A Most Unfortunate Outing

So, there's a little incident I want to share that happened a couple of nights ago. Ever since, I've been keeping a low profile. I've even had to quit my job, because I was just fed up of snide comments from my co-workers. Word spreads, you see, and after that embarrassing situation I went through, well, even days later, no one seems willing to let me live it down, especially one co-worker in particular: Chet. The worst part is that the whole incident kind of played off of something that occurred a few years back, and had been lingering behind in the shadows ever since. I'd thought I'd buried it safely away and moved on from it, but in the end, it turned out I was my own worst enemy and perhaps the way everything played out was karma.

I could jump straight to the action, but actually, the whole thing began with this new guy that started at my job. Now, we'd known each other back in school, however, I was pretty much unpopular back then. Well, I still am sort of unpopular. By that, I mean, I'm just a bit shy and reserved. I've never had a lot of confidence and when it comes to guys, well, I just don't know the right thing to say. I guess I'm more of an introvert is the way I'd describe myself. I prefer staying home and playing video games rather than running around and partying and the like. As a result, it was more a case of I'd known of Chet at school, whereas he'd barely been aware of my existence. He'd always hung out with the popular crowd, whereas I just kept my head down and struggled through that stage in my life. I was an average student back then, not like I was a genius or anything, but I got by well enough to graduate high school and right now I'm in college.

Not coming from an affluent family or anything, I have to work on the side, which sucks, but I have to pay my way through college, and it seems like Chet is in the same situation. Despite being popular, his family isn't rich or anything too, so he needs the extra funds just as much as I do. Anyway, besides being at total odds in our social situations during high school, I quickly found that as a co-worker, Chet is pretty cool. He is chill and laid back, and since we interact outside of the college setting, he's always willing to hang on our breaks. Well, he was, up until this weekend. Now things have decidedly changed after what happened.

Anyway, during his first week, he had been a bit oblivious when I'd commented we'd shared classes in the past, but when I mentioned one occasion where I'd caused a bit of a ruckus in school, tripping over in the canteen and knocking one of the teacher's trays from their hands, his had eyes lit up.

"That was you?" he'd said while trying to wipe the tears from his cheeks. "I remember hearing all about that."

Anyway, that had broken the ice, and from there, we'd developed a pretty cool working relationship. Whenever we were on shift together, there would be a lot of jokes being cracked and prank-like shenanigans. I have a bit of a dry sense of humour, but it only comes out when I'm comfortable and really get to know someone. He thought some of the things I quipped were hilarious, and I started to see beyond the guy I'd always thought was a total dreamboat. I mean, Chet is incredibly good looking, with his dark features and tall, broad figure. He's what could be considered a real Latin stud, but he'd always been out of reach for me. During school, I'd never even floated the idea of actually getting to know him or anything because he existed outside of the world I was trapped in; the socially rejected hell that people like me were relegated to.

As co-workers though, we were on equal footing. In some ways, I was even more senior considering I'd been there longer, and during the first week I'd found myself showing him the ropes and how to work particular applications and stuff. Anyway, the result was that we'd become friends, of sorts. I had grown closer to him in a way that I'd never done before with a similarly attractive guy. The more shifts we worked together, the more excited I'd found myself becoming, actually wanting to go to work just to see him. Yeah, I can admit I had a crush on him. In my head, I even kind of started thinking of him as like my boyfriend, though just not in any official capacity, and throughout the weeks, I'd been building up the courage to ask him out on a date. Guys liked being asked out by girls, didn't they?

Of course, the problem was that our entire interactions happened at work, and we never really hung out together outside or anything, as much as I wanted to. I had replayed the question in my head countless times: asking him out to the movies or for a drink. However, I'd always chickened out whenever the moment came, instead fantasising about the

idea

of him being my boyfriend, and how impressed everyone else would be. I mean, I knew my reputation would go through the roof with a guy like Chet on my arm, and people wouldn't think of me as the awkward, lonely girl any longer. Sadly, as always, I was just way too shy and lacked the confidence to take the next step. Even though I liked him, I barely had any experience with guys, whereas he was extremely popular and confident. So, I had just accepted what I had, and enjoyed being in his company whenever I could. Until, much to my surprise, Chet had floated an idea to me this Friday just gone, right before the end of our shift and that's how my life had taken a total turn.

