I seem to have gotten myself into a bit of a tight spot...
About this time last year I started doing Mock Trial (Just look it up) with my mate Carson, because they needed another person.
At the first formal practice (Took place at a local courthouse) I totally flirted with one of our team members, who isnt around much because her position was widely academic, and involved very little team input. She got up to speak her bit, and I turned her chair to face the other way. She gave me some sort of irritated smile
"Did you do this?"
"Who, me? Nah. Your chair isn't worth my time"
We smiled, and went about our day.
Next day, I talk to Carson
"Hey, whats the story on the cute Pre-trial attorney?"
"Oh, Adrianna? Shes really nice, plays soccer too. Shes in my Gov class" (Both were in the year above me)
"Nice. Don't you have the same role on opposite sides?"
"Yeah, why?"
"You take a shot yet?"
"Haha nah."
"Why?"
"I dont know. Just not interested"
"Alright, well, dibs then"
"Haha all yours man"
At this point, I was still a bit too caught up in an entirely different situation to give her much more than what I already had. But alas, me and Carson always threatened to go to her Soccer games and have a massive poster for her, and be obnoxious. It never really worked out, however. Me and him sort of let her slip until the last day of school
"Hey, Adri!"
"Oh, hey! Let me sign your yearbook!"
We exchanged yearbooks, and wrote nice stuff about each other, and then...
"So yeah, college huh? Thats exciting! Going to Chico, right? (A 1.5 hour drive from my city)"
"Yeah! I'm super excited! You should totally come out and chill with me some time next year!"
Now I thought that was just one of those things you just say, and then they dont ever come to fruition. But then, last September...
I was bored, and decided to see how the college life was treating her, and we talked for a bit and then she says
"So when are ya gonna come see me?"
"Oh, I wasnt sure if you even still wanted to do that! Any weekend you're free, really."
So that was it for that round, but I immediately texted Carson (Who was attending a JC in our home town) to gloat.
"Dude, bro. Adrianna invited me out to her apartment. Hecka going down there"
"Yeah, we talked about it too! When are you going?"
At this point I started to be a bit... peeved. Dangit, I was going to get down there first, just for the sake of beating Carson and showing that I'm more important. Besides, there could be the smallest thing, but I cant have him cocking about and ruining my chances
"Uh, not too sure, when are you going?"
"The 3rd week of October"
"Oh yeah, well, I was going to possibly go on the 2nd week of October so.."
"Oh ok, well cool!"
So I make arrangements with Adri, snag my fathers car (Not going to look like a scrub, in my Tracker. And at 20 MPG, my dad's 35 MPG would save me a small fortune) and set off for what was going to be one of the first bits of fun I'd had in the wake of my parents divorce, dog dying, and a whole host of calamities which had befallen me that summer.
I drove all the way down and got there just as she finished a class. We went back to her apartment, and I met her roommate (Who was the typical "Hey I'm in college, lets go party and get wasted" type person). She walked out of the room and I asked (Since Adrianna went to church all her life, and was morally sound in all areas) "So, how does one pick a roommate, exactly?"
She laughed, and we then went and walked around the campus for a few hours, culminating in us sitting near the main hall at 9 PM, just talking ab out life, our future plans, and the like.
It was amazing. The night was warm and calm, and it was just, perfect.
Eventually, 11 rolled around, and I had to hastily make the return journey home.
"Make sure you text me when you get home so I know you're safe!"
"Yeah, thanks Mum. But I will"
We hugged (Which we had never done), and I left, feeling that there totally could be something, but I didnt want to rush in too quickly.
Oddly enough, as I was in the last mile of my trip home, I had totally forgotten that I was supposed to text her.
Now, I know a ton of things on the internet are faked, but I'm serious, this next bit actually happened, and I was totally sketched out.
While we were talking, she told me her favorite song was "Drops of Jupiter" by Train.
Oddly enough, that song actually began playing over the radio as I got home. Which thus reminded me to text her.
