Awkward college romance - NEW INSTALLMENT! -- part 9

Really, this story will conclude soon - I promise!

“Hello?” Jeff said, in a voice indicating I had obviously woken him up.

“Uh, hi Jeff, it’s Tom. I’m just returning your call. Sorry it’s so late…”

“Um, yeah, well that’s ok.”

Note to self: if you’re trying to woo someone, it might be a good idea not to
call them in the middle of the night.

“So I guess we need to talk, huh?” was all I could say.

“Yeah.”

We made plans to meet the following morning, and we did. What follows is an approximate recap of our conversation.

“Well Tom, here’s your note back like you requested. Thanks for writing it.”

“Thanks, Jeff. I hope it didn’t make you uncomfortable.”

“Well Tom, the only thing I can say is that I feel sad because I may have lost a friend.”

OUCH. Ouch ouch ouch ouch ouch.

“What do you mean by that, Jeff?”

“I mean that you may not want to be friends with me if I can’t return your feelings.”

Ouch.

“Well Jeff, I guess you’ve answered my question --- but I definitely still want to be friends with you. Nothing has to change between us. I just don’t want you to be freaked out or grossed out by me.”

“You don’t gross me out, Tom.”

“That’s good to hear, Jeff.”


So that’s where we left it. I had been chasing after a straight boy. We proceeded to talk about him and his ex-girlfriend for a few more minutes, and then we parted ways because really, it was all very awkward.

I called Jeff the following Tuesday afternoon to make plans to go out for drinks together on Wednesday night; I was going to need some alcohol to celebrate finishing a mid-term history exam that would take place on Wednesday afternoon.

I poked around my dorm room for a while that Tuesday afternoon, feeling sorry for myself and not knowing what to do --- until finally, the adult part of me forced me to pack up my book bag and head to the library to study for the exam. As I bounded down the stairs I magically came to the realization that I just needed to pony up and be happy that Jeff was still my friend after my revelation.

I was so happy with this sudden shift in thinking that I positively flew out the front doors of the dormitory onto the cold stone steps.

Where I tripped on my coat tail and flew headfirst down the small staircase, breaking my arm in the process.

----------------to be continued----------------------