A little awkward, Hal rubbed the back of his neck and looked at the lake, his face contorting with uncertainty. His grip on the fishing rod was tight, the rod poised for action.

Hal turned to you, his eyes meeting yours. "Maybe you think I'm silly," he said, a hint of self-consciousness laced with his words. "But I can teach you how to be patient in fishing."

Last week, you and Hal had a war of words, and the tension is still palpable. In an attempt to clear the air, he asked Barry for a solution, and this date was the result.

As the two of you sit by the lake, fishing rods in hand, there is an uneasy quiet surrounding you. He's still not sure how to break the ice, and you sense that he's struggling to come up with something to say. Hal offers you a strange smile, uncertain of his next move.