Infatuation has to start somewhere...
Thinking today of two years back. I vividly remember my third day of college sitting in the caf with Candis and Ryann and having a perfect stranger captivate me. Somewhere, mid roommate chit-chat I was impressed enough to make the public declaration that I would one day be romantically involved with that very gentleman.
Fast forward two weeks, develop setting: thirsty thursday, mid september, choruses of innebriated college students echoing throughout the microscopic campus. My visiting cousin witnesses our first words exchanged. Attitude flairing, the man from the caf dares the accusing security guard to sample his drink, allegedly pineapple juice. Once the guard has exited the scene, I bluntly denounce the blue-eyed wonder's brogue as a fraud. We're off to a great start.
A week has gone by to bring us to another Thursday. The girls decide clubbing is in order, Carrie and Allisen join in the fun, I am designated driver. A quick stop in the village has Pete the creep who myspaced every semiattractive freshman girl before we had finished dorm shopping coaxings us into his common room with promises of every college kid's backstabbing whore of a best friend: jungle juice. Another resident, apparently interested in aquainting himself with Pete's new friends, accompanies us. I'm sure I don't have to draw a picture for you to realize just who this resident was. After many well received attempts to deter us from the clubs, I successfully dragged the reluctant females back into the night, clearly uninterested. It wasn't until after denial to the club (spring for decent fakes, folks), and me flipping out on the ridiculousness that was my sister trying to climb into the car with the 40 year old creep that had been summoned over by the drunken baffoons in the backseat of my little coup, that we ended up at Saints and Scholars. Please keep in mind, I was disgustingly sober.
The bar was empty besides GASP Pete the creep and the man referred to as "Irish John" by drunken baffoon #3. I took a seat with Al and Carrie at the second booth from the wall, facing the door as always. Pete and John soon joined the table of gorgeous girls and before long myself and the latter of the boys were engaged in conversation. For three hours we did not shut up, and once the bar had closed we moved the crowd and conversation back to campus. Typically, I dormed it up for an outfit change before heading to the after party - glam to gloryyy in a classic tshirt-sweatshirt combo [I've got looks and charm... I'd rather keep it real than designer at 3am.] One beer into my next conversation with John, enter security, exit ladies. He followed me out, arguing that I should stay and talk some more. I took his phone from his hand, entered my information, and left him with a smile.
Returning to my dorm, I changed into pajamas quite happily with the taste of possibility in my mouth (or maybe bud light, who knows). Brushing my teeth, my phone rings and there is that deep voice on the other end telling me its ok to come back over. I told him I was busy, and declined.
Next morning in the caf, my greeting was met with confusion and a double take. Once safely tucked away in good ol' 2C, I texted him for the first time. As a first text, you'd hope it would be something sweet or memorable, but the only part of it I can recall is calling him a drunken idiot and reminding him he was turned down for my toothbrush, which luckily was met with laughter and an invitation to his soccer match a few days later.
I stayed for only half of the game, as I had places to be and people to see... or a class to attend rather. By half time I had witnessed not only his soccer playing abilities, but his intense anger. A shit-talking opponent muttered some choice words in his direction and a few moments later was knocked in the head, propelled backwards and lay motionless on the ground by John's free kick. I was in bits. Immediately preceding my departure John's foot was broken and I hightailed it out of there.
Later I got a phonecall, and after about 17 "WHAT ARE YOU SAYING"s we discovered that texting was a much better route to take.
Date one. After laying in 102, watching a movie and making fun of each other, I claimed I had to leave and John offered to walk me across, of course it was more of a hobble due to the broken foot, but being the Captain of Smooth, he used that as an excuse to lay his arm across my shoulders. He walked me to the street light, and in the darkness of the night with the scent of summer lingering and not a sound to be heard, he kissed me as the lights flickered from green to red. I smiled up at him and listened to him so poetically blame me for the pains in his foot.
After that, laundry dates became regular. I remember one day in particular, I sat perched on the counter with my legs crossed, savoring my grits (a favorite snack of mine) and after railing on me for about half an hour about how disgusting they were, he grew silent and sat on the windowseat. After much coaxing, he looked down at the floor, hands fiddling nervously and finally managed to ask me what was going on with the two of us.
Genesis
Quote of the day: If your life weren't a mess, well, it wouldn't be life.
To begin, I am a people person--a woman of the world, if you will. I pride myself on the amount of empathy I exceed and my logic-based thinking. If it doesn't make sense, I will not accept it. For example, while the vast population expresses the popular belief that terrorists are not human, gays should be locked up and Britney Spears should be given a stern talking to and perhaps a labotomy, my arguments tend to differ.I value my thought processes as many my age value their self images. I'll have to credit good ol' PaDukes for that one. Throughout years of classes, the 1-S-G listened to me, typically fuming at whatever propaganda an instructor had thrown at the class, and like the wise man he is, my Dad would help me see the whole picture. It's the way he teaches. While most attempt to sway opinions with one sided arguments as human beings are wired to do - Dad lays out any information, making it possible for students to see why one might choose either side of the issue, and allowing them to draw their own conclusions.Enough's enough. We'll save the long blogs for the third or fourth week.
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