As I sit, alone, in my room, the door closed and safely away from the taunts and goading that have plagued me ever since, I can't help but slip my hand into my panties and replay over how things went down on Friday night. Simply closing my eyes...it's like I'm right back there, almost as if I'm reliving the entire debacle all over again. As I begin to touch myself, I think about how gorgeous Chet had looked when he'd come up to me, and suddenly, I'm right there in the office, living it all over again.

So, without further ado: let's get to it.

It was Friday afternoon, and Chet was just finishing up with some of the mundane administrative tasks, prepping things ready for the next shift, when he walked over and tickled my side. I flinched, of course, the same way I always did whenever he played one of these silly little pranks on me, caught by surprise, before smiling to myself upon realising it was him. I always loved whenever he got handsy with me. "What's your plans tonight?" he asked casually while putting his jacket on and ruffling up his curly; giving himself a once over in the mirror. "You got a date lined up or something, gal?"

Instantly, my cheeks blushed, the same way they always did whenever male relations were insinuated. Other than in forced settings, where I had no choice, working with Chet being one of them, I rarely interacted with guys on a personal level, especially in a romantic way. I had little self-confidence, and just didn't know how to act around them, feeling like they were just messing me around. I had pretty much been traumatised with teasing during school, so when it came to a hot guy, I could barely even envision myself as being intimate with them.

"I don't have much planned," I said while looking away shyly. "Probably just head home and play some video games or something."

Chet chuckled, then pursed his lips, before rolling his dreamy, dark eyes. He grabbed my wrist with one hand, before lifting my thumb with the other. Already, I felt a tingling running through my body; simply being touched by a guy as handsome as him filling me with uncomfortable excitement. I looked down as he rotated my thumb amongst his strong, thick fingers. "Look at this," he said, while squeezing my thumb between his fingertips. "Look how flat and defined it is." He dropped my hand, before wagging a finger in my face. "You play way too many video games, Erica." I sheepishly pulled my hand back, tucking it into my pocket. For a second, I thought about saying something clever, something witty that would make light of his casual insult. However, nothing came to mind, and after a few seconds of awkward silence, Chet sniggered. "You wanna come to a party instead?"

For a brief moment, I was barely able to process what he'd asked. Instead, a wave of intense heat flew through my body as my anxiety went through the roof. "W-what?" I answered, nervously. Chet actually wanted to take me to a party? There was a little excited flip in my tummy, but then, it was rapidly replaced by a deep feeling of dread as reality hit me.

Partying was something I simply didn't do. I mean, I hung out with friends and the like, where we'd mostly goof around on my Wii, but I never really went to those college style parties where everyone was having sex and the sort. On the few occasions that I'd actually made any progress with a guy, after months of getting to know him, I'd been so nervous, that I hadn't been able to meet their expectations in the bedroom. As exciting as attending a party with Chet was, I couldn't calm my fears from floating to the surface. I mean, imagine he actually liked me or something? Imagine, when he was drunk, he went in for a kiss and dragged me off to one of the bedrooms? Imagine his look of surprise when he realised I had to pack my bra and had second thoughts? I could already feel the prickling on my skin as everyone would be laughing as I came down the stairs after him, Chet looking disappointed after my usual starfishing-performance. The few guys I'd actually been with had always complained about me being frigid, but I couldn't help it. I had little confidence in my body, often considering myself boyish while staring into a mirror. As soon as my clothes were off, I'd hide behind my arms, feeling exposed and awaiting judgement. That's why the mere thought of being with a guy terrified me these days, even as much as I longed for the romance.

