Here is a brief description of myself. I'm 26 years old, 6'2" and weigh 220 lbs., give or take a few pounds. I take pride in keeping myself in shape. I may not have bulging, vein throbbing muscles (except one… but only when I breath heavy) but I have very good physique. I’m not anything special when it comes to looks. Brown hair, brown eyes if I had to say I resemble anyone famous it would be Charlie Sheen. That is before he turned crack addict. Oh… and my name is Tyler.
Sure I went to college and had the time of my life. The parties at my frat house and lets not forget the attempted sorority house raids. I had many enjoyable experiences including some not so enjoyable. In fact, down right embarrassing at times. Nevertheless, I wouldn’t trade my experiences for the world. So after enjoying 5 years in college (I had no motivation to leave.) I finally graduated with an accounting degree and joined the REAL WORLD.
I landed a job in Chicago of all places. I was scared shitless! I was just a kid fresh out of college and from the highly evolved state of Kansas. Yes, I know all the jokes about Wizard of Oz. I didn’t even leave the state to go to college. Sad!
I spent a week just trying to get around the city. Spending a fortune on cabs because I could never find my way back to train/subway (called the El). Eventually I grew to love Chicago and the surrounding areas. I started my new job with much anticipation. The job, though boring had a few perks. My supervisor Darren was only a few years older than I was. We became really good friends rather quickly. He was still single, so I had a friend to go bar hopping with.
Darren was one of those all American pretty boys that you’d expect to find on a beach in California. You know the kind blonde hair, blue eyes and unnaturally white almost fluorescent teeth. Made me sick, but he was my friend so I didn’t mind. Darren and I used our lunch hours to hang out on the streets rating women. I know we were arrogant and piggish but damn it was fun.
As luck would have it Darren had met Miss Right. Only after I had jumped on a few grenades for the guy. (You know what I mean. I had to date a few of their ugly friends.) Anyway I was without my best buddy and again all alone. I went to the bars, had a few laughs but it just wasn’t the same without him.
I buried myself with work. I had moved up steadily and was turning a few heads with my proficiency. Darren and I hung out from time to time but it the occasional Cubs game or the quick beer after work. My personal life as well as my confidence with women reached an all time low. My sex life… what sex life? That is unless you count with myself. Then I would say I was rather active. I didn’t see the point in going out anymore.
One Friday night I was in my apartment watching TV. When someone started knocking urgently on my front door. I went and opened the door and there stood my dream women. She stood about 5’10” with dark brown hair and exotic green almost yellow eyes. She was wearing workout shorts and a sports bra. I was in love!
“Can I help you?” I croaked after finding my voice.
“I need to use your phone,” she said as more of an order than a request. “I locked myself out of my apartment.” I looked out in the hall and noticed a stack of boxes by the door across the hall.
“Well,” she demanded, “can I use your phone or not?” My heart broke to pieces.
“Yeah sure,” what a bitch I thought. “Come in highness,” I made a grand gesture motioning her in. If she was going to be a bitch I was going to play the asshole. Babe or not I was in no mood for her shit. She was interfering with my pity and self-loathing. She let out a big sigh, stuck up her nose and walked into my apartment.
Since I had been a homebody as of late I had kept the place unusually clean. I had also watched way too much HGTV and decorated the place to look rather yuppish. Imagine that, a straight man that has fashion sense. I know I had all the tests… they came back normal.
She stalked into my apartment apparently noticing my sarcastic attitude. I followed her in and pointed her in the direction of the phone. As she was using the phone to call the maintenance office of our building I returned to watching my movie. I watched her out of the corner of my eye. She had an incredible body. Obviously she works out quite a bit because I hadn’t seen a set of abs like that on women since I had met a female bodybuilder at the gym awhile back. She had muscular legs that were defined and toned to perfection. She wore her hair just above her shoulders with nice spiral curls. Her hair was accented with blond streaks making her look that much more exotic. Suddenly I realized that I was staring at her… drooling.
I managed to peel my eyes off her body and slap myself back into shape before she hung up the phone. She reached the door grunted a quick thanks. I just waived my hand acting as if I was shooing a fly. Before she shut the door I heard her mutter the word “asshole.” That hurt, she’s the one that acted a bitch to me first. Fuck her!
The movie ended just as I heard her drop something heavy on the floor. I went over to the door and looked out the peephole. There she was on the ground picking up the contents of her spilled box. No woman was going to think of me as an asshole without knowing me fully. I changed my clothes to go and help my new neighbor move in and possible clear my name and conscious of what this woman thought of me.
I opened the door as she was bringing in another load. She gave me a nasty look and fumbled with opening the door.
“Here let me help,” I said opening the door for her.
“I don’t need help, especially not yours,” she quipped rather rudely setting down her boxes inside the door.
“Whoa… hold on a minute. You were rude from the time I opened the door till you left.”
“Whatever… thanks for the offer that was the last of it.”
“Fine,” I said giving up. “But the next time you call someone an asshole get to know them first.” Again fuck her! I turned and headed towards the elevator. I needed some fresh air.
I was in my jogging attire and decided that I would go for a run. It was late but, what the hell. After running what I thought was a good two-miles I turned and headed back to my apartment stopping at the corner store and buying a big bottle of water. The whole time I was running I thought about the encounter with my new neighbor. Hell I didn’t even know her name and she thought I was an asshole. The more I ran and thought, the more pissed off I became. Even more of my confidence went down the drain.
As I was opening the door to my apartment she had opened her own door and was staring at me.
“I’m sorry.” I froze.
“Bet that hurt to say,” I replied turning to face her. She looked sincere and my anger vanished. I remember thinking that I could loose myself for days in her eyes. “I’m sorry as well. You just struck the wrong cord with me earlier. I apologize for the way I acted. My name is Tyler… it’s nice to meet you,” I stuck out my hand.
She looked at my hand unsurely then back at me. Then seemingly making up her mind she took my hand and gently shook it. Her hands were soft and warm yet firm. Some man must have screwed her up royally.
“I’m Jennifer, nice to meet you neighbor.” And then she smiled, and my heart melted. I swear the sun came out in the middle of night and lit up my world.
“The pleasure is all mine. Is there something I can do for you,” I asked, dare hoped.
“As a matter of fact yes. I need some help moving furniture around. Would you please help me?” she asked warming me again with her beautiful smile. I was putty in here hands. I helped move furniture and few other odds and ends until wee hours in the morning. We talked and laughed learning about each other and enjoying each other’s presence.
