Well - Part VII

I explained to Cheryl the events of the past week and waking up in the hospital with multiple contusions and some broken ribs. She was silent and let me finish the story but I could also see in her eyes some degree of abject horror in my tale.

Coming from a much smaller city and more of a neighborhood environment I could understand why she looked upon these circumstances as being so scary and unusual. I hoped I still did but it was still kind of fresh and I guess even though it was my own body… I was kind of in an out of body mindset that night. Anyway, after regaling her of my recent bad luck experiences. I kind of ran out of gas and the conversation seemed to come to an end.

Cheryl politely stated that “It’s getting late” and was in the process of excusing herself when I blurted out… “You know I had a heck of a crush on you in high school…” Her head spun around and she gave me a look of both pleasant surprise and curiosity.

“I knew…”

“Really?” It was my turn to be shocked. I was more sure that I had made absolutely no impression on young Cheryl than I was sure that grass was green and the sky was blue.

“I kept waiting on you to ask me out and it never happened.” She said.

I knew all too well that this was the case. I used to lay awake at night thinking of Cheryl. She was always cheerful but far from out going (as most of the popular girls were in my classroom). She always seemed to be just a bit out of place and trying to find her way. This was also true of most of my friends…and myself.

I had managed to get through High School with almost no experience with the opposite sex and my virginity firmly intact. As I was thinking about this, I was almost certain that I hadn’t even gotten Cheryl to sign my senior yearbook. To think that she was aware of my unspoken and “not acted upon” attraction was most surprising.

“Geez… I guess I was afraid of rejection or that you weren’t interested.” I stammered out (I guess I was feeling kind of defensive give this revelation).

“I thought you were kind of cute. You didn’t seem to be like any of the other guys. You were thoughtful and more of a bookworm.” Damn she was paying attention.

I might have been blushing but I was very encouraged because a few moments ago I thought Cheryl was about to walk out of my life again (and I probably wouldn’t have blamed her) and now she seemed to be settling back into her seat.

“…and here we are 10 years later…” I smiled. I didn’t know what else to do and it seemed like a rather natural response at this point. I was pleased that I had at least made some kind of impression on her (without really trying) and that her she was with the potential that I might have actually professed what I probably should have stated to her a decade earlier.

A semi-uncomfortable silence ensued and I was fearful that I was about to lose that momentum again. “Could we maybe … go out for a dinner or a movie sometime?”

“I’d like that.” She said. “But, how is that going to happen. I’m leaving tomorrow morning for Connecticut again. You making any trips back to our hometown in the near future?”

“Well…” Here comes another lie… I thought. “I was going to be coming up north next weekend to visit my sister. Are you free then?”
“Sure, I’d like that.”

With that comment our evening wound down shortly thereafter. I walked her to her hotel and we agreed that I would call her to confirm next Thursday.

As I was walking back to my apartment, I had the biggest grin on my face. I couldn’t believe the swing of luck in my life in such a short time span.