Now he knows you’re here. Pop some gum in your mouth and wipe off as much fallen makeup as possible, just in case he decides to talk to you. Play the game now …
It started on my flight to Brazil. I was by myself and nervous and narcotic as a junkie at a 12-step program. To defuse my nerves I started to play Klondike on my iPod. Klondike is the UC school of solitaire. It is not an Ivy League hard-to-play game, but it is not the easiest. Same situation: I was on a transportation vessel with strangers, all by myself in a foreign city. Granted, I was not international but I still needed to be focused. Play the game Klondike, now.
I looked focus too. And throughout the night ride I could see him look over at me. I looked up and poked my head into the isle like I recognized someone; he watched. I fixed my hair; he watched. I took my phone out of the bag; he watched.
Gosh buddy, you are making this a little obvious. I think you may talk to me. Looking at his reflection in the window I could see his inflections. The way he sat, arms in between his legs hovering over his knees. The same way a hockey player waits on the bench before he skates in. He moved his hands as he talked to add validly to his words and every once in a while he tilted his head my way to see if I was still there.
All right, so this is going to happen. Just be cool. Remember to smile and don’t give him your default face. That face always looks pissed off.
Our stop came and I quickly walked off the bus.
All right, walk it out. Oh don’t go through dog park, this guy could be a creep. Walk the other way.
I made my way through the well-lit city block and noticed nothing had happened.
Okay, walk slower, maybe he lost you in the crowd.
Okay, still no contact. Take your phone out and pretend like you are reading an outrageous text. A text so outrageous it stopped you in your tracks. Pause for a minute … now keep walking.
Wow you are really not going to ask for my number. Haha I just got moated. Damn, you are stupid. You should have …
Just then, I was about to turn the corner and I could felt a presence behind me. No touch just a body close by … he is going to say hi right now.
Two taps on my shoulder and I turned around to see wide eyes and a smile.
“Hi,” he gasped with a wave.
iPod off, “Hello?” I said.
“Um, yeah so I noticed you this morning—”
“Yeah, I noticed you too. Hi, I am Vanessa.” I stuck my hand out with a laid-back confidence.
“Hi, I am a-mos.” He said.
“Excuse me?” Did he say Mass or Thomas?
His face came in and said “… mas!”
“I am sorry, can you say that again?” Gosh I hope it is not Mass.
His face was getting pink this time. “… mass?” he said it like he was questioning himself.
Make a choice Vanessa, you are making this awkward for both of you. Most likely his name is Thomas.
“Oh, Thomas!?”* I said, please be right.
“Yeah,” haha.
“Well, hello!” I said. Do not smile too big. But do not look mean … give him a smirk. Great.
He had a white wifebeater on with Tapout sprawling fight shorts and wrestling shoes. Oh no, is he one of those “I know jujit-zu. I have been practicing it for four months” guys? Hmmm ... Oh wow; it’s just his eyes.
We had been staring at each other for at least ten seconds. No words, just eyes.
