By Olivia Janis, Taylor Johnson, Mackenna Stewart
The minute we stepped into Chipotle with a Chipotle bag over Senior Casani Barlett’s head, Chipotle customers were breaking their necks looking at us. Some would say it caused a catastrophic scene, but fear of embarrassment can never be a reason to stop potential love.
If you are one of our loyal followers, then you would know it’s about that time for Taylor, Mackenna and I to be the cupids at Lovett. Based on a Google form we sent out, Seniors Casani and Cleo Wynn were chosen to go on a blind date.
On January 31st, Cleo arrived right on time for her blind date. Unfortunately, we had to wait almost 30 minutes for Casani to arrive. Cleo made a joke about how her “blind date’s” tardiness didn’t even help her narrow down who he might be. (Lovett guys gotta work on punctuality).
When Casani finally did arrive, Taylor and I quickly placed a large Chipotle bag over Cleo’s head and left her at our table. We sneakily went around the restaurant, found Casani and put the bag over his head (it was quite a struggle). We led him into the restaurant and tried to reassure everyone that a kidnapping was not taking place. When they were both seated at the table, we did a count down and then ricocheted the bags off their heads.
Their reactions were priceless: they both looked surprised but kept their composure. They both admitted that when they heard they were being set up, they had other people in mind for who it might be. Cleo said she thought it was going to be Chris Mance or Landyn Murphy, while Casani said he thought it was going to be Celine Areu (we did not tell him this at the moment, but that was another match up we got in the google form). They both agreed they weren’t entirely shocked to be paired together.
Cleo and Casani have known each other since the seventh grade. When I asked them what the last class was that they had together Casani confidently replied freshman English, to which Cleo quickly corrected “No, chemistry.” We asked if they still had…um…chemistry… Casani said they did at the beginning of sophomore year. Taylor and I took note of this, and realized we might have to relight past sparks.
But that was the past, so now we needed to focus on the present. First, we just had to double-check that they were both single. They both confirmed this, agreeing hat they were not actively looking but open to the idea of having a bae. Next, we needed to know their “types.” “Black, tall, and curly-haired,” said Cleo. This description fits perfectly with Cleo’s celebrity crushes, Michael B Jordan, Aaron Pierre, and Shemar Moore. Casani, however, said he did not have a type, but his celebrity crushes were Saweetie and Latto, so that helped give us some ideas. They both actually match for their types.. so far so good.
A big part of dating nowadays is assessing someone’s red flags and your own. So, we asked them what a red flag in a partner was for them, and if they had any of their own.
“I think a red flag in a girl is if they still talk to their ex,” said Casani. He believes his own red flag can be his communication skills. Cleo said a red flag in a boy is if they have too many female friends, and her own red flag is struggling to apologize or admit when she is in the wrong.
Now that we got the red flags out of the way, it was time to hear what their version of a “perfect date” is.
“Main Event (arcade and bowling) then Chipotle,” said Cleo. Taylor and I had a mini celebration because we hit the second half of her perfect date right on the nail. Casani’s “perfect date” requires quite a bit more of a financial commitment. “I would say TopGolf and then a fancy restaurant,” he said. While we all thought that Nobu was more of a one year anniversary type deal, Cleo was pleasantly surprised with his answer. Maybe one day we will open our Instagram feed and see a cute, aesthetic photo of Cleo and Casani at Nobu (for the first date of course).
As astonishing and appetizing as it was to talk about Casani’s expensive taste on first dates, we kept the date rolling at the slightly more downscale Chipotle with some personal questions about their favorite personal attribute.
“I would say my smile,” Casani said with little to no hesitation.
Cleo, who sat and pondered her response a little more, said, “I feel like I’m easy to talk to” and also added that she loves her freckles. In any relationship, it is important to not only see yourself as a part of the couple but to also pay attention to how you view yourself individually.
When it comes to dating, some of the most defining experiences for a person come from their past relationships. As someone enters a new relationship from a past one it can be easy to carry a little bit of “baggage.”
“I think it’s character development,” Cleo said when asked if her last relationship ‘made’ or ‘broke’ her heart.
Although she’s only dated one person, the experiences she has had have been quite positive and made her a better person.
Casani has also grown from his past experiences. “I wouldn’t say any of them broke me,” he said confidently, adding that they may have even helped him as a person. With that being said both Casani and Cleo are “letting life be life” when it comes to finding a new potential partner.
We’d spent enough time talking about the past, so we transitioned to discussing the future.
“What do you think your future looks like?” we asked. This caused an enormous outburst as Casani innocently responded “With her?” He pointed to Cleo. We were able to clarify that we meant their personal future in the next 10 years. However it was very bae-like of Casani to consider his blind date in his future endeavors.
Grad school, engaged, and in New York were on Cleo’s list as most pressing. Casani on the other hand sees himself on the big NFL stage playing football for a team in California or New York. I can see it now… Pro football Player Casni Bartlett and the intelligent, artistic Cleo excelling and thriving in the Big Apple. I think it’s safe to say that this power couple has some impeccable aspirations. However in the short term, Cleo and Casani are most concerned with knowing where they’re going to go to college.
As for romantic futures, we wondered if they were currently even searching for a bae or just letting life flow on by. Cleo said, “I’m just living in the present” and Casani nodded his head in agreement.
We asked Casani and Cleo what they admired about each other. Casani ricocheted his response, “I would say after all that has happened between us in the past she doesn’t let that affect how we are together.”
Cleo had a more simple and concrete response: “he is funny.”
We then had a little bit of a challenge for the prospective baes to see how well they knew each other. The first question we asked was about their preferred music taste.
Cleo answered quickly and confidently, “R&B and rap but mostly rap.” She was very much correct. Casani then said, “R&B,” which was also very much correct.
Then we had to ask them if they knew what car they drove. “I picture him having a big SUV,” said Cleo. Casani then got a bit angry and responded, “Well, actually I drive a truck.” Casani on the other hand was quick to know the car that Cleo whips: a white Volvo. Hopefully, he hasn’t been stalking the woman.
Next question was favorite food. Casani thought that Cleo’s favorite food was Korean which was very much not correct but Cleo said, “Ok good enough.” Cleo then thought that Casani’s favorite food was just simple pizza which was an accurate guess because Casani said his favorite grub was Italian.
The next question was more personal. We asked them to name each other’s three closest friends. They were able to do this task very well, praise the lord.
They even knew each other’s hobbies and the date was going extremely well. We then asked them what their safe foods were for a first date because some foods can get extremely messy. For example: wings would be slipping and sliding all over the place which is not ideal for the first date. They both answered in unison, “Chipotle.” We chose the perfect place for their date.
Now everyone brace yourselves for the most important question of the century. It was time to find out if we had been successful matchmakers for these two lovely individuals Cleo and Casani.
Would you guys go on a second date?
A brief moment of silence passed, then a miracle occurred. They said yes.
