Flashforward. The past week. Suzie, my counterpart and office friend (the one whos getting divorced and told me that her husband wants to do me) had been hinting around that I should meet a guy she used to date. She said he was in town visiting his sister for a while and that he was looking for people to do things with while hes here. She told me that she couldnt do anything with him because she was going out of town, but that I should because hes really “gooooood looking”. I didnt pay much attention.
Until he called me over the weekend!
I didnt get his messages until Monday morning because hed called my home phone. Im listed, but I never use that number. I always use my mobile number, so any time that phone rings I know its a telemarketer or something. But before I left for work on Monday morning, I decided to check the voice mail. Sure enough, there were two messages from Brian. He was looking for things to do on Saturday night.
I had a meeting Monday morning with Suzie, and after the meeting I told her that hed called. She said, “Ohh. He must have looked you up and everything. He called me while I was out of town and I didnt have your number on me, so I just gave him your name ..you should really call him back. Hell be in town for a little while, and hes really a great guy. We went to the prom together in high school, and my mom just adores him. She still asks about him!”
Her Prom Date? [Yes. This is where all that prom nonsense is coming from] She wants me to call the guy who took her to the prom? How strange.
“Whats wrong with him?” I asked.
“Well, hes absolutely gorgeous,” Suzie replied, “but I dont want to rekindle anything with him anyway. You know, Im dating someone .plus, hes no rocket scientist.”
Eh. So whatever. I picked up the phone and I called him. Nice enough conversation. We talked for a while and then ended up making plans to meet for a drink after work. He told me what he would be wearing, but knowing Suzie and her tastes in men, I knew it wouldnt be hard to find him. All I would have to do is look for the most beautiful man in the place.
Sure enough, when I got there I knew exactly who he was. I got wobbly knees as I walked up to the bar where he was sitting. We looked at each other knowingly. A big smile washed over both our faces. What a doll. What a living doll!!
I sat down, ordered my vodka martini (just slightly dirty this time). He already had his beer. I didnt want to stare at him, but I couldnt avert my eyes from those lips and that dimple on his right cheek. What is up with me?? A lip and dimple fetish? I guess.
As we talked, I realized that he would have been the epitome of the perfect prom date. Football star, popular, gorgeous, funny, polite. The whole package. I imagined him and Suzie going through the whole prom ritual together. What a beautiful couple. In fact, we talked about it for a while. They were a picture perfect couple. I felt a twinge of jealousy. After all these years, I know I will never forget my loser of a prom situation (see previous entry if you havent already).
We sat and talked for hours. True, hes no brain surgeon. But he was sweet, and funny and sincere .and oh so easy on the eyes. I told him I couldnt stay out late, but when he asked me if I wanted to go for a ride in his sisters new car, I couldnt resist. I laughed and laughed when he kicked in the turbo action and flew down the highway. I was instantly transformed into the girl I was in high school.
So when he drove me back to my car, and as we were saying our nice-to-meet-yous and goodbyes, I felt that old, almost-forgotten schoolgirl nervousness. Which is a much more pure and innocent form of nervousness than the .whatever it is I usually feel before a date now that Im in my thirties. There is a distinct difference. And I felt it strongly. I had an idea of what was coming next.
And I was right!
It was like another friggin flashback into a John Hughes movie. I think I could even hear Orchestral Maneuvers in the Dark like a dream sequence in the background. Brian looked deeply into my eyes and cupped my face with both of his hands, and planted the most amazingly sweet kiss on my lips. And when he finally pulled back, I was rendered speechless.
I just sat there, all starry eyed and just looked at him. So he did it again. And again. And one more time.
And finally I mustered, ..that was nice .that was reallllly nice.
And after several hundred more goodbye kisses (it was getting extremely late), I actually got out of the car and into my own car and drove home. And as the rain pelted my windshield on the drive home, I couldnt help but think: if only Brian had been my prom date.
Dream on dream on dream on .
Brian ended up staying an extra weekend, creating opportunity to see him again. But for reasons unknown (okay, and maybe a little known) we werent able to meet.
Quite honestly, I preferred to keep this story alive and well in Fantasyland without spoiling it with real world situations. Some things are better left that way.
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