i am John Cusack
i went on my first real adult date tonight. first a little lead in: last week Sparkles and i wandered into a bar on the Lower East Side because we had missed a couple hipster bands in the area and felt like drowning our sorrows for $3 a beer before 9 (it was 8:30). at some point during the night we were joined by Hyle's girlfriend and her friend and then eventually Hyle. before anyone had gotten there, though, i had remarked to Sparkles that the two girls sitting at the bar were pretty cute, but in our typical fashion we dismissed the possibility of ever speaking to them because, well, talking to girls in bars had proven fruitless up until now, why would tonight be any different? over the course of the evening it came up that i thought one of them was cute, let's call her Blue Shirt for now since i haven't known her long enough to have a good nickname yet (she was wearing a blue shirt that night so that's how we referred to her for a day or two). Hyle's girlfriend (trying to avoid names to protect the less-than-innocent), says "if you think she's cute go talk to her." and i waved the idea off because, well, girls in bars. so she says she's getting me another drink and having Blue Shirt bring it over. i say "Good Grief - i'm going to the bathroom," and do. when i come back she's sitting in the seat next to mine, and i laugh and sit down. we introduce ourselves and then joke about the awkwardness of the situation, then start having a really good conversation that continues longer into the night, even after others had gone home. so i pull a completely atypical move and asked for her number. she gave me her card. then i walked her out with her friend and we said goodnight, i with a slight peck on her cheek. i thought that was a nice touch. i was also drunk. of course i ran into Hyle and girlfriend on the way back to the train and reported my findings, and they were thrilled. i can't say i wasn't a little excited.
for four days i deliberated about whether or not to call her, if it would even be worth it (girls in bars - ad nauseam), but then bit the bullet on the fourth day and just called. after spending about an hour prepping myself for it. voicemail. left a charming but slightly awkward message. that's okay, it's part of the charm. give up for the moment and forget about it. she calls back five minutes later. success! heart in throat! we had a great, funny, awkward conversation and then set up a date for tonight, with no real plans, just a time. spontaneity is the name of the game here. i love it.
so i called her tonight when i got back from New Haven (another story - great to see Legs and his friends and to see that theatre school there is just like undergrad was - heartening that i can also do it without the MFA - i'll still probably audition again next year - we'll see) and we decided to meet at S'MAC down on the LES. i go down, pick up mints and cash on the way, flirt with disaster on the train, and make it right at 8. she's already there waiting and more beautiful than i remembered. shit. awesome. shawesome. and then we talked. for hours, almost nonstop. joking, laughing, intelligent conversation. we got a little dinner but neither of us could finish our plates (i wasn't even nervous, just not that hungry) and then headed out as the place closed up. we went to a dive bar a few blocks downtown and had a drink while a giant husky named Hookah came over and nuzzled us each in turn. more conversation, hilarity as the British bikers next to us fell asleep on the table, we finished our drinks, realized it was midnight and i walked her home.
closer and closer at her door, still talking, and finally we got close enough to kiss. i leaned in a bit and asked if i could kiss her, she said yes, and i did. a sweet, romantic kiss. nothing fancy. then we laughed at how awkward we both were. then we kissed again. and once more. then we said goodnight and that i'd call her to do this again.
and i will.
the funny thing was is that i didn't skip home, though i did run up a few flights of stairs. i wasn't giddy like i used to get with these things. maybe being in the city has tempered me a bit, made me a little more accepting of a reality. i was wondering if i screwed up the kiss, but i don't think i did. i've definitely had a smile on my face since, though. it seems like we're onto something good. at one point during dinner Etta James' "At Last" came on. seemed like a good sign, if any. i'm going to run with that.
man it feels good to be back in the game.
When love beckons to you, follow him,/ Though his ways are hard and steep.
for four days i deliberated about whether or not to call her, if it would even be worth it (girls in bars - ad nauseam), but then bit the bullet on the fourth day and just called. after spending about an hour prepping myself for it. voicemail. left a charming but slightly awkward message. that's okay, it's part of the charm. give up for the moment and forget about it. she calls back five minutes later. success! heart in throat! we had a great, funny, awkward conversation and then set up a date for tonight, with no real plans, just a time. spontaneity is the name of the game here. i love it.
so i called her tonight when i got back from New Haven (another story - great to see Legs and his friends and to see that theatre school there is just like undergrad was - heartening that i can also do it without the MFA - i'll still probably audition again next year - we'll see) and we decided to meet at S'MAC down on the LES. i go down, pick up mints and cash on the way, flirt with disaster on the train, and make it right at 8. she's already there waiting and more beautiful than i remembered. shit. awesome. shawesome. and then we talked. for hours, almost nonstop. joking, laughing, intelligent conversation. we got a little dinner but neither of us could finish our plates (i wasn't even nervous, just not that hungry) and then headed out as the place closed up. we went to a dive bar a few blocks downtown and had a drink while a giant husky named Hookah came over and nuzzled us each in turn. more conversation, hilarity as the British bikers next to us fell asleep on the table, we finished our drinks, realized it was midnight and i walked her home.
closer and closer at her door, still talking, and finally we got close enough to kiss. i leaned in a bit and asked if i could kiss her, she said yes, and i did. a sweet, romantic kiss. nothing fancy. then we laughed at how awkward we both were. then we kissed again. and once more. then we said goodnight and that i'd call her to do this again.
and i will.
the funny thing was is that i didn't skip home, though i did run up a few flights of stairs. i wasn't giddy like i used to get with these things. maybe being in the city has tempered me a bit, made me a little more accepting of a reality. i was wondering if i screwed up the kiss, but i don't think i did. i've definitely had a smile on my face since, though. it seems like we're onto something good. at one point during dinner Etta James' "At Last" came on. seemed like a good sign, if any. i'm going to run with that.
man it feels good to be back in the game.
When love beckons to you, follow him,/ Though his ways are hard and steep.