Deep inside, I really did want to hang with him outside of work, and I longed for him to be my partner, but just being in a situation like that with other people...it made me feel ill. "I'm not really the partying type," I said, while already feeling as if I was sweating at the thought of being in such a social situation. There was just way too much pressure to fit into that kind of crowd, and I simply didn't have the minerals. Being around the attractive, popular guys was bad enough for my nerves, but it was the girls that were the worst. Those kinds of parties were always filled with the sexy, snotty types, and I simply didn't mesh well with that crowd. They'd always poke fun at me or exert their superior looks over me in some way. I already knew that I'd end up in some kind of situation where I'd be belittled for my lack of feminine assets and plain features, often in a playful way with knuckles rubbed against my scalp. That's something that really got to me with the other girls of my age. They always looked upon me as being younger or something, and would talk down to me as if a woman to a child, highlighting their feminine charms while teasing me for being a tom boy. Yeah, they'd find it hilarious, and high-five each other while saying it was all in good spirits, however, I was always left as the laughing stock. "I think I'll pass," I said, already feeling nauseas from simply picturing myself amongst that crowd. "That's not my idea of fun."

Chet narrowed his eyes slightly in confusion. "What do you mean by that?" He scratched his ear, shooting me a judgemental glare. "You saying you're too cool to hang out with guys like me?"

"No," I said defensively, the exact opposite being the reality. "It's not like that." I suddenly felt like I was blowing it. "I really do want to hang with you."

"You have a car though, right?" he said. "You don't even need to drink. Just give me a ride, hang for a little, and if it's not your scene, well, split. It'll be no biggie, right? Show your face and scoot."

I bit my lip while making sense of it all. He didn't want to hang out at all, he just wanted a ride to the party so he could drink. I was pretty much chewing my tongue to avoid showing my disappointment. Even if I didn't want to go, it had still felt nice for the few seconds I'd thought he wanted me there with him. "You need a ride then? That's why you're asking?"

"Well, yeah," he said with a shrug. "I mean, I can probably find another, but it makes way more sense if you come along, right? Maybe you'll even have a little fun."

"I don't usually get invited to stuff like this." I was already imagining the faces on everyone when I turned up. I'd most likely get sent packing. I mean, it wasn't as if I was a total social delinquent or anything. On the surface, I was a fairly average gal. I just didn't go out of my way to move amongst these circles, and as a result, I was a bit of an outcast. I didn't think they'd literally turn me away at the door, but they'd probably be thinking 'who the hell invited this one?'. The popular girls would zone straight in on me as a way to show off how much hotter and cooler they were and use me as a punching bag to impress the douchebag, jock guys. That had been my high school experience, after all, which was why I avoided those bitches like the plague. I'd always just felt inferior while hunkered in the shadows of their superior, womanly physiques.

"Well, I'm inviting you," he said with a reassuring smile. "You can come as my guest. How does that sound?"

"I don't know," I said, still uneasily, the worst-case scenarios manging to trample all over any inklings of having a good time. Maybe things would work out alright, and after hanging for a few minutes and making a good impression, I could split and Chet would realise the error in his ways. Maybe he'd come with me. Maybe I could do my reputation some good and actually come across as being cool. You know, the cool, mysterious gal that no one knew much about, turning up with a catch like Chet, then disappearing into the night. Everyone might end up whispering and wondering who I was. I could even borrow my mother's leather jacket and really look the part.

"It'll be fun," he said. "You should definitely come along. Maybe you'll make some new friends."

Despite trying to be positive, I couldn't shift the slight uneasiness as various fears began to swirl around my head; even as I stared into his dreamy, brown eyes, I could hear my heart beating faster. I didn't want to make new friends. I just wanted to be alone with Chet. Why couldn't he have suggested we go for food or something? Even a walk in the cold night would have been preferable to a house filled with drunken jackasses and catty witches that were ready to pounce.

"We can hang out," he added, and I could even detect the warm huskiness of his breath as he moved a little closer to me. "You know, we could get to know each other a bit better? I feel like we never really knew each other that well in school."

