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A DATE IN THE LIFE OF JAIME |
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Our columnist Jaime arrived to the New York City dating scene about a year ago. In that time, she has learned that this so-called dating scene is anything but normal. In this monthly column, Jamie recounts the nights she wished she stayed home and the nights she'll never forget. |
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He was a little dorky and all he could do was talk about himself. |
On the night of Lisa's birthday bash at Coda, I made post-celebration plans, but only because I KNEW she was going to go home at the end of the night with her ex-boyfriend to get some action. So when 3am rolled around I left her and everyone else to go meet my good friend Brad downtown at Chateau. Little did I know that my night was just beginning. At Chateau I was hanging out upstairs with Brad and some his friends, one whom I had met earlier that day in Central Park (Sheep's Meadow of course). I guess I am overly friendly -- fine, I am a flirt at times, but isn't that normal? So this guy Jason that I met, while basking in the sun, apparently thought I was taking a strong liking to him, which was hardly the case. Nice guy, but just not for me. He was a little dorky and all he could do was talk about himself. This is one quality that drives me up a wall. It's called "getting to know one another" not "let me listen all about you and not get a word in edge wise". So if a guy never asks me about my life and just goes on a tangent about his own pathetic, boring life, well then I know right from the start that he is selfish. |
I just hoped that he wouldn't have the balls to ever dial the number. |
When the night was nearing a close, well not the night, just the place was closing down, I could tell that Jason was lingering by my side hoping to catch my digits. I have a downfall though -- I always give my cell number out because I don't exactly know how to say, "Nope, sorry--you're not my type". I figure if I give out my number to someone and then within a couple days I receive a call from a number I do not recognize, then I just won't answer the call. I admit this is a really immature to deal with men, but I would rather save face in the moment than to crush them right from the start. I might as well give them hope, right? While being hauled out of Chateau like cattle, Jason must have thought that I needed his help thru the crowd because he placed his hand on the small of my back. I actually thought this was very gentleman-like of him, but I am also a firm believer in personal space, so I get a little weird when people invade my space (I am also a little claustrophobic on top of it all). The crowds of people poured out onto 7th Avenue South and it seemed as if no one wanted to go home, even though it was pushing 4am. So Jason is hanging by my side and I am just waiting for him to leave, but he is not budging at all. In the midst of the crowded street, I see a cute guy, so now I am just waiting for Jason to take a hint and hail himself a cab so I can go over talk to him (I was feeling assertive since I was a bit tipsy). Obviously not adhering to my 'negative' body language (that I recently learned from an article in Cosmo), I finally say, "Well, I am going to round up my friends and head uptown to go home." |
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Jason proceeds to ask for my number, which I hesitantly give, but again, only because I don't quite know how to deny that request. I mean, Jason is nice, so I felt bad to be a frigid bitch. I just hoped that he wouldn't have the balls to ever dial the number. He finally said his goodbyes and left the scene of the crime -- took long enough! The minute the cab pulls away, I make a dash over to the cute guy with the blue eyes, who is resting one arm on an expired parking meter. "Do you know if there is anything going on after this?" I don't know who I think I am being all forward like this, but it worked because he flashed me his baby blues along with his Colgate smile and introduced himself as Joe. "I'm Jamie. Nice to meet you, Joe." I have learned to always repeat someone's name after they introduce themselves to me. I have a bad habit of not being able to remember the person's name even though they just said it 5 seconds ago. But when I repeat it, I remember it. It's a good system -- I recommend all to try it. "Well actually, my friends and I are having an after-party on our roof top. You guys should come, it should be a good time." |
When she returned a few minutes later, she had a look of disgust on her face. |
Joe just happened to live one block from my apartment, which seemed too convenient for my own good. Regardless, I made my best friend Cara go with me, even though the sky was beginning to turn from night to day. We headed uptown and then headed to the roof -- not exactly a "party", but there were some people in attendance. He asked Cara and I if we wanted to do a shot with him -- Cara accepted, while I said, "in a minute". So Cara and Joe proceeded downstairs to do a shot. When she returned a few minutes later, she had a look of disgust on her face. I thought it was the aftertaste of the shot, but I was wrong (as I later found out). A few minutes later, he asked me if I wanted to do a shot. I accepted and went downstairs, just like Cara had. We did the shot and then he tried to kiss me, but it felt more like an attack on me and my space. I backed away quickly and said, "What are you doing?" And then it clicked as to why Cara had looked so disgusted just a few moments earlier. Except I was doubly-disgusted than Cara, considering he just made a move on my friend and I back-to-back. |
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So, I called to Cara -- in a certain tone -- and she knew we were out of there that instant. We left Joe alone at his lame-ass roof-top gathering, and conveniently, walked together the one block back to my apartment and finally crashed as the sun was rising. So Joe was a slime ball and Jason was too nice. Maybe I will meet Mr. In-the-Middle next weekend. Probably not, but I can give myself hope right? |