When You Least Expect It

15

Monday morning I'm sitting in class staring at the clock willing it to move, I swear time stands still in here. My phone vibrates in my pocket bringing me back to reality. I don't recognize the number so I text back, "Who is this?"

The reply is instant. "Ann."

Why do I not recognize that name? I lay my phone facedown on my lap wracking my brain tying to remember the name. Finally I just text them back. "Who are you looking for?"

Before I even have a chance to set my phone down it buzzes again.

Ann: "You duh. Jason gave me your number. This is Derek right?"

>"Yeah. This is Derek." I still have no idea who this chick is.

Ann: "I was at the party Saturday. I bumped into you and you helped me out."

Ah, fuck. Now I know exactly who this is. This is the chick that was drunk off her ass stumbling and blowing snot rockets. I'm going to kick Jason's ass for this.

>"Oh. Hey Ann, what's up?"

She texts back a couple more times asking if I want to go out on Friday night. I don't want to hurt her feelings so I agree to go. I don't have any plans anyway, besides I've never been asked out before. First time for everything I guess.

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After one incredibly busy week it's finally Friday. My date with Ann is tonight and I'm not even sure how to feel about it. Jason laughed hysterically when I confronted him. Honestly I just wanted to sock him. He's such a dick for this but he knew I wouldn't turn her down. He called me Pretty Boy all week because I let her ask me out, like it wasn't his damn fault to start with.

Ann texted me almost every day this week. She talked a big game about getting it on with me, I tried to play it off because I have absolutely zero intentions of bringing her home with me. Between the inability to hold her liquor and her obnoxious attitude... Honestly, I don't know which is worse. I'm starting to regret saying yes as time gets closer. Ash tells me to suck it up and make the best out of the night.

Finally, I meet Ann outside the diner. She's acting super shy and I know this ain't her. Ashley says she's worse than me and Jason combined about belching, fart jokes, and let's not forget, blowing her nose without a tissue. The whole time we're trying to eat our dinner she's acting like a fool. Twirling her hair around and giggling when I haven't even told a joke. It's starting to irritate me and I'm ready to go home. Finally she finishes her dinner, but not before spilling her drink all over me and the floor.

I pay the tab and offer to walk her home. All the way there she's giggling and acting like she's a pre-teen on their first date. She laces her fingers into mine and I let her.

When we get to her place, she leans in to kiss me. I lean in for a hug instead and kiss her cheek. Her shoulders fall, I don't want to hurt her feelings or anything but I just can't.

"I hope you had a good time tonight Ann."

"Oh I had a wonderful time Derek. I wish this night would never end." Again with the giggles.

"Ah, I know. Maybe another time. And I'm sure we will run in to one another sooner or later." Preferably later, I think to myself. Though I would never say it out loud.

She pulls the door open and hesitates before walking in. "Are you absolutely sure you can't stay a little longer?"

"Sorry, I really got to head back. I've got some studying to do and what not. I'll see you around. Hope the rest of your night is great Ann."

Heading back to my place I wonder what Whitney is up to tonight. I could use a little stress relief. This was a complete waste of a Friday night.

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I'm laying in bed alone when I hear screaming downstairs. I jump out of bed and smack Jason waking him, the fire alarm is going off. We run downstairs trying to figure out where the smoke is coming from. Following the screaming we run to the kitchen. The stove and counters are on fire, smoke growing thicker by the second. Thinking quickly I run in and grab the fire extinguisher from under the sink. I yell out for someone to dial 9-1-1 while I try to extinguish the blaze.

Turns out one of these drunk morons was cooking and fell asleep. The fire department clears us to go back inside and thankfully the only damage was to the kitchen. Unfortunately, our stove is a loss, so now we have to wait and see if and when they will replace it and the burnt countertops. Some girl is standing in the hallway in her underwear bawling. She doesn't even live here so I don't know what she's crying about.

"Look, the fire is out. It's all good. Who are you here with?"

Using the back of her hand to wipe her eyes she replies, "Ben, but I don't know where he is."

"Ok, well why don't you go look for him. Don't worry about this, it's fine. Look on the bright side, at least it wasn't your kitchen." I haven't had enough sleep to deal with ditzy tonight. So with that I leave her to find Ben.

The next morning we get a mass email from the company that owns the building, our kitchen is out of commission for two weeks while they replace the burnt stuff and make sure everything is okay. That's going to suck. I guess we're going to be doing a lot of grilling in the cold. Good thing I can throw down on the grill just as well as I can a stove.

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The two weeks actually flew by, things have been super busy at work and school. Me and Ash have had a few nights out just us and a few with our little group of friends. It's been nice. Of course I grilled for the house a couple of times. Most of them are pretty good about chipping in so we have enough for everyone. Still, it's nice to have our kitchen back.

I haven't talked to Ann much since our "date", if you can even call it that. Whitney has spent a few nights with me when her boy toy is acting up and I've come to accept that's just going to be how it is, at least until the holidays are over. She's standing firm that she needs a date for everything. I don't know why it's such a big deal. No date means less expectations and more fun. Talking to everyone, just enjoying yourself, with no one to answer to.

I'm kind of dreading the holidays if I'm being honest. I have nowhere to go. There isn't anyone waiting on me to come home to visit. Taylor is going home with Megan and Jason's going home by himself, although I really think he wants to take Riley along he just doesn't want to admit it. She's really good for him though, if he could just accept that. It's so funny to watch him try to resist it. They make a really good couple, balance each other out. He is so soft when it comes to her and she gives him a hard time, a taste of his own medicine.

Katie has an "almost boyfriend", as she calls him, the blonde from the party. His name is Tyler and he's alright I guess. He's not the sharpest tool in the shed but he's funny so I guess he's got that going for him. We still hook up once in a while, I'm going to hate it if she does start officially dating this dude. Katie is the best friend-with-benefits a guy could ask for. She doesn't get jealous, she doesn't need a date. I text her if I need it and she texts me if she needs it. As selfish as that sounds, I mean I am rooting for them I guess. Because she absolutely deserves to be happy.

Halloween is approaching quickly and I can't decide if I'm going to participate or not. I never really got to dress up or anything as a kid. I just feel like I'm too old now I guess. But then again half the campus is dressing up so I don't know. I'll at least go to the party and people watch. Some of those costumes are more revealing than the bikinis the girls wear around here.

Next thing you know it'll be winter break and I have no idea what I'm going to do. I have nowhere to go and on top of it all I doubt I can stay in the house all summer. I can't really afford a nice apartment or anything so I guess I'll need to start figuring that out soon. I have a little saved up but these places aren't cheap. Maybe someone else will be sticking around and we can share a house, it's only for two months so who knows. I guess we'll see when we get there. I sure hope the boss will have a full-time spot for me over the summer though or I'm going to have to pick up a second job.