"You said you guys are not dating!" Kara says after I told her I'm going to a bar with Dalton tonight. "We are not," I say. "But then you're going out with him tonight?"
"As friends! Why is that an issue? Will you not go to a bar with him if he asks you to?"
"Okay," Kara says. "Fine, I believe you. Then why can't Roger and I join you guys?" I grab her shoulders. "It's a beautiful evening and we're at a romantic beach house. Do you want to spend the evening with me and Dalton or with Roger alone?" When I thought of saying that in my mind, I didn't think too much of it. But after saying it out loud, I feel hurt. Tonight's effort better pay off. "Okay," she says. "If anything happe–"
"I'll call you," I tell her.
After flexing our fake ids, Dalton and I get into the club with no trouble. While sipping an unbearably sweet orange juice I look around the room. "This feels wrong," I say to Dalton who is sitting next to me. "What feels wrong?" he asks. "Looking at men, thinking which one I'd like to have sex with the most."
Dalton stares at me. "What?" I ask. "I'm glad you're not a man. Or else you would probably die a virgin if you think like this," he says. "With how things are uncovering in my life currently I might still die a virgin." He shakes his head. "Not if I can help it. Look over there," he says. There are three guys, not much older than us, sitting at the table Dalton pointed me to. "What about him?" he asks. "Which one?" All of them are good-looking. "The blue shirt."
Blue shirt is cute. I like his smile and fluffy hair. His modest looking appearance suits his face and physique. "Okay," I say. "What do I do?"
Dalton says, "First, I'll have to leave your side." I look at him terrified. He's going to ditch me? "Don't worry. I'll be watching over you. If I'm next to you, no one will approach you," he says. "But without you how will I go talk to him alone?" I ask. "You won't be going anywhere. He'll come to you. He'll soon start looking over at this table. Every time he does that, give him a small smile."
"What if he doesn't look?" I ask. "He will," Dalton says and leaves me alone.
Nervously I wait at the table while playing with my glass of orange juice. For thirty seconds or so the guy doesn't look at me. Then he does. I do as Dalton instructed me and faintly smile at the guy before turning my attention back to my drink. This is both exciting and terrifying at the same time but I think I got the hang of it and am ready to repeat it.
However, it took only one attempt because the guy is now coming towards me. "Hey," he says.
"Hey."
"Where did your boyfriend go?"
"He's just a friend."
"Good. Can I sit with you then?"
"Sure," I tell him gesturing at the seat next to me.
I don't know what I was expecting will happen after a guy approached me in a bar. I thought it would be exhilarating, romantic and I would have been swept off my feet by now. But the reality couldn't be farther from it. The guy is boring the hell out of me. I've never met someone who likes to talk about themselves as much as this guy does. Just how unlucky I can get? My first mate doesn't want me, and my first date won't stop talking to me. Feeling my reservoir of patience running out rapidly like air from a balloon I decide to act like my phone is vibrating and I'm taking the call. "I'm sorry I gotta go," I tell him quickly and run away.
I search for Dalton in a crowd of half drunk, half high, and overall unsteady young people. I should've known that Dalton's concern over my sexual wellbeing was just an excuse for him to come here and get laid himself. I find him grinding against a hot girl wearing what seems like shapewear in a corner. I make a beeline to him.
