know what I'm going to ask you."
Laura looked up from her laptop where she was watching a Tarantino movie. Inés was sitting on her bed with that abandoned puppy expression she always used when she wanted something.
"I know exactly what you're going to ask me. The answer is no."
"It's just a Friday night. A pub. Some beers."
"I hate pubs. The music is too loud, people shout, everyone smokes..."
"You can't smoke inside anymore," Inés interrupted.
"It smells like horse sweat and desperation."
"How dramatic." Inés got up and sat next to Laura, closing her laptop. "Look, Dani and I are meeting up but..."
"But you don't want to go alone because then it would be a real date and you'd have to admit you like him."
Inés made a face.
"Exactly. I need you to come with me. As moral support."
"Find yourself another moral support."
"I don't have another moral support. You're my best friend."
"That's emotional blackmail."
"And does it work?"
"No."
Laura opened her laptop again. Inés sighed theatrically.
"He has a friend."
"I'm not interested in Dani's friends."
"This one is different. He's from Barcelona. Handsome. Studies Law too. And he loves theater."
"Good for him. I like movies and I hate theater. Why do they talk so loud?"
"Laura..."
"Inés, you know I hate these things. Blind dates, friends of friends, all that shit. It always ends up being awkward and horrible."
"It's not a blind date. It's... a friends' outing."
"With hidden intentions."
"Well, yes, but... for me, not for you."
"No."
Inés was silent for a moment. Laura thought she'd finally given up. Wrong.
"Okay," said Inés, standing up. "I didn't want to use this but you're forcing me. This guy... is perfect for you."
"There's no one perfect for me."
"He's gorgeous. And he always has rebel hair. Stands out among his friends. Plus, Dani told me he prefers brunettes over blondes."
Laura paused the movie.
"And?"
"And apparently he's super stubborn. Competitive. One of those who always has to be right. Dani says he argues about everything."
"Sounds horrible."
"Or sounds like someone who could finally stand you for more than five minutes."
Laura looked at her with narrowed eyes.
"That's low, Inés. Really low."
"But effective." Inés smiled. "Come on, Laura. One night. If it's a disaster, I promise I'll never ask you to come to something like this again. But if it turns out you like him..."
"I'm not going to like him."
"Then you'll have a good story about how awful it was."
Laura closed her laptop with a sigh of defeat.
"One night. Just one. And if I don't like him or he's unbearable, I'm leaving halfway through the night and leaving you stranded there with both of them."
"Yes!" Inés hugged her. "You won't regret it."
"I'm already regretting it, Inés."
But Friday came anyway. And with it, the pub in Malasaña where two people who were destined to hate each other would meet for the first time.