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Day 2
I don’t know if everyday I’ll add a note, but if I do, it will be at the start, or end, of the day post, and it will be surrounded by: *** Like so:
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I think I have come to the conclusion (very quickly) that this story will be better served by writing it in first person, instead of third person like I started. So once this month is over, I’ll have to re-write that first part of the first chapter. Again, I have no clue what I’m doing. Never told you I did…. Not going to lie, this is just a draft, so you’ll see errors, and continuity problems, as I try to straighten myself. I guess things that I should know before I started. So here it is, the second part of the first chapter and the whole second chapter.
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I’m confused, as to what is expected of me in this situation. When you are trying to be nice, and you feel that the other person is also being nice, but the chemistry isn’t there. You think that she’s not interested. How do you find out and let her down easily? How will she let me down?
The main course arrives, and the steak is very nicely cook, enough red in the middle, and evenly seasoned. She’s talking about her family. Thankfully she likes to talk. By the time the waitress comes asking if we want dessert, we both said fairly quickly “No, thanks.”
“Can I take this home?” She adds, directing the question to the waitress.
We keep the conversation civil enough, and even more grounded by the time we are ready to depart the restaurant. I got to remember that, this one is a good one to come back for another location.
“I had a nice time.” Not sure if she’s going to end it there. Or add a “but”. I decided to do the pre-emptive strike and help her out. Take us both out of our date-limbo.
“Yeah, me too. But you know what Amanda, I don’t want to give you the wrong impression. I had a good time, and you seem like a good girl, woman, sorry, but ….”
“There’s not enough to see us again.” I guess she has quick trigger too.
I mumble “Umm, yeah.”
“Please don’t worry, at least it was a good dinner, and you also seem like a nice guy. But obviously the ‘click’ is not there, and why force it, right?”
I nod in agreement.
“Hey at least you are not like some of the weirdos I have found. “ She gives me a hug, turns around, and I never see her again. Can’t help but feel like we did the right thing, but then again, she showed me more in that last conversation, than I have seen in a while. Maybe I shouldn’t have cutting the cord so quickly….maybe.
By the time I get home, I tired, another bad date, even with the end, no second date. I have been in a rut the last couple of months. Either when I’m interested, they are not, or when they seem interested, I’m just not feeling it. I browse the internet aimlessly, not really much to do. Facebook activity is low tonight. My email, is not as active as it used to be. The T.V. is on in the background, I flip through the channels, hoping my phone will ring. Someone to hang out with. I decided to take the initiative and text a couple of my friends. There’s got to be something to do tonight. Take my mind away from tonight. Is New York City after all.
Just as I’m about to call it a night, my phone vibrates, The Roz, few of us are at the Majestic, on 2nd street. If I catch a cab, I might make it before midnight. I decided against my better judgment and head out the door.
Chapter 2
I woke up with a little headache. Maybe I went a little too far, last night. But I needed a stress reliever, and it was interesting to say the least. The place was crowded, and the noise was loud. Like it usually is when the place is going in the right direction. Not used it, but can’t say is my first time either. But I should have ended it last night, instead of letting it linger til the morning. It will just make things that much more awkward.
The clock lets me know I miss the early yoga class, maybe I can make the second one, or third one, depending in how quickly I can get out of this situation. The bed no longer holds a spell on me, so I get out without making too much noise. Tiptoe my way out of the bedroom and head to the kitchen. The coffee machine comes to live, and once I have my fuel, I’ll be ready to have a go to the rest of the day. Janice needs some help with her shopping, and I want to check it out myself, maybe something for me to buy too.
I hear stirring coming from the bedroom, hope I have enough time for coffee before it gets weird. Come on, coffee. Making decisions without coffee never leads to good results. An image appears in the doorway, upper body naked, and showing more than I wish to see this morning. Why do some people don’t understand that it doesn’t carry over? Can’t help but admire the body, maybe it could carry over.
“Hey, good morning.”
“I’m good, I’m making some coffee. You want some?”
“No, I need to run, but I had fun last night. Was hoping I could, maybe, you know, see you again?”
“Let me think about it. That’s usually the kind of person I am, and I don’t want to give you the wrong impression.” Hoping my meaning got through.
“Oh, no, me neither. I’m more respectful than that. Last night wasn’t my usual, and I don’t want to just run. For once I had fun.”
“You said you are not ‘that kind of person’ but in the next breath you ‘had fun for once’?” I ask coyly. See what kind of response I get, is nice to see them squirm a little. There’s a small sick pleasure to get out of it.
“Oh I see, you like to play with my words. Isn’t a little early to try to play games?”
Good way to get out of it buddy. “Maybe, but is my house, my rules.”
“Ahh, well, in that case, yes, if I have to answer truthfully, never had a one-night stand, and that’s why I’m standing here in your kitchen, trying to figure out how to proceed next. I think the protocol should had been for me to sneak out before you woke up?”
