Date
I laugh to myself when I read the text. She suggested we dine at a place downtown called "Raw." I tell her, "I'm totally down for raw." Or something to that affect. Either way, I find it rather comical..for obvious frat boy-esque reasons.
She's beautiful. Her silky smooth blonde hair lays across a petite and toned body with a perfect little ass. Breasts are decent for her size, but they do look firm. She's my height, maybe even a little shorter. Her blue eyes shine brightly and seem accentuated with her fair skin.
I finally ask her out after weeks of exchanging glances. The moment comes from nowhere when I run into her after a class near the restrooms. She's busy that weekend, but luckily she has her phone in hand and takes my number. The next morning she texts me and we continue our conversation through the weekend. Talking seems effortless and open. I find myself actually enjoying our conversation, rather than trying to keep things going until the first date per usual.
I arrive about 7 minutes early to our 6pm dinner at Raw. The trendy cocktail lounge that serves some small plates is completely empty. The proprietor lets me pick my table. I settle on my second choice as I sit down and begin going over the menu. Reading all the cocktail options actually makes me wished I still drank. I wonder if she will notice me only ordering water.
She arrives only a couple minutes late. She looks gorgeous in her off-white cashmere sweater and fitted jeans. Her top is low-cut, but not too much. Her accessories and Louis Vuitton bag complement her outfit nicely.
I am also wearing fitted jeans with my no collar Zara white with blue patterned button down. My blue low prescription Armani Exchange glasses accent the patterns while giving me a sharper more intelligent look.
She orders a designer margarita and we agree on hummus as an appetizer and poke bowls for an entree. I should note this is their only entree. The menu is mostly various cocktails and just a few small plates.
Our conversation goes all over the place. Somehow politics comes up and then it really starts getting strange. The funny thing is that normally, I'd be extremely perturbed. I think her beauty helps the situation. She tells me how she's very conservative. She even mentions the word "Killary" when referring to Hillary Clinton. She proudly states her opinions on why being pro-life is the right thing to do. "Gay guys are fine, but just don't start kissing in front of me!" she proclaims. She tells me how if she had kids, she would be offended if two guys kissed in front of them. All I can do is smile and nod. Seriously, how fucking Mid-western is this girl?
I try to downplay her pro-life choice because of her career as a nurse in her third year of a doctorate program. Her mouth almost twists into a pretzel when I tell her I'm pretty liberal. She also encourages me to think hard about my political views after I tell her how they don't really interest me. "Just pick something, ya know? This stuff matters!" she almost slurs.
One thing really sticks out from our conversation. I drop the bomb about being in a relocation program and how I might actually be moving south in a few months. She actually seems to carefully weigh this and mentions her family in a city just a couple hours from the location. But she tells me that she would not move in with a guy unless he put a ring on it. I think about how strange this is to me. I ponder the thought of having to propose to this girl just to move in together. I am most surprised that I actually told her right away instead of waiting to reveal this bad news. Even more so is that she doesn't raise her hand for the check and actually seems okay with it.
Three hours later go by until we both agree it's getting late. I cover the check and we begin walking outside. I offer to walk her to her car as a gentlemen thing to do. It will also give me a chance to carry out my goodbye kiss plan. Normally, on first dates I usually do not make an attempt for a kiss and instead opt for the simple warm hug. This girl is too special though. I feel like she is worth switching things up. I practiced the line I will use a few times and even debate if I should go with a simpler approach.
We get to her car and continue chatting. At this point, the temperature has dropped even more and I am actually quite cold in my black North Face Thermoball jacket. We stand there close next to her silver Lexus IS 250. When we say our goodbyes we square up to each other and hug. As we pull away slightly, I look into her eyes and ask "Would you be opposed if I leaned in and kissed you right now?" I begin to lean closer and she turns her head to the side and says, "You can kiss me on the cheek." After my lips leave her cheek, I begin to laugh. We both laugh. This is too cute and too ridiculous at the same time. She comments, "You're such a gentlemen."
The next morning we both thank each other for a great night at nearly the exact same moment. We talk throughout the day. I am practically on cloud-nine. If we had actually kissed, I probably would be floating on air. We exchange even more glances at yoga that night, although I mistakenly placed my mat too far away from her. Afterwards, she invites me to dinner with her yoga girlfriend at the Thai restaurant down the street. At dinner, I fall for her even more. She seems even more relaxed at this dinner as she tosses more hot spices on her gluten-free seafood medley bowl.
The next day she is real busy at work and we barely text. I am a little disappointed because I know she'll be gone all weekend visiting her parents. Her last response is at 2pm and she never replies after that. Saturday comes and goes. I only send two texts, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. I let Sunday stay silent.
By Monday morning, it is getting unbearable and I send out a feeler text to find out what the hell is going on. It isn't until Wednesday early afternoon before she replies on Snapchat to one of my little Bitmoji snaps. She tells me we should be friends. She says her reason is because I am moving soon and she is not, and how she did not know about me moving until our date. I type some words about understanding and how I guess long distance can be tough, I think?
1 and a half weeks and it's already over. Technically, it is over before it ever began. I try to wash all the thoughts of this girl being "the one" from my mind. Everything seemed so perfect, besides her raging conservatism and dislike for liberals.
Hours after the friendzone text, my manager gives me a rough estimate about my upcoming move. The news is bittersweet today. I suppose everything happens for a reason. Meeting this perfect beautiful career-driven nurse helped me realize what I actually want in a partner.
I am optimistic about the future, even if our friendship is just an easy way of cutting ties and nothing more than a fake title. "Always forward" is the motto. No sense wasting time or energy on past events that one cannot change. Every single thing will work out exactly the way it should.