Okay, so the curve ball had been thrown and pretty damn hard if I say so myself. I look at him and I do what I often do if I feel uncomfortable or genuinely lost for words. I laugh. I laughed hard and he joined me up until the point you have one of those scenes where the originator of the question or statement stops laughing to ask you what you're laughing about. Which is does. He's genuine, he says and he wants us to go together and enjoy the atmosphere as he has not had the opportunity to share this interest of his with someone he likes (second flick against the butterfly's back). I explain again that I am unsure of what time I will finish but it is a very tempting offer. I suggest that maybe he should go home and relax first and then I could message him and we could met up again but he says that he would rather that we went together as plans could change, just like my mind. It also occurs to me that, yes, I actually like this man. I don't see it a a sleazy move but I felt that he genuinely wanted us to enjoy the music together, or maybe he's just a sad bugger and wanted company. This realization and confirmation to join him by extending the evening also confirmed that even though Men's Health's profile pictures had me Ohhh-Weeeing on the subway platform when I saw them ...out loud I might add, the spark was yet to be ignited.
At this point Clarke thanked me and said he was happy that we could share this opportunity together. We continued to drink and converse over the remainder of our wine and we jokingly (I think) agreed to return to the restaurant to sample their wine menu in the future. At one point he went to the bathroom and I took the naughty opportunity to check my messages. Sure enough Men's Health had checked in with me to confirm the meeting place as he was still on his way. I confirmed and then did a little social snooping to pass the time. Clarke returned and we discussed our plan/arrangement for the remainder of the evening. He wanted to take me near my meeting point via his motorbike, but since I had a fear (went on one once and loved it but old age and sanity got the better of me now) of riding in the city's crazy road lanes,he thought it best that we both get the subway. We would find a cafe nearby and he would wait until my appointment was over. As I'm the worst decision maker in history, I agreed to the schedule. Clarke asked or rather prompted me to use the Restroom before we left (again like a concerned gentleman or a daddy ensuring his child wasn't going to pee themselves on the journey ahead). I took this opportunity to compose myself and try to go get some clarity and sanity of the situation. I was too stupid at that point to find any solutions so I just refreshed my face, washed my hands and left. When I returned Clarke had stood up upon my return.
He asked me if I was okay and suggested I take my time gathering my things together whilst he wait for me outside. To this I asked if he had already paid the bill and he confirmed that he had, even got a free little gift for his efforts. I thanked him sincerely and insisted that the next round was on me. We left just as he said, me composing myself and him waiting for me outside. He put the free gift into his bike before locking it up and guiding me back in the direction of the subway. I queried to whether his bike would be safe there, to which he assured me it was as one of his offices was around the corner. I assured him that if it was my home town he would be lucky to come back and find a wheel remaining. We get to the entrance of the station and he suddenly ask me if I like flowers, to which I flippantly said "I can take it or leave it". He assumes that my answer means I haven't gotten flowers in a while and we both laugh, him maybe of the fact that he's right and me a dead inside laugh at the fact that I hadn't received flowers in nearly 5 years (reminder is that I dated someone for 2 of those years too). He bartered with the old lady who happened to be selling an array of small budded flowers at extortionate prices. Then she finally gave in, or so I thought. In fact she took a bunch of flowers and then proceeded to split it in half but still taking the full payment. I was astonished and mid wrapping had told him to not worry about it as it we could use the money on better things like 2 separate return journey's around town for each of us, but he insisted. I felt happy that these small yet simply beautiful flowers had brought a massive smile to my face. I thanked him genuinely and we proceeded to head down to the station platform. We rushed into the subway with the hoards travelling to their homes or late night dinners, clubs and social engagements. He placed his jacket on the over head rack and insisted that he place my handbag up there too. At first I refused but he insisted so I mentioned again that in my hometown, that would be an invitation for a mugging, like a thief causally walking through a department store and checking out that brand names on the rack. The subway was packed and I managed to grab the remaining available handle with my two fingers (germs people!). As the train speedily headed towards our destination, I grew concerned that he might suddenly fall and asked him if he wanted to share the handle but he refused, saying he would just hold onto me if he needed to (ahhhh and there it is, the cheese). We both laughed and he jokingly apologized for his comment and like a girly girl I accepted it as I thought it was funny, not necessarily smooth but funny. So we get to our destination and find a cafe. He insists on purchasing me a drink ( I choose water) and he selects an apple juice "as a treat" (must be a sugar thing). We sit for 5 minutes before I get a message that Men's health has arrived in the car-park nearby. I apologize once again and then assure him that if he wants to go at anytime he can, after all he is a grown ass man. He reminds me that he doesn't want to and holds onto my hand as I say goodbye. I feel that stab in my head and another butterfly get's a kicking in my stomach.
So, I go for the short walk to the other side of a shopping complex to the car park entrance to meet Mr Men's Health. I'm actually waiting for him but I'm nervous as hell. This isn't right at all and I should have cancelled one of these meetings but my weak punk ass just doesn't like to upset the apple cart and I''m chicken when it comes to drama, unless I have to stab....oh okay, let's not go there. There are quite a few people about this time of night but I hear someone call my name. I sneakily look up and ahead to see Men's Health walking towards me. Now, if all this was based on physical attraction alone, most ladies would have said my flat but fine brown butt was extremely lucky that night, but as he got closer, it felt like there was two very distinctive features which were missing from his original pictures on his profile. Luckily for me, it wasn't hair or teeth, but first was height. He was about my height and I'm 172cm/5ft7inches. For some unknown reason he looked a lot taller that that. Second, his frame was a lot and I mean a lot smaller than it looked in his pictures. Now here''s the thing. From an attraction point of view that's what had put me off Men's Health physical appearance as I thought he had a Bodybuilders physique. He was just well toned which is more of my ideal type. Drifting off slightly, Clarke's pictures looked like he was a skinny, short black glasses wearing smart guy but barring the glasses he is the opposite. Men's health looked like a bodybuilder from the magazine, but he looked like the model before they bulked up but had a wel toned physique.
