JERK
The day started beautifully. I woke up thinking this was the greatest day ever. I should have been paying more attention.
We did sleep in. It was a long, marvelous night of …. getting to know each other. And myself. Who knew? I just doubled my chances of getting a date. Wait… or being rejected for one. Damn.
I made pancakes, Kimberly flirted and told me how perfect I was.
Like I say, it started off as a fantastic morning.
But the least I can do is cook breakfast for the first person I’ve ever slept with! I HAD SEX!
Wuf! Hopefully I was better at that than making these pancakes. Well, I know where to get a good breakfast and some decent coffee.
And it’s really only a short walk down the path on this beautiful island. We held hands, silently enjoying the outdoors, before arriving at the cafe.
Don was, apparently, on a break. I don’t recall him ever actually working here. Maybe he just likes the outfit and hanging around in coffee bars. Luckily I know how to use one of these things. Just gimme the coffee.
We were both still in a glowy mood. Kimberly let me know she couldn’t wait to get back to the house and spend more time spending time.
I suggested a further walk around the island first, to show her a couple of my favourite places. She agreed, asking if there were any more … “private” areas we could visit. I knew just the place.
There was a decently unknown swimming hole further down the island, with many small, secluded picnic areas surrounding it. I took her hand, and we meandered down the path through the woods.
Arriving at the pool, I was overcome with happiness and satisfaction. I knew I was smitten with Kimberly, and just had to tell her.
And that’s when things went completely off the rails.
I asked her to be my girlfriend.
She snorted.
“Girlfriend?” <giggle> “No no… why would we do that?”
To say that I was stunned would be an understatement.
“But… but last night, I thought…”
She laughed! “Look, I mean, I like you and all, and last night was really… really… a lot of fun. But you have to understand…”
I think I lost it.
“No! YOU understand…!”
I kinda blacked out after that, trying to keep it together as I yelled at her. She kept this patronizingly bemused, sad look on her face as I ranted about my feelings and privacy and anything else that was bugging me since I got to this stupid island.
I called her a few things that I’ll probably regret later. She just sighed sadly, and walked away.
For a brief moment, I felt good for getting that all off my chest.
A very brief moment. It all hit me on the way home; I felt used, and betrayed, and … terrible, and… I just couldn’t think in clear thoughts any more.
As I’d said, it started off as the best day ever. But it ended with the worst feeling in my life. Adulting shouldn’t be this painful.
I curled up in a ball and cried myself to sleep, where I stayed for a few hours.
When I woke up, I was feeling better about things. Not … completely fine, but better. Kimberly was still a giant jerk, but I wasn’t going to keep that from hurting so much. I was still doing well, and the night before was still a lot of fun. She didn’t ruin dating for me, just dating her.
I swore that – next time – I’ll find out someone’s commitment levels before I suggest one of my own. Adult stuff.
I cleaned up the awful pancakes I’d made her earlier (maybe if she’d just choked on them… Augh! No… stop it Jeanette…), and started to look around the place. Maybe, it’s time for another change. I had some spare time, and a chunk of cash in my purse; time for some added space, I think.
I expanded the main room and kitchen, giving a little more breathing space.
Then added some kitchen cabinets! It’s starting to look a little more grown-up over here. A new stove, a new fridge, and I had the sink moved off the island.
With more space, I moved the chair out into the main room, for a nice place to sit and read.
Replaced all those awful plain interior doors, to match the exterior.
Added some space to the bedroom, and reorganised the furniture.
And finally, a back door! Out to …
…well, the back. Okay, it’s a small house, but it still felt good to know there’s another exit, for the next time I set fire to something. From several thousand dollars, I finished the day with a grand total of $84 in the bank. Thankfully there’s work in the morning.
As this horrid day of extreme emotions came to a close, I could only think that I’d grown a lot. Not an experience I want to repeat, but a learning one. I guess.
Kimberly’s still a jerk.