NTKOG #77: The kind of girl who catches your eye in public then, brazen as you please, gives you her number so you can meet again.
I am: skeptical of the whole concept of giving strangers your number. What’re you supposed to say when you call? “Hey, remember me? We met waiting in line for the restroom at the ice cream parlor?” Heck no.
I am not: even currently dating.
The Scene: The Davis Square T station, waiting for an inbound train with Anglophile and Porn Star after seeing The Slutcracker (a must-see for you Bostonians! details during a special sluts-and-hula-hoops edition of TMI Thursday!). As we walked by, I noticed a dreamy guy standing alone by the platform and shot him intense live eyes. I figured nothing would come of it, as he was too cute to even be looking at me. But. Not only did he not look away, but he wandered close to us and kept looking at me. Big-time electricity.
I pulled a standard TKOG move: started being extra charming and funny in the conversation to catch his attention. After I made a joke, he laughed, so I engaged with him. A few pleasantries, then I told him we’d just seen The Slutcracker and recommended he see it. He would, he said, but he just moved to town and doesn’t have friends yet.
TKOG: Me too! Tell you what. I can be your friend.
Davis Square Dreamboat: I’d like that.
TKOG: So what do you do? Student? Grad student?
DSD: I’m a software engineer.
TKOG: Love.
He laughed like I was joking. Um, like I’d ever joke about my love for engineers. Then — heart in my throat — I asked if he had an iPhone; he said no. “Too bad,” I told him, “or I could bump you my contact info. There’s an app for that.”
“You could just give me your number the old-fashioned way,” he said, whipping out his phone. I gave him my number, and afterwards he typed in my name without even asking me to repeat it, even though I’d only said it in passing before. My heart puddled and slid around the floor like a Capri Sun commercial. I got his number too, then the train came.
On the train, he sat across from me, then started chatting again, so I sat near him, but left a buffer seat because I hate touching. After a bit of normal exchange, he put his arm on my elbow:
DSD: So now that we’re friends, what are we going to do when I call you?
TKOG: Something exciting. We could get acupuncture together! Or indoor skydiving! [he grimaced at these] Or we could go get a drink at a bar with the periodic table on the wall?
Long story short (TOO LATE!), we’re going to Miracle of Science on Wednesday night after my writing class. You guys. You guys! I have friggin’ BUTTERFLIES! I can’t remember the last time I had butterflies. Oh em gee. One other stellar moment from the interaction on the train. We had to shout a bit to hear each other better, so I scooted a few inches closer to him on the buffer seat:
TKOG: Sorry, is this too close? Am I invading your personal space?
DSD: No! Why would you ask that?
TKOG: I just have personal space issues.
DSD: Are you usually the invader or the invadee?
TKOG: Oh, the invadee. I’m like the friggin’ Poland of personal space. I try to be respectful because I know I don’t like it when other people get in mine.
DSD: Wait, so you wouldn’t like it if I did this?
And then he put his hand on my shoulder, like kind of close to my neck and — it is a Christmas friggin’ miracle: not only did I NOT freak out, but … I liked it. It felt, I mean, electric.
Aaaaaack!
The Verdict: Oh my gosh. So remember when I said I wasn’t going to date just for the sake of dating, and was going to wait to meet someone with whom lightning struck my heart at first glance, no matter how many months or years it took to find? Yeah, okay, so it apparently didn’t take as long as I thought it would. Gosh. Ever since we parted, I’ve been an all-singing, all-dancing tornado of giddiness. I’m so going to savor this feeling, so even if on Wednesday it turns out he loves Dan Brown novels and has an anime tattoo, at least I’ll have these few days to look back on fondly.
Of course this couldn’t have happened at a less convenient time in my personal/romantic life (going back to Vegas for two weeks, then The Ex is coming out to Boston to visit me), but I’d be an idiot not to pursue it. Because it turns out I am totally that kind of girl.
Also, in re: number giving: a really sweet girl who witnessed my T station pick-up started chatting with me afterwards, and we ALSO hit it off! I ended up getting her card and vowing to call her to go see some opera. And while I would usually just throw the card away, y’all know I’m actually going to do it. ROUSING SUCCESS!
Also, loves, remember you only have ’til 11:59pm tomorrow to enter MY GIVEAWAY! Get those last-minute entries in, or you’ll always regret it!
I love this story! I so wish I was brave enough to do that but I have enough trouble maintaining suitable eye contact let alone engaging in conversation!! Well done!
You go girl! You’ve been my inspiration lately. There’s some girls at work that I know I would click with and I’ve been trying to get up the nerve to ask them if they want to hang out.
Andddd that sounded pathetic.
Dude, not pathetic at all! Upgrading acquaintanceship to friendship is really hard! Especially because you don’t want to look over-eager.
My latest attempt at acquaintanceship upgrade was with Anglophile and Porn Star; basically we were all standing around chatting, then I blurted out: “Wanna go get cupcakes?!” which seemed to work. I recommend it! Nobody says no to a cupcake!
ah! I’m so excited that it all worked out for you!
Fingers crossed for a great first date- not to freak you out or anything, but I met my husband exactly the same way- at a train stop, back in ’02. I got his attention in an uncharacteristically bold way (it was totally a NKOTG moment for me!) and we started up a wacky conversation. We’ve been together ever since!