(After typing, that seems like less of a stretch than I thought. But it was really weird when it happened)
So I told her the weirdness that I encountered on my way home, and she didnt reply, because she was presumably asleep. I went to bed, and woke up the next morning. I didnt get a reply all day.
What? Are you joking me? That went so well! I drove for 3 hours to go see her!
So I waited a bit, and asked if she'd gotten the message. She texted back "oh yeah, sorry! I'm super-busy"
I thought that was a pretty obvious statement of "You suck, dont talk to me" so I convinced myself that it was a night of fun, and it was fleeting. Just be happy that it happened.
I ended up texting her a week later, and she explained that she rarely replies to anyone with any regularity, and multiple people confirmed this. I thought it was back on, all good.
Next, Carson wanted to go hiking in mid-November (He ended up not making it down to see her). So we planned, and it was going to be a 2 day backpacking trip in the Trinity Alps.
When I next talked to Adrianna, I told her about it
"Oh my gosh thats so awesome! Im jealous!"
"I know, right? Im so exicted"
and then we went about our brief text conversation.
Later I texted Carson "Hey, how many people are going up with us?"
"Just me, you, and Jordan, why?"
"Well, would it be alright if I invited Adrianna to come?"
"Uh I see no reason why not. Sure, go ahead!"
At this point we had both deduced that we both liked her to some degree, but neither of us was sure whether or not it was worth it. But we agreed that I had the first shot, since I still had dibs, and went to see her first.
I picked her up from Chico the night before the trip, and brought her to her parents house. We talked the whole way up, and it was great.
Went hiking, all was well. Our prior agreement that no moves be made while camping was not infringed upon by either myself or Carson.
Originally, the plan was for Carson to take her home in the interest of fair fuel-cost division. But he and Jordan had arranged some sort of meeting with their church the day we got back, and he couldnt take her. Obviously, I jumped at this, squeezed $20 out of my father for a bit of gas until payday, and set about taking her back to her house so she could re-group and prepare to go back to Chico.
"I thought Carson was meant to be taking me home?"
"He was a bit busy, so we decided I could do it after all"
"Oh alright!"
I was going to spend another hour and half with this girl, and I was pumped. I was going to sort of ask a few leading questions about where we were, and try to seal it up when she got back to her apartment (NO. Not like that.)
I get to her front door with her, and her Mum opens the door.
"Hey, I wondered when you guys were going to get back! Adrianna, I tried to text you!"
"Yeah, I lost my phone in my bag, and I think I may have even left it up on the mountain."
"Oh ok, well then I'll just give you the short run- me and your dad can take you back down to Chico, since it feels like we hardly see you anymore"
WHAT?! NO! YOU CANT DO THAT! I HAVE A PLAN!
"Oh yeah? Alright cool! Look at that Ryan, you dont have to take me home anymore!"
"Yeah, that really worked out well, didnt it?"
She came back for Thanksgiving, and I knew Carson had been talking to her on Skype. I couldnt skype because I dont have enough internet at my mum's house. All 3 arranged to have coffee, and it was at that moment that I was made aware that they had exchanged playlists of songs, and all sorts of awesome things I didnt really have a chance at.
Awesome. So Sick.
Carson and her had grown closer, and I wanted to be the gentleman about it...
"Yeah mate, you've clearly got a better shot. Go for it."
And they've been dating since.
But then...
Yesterday we were talking (Because we're still friends, and she has no idea whats gone on between me and Carson) and she asked if I wanted to hang out Friday night, a couple days before she went back to College from her winter break.
Not entirely sure if this is a good idea, Carson knows about it and trusts me, but I just... gah. It's really hard to see your best mate with something you wanted and worked so hard to get.
Sorry for the wall of text. I like writing, you see....
) So during that my current girlfriend kept cheering me up, then we got back to school and we got even closer. I'd walk her to class and sit with her at lunch on occasion. Then we got together. A year and some change later and we are still together, still happy and love spending time with each other. We've had rough patches here and there, but they actually bring us closer together.
) - so ringing on her door, isn't really an option for me. - That's why I would like some general advice instead.
(thank Stephen Fry for that)
