Reconnect: The Story of an old flame

Part 10: Sorry, Not Sorry

"So then, what did you get your bachelor's in?" I asked.

Jake and I were standing in my kitchen- well, I was sitting on my counter top and he was leaning against it on the opposite end, beer in hand.

"Finance." He said.

"From state?" I asked and he nodded. "Nice. And now what do you do?"

I'd learned from my last job how to engage in conversations, how to keep them going and how to fill in any awkward silence but even without it- the conversation just seemed to flow.

"I work corporate finance... in the city." He said.

"Sounds like such a grown up job." I said, making him laugh.

"At 31 I should have something grown up like. And you?" He asked, raising his empty beer and signalling to the fridge.

"Go ahead. I have a bachelor's in Sociology. I'm a patient advocate at the hospital." I said simply, " I want to be a social worker."

"Really?" He asked, raising a brow. "I've met a few and it seems like a tough job."

"I know it is but I've wanted to be one since I understood what they do. I'm getting my Master's in that." I said.

"Really?" He asked.

"Yes. I just started." I said proudly.

"That's awesome." He said

"Other than that, I do a little volunteer work for a pro choice advocacy group." I said.

"I saw that- you're very politically active." He said with a smile.

"You mean my daily Facebook rants?" I said with a blush, realizing how active I was on social media about human rights issues.

"Yeah. don't look at me that way. I read your posts and I believe, for the most part, we pretty much agree on the same things." He said.

"You read my posts?" I asked.

"Yep." He said, walking towards me with a beer in either hand. "I do- all of them. I like that you're well informed. I don't usually like to talk politics but its nice to hear about things like this from people who don't just talk ignorantly out of their ass."

"I only talk about things I know about." I said simply, "otherwise I'll look like an idiot."

"Well, you're not an idiot. In fact, you're really smart. I'm intrigued." He said, making me turn to look at him. He was leaning against the counter again, this time standing right next to me.

"You really look just like in high school." He said after some silence and I laughed.

"I certainly hoped not. Do you remember what I looked like then?" I asked, hoping off the counter, suddenly feeling a little nervous.

"I do. You always looked good." He said and I definitely laughed.

"Right. I was such an awkward dork." I said with a shake of the head.

"I know and really weird." He replied with a smile.

"Yeah, not much has changed." I said.

"I know, you're still weird." He teased. There was a little more silence. "So, weren't you living in Mexico with that guy?"

I sighed.

"Yeah- Daniel." I said.

"How long were you two together for?" He asked.