A New Day

Well I last left you with me giving Joey my phone number, and making sure that I got his last name. I would like to continue with our first date. As we were exchanging phone numbers, we went ahead and set up a “date”. He suggested that we go to karaoke with some of his friends. I wasn’t too crazy about that being our first date, however I really just wanted to hang out with him, and get to know him, so I didn’t care what we did. He told me that he would call me with the final details.

So the next night I was waiting for my phone to ring, but nervous at the same time! What was I supposed to say?!?!? Being as timid as I am, things like this usually make me really nervous. Nervous like sick to my stomach nervous; but this time that nervous feeling was different. There was definitely a feeling in my stomach, but it wasn’t making me feel sick. So all day/night I am waiting for this phone call, but it never came… not that day anyway. The following day I was pretty much thinking that he just wasn’t going to call and that he was just like so many other guys. Well later on that night, he called! I thought that my heart was going to melt faster than an ice cream on a hot summer day! We decided on that hanging out with friends would probably not be the best for our first date, so we planned on eating at Chili’s and then going to see a movie.

Well that Friday night came, excited as I was, I told no one that I was going on a date. I still lived at home with my parents, and if I would have told them that I was going out with a guy they would have asked a million questions and also made me be home by a certain time.; if they thought I was working, then I was able to stay out until about the normal time that I get off work, and Stool Pigeons closed at 2 am. Well in order to get out of the house, I had to pretend to be working. So I left home in full uniform, with my ‘date’ clothes in the car. I changed as soon as I got out of sight.

So our plan was to meet at Chili’s at a certain time. Well I was way early, and decided to go by Stool Pigeons, which was right next door to Chili’s. Well everyone there was wondering why I was so dressed up, (I wasn’t really all that dressed up, but from my normal Stool Pigeon “garb” I guess you could say that I was). I let them know I was going on a date, but didn’t give up much more info. One of the guys there suggested that I make him wait atleast 15 minutes before I got there, so I didn’t look too anxious. For whatever reason I listened to the guy and in fact made Joey wait for me. On my way over I felt guilty though, and called him to let him know that I was almost there. Once I got there I really felt bad, and told him why I was late. He told me that he thought he was being stood up and almost left! I am so glad that I called to let him know that I was almost there, so he didn’t leave! So that goes to show that you should never listen to advice from other guys, when you are trying to impress a different guy! Where would I be today if we would have never had that first date?!?!?!?

Well we finally are seated at Chili’s and have been seated for a good 10 minutes or so, and have not even ordered our drinks. Well, if that wasn’t enough, all of a sudden the table right across from us starts jumping up and going crazy. Of course that grabs our attention and we try to figure out what the deal was. Well, low and behold there is a HUGE roach crawling across their table!!!! I didn’t know at the time, but Joey is really terrified of them. He can’t even kill them. So needless to say, we decided to leave Chili’s and walk across the parking lot to Logan’s.

Once at Logan’s, the night was much better. We talked so much that it took us forever to order! During our never ending talking, I discovered that he had actually been the youth minister at Piney Grove Baptist, and some of his youth members were some of my really good friends in high school. We had a lot of things in common, and it seemed as though there were many, many chances for our paths to cross, but they never did, until now. After dinner we saw a movie, and then called it a night. I was a little unsure of what to expect as we said our goodbyes… was he gonna try to kiss me? Hug me? I had no idea! But he just walked me to my car and we said good night.

To my surprise, not long after I got home, he texted me to make sure I made it safe. At that point, the “heart melting like an ice cream” was happening all over again! Shortly after, we had our second date. This time, my parents knew that I was going out with him, and they had already met him. He actually came all the way out to Girard to pick me up, and with a rose in hand! (Ok heart melting AGAIN!) Then we spent the night at the lake just talking. It was probably the best date ever. I can remember thinking that I wanted him to kiss me, but he never did, and I definitely wasn’t going to make the first move! Well the night ended, without a kiss, and even though I was a little bummed, I was glad that he wasn’t rushing things. The first kiss came later when I was completely not expecting it!

After the second date, we pretty much saw each other every single day. He would usually come by Stool Pigeons and visit with me while I was at work, and we went out to eat --- a lot! (this would be the reason for our weight gain! This is where it started!!!)

One other night that was very memorable for us when we were dating, almost made me lose my life, I think… I was of course at work, and Joey told me to stop by his house after work to see him. So by the time I got off of work and got to his house it was past 11pm. He was asleep. So when I got there, we both quickly fell asleep on the couch after talking for a little while. Well before I knew it, it was well after 2am!!!! In a hurried panic, I ran out the door, and drove like crazy to get home! (now for those who don’t know, I lived atleast an hour away). I flew (I mean drove) home praying that my parents were just asleep, and didn’t notice that I still wasn’t home. (also I must add that my parents were really, really strict, and usually kept a close eye on me) Well as I was pulling up to my house, I realized that EVERY light in the house was on! This time my heart wasn’t melting, I think that it was really about to jump out of my chest. I was sooooo scared to walk inside and face whoever was awake, (praying that it would be my mother, who usually let me get away with anything, my Dad was really the strict one). Unfortunately I walk inside to see my Mom coming at me from one direction, and then my Dad from the other! At that moment, I thought oh no! what do I say?!?! So naturally like any other person in my situation would have done, I lied. I didn’t want them to be mad at Joey, or not let me see him, so I blamed my being late on having to work late. My parent’s actually bought it, and let me pass with just one scolding. One that was actually a blessing in disguise; “I won’t tell you that you have to quit working there, but no more working nights!” I was actually glad to give up the late nights! That just meant that I could have more time with Joey!

All this excitement happened within about 2 months. We met in April, and were officially dating in May. We were both each other’s worlds at that time, and had taken a new path that we both had not expected. It felt like we started a fresh new life, on a fresh new day. We were both happy to be going this path, but I don’t think we knew quite what was about to happen. So quickly…