Woah, I totally feel weird commenting right under another Alana, but…nice work!
Well, the 2 of you look completely different! 😉
ooh im so excited for you! yay to butterflies!
oh and i’m in cambridge, what is this slutcracker nonsense? it sounds awesome and i want to go!
It’s a burlesque reinterpretation of The Nutcracker (instead of a doll, the girl gets a vibrator; the play goes on from there), and is definitely the most unique and amazing Christmas show I’ve ever seen! It was non-stop raunch, but the choreography was actually really great, and I laughed myself to tears from curtain up until the last number. It also featured the best (male) pole dancer I’ve ever seen and, I mean, I’m from Vegas, so that’s saying something.
It’s at the Somerville Theatre in Davis Square; it’s playing Thursday through Sunday, with 8pm showings every night and a 2pm matinee on Sunday. Tickets are $26 at the door and a bit cheaper online. I’ve heard they sell out (they’re already sold out for Friday, for example), so probably worth taking a look at the website if you’re interested:
http://www.theslutcracker.com
Not for the whole family, but if you’re into burlesque or in the mood to try something uncharacteristic and — dare I say it? — sexy, I would DEFINITELY check it out!
that is amazing. that is like my dream love story. do you think i could get the boyfriend to do some sort of stranger t-pick-up fantasy?
hmm. maybe if i get him drunk.
also, i am dying to see the slutcracker. we’re considering going this week.
See previous comment and TOTALLY check out The Slutcracker! The show’s pretty darn sexy. I have a feeling it could give you some leverage to get the boyf to do some fantasy enactin’!
I told you live eyes worked. LOL! And I’m *so* going to the Slutcracker now!
haha, I actually thought about that, after he gave me his number. I was like, “dude, Aldonza totally told me to live eyes! I need to give her a shout-out!” Then I forgot, so thanks for reminding me!
And, dude, totally do go see The Slutcracker! I’m planning on making it a holiday tradition.
Totally Awesome! I’m so proud!
i have butterflies for you!!
i hope you guys have a good first date!
Dear: I met your father in a revolving door, and we’ve been going around ever since. (Or, so he says.) Don’t forget your mace, letter opener, and hammer.
Ok, I don’t see why you’d need a mace, a poniard and a warhammer! I’d suggest trading the warhammer for a hand-and-a-half broadsword (Less encumbrance, and keeps the opponent at longer range).
Oh and please tell me the mace is a mace and not a morning-star?
Gamer geek credentials well and truly established?
Ken O, dear, what language are you speaking? I should have said “pepper spray and a stun gun.” One should carry these items as well as a clean hankie.
English, but I was talking about medievil weaponry:-
Mace – A metal club with flanges for a head.
Morningstar – The spikey ball on a chain that Hollywood keeps calling a mace but isn’t!
Poniard – A dagger, designed for slipping through the holes in ringmail, and between plates in platemail or full plate.
Warhammer – Similar to a mace, but with a solid hammerhead.
I don’t think you need pepper spray and a hand-held tazer (as distinct from a tazer gun which potentially needs a “carry concealed” permit!
She’s obviously joking about the need for weaponry, if the clean hankie admonition didn’t give it away. Chill, man.
I have a very strange sense of humour; I was joking about the choice of weaponry (well, other than the encumbrance point) too! I’m sure the usual handcuffs and spare underwear will be fine! 😈
Ugh, -20 points sleaze damage! CRITICAL HIT!
Squeee! Yay! Hi-effing-five!
AWWWW YAY!!! I know I responded to a comment on my blog about this, but again, congrats!!! AND THAT’S SO FRIGGIN’ EXCITING!!!
I need to have some butterflies again. I miss that whole part of the dating experience. Don’t get me wrong, I love my man and wouldn’t trade him for the world (okay, maybe a million dollars, but who’s sayin’ anyway?), but sometimes I want him to sweep me off my feet again . . .
He’s so stressed since it’s winter time and work is slowing down and now that he’s going away for a few months, that stress is mounting on him as well trying to find a place to live, etc. and knowing he’s leaving me . . . HAHA. Sorry for the ramblings, but I’m so happy you’re happy 🙂
What a great adventure! I remember how difficult it is to meet a really fun guy and it sounds like you did.
Can’t wait to read about your date.
Of course this man was, to quote the indomitable Vicky of Little Britain, “PA-ROPPER GOGE!”
Hurrah! Good for you! You are so inspiring. My social life has come to a bit of a standstill due to best friends’ life changes (writing a book/having a baby tend to scupper one’s social life), so I’m definitely going to have to follow your lead and step out of my comfort zone to find more friends.
Keep up the excellent work!
I found your site from the Secret Society of List Addicts- and you know what? You’re so effing cute! I don’t think that I could have given a random guy my digits without being super mega creepy, but your way makes me squeal when I think about how cute it is!
this story totally made me squee!! i used to DREAM about meeting a boy on the metro (back in the days when i metroed to work) and it NEVER HAPPENED. it seems like such a romantic way to first meet someone to me, although.. um.. well, i’m not sure why. it just does, ok? so YAY FOR YOU! go live eyes! 🙂
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“there’s an app for that” I LOVE IT! You, my friend, are hilarious. consider yourself “followed.” can’t wait to catch up with this blog to see if you and davis square dreamboat carry on! 🙂
-J.