Part 2 - Her

The pool party ended. The sideways nudges and constant questions did not. Friends were constantly trying to get him and I to hang out again.

"I gave him your number, I hope that's ok" came one text.
"Oh, ok" {nothing I can do now} was the response.

It was a big day. There was a football game of some sorts {I've never been a genius at sports.} and I was working a couple extra hours at my job at the crepe place for a "meet the union" event. Basically I got to stand at a booth and tell people to come buy overpriced crepes {which were admittedly delicous}. 

He texted me.
I reluctantly texted him back.
He texted me.
I reluctantly texted him back.

Seeing a trend?

"What are you doing tonight?"
"Working an event on campus for my job."
"I'll be on campus too!"
"Cool. What for?"
"I'm going to the game with my brother and his wife."
{I am not meeting your family man. Ain't no way.}
"Sweet. I hope you have a fun time!"
"Mind if we find you afterwards?"
"I guess not, I'll be on the fourth floor of the student union."
"Ok, I'll see you there!"

The roar of the crowd wasn't hard to miss as this game (which I later learned was merely a scrimmage) went on. I gave away crepes like crazy...I may have even sang a song or two for the lovely little freshmen there.

"Hey I'm on my way over. You still on the 4th floor?"
"Yep, I'm still here. Hurry and there might still be food left."

The anticipation grew quite a bit in my little tummy. Why? I kept thinking to myself. I need to maintain my composure. He's not even that cute I told myself. And he's bringing his family?! Can we talk about how much of a no-no that is?

But he never showed up.

"I can't find you!"
"Are you sure, I'm really not that hard to miss. I'm the one at the booth with the sign "La Petite" over it."
"Yah, I looked everywhere!"
"Oh well. I'm sorry." {no loss here}

A little while later I received another text...

"Sterling, Ariel and I are going to go get pizza, want to come?"
"I have an hour left of work, the event is done, but we still have cleanup." {maybe that will deter him}
"Well can we pick you up in an hour?"

And just like that I was the subject of inner turmoil.
You see, Ariel and Sterling were newly dating. Steven at this point was an awkward third wheel. Add me and it was a double date. But Steven had never called me. He had never called it a date. He had just asked me to "join" them in what was presumably a "hangout."

I couldn't have it. Dates I was not opposed to. But you had to do it right, I finally knew what I deserved, and I was going to demand it gosh darn it.

"If I can come out tonight I'll meet you three wherever you are." I replied. That way I still had the control of the situation.

I was off work in  45 minutes. I busted my bum home on my trusty rusty bike and explained to my roommates in a whirlwind of hot mess what was going on. Danielle stepped up and was willing to drive me to wherever Steven, Sterling and Ariel were. I hopped in the shower and within 20 minutes of getting off of work, I was ready to go. {Someone give me a medal. That was crazy.}

"We're on our way to pick you up!" he texted.
What?! No! This isn't what I planned! If they pick me up then it's definitely a "date" but without the necessary formalities. There's no way.
"I can just meet you wherever you are."
"Actually we're outside your apartments."
Awkward.

Spewing my gratitude toward Danielle and freaking out over how awkward this all was, I composed myself and walked out the door.

As I got in that car, in the back seat passenger's side, I knew I needed to gain control back of the situation.

"Where should we go now?" asked Sterling.
"How about froyo?" came my quick reply.
"Yah, we can go to U-Swirl." Steven said.

And just like that we were off. On what I later named our "Awkward Non-Date."

Everything I did that night was with a purpose. I wanted to let him know I was a woman who could take care of herself. And who deserved to be asked on a proper date.

As we walked into U-Swirl I teamed up with Ariel, we went first through the pick-your-flavor-and-toppings maze. I worked ahead of her, so that by the time I reached the register I was there first. That way I could pay for myself. Because that's what you do when you're just 'hanging out' with friends, you pay for yourself.

Sterling saw right through my plan. "Hey, I need more punches on my card! I'll pay for all four of us!" he called out to the cashier.

No way. He really just figured out how to not let me pay for myself. He's turning this into a date! And Steven doesn't even have to pay?! This is incredulous.

The froyo was free for me, and delicious. Although, having thought I was paying for myself I had put significantly less in the cup than I would have otherwise...

"Where should we go next?" Ariel inquired as she scraped the bottom of her cup.
I was on top of it, like a snow cap on a mountain.
"I have keys to the institute, we could go there."
"I know a great game we can play, if there are any big playground-type balls there." Steven piped up.
"We can at least go check it out." said Sterling.

So off to the institute we went; I was feeling particularly proud of myself. This avoided any awkward let's-go-to-the-movies-or-somewhere-else-dark-and-snuggly-because-obviously-everyone-wants-Sarah-and-Steven-to-get-cozy.

When we got to the institute, like a dream, everything we needed to play Steven's game "Human Tennis" was available. The game included tables through the middle of the gym (simulating a tennis net) and hitting the big ball over these tables, all while following generic tennis rules. Easy enough. At one point Steven hurt himself, a little rug burn on his foot it sounded like, but I wasn't too concerned.

I don't remember who won. But I think it was Sterling and Ariel?

I had enjoyed playing on a team with this short curly head boy. And everyone had said I should get to know him better. But I still wasn't really excited to "get to know" any boys.

"Sarah, did you know Steven is musical?" -Sterling
"Oh really? Want to show off your skills, Steven?" -Me
"Wait Sarah, aren't you musical tooooo?" -Ariel {with extra ooo's on the too because she was totally setting this up.}
"Kinda. I'll play piano if you sing." -Me

I intended to play like one song, call it good and get home. Sterling and Ariel (of course) said they needed to go "sit down in the foyer." Which was code for "We just started dating and we want alone time. And we want you two to spend time together."

We sang one song. It felt good.
We sang another song. It felt better.
We sang basically the entire hymn book and then some and found out that we sound great together and Steven had sat down next to me on that ever-so-small piano bench. It felt great.

Maybe I can just have him as a best guy friend. I really do need friends right now. I'm feeling really alone. And he is nice. I'm not romantically inclined to him. But maybe God is giving me a friend.

I did really need a friend. Especially with Eileen leaving for Idaho around this time and me being torn between like 4 different social circles, none of which I truly belonged to.

We went and got Sterling and Ariel, who had fallen asleep in the foyer, and then went home.

"Walk her to the door" Sterling prodded Steven.
Ugh really? You're going to make us have an awkward door scene? On something that isn't even a date?!
"I'm fine, really."
"No, it's cool, I can walk you to the door, make sure you get there safe."
Well I'm never one to pass up being cautious. I'll just make sure I stay ahead of him. What should I say when we get to the door instead of the typical "Thanks for the date!" because this is NOT a date? 

We walked to the door. Apart. I stayed at least 5 feet in front of him the whole time.

"I got new couch covers!" I proudly announced. "See? Aren't they grand?"
"Yah, they look great." He replied.
"See you again someday! Ok, bye!"
And then I closed the door while he was saying something which I assume was also a farewell.

'What a weird night' I thought to myself. It wasn't a date, but it sort of was. But I refuse to let him think that was a date. I'll just call it an awkward non-date. And so it was.