friend over friend
On Saturday night, without really realizing it, i chose one potential friend over another. I'm sitting here on a too-hot Sunday afternoon, reading Blink (which i'm sure i'll reference at least 5 more times over the next few weeks, demanding incessantly that everyone i know read it immediately) and it came to me. This is good, because the situation started to bother me just a bit. One of those flighty interactions with a cute woman, that may or may not have turned into something more, if the circumstances were just slightly different.
I was freed from my parental duties for the evening and chose to spend it with a good friend, and his friend. The friend-of-a-friend is someone i've gotten to know here and there over the last year or so, through some hockey, some drinking, and some ranting about shared miseries (which still love company). I'll call him the ex-caddie, since he is. We're still getting to know each other, but if we weren't guys this would be the stage where we're making out, but not sleeping with each other yet. Yuck, i can't believe i went there.
The good friend disappeared after awhile so the ex-caddie and I went out for dinner and drinks for the night. Just hanging out and talking is usually good enough for me for a Saturday night, and there's always plenty of people to watch in Chico, getting drunk and friendly and whatnot. We were just about done with the last bar we were at when i noticed a blonde, wandering close by us, by herself, making friendly eyes my direction. I watched a frat guy hit on her, then squat down and admire her feet or something, and then meander away as she displayed zero interest in him. That seemed like an easy way to strike up a conversation, so we laughed about it together, about whatever it is he was doing down there (her feet were cute, but not that cute). She seemed into me, something that i'm often oblivious to, but i'm learning. But i'm still standing with the ex-caddie, and am polite enough to involve him in the conversation. That didn't go very well. He tried to lay down some lines, get a little too friendly too fast, and she wasn't interested. She turns back towards me, playful touches here and there, dissing him a little, leaning in close to talk, looking for more feedback, and kind of moving me away from him. But i let her go, moved back over to the ex-caddie, and assented when he asked if it was time to head out of there.
I didn't get it then, or hours later when it kept coming back into my head. I'm still not sure when it specifically happened. There was definitely some quick subconscious decision made- that i could snub him and go off with her, or i could be the friend that we all want and need, and head back to his house for one more drink. I'm sure if i asked the ex-caddie about it, he'd say i was an idiot for not taking whatever chance i might have had with her.
Insert routine disclaimer: i'm not a player, not by any means, and i don't want to be. Maybe that goes without saying. I just don't want my audience to think i'm trolling the bars looking for loose women.
,
I was freed from my parental duties for the evening and chose to spend it with a good friend, and his friend. The friend-of-a-friend is someone i've gotten to know here and there over the last year or so, through some hockey, some drinking, and some ranting about shared miseries (which still love company). I'll call him the ex-caddie, since he is. We're still getting to know each other, but if we weren't guys this would be the stage where we're making out, but not sleeping with each other yet. Yuck, i can't believe i went there.
The good friend disappeared after awhile so the ex-caddie and I went out for dinner and drinks for the night. Just hanging out and talking is usually good enough for me for a Saturday night, and there's always plenty of people to watch in Chico, getting drunk and friendly and whatnot. We were just about done with the last bar we were at when i noticed a blonde, wandering close by us, by herself, making friendly eyes my direction. I watched a frat guy hit on her, then squat down and admire her feet or something, and then meander away as she displayed zero interest in him. That seemed like an easy way to strike up a conversation, so we laughed about it together, about whatever it is he was doing down there (her feet were cute, but not that cute). She seemed into me, something that i'm often oblivious to, but i'm learning. But i'm still standing with the ex-caddie, and am polite enough to involve him in the conversation. That didn't go very well. He tried to lay down some lines, get a little too friendly too fast, and she wasn't interested. She turns back towards me, playful touches here and there, dissing him a little, leaning in close to talk, looking for more feedback, and kind of moving me away from him. But i let her go, moved back over to the ex-caddie, and assented when he asked if it was time to head out of there.
I didn't get it then, or hours later when it kept coming back into my head. I'm still not sure when it specifically happened. There was definitely some quick subconscious decision made- that i could snub him and go off with her, or i could be the friend that we all want and need, and head back to his house for one more drink. I'm sure if i asked the ex-caddie about it, he'd say i was an idiot for not taking whatever chance i might have had with her.
And I'll sit and wonder
Of every love that could've been
If I'd only thought of something charming to say
-- the Sound of Settling, Death Cab for Cutie
Insert routine disclaimer: i'm not a player, not by any means, and i don't want to be. Maybe that goes without saying. I just don't want my audience to think i'm trolling the bars looking for loose women.
,
posted by joe @ 7:04 PM
2 comments
Oh, I like this story. (Love the part about you making out with the ex-caddie. ;) It sounds like your good character was on autopilot, choosing to stick by the friend that you came to the party with, and maybe you were watching out for him a bit too. (I think you made the right choice, btw, but then again, I'm probably thinking like a girl. ;)
haha. i love the making out part... and the fact you went there. anyway, good choice.