"I guess," I said, the real desire to be with Chet seeming to grind its way through my fears. I mean, I wanted to be his girl, of course. He was so hot, and popular, and the kind of guy that I'd always dreamed of dating. Unfortunately, I'd always been too shy and reserved to ever actually go on a date with someone of his calibre, but now, for some inexplicable reason, I was being granted the opportunity to do that very thing. It was a date he was suggesting, wasn't it? I'd be going along with him, so it was definitely a date. Perhaps the months of quiet patience had been worth it and Chet had realised my personality was a winner.

When he'd first started working with me, I'd sent him a hopeful friend request on Facebook. Even that had been a nervous ordeal for me, and I'd slapped the laptop closed in a panic after having clicked the button. I'd assumed he was going to blow me off, the same way everyone else always seemed to do. Most of the popular kids from my old school would either reject my request, ignore it and leave it pending, or add me and just never interact with me. A few had even accepted my request, and totally got my hopes up, but then, they'd asked who I was. That seemed to be an even bigger kick in the teeth than being rejected. I mean, was I so invisible, that no one in school even remembered who I was? However, Chet had not only accepted my request the same day, but he'd even commented on a few of my photos and messaged me a few times to ask if I'd cover his shift. Maybe he really did like me. "I guess it might not be so bad," I said, figuring if I did go, I'd just stay at his side the whole night and avoid interacting with anyone else. Who knows? After a few drinks, maybe he'd even lean in for a kiss? "I just—"

"Great," he said, and with that, apparently it was settled. "I'll text you my address and you can come pick me up in about an hour? I need to get showered and changed and stuff."

So, without even agreeing to anything, that's how I found myself outside Chet's about an hour later. I'd swung by my parents and grabbed my mom's jacket, and after running a curling iron through my hair, I was good to go. I mean, as far as I knew. My parents assured me I looked great, but then, they were biased, weren't they? The real confirmation would come from Chet, and I hoped more than anything that he was going to be surprised and blown away by how cool I could actually be. That he wouldn't look at me as a work buddy, but rather, a pretty girl that he would actually want to be with.

When he came bursting out of the house, he didn't even say hello or anything before asking, with raised, expectant eyebrows, "Can I drive?" He extended his slightly callused palm; fingers wiggling eagerly in expectation for my keys to be offered. Of course, I was totally captivated by the fact he was wearing a freshly ironed shirt and a pair of skinny jeans; his cologne intoxicating as he wafted from his stocky chest. His hair appeared so sultry in the way it was gelled up, really bringing the curls to life. He usually wore it slicked back during the work day, and it was only on the occasions when he was leaving that I ever saw it hanging down naturally. For a second, I was completely lost for words, wholly stumped by the vision I was staring upon. Whereas, Chet, well, he hadn't even noticed the effort I'd put into my appearance. Whereas I was gazing dreamily at the curls hanging over his forehead, he hadn't even noticed mine.

"You hear me?" he asked, shaking his hand again while he glanced at my car. "I wanna take your car for a spin, Erica. Mine's in the shop."

"What?" I asked, finally shaking some sense into myself while nervously scratching my head. "My parents wouldn't like that. You're not on the insurance or anything."

Chet rolled his eyes and flapped a hand towards me again. "Oh, come on. Don't be such a downer. It's like what...a ten-minute drive or something? You think I'm going to total your car in the next ten minutes?" He suddenly squinted at me, his lips pouting in an adorable way. "Is it because I'm a guy? You think I'm gonna race around in it or something?

"No," I said immediately, already fearing that he was going to go down the road of suggesting I was being sexist or something. A few guys had accused me of being a militant feminist in the past when I wouldn't go back home with them. "It's not like that at all. It's just we'll be breaking the law."

Chet blinked a number of times, almost as if he was frozen in disbelief. He bit his lip, before shaking his head. "Fine," he said. "If you're so boring that you don't know how to have a little fun, then you go ahead and drive."

"Okay," I finally said, even though my stomach was twisting and contorting from the uneasiness. "You can drive." I held out the keys towards him. The car was actually registered in my father's name, and he'd be fuming if he found out that someone else had driven it. Still, I wanted to impress Chet so much, and I didn't want to come across as some nervous loser that was obsessed with sticking to the rules. I wanted to be cool for once in my life.