Just Sh*t: A New York City Story

Chapter 7: Texting Trials and Tribulations

One evening, as the boys were lounging in their shared apartment, Alex suddenly sat up, a serious expression on his face. "Guys, I need your help," he announced, pulling out his phone.

Judah looked over, raising an eyebrow. "What's going on? You finally met someone who doesn't think you're just a joke?"

"Very funny," Alex shot back. "I'm trying to text this girl I met at the bar last week, but I don't know what to say!"

Ryan, who was busy scrolling through his own phone, perked up. "Oh, I'm great at this! I can help."

"Really? You're the one who told me to send a girl a meme of a cat falling off a table," Alex said, skeptical.

"Hey, it's a classic!" Ryan defended, shrugging. "But fine, let's hear what you've got so far."

Alex hesitated, then said, "I was thinking of just saying 'Hey, what's up?' But it feels too basic."

Judah, always the sensible one, chimed in. "It's simple, but it works. You can build on that. Ask her about her weekend or something she mentioned when you talked."

Ryan leaned back, trying to sound cool. "Or you could say something funny! Like, 'What's the weirdest food combination you've ever tried?' That'll get her talking!"

Alex sighed, looking overwhelmed. "But what if she thinks I'm weird?"

Jackson, ever the straightforward one, chimed in bluntly. "Just be honest. Tell her you're bad at texting and ask for her favorite ice cream flavor. That'll show you're vulnerable."

Jamie, who had been quiet until now, chimed in, "But what if she thinks that's too lame? I mean, I wouldn't know how to respond to that. I'd just... freak out."

"See? You're all no help!" Alex exclaimed, throwing his hands up in frustration. "I need something smooth, something that'll make her laugh. Not ice cream flavors or boring questions!"

Ryan suggested, "You could always text, 'I promise I'm not as awkward as I seem.' That'll definitely get her attention!"

"Or it'll make her think I'm *really* awkward," Alex retorted, shaking his head.

Judah attempted to calm the chaos. "Why don't you just start with a compliment? Something genuine. Like, 'I had a great time chatting with you last week. What's your go-to weekend plan?' It's nice and open-ended."

Jackson leaned in, arms crossed. "And if she doesn't respond, you'll know she's not worth it. Keep it simple, man."

"Ugh, I don't want to sound boring," Alex complained, running a hand through his hair. "What if she thinks I'm trying too hard?"

"Just don't overthink it," Ryan said, shrugging. "Be yourself."

"Which is exactly why I'm overthinking it!" Alex shot back, exasperated.

Jamie, feeling insecure about his own dating experiences, finally spoke up. "What if you just ask her to hang out? Like, 'Want to grab coffee sometime?'"

"See? That's good! But what if she says no?" Alex asked, clearly still uncertain.

Judah placed a reassuring hand on his shoulder. "Then she says no. It's not the end of the world, man. Just shoot your shot."

Alex sighed deeply, looking at his phone as if it were a puzzle he couldn't solve. "Okay, fine. I'll go with... 'Hey, I had a great time last week. Want to grab coffee sometime?'"

"Perfect!" Judah encouraged. "Just hit send and don't overthink it."

With a deep breath, Alex typed the message and hit send. The moment he did, he looked around at the guys, who were all watching with varying degrees of interest.

"Now we wait," Ryan said, trying to keep the mood light.

"And if she doesn't respond in five minutes, I'm throwing my phone out the window," Alex added dramatically.

Jamie chimed in with a nervous smile, "I'll be here to catch it if you do."

As they all settled back, the waiting began. In that moment, the boys felt the mix of anxiety and excitement that came with putting themselves out there. No matter how many terrible texts they had joked about, it was all part of the process. And they were in it together, navigating the messy world of dating as usual.