"And another match made perfectly!"

The automated cash register made a satisfying cha-ching!. The twenty-two year old Serena Yvonne slammed the money drawer shut with a sweet smile. Gazing around, her sea-blue eyes took in the lavish decor of her tiny shop. Pinks, reds, and purples wallpapered the interior in the form of hearts and flowers. Pictures of couples both young and old covered the entire wall.

Serena had made it big in the matchmaking department. Every client had so far been successfully set up by his or her ideal match all thanks to Miss 'independent' Serena.

Though matchmaking was not the career this young woman had in mind when graduating, it was a good way to be on her own for a bit before heading back to be a trainer at her family's racing. But for the time being, she was making money and was able to afford many things that most her age couldn't, which was surprising given her job.

Once Serena had made a few couples happy, news about her service spread and she had new staffs every day for the past few months. It was Friday today, and Serena was ready to close shop for the evening. She untied her pink apron that had "Serena the Match-Maker," splashed across the front, and gently hung it on the coat rack. Locking up the register, she made her way to the front door, pausing here and there to straighten stray objects and fix crooked chairs.

As she was carefully taping a paper heart back on the wall, there was a jingling of a bell from the entrance door, she looked up, expecting a last-minute client. Despite the bright light shining from the ceiling, Serena squinted at the man who had entered.

Straightening up, a twinge of familiarity flooded her body, yet she couldn't put a name with the face. He was tall and muscular. his arms were hidden under a leather blue jacket, jet-black hair spiked from each side with a few strands, covering a little into his chocolate brown eyes.

"May I help you?" Serena asked politely, shaking away the odd sensation she was getting. She didn't know this guy.

For a moment, she sensed a feeling of disappointment coming from this young raven man, however, it was quickly shoved aside as a cheeky grin broke out on his face.

"I was hoping you might be able to," he replied, stuffing his large hands in his jacket pockets. "I realize it is a bit late to stop by, but I want to check out the matchmaker that everyone in town has been talking about."

"Oh?" Serena gave one last pound to the picture she had been holding to the wall and walked closer to the man.

He nodded. "This is a cute set up with an equally cute matchmaker to match!"

Oh bother! Not one of these guys again! 
A growl teetered on the edge of Serena's lips, gasping to escape and lunge out. But she kept herself in check.

"Sir, would you like to sign up for my service?" she inquired, ignoring his last comment and looking coolly into his eyes. Unexpectedly, a familiarity once again shot through her veins but yet again, she shook it off for the shivers.

The young man walked over to a small coffee table, placed in the middle of her small waiting area with five cushioned chairs surrounding it and sat down comfortably.

"Sir?"

He looked up. "Yes, I believe I would like to sign up Miss...Serena is it?"

She nodded. "Yes. Serena Yvonne. I am sorry but I am going to have to ask you to come back tomorrow. It's actually my closing time and I must be on my way. Perhaps if you come by in the afternoon, I can interview you in order to get your requirements?"

"Oh I'm sorry for keeping you! I'll come back tomorrow. What time is preferable?"

Serena quickly walked to the counter and glanced at the computer. "Two o'clock is fine."

"Ah Wonderful!" The man said and went to the door. "It's a date then!" With a wink, he swept out the door and into the night, leaving a fuming and confused Serena.

Twenty-one year old, blue haired, Dawn Berlitz was laughing at her friend and roommate, relaying her story.

"A date! That's what he said! He's a player if I ever saw one!" Serena spoke loudly from her bedroom while Dawn was curled up on the couch.

Finishing changing into her pyjamas, Serena stormed out of the room and marched over to her friend who was still giggling helplessly. "I'm sorry sere," she said, trying her best to stop laughing. "It isn't that the situation in itself that's so funny, but your way of telling the story! You should have seen the facial expressions and heard the tone of your voice changing so rapidly...going up and down!"

Serena rolled her eyes "You are so easily amused. I'm happy that at least my face and voice can entertain you."

"Well, Your stories are always entertaining! I mean, you work in the department of love! What business could have more interesting stories to tell than yours?" Dawn said, sitting up a bit straighter.

"That is true," Serena admitted. "So, anyway how was your day?"

