Oh. M. Get the hell out of here.
It’s a sign.
It’s a sign that I can’t tell my parents where I’m going to be tomorrow, but it’s a sign.
ME:You’re kidding. I have to drive to Big Bear tomorrow morning for work! I could meet you somewhere around there.
JOURNAL GUY:Amazing. What a totally believable coincidence.
ME:Can we meet somewhere in public? Like a pretty garden with lots of flowers and people, or a restaurant? You know, in case I’m a creepy murderer?
JOURNAL GUY:There are a number of restaurants we could meet at. I’ll send you a link to the prettiest one with the most flowers and people. And I’ll give you my phone number—how’s that? Does 1:00 work?
ME:It does! Yes. And thank you for offering to send your number to a potential serial killer. I feel better about this already. I will meet you at 1:00 tomorrow.
JOURNAL GUY:I’m really looking forward to that. I’ll be the guy with the copy of Pride and Prejudice and a rose.
JOURNAL GUY:Just kidding. It was emasculating just typing that sentence.
ME:Once again, I am very impressed by your familiarity with a movie you claim to despise.
JOURNAL GUY:If I’m being honest, I did watch a lot of romantic comedies with my sister over the past few days. Like, a lot. It really messes with your head.
ME:Tell me about it.
JOURNAL GUY:I’ll tell you all about it tomorrow at around one.
Oh, that’s sweet.
I should just leave it at that.
I’m going to just leave it at that until tomorrow.
Except…
ME:I feel like I should tell you…Journal Guy, that while I am very single, there is someone that I’ve been kind of hung up on lately. But he’s taken. So. I don’t know. I just thought I’d be honest and let you know.
JOURNAL GUY:Taken, huh? Does he have a girlfriend?
ME:No. I don’t think so. Not yet anyway.
JOURNAL GUY:And does this person know how you feel?
ME:No. And he can’t. Ever. Or I guess he can know how I feel—he just can’t know that I’m the one who feels it.
ME:Never mind. It’s complicated.
JOURNAL GUY:Well, I’m sure he feels the way you hope he feels about you. Things aren’t usually as complicated as they seem. Maybe it’s just a plot complication. Which is a lot easier to work through. You just have to get to the next scene.
ME:I like you, Journal Guy.
ME:And I don’t even care if it’s too soon for me to say that. Or if you only like me as a friend or potential friend. I do like you. I just need to do a thing to get over this other guy I like, and then I’ll be free to like you more.
JOURNAL GUY:Not sure if I like the sound of that.
JOURNAL GUY:But I do like you, PiperThanFiction. Do what you gotta do. I’ll see you in the next scene.
I like that.