TEASE. - The Memoir

7. Designer

7. Designer

There are few people I know that communicate more through actions than words. Usually, far more say that their actions are superior, but most of the time those who speak on this aren't telling the truth. This story is about the boy who was telling the truth, at least about how he doesn't communicate verbally.

After getting pulled from others the night I met Curls and 90's, I found myself drawn to yet another stranger. He felt drawn too, I could tell by how we clung to each other like over-sensitive magnets. We walked together from the club to a pizzeria and shared a chair as I ate the fries bought for me by Curls. Looking back on it now, I feel somewhat bad for accepting food from him while I clung to this boy, but it was just another graceless night, right?

I finished the fries and decided I had to go to the bathroom. Through a look I communicated that I wanted company, and so the new boy joined me, like any regular magnet would, into the single-user bathroom. I can't remember if either of us actually went to the bathroom, I just know we ended up making out and getting kicked out after occupying it too long.

Is that when our connection was secured, pressed against the bathroom door as others waited to use it? You were the first person I went home with this summer, and looking back, I think our bathroom moment made me want you more than usual.

We exited the bathroom as directed by an employee of the restaurant and I stupidly tipped him for dealing with our situation. We joined the rest of our group and walked back to where the party began as you ridiculed me lightly for tipping that employee. And you were right, I shouldn't have paid him. But, I was too distracted at that point to care.

The friends I originally came with and I got in one of our cars to head home and you hopped in, looking for a ride. There were no extra seats for you, but I was there, so thanks to my magnetization I became your own personal seat. I feel bad in hindsight for everyone else in that car that had to deal with us, as we weren't the most appropriate on the drive to your place.

That's when you asked me to stay with you for the night. I was nervous for a moment because I had just met you, but my friend in the front seat encouraged me to go and I trust him more than anyone else in this city so I did. And I'm glad I took that risk.

We got to your apartment and you put on music despite telling me that you didn't really care for music that much. Clearly, you do, especially since you let it play all night long. Like I mentioned earlier, your actions speak louder than words.

We moved into the bedroom and brought the lyrics of some scandalous songs to life. Now, whenever I listen to Perfect Places by Lorde my mind drifts to how our night went. We defined what a graceless night looks like, and that in itself is glorious.

We talked rarely, but when we did you explained how you were a designer at target; possibly one of the gayest professions in existence. Your profession left its mark on your apartment, and I saw its echoes in the decor and gorgeous color sequence scattered throughout your bedroom.

It's no doubt to me that you would work well as a designer, as you speak through mediums that don't require language. Your social media is mostly pictures without captions and your body language indicates more than your voice ever will. Someone someday will appreciate that; I know that person won't be me, though.

So, Designer, why are you on an album of teases?

I don't know if you've read the rest of the chapters, so if you haven't, just know that I am an over thinker when clear verbal communication is lacking. That being said, the silence you gave the night we were together left me uneasy. Of course I'm no longer uneasy about you, but I know I would be if our situation continued.

Now that your (possible) unintentional teasing is causing me to glorify our encounter, despite my hesitations about you, does that make me a tease, leading on my own mind and memory? Who's to say...

Maybe we're both teases. Regardless, we have nothing to blame each other for. That night we shared was great and I don't regret a thing. Instead, I can only thank you for such a fun night.

I hope your designing career takes off and you tease more boys with your non-verbal communications. I, meanwhile, will tease boys the same way, and write about it as I always do.

Here's to our cataclysmic lifestyles, however toxic they may be. At least we aren't alone, right?