Dawn shifted her position on the couch to become more comfortable. "It was Great, Lucas decided to give me a raise if I continue to pose for him!."

Serena grinned. "And the fact that he wants to keep you with him."

"What, Nah," Dawn casually waved both hands.

At this point, Serena burst out in giggles. "It's been two years since you've worked for this guy!"

Dawn rolled her eyes. "Tell me about it. I highly doubt that he has any romantic interest in me. I'm so desperate that I'm nearly ready to try out your service sere!"

Serena threw a cushion at her friend.

"Hey!" Dawn protested.

"My business is not only for desperate people! I'll have you know that Giselle was one of my clients a while back!"

Dawn bright eyes widened in shock. "Giselle? You mean the most popular girl from our class Giselle? The one who had jocks falling at her feet faster than gnats get buzzed by electrical light Giselle?"

"You certainly do have a way with words," Serena commented.

"It's an art, I have to learn how to speak in many ways."

"Anyways," Serena continued. "Yes that Giselle."

"I can't believe you never told me!" Dawn whined, throwing the cushion back at Serena, who caught it perfectly.

"We weren't sharing an apartment then. It was when you went home to visit your parents for a while," Serena explained.

Dawn was now curious "So? Who'd she end up with?"

A amusing smile spread over Serena 's face. "You'll never guess in a million years."

"Kaiwe Kirk?"

"Shauna cousin? Please! She's roast me alive for setting up a family member with a girl like Giselle."

"Good point. Hmm...Gary Oak?"

"Mr. Popular Lover-boy? I don't think so."

"Let's see...is it someone I know?"

Serena nodded, the smile on her face growing larger.

"Sonny Aker?"

"I think he went with Emily," Serena recalled.

"Didn't they used to argue, like, all the time?"

"Well It was insane the way they fought over everything! And in college!"

Dawn shrugged. "Some people never know how to show their feelings, I guess. So, are you gonna give me a clue at least?"

Serena shook her head.

"C'mon Serena ! I'm scrambling around for names of guys that she'd never go for and I'm coming up flat!"

"That's surprising, since it was more than half the male population that she wouldn't go for," Serena replied.

"Well, I remember this one guy she really, really used to hate all throughout high school. He had like, brown hair and was the nicest guy you'd ever meet. What was his name-oh yeah, Ritchie!"

"Bingo!"

The second cushion that Dawn had been holding, ready to launch it at Serena, now tumbled to the floor from her lap. "Ritchie? She got together with Ritchie?"

Serena leaned back on the couch. "Surprising isn't it? She would tease him mercilessly and the poor guy always was nice to her."

"So how'd you get them together anyway?"

"Well, you know how I have all my new clients fill out a form and then I interview them?"

Dawn nodded, leaning forward with great interest. She wanted to know how the most popular girl in school was set up with the one guy she seemed to hate for no reason. And how Serena had managed it in the first place.

"Turns out, all the things Giselle was looking for in a guy was in Ritchie. And everything Ritchie wanted in a girl was in Giselle. Ritchie had come in actually the day after Giselle. I knew that they were meant for each other but I knew that if Giselle actually saw Ritchie, she'd walk right on out. So I had them talk on the telephone a few times and told them not to reveal their names to each other. Then, I decided on a day for them to meet and viola!" Serena snapped her fingers.

"You mean she didn't freak at all when she saw him?"

"Well she went into a state of complete and utter shock and Ritchie nearly fainted that he had been talking to Giselle. But once they started to talk face-to-face, everything was smooth sailing."

A dreamy look sparkled in Dawn eyes as she stared off. "That's so romantic!"

"I guess."

"It's so weird the way certain people end up, isn't it?" Dawn pondered. "Who would've have thought? Giselle and Ritchie..."

Serena nodded in agreement. "Yeah. But, love's funny like that!"

"In that case, if love's supposed to be funny, I want some humor in my life! Preferably in the photo shop where I work."

Serena just laughed as Dawn's mind wandered off again. love was certainly a funny thing. And with the job Serena had, she had definitely seen enough humor to last her a lifetime. Even though she didn't want to voice it to her friend, Serena too wanted some humor in her life. Maybe just a little.