We introduce ourselves again and he immediately tells me that he had booked tickets for the movies! ....Say what now? Pre booked the seats and not only that but it was over a 2 hour long movie!!!! Pants!!!! As if I didn't feel like some lady that just uses guys for entertainment because my life is so sad and empty, Men's health then wanted to change the tickets for the later showing. I insisted we just watch the movie at the original time as we had only missed the first 3 minutes or so. Funny thing is that I hate that, missing the beginning of movies but in a positive way for me, I had been informed that I had to watch the previous movie in order to understand it so I had already made up my mind that it would be difficult to follow. He asked me if I wanted anything to eat and I kindly refused. We rushed into the theater and settle into our seats. 20 minutes into the movie he leans over and whispers how strange it is to be having a first date at the movie theater and I agree. Yes, because who said to pre book movie tickets and secondly who said this was a "date"? He asked me if I was okay as I look uncomfortable. The truth was, that I was. I had left what appeared to be a very lovely guy and great company to watch a movie I didn't care about with a guy who insisted on using a swear word in every sentence uttered, though he always apologized about it. Men's health isn't a bad guy. He is nice really, but his constant steps to get close start to make me feel that he is closer to the No fly Zone than Clarke could have been. He removes the hand rest so that our arms are resting close together and then without warning grabs hold of my hand like I expect Mr So would (Mr So is my dream husband by the way). He smiles and say's "that''s better". For who Mr? I suddenly feel the urge to cough and remove our clasp.Another 20 minutes in he suggests that he get some popcorn and soda and I let him go. He comes back removes his jacket and proceeds to eat his purchase. Now ladies don't get me wrong, he did kindly offer me popcorn, well insisted, by feeding me! I don't know but was it Daddy and surrogate daughter day or something. Each time I kindly either refused until I could sense he was uncomfortable so then I took the popcorn from him and did a magic mime of eating it and throwing it on the floor like a 3 year old child with vegetables at dinner. More than half way through the movie I excuse myself to message Clarke from the ladies toilets. Clarke insists that he's okay and happy to wait, so I continue to feel like crap (like I should as all this is my fault anyway) and Men's Health continues to make advancements without being to hands on. When I return I tell him that I have an important thing to deal with and I will have to end our meeting earlier than anticipated but I would remain for the ending of the movie. Needless to say he was disappointed but understanding. ;He kindly offers to drive me to my destination even though I insist on getting a taxi. Throughout the journey I apologize for the inconvenience but he also mentions that maybe it wasn't a great idea to have a first meeting at a movie theater. When we get to my new destination, I thank him not because I couldn't be bothered of thought I was too marvelous but I felt retched at what was happening and was attempting to give him the easy way out of not contacting that confused b*tch again. He told me that I didn't really need to say anything but he would just .....and then he kissed me. Nothing full on but one of those quick peaks that catch you unaware. I stared and thanked him again for the ride before leaving to get out of view to cleanse my lips. Now it could have been taken as a romantic and manly gesture to which I see it can be but also I didn't ask or insist upon it so I was not only taken aback but annoyed the the kiss of the night was with Men's Health and not Clarke and so that's how I knew I was definitely interested in him.
I texted Clarke from our meeting point apologizing for the delay, my un-organisation, confusion and out right un-dateable behavior. At first he said he would be there soon and that he was in a taxi. I asked if he was okay. He didn't respond so I sent a message wondering if he changed his mind and went home as then I would understand, but still no response, so I called and guess what no response. So there it was, even though I told him I would be a minimum of 2 hours, the wait was too long and really what person in their right mind would wait over 2 hours for someone they just met who then breaks an appointment? I leaned back against a wall trying to avoid the crowd of party people bustling around. I closed my eyes as I truly felt like sh*t and I knew I deserved to too all because of my confusion and indecisiveness. I messaged him and told him that I would wait a while at the meeting point hoping for a miracle. And as I start to text a apology, trying to explain that I was at fault for the evenings turn out, I hear someone call out my name. I look up and you know what, Men's health...wasn't there. Clarke was running towards me and smiling, actually smiling. He holds out his arms and gives me a massive hug and looks down at me and says "Are you okay, I was worried about you". I'm stunned, I mean truly stunned. This guy is supposed to be giving me abuse at the fact he's been mucked around all evening. But instead he's smiling. He pulls back and looks down at me and continues to say, "don't worry about it, as long as you're okay, that's what's important" I honestly can feel my eyes glistening as I continue to apologize profusely but he asked me why I am apologizing. "You've been waiting for me for over 2 hours and we were supposed to come here together --" he cuts me off to reminds me that he insisted on waiting and was more than happy to wait longer than that if needed. He takes my face in his hands and tells me not to worry and that we should just enjoy the night ahead. He then takes my hand as we walk across the street to our continued destination......and then I WAKE UP!!! It's all been a dream haha...No, no...haha, no. I kid you not. This seriously happend. For me, this guy just stepped out of a traditional novel of "What she wants in a man", where someone had written down all the specifications of what I wanted. Maybe or even definitely his attitude would have been different if he knew of the full situation but at that moment in time I was still trying to get my head around what kind of person had this amount of patience for someone they hardly knew....or was this the new scheme of getting a bed buddy, roofies to be added later?. The night was young apparently and that night also were we. We took our energetic passes for the evening and headed towards the lights, music and action...and oh my was there action ...TO BE CONTINUED
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