Penumbra in The Stuff That's Not Interesting But Is The Most Interesting Stuff I'll Write

I’ve been spending quite a bit of time with my co-worker, Lio. After work we’ve been grabbing food, sitting on my front porch, being silly and just laughing. The other night was another co-worker’s going away party. I think Lio was sad because she was his best friend at the store and as of right now she’s driving from California to South Carolina… which should only take her about five days.

We got sucked into the restaurant next door because Nikki is the manager, and she wanted to buy us a drink. She wanted us to get back together, but it was a little depressing because it was clear that we were gone past a point where we had anything in common. All we talked about were things we did in the past, and Lio just sat there feeling a little lost in the whole conversation.

Being with Lio is so easy. I really enjoy him but it’s very amusing because we’re total opposites. He is always happy, like a yellow lab all the time. It’s like being bathed in sunshine… usually people who are that friendly and happy make me feel worse about myself because I feel like I’m a black hole of despair that ruins everyone’s lives.

We went back to the party, after the tequila Nikki served me, I was far more intoxicated than I usually would be but because I can’t handle tequila. Apparently, I made a speech that everyone found very moving (the next day at work, people kept telling me how she was moved to tears) which I find amusing because even when I’m past the point of remembering what I’m saying without having prepared at all, I can still make a speech that moves people to tears. My degree is proving itself useful, now if only I could find a way to monetize “talking”.

I asked Lio if he wanted to get out of there. Now, I did something I’m not particularly proud of… Lio is a little, um, flamboyant, and I encouraged him to tone himself down. I mean, we were at a bar where just over a week ago I almost got into a fight over a game of pool. I was worried for his safety.

I shouldn’t have worried, Lio is from South Sacramento which is not a very good part of town. We laughed, had a good time, and when that asshole who tried to fight me tried to get me to play pool again, Lio just jumped right in and said that he would play. I tried to intercede but Lio was determined.

There was also some other thing going on, I finally ran into Kirk, the hot straight Samoan who was flirting with me.

I was juggling too much and after being lured by brave little Lio into playing another game of pool with Neil (the asshole who tried to fight me), I tried to get us to go. When we got back to my house, we sat in his car listening to music for nearly 45 minutes. I felt bad because he had about that long to get him home.

While I was laying in bed, Lio started texting me. Eventually he started getting a little more… intimate with his text messages. I told him no and that our time would come.

I love Lio, I enjoy spending time with him so much but I’m not going to do anything with him that would make him uncomfortable. The next day, we were fine and there was no awkwardness between us. We were both at the same time, light and dark, just like we always have been.... I love it.