“Something like that. Don’t want you to think I’m a floosie either, I have respect for myself and what happens in my bedroom, but you catch me at a weak moment, and I needed some fun. And we seemed to hit it off last night. So, is not like I’m an expert in ‘protocol’ as you point out. But I think we are past the point of sneaking out. I do have a yoga class I want to make, but I still have time for coffee. So, you can go ahead and pack your clothes and run out of here, or we can establish something here, and keep the weirdness out of it.”
“Ok, I like that, you are pretty straight-forward. Maybe too straight-forward.”
I smile, and say what I think: “Is not the first time I heard that statement about me. Probably not the last one either.”
“So, shall we start from the beginning then?”
“I think we are a little late for that.” Looking towards my bedroom and beyond. A smile appears, that smile is quite attractive. It seems genuine. “Maybe a beginning is too much to ask. But I wouldn’t be opposed to a re-introduction.”
“Ok then. I’m Michael.” He says, stretching his arm.
“I’m Janet.” I shake his hand. That coy smile appears on his face again, he knows he has beaten his share of women before. “Jane, for my friends.” Feeling his hand.
Chapter 3
“Ok Jane, I’ll have that cup of coffee then.” Last night was really a good night after all. And to think I was going to give up on it.
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I might write more later. Emphasis on might. Thanks for your support.
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I owe you an apology
I’m sorry to my followers, all 8 of you, or at least that’s how many hits I had today.
This week has just been horrible for my writing. Work decided to take over my life this week. I know that’s no excuse, but wanted to post this, my first chapter, or part of it anyway. I’m already behind, but I’m hoping I can put enough time this weekend to catch up.
Thanks for your patience and support. Specially to my daily visitor. You know who you are. ILY.
Chapter 1
Oh my god, she plucked all of her eyebrows off. Michael thought, as he sat down with his date with Amanda. After a few weeks of talking through email and passing the dreaded first phone conversation he finally won a real date. I’m not so sure I really “won” anything. She actually looks like an attractive girl. But painted eyebrows he would never get over that.
How come I didn’t notice that before? He wondered as his mind flashed back to the pictures from her online profile. He has been in his shared of bad dates, but he thought he was getting better. Obviously there were some parts he needed to freshen up. All he could think was of the picture taken at her work, it showed her face and body type, but it was from a few feet away and she did a nice job of painting her eyebrows in that one. But now up close the natural look of them was long gone, and if he paid enough close attention he could actually see the red bumps left from all the plucking. He felt some shivers down his spine. He suppress his goosebumps so that she didn’t notice or at least didn’t react it to them.
Why do women do this to themselves??!!!! Couldn’t help but wondered. As his mind started too wondered off t run adrift for a few moments. Thinking of his upcoming 29th birthday and what his friends might do to surprise him. Spending the date with Felicia wasn’t a possibility anymore, at least something good came out of their break up. With his family back in the West Coast, he had to depend on his girlfriend (now ex) for family. Problem was that he never got along with them. He never really thought too much of it, he didn’t plan on spending time with them and they seem pretty happy with keeping him at arm’s length too. Except on birthdays, they would gather and make him feel part of the family, in a way that never felt quite so inviting.
Now with his new found freedom Michael thought about the possibility of having a simple nice birthday party with friends there. Celebrate with a few bottles of wine and beer, going over to a friends house, he wouldn’t offer his, since he knew he would have to do all the cleaning later on and he wasn’t up to that task, and dance the night away with all the ladies of his life. Specially if she showed up. Which the way his life was going, it definitely meant she would be there. Damn it Michael, pay attention here. Maybe something can be save here. She does have a nice body after all.
He tried his best throughout dinner to laugh at the right moments and ask all the right questions. Conversation was constant, but not natural, at some point he felt like an FBI agent asking questions and hoping for a crack on the case. He knew this date was going to end with a hug and one “I’ll call you soon” before the entrée was delivered to the table. At this point his only question was who was going to be the one to say it. She seems amicable enough that she might say it, but he thought of himself as a gentleman so he would also try to say it. Well, he still had most of the meal to figure it out. The reviews of the restaurant where great, so at least something good can still come out of this. Medium well, anyway.
I name thee…..
I have always wondered how do writers name their characters. But I think that it has to do with another question. Are writers really creating the story? or telling the story?
And I think that, that subtle difference is what is so amazing about people that write for a living. When you are creating a story, it just feels so hard (at least to me) because I feel like it’s so difficult, like the charachters are just looking at you and judging you. I’m being judge by my own characters, and they are looking back at me with disappointment.
That’s the part then, that makes me believe that is about telling the story, and not force it out of yourself, if is a true story. When I was telling the story in my previous post about Premise Vs Story. The names Matt and Jon, I didn’t create them, this characters, this son with an ailing father, and this childhood friend told me their names. It was a revelation for me, because I have always fought, what to name him, always wondered. But on Wednesday, when I was just letting the words come to me, his name also came.
This has now let me to believe, that the whole story is there, in my head, buried among all the crap my brain has gathered. Now the time has come to see if I can tell you a story, and if you want to listen to it.
Don't Follow My Lead 