I had known Fantasee for many years, in my imagination. I created her when I was twenty-one years old. Beautiful brown skin that felt like silk. Deep brown eyes that kissed your soul. A figure that would make Kim Kardashian jealous. I never thought that one day I would find her.
My romantic relationships have been dysfunctional to say the least. Being a nice guy certainly had its benefits. There are drawbacks too. I've been hustled, abused physically and emotionally, cheated on, humiliated, disrespected and embarrassed. The one time I tried to be "bad" and cheated on my abusive girlfriend, she beat me and robbed me. Needless to say, I never saw her again.
My fantasy was on the bus. She was taking her three year old daughter, Dana, to school. She stepped to me first.
"Hey....HEY!" she screamed. I looked up from the library's copy of Fifty Shades of Grey. "How you doin'?"
"Good. How are you doing?"
"Whatchu readin'?"
"Fifty Shades of Grey."
"OOOOOOOO...you nasty!" We both laughed. Her daughter stared at us and smiled.
"I'm Sam."
"Fantasee."
"Excuse me?"
"Fantasee Crimson."
"What an interesting name for a beautiful woman," I mused. Her bright smile displayed thirty-two perfect teeth and genuine warmth. Right then, I knew I was in trouble. I had to have her. "Fantasee is an appropriate name for you," I continued.
"Let me guess. Because I am your fantasy made flesh right? You gotta come with something better than that," she teased.
"Actually, that is not what I was thinking. It's appropriate because you are truly the woman of my hopes and dreams." Fantasee's mouth dropped open and she suddenly became shy.
"Very nice, Sam..." she said sheepishly.
"Shuffield. Sam Shuffield." Fantasee and Dana's stop was soon.
"Mr. Shuffield, it was nice to meet you. Maybe I'll see you around sometime."
"I would like that. I ride the bus daily. You know where to find me," I offered. I watched as Fantasee and her daughter disembarked the bus and walked down the street.
The next morning, Fantasee was on the bus again. But there was a third member to her party. Her daughter's father (I assumed based on the resemblance) plopped down into the seat next to Fantasee and Dana. Both adults grimaced and said nothing. I waved and Fantasee responded with a swift nod of her head. The beautiful woman from yesterday transformed into a very unhappy mother who could not stand her daughter's father. All three got off the bus in silence and trudged toward Dana's school.
I was convinced any chance of romance with Fantasee was over. Just seeing her on the bus would have kept me content. But it was three weeks before we saw each other again. On a beautiful summer day, I rode to work, reading as usual. A tap on the shoulder broke my deep concentration.
"Hey there!" Fantasee looked incredible. She wore a pink Baby Phat tank top with matching shorts, a pink headband and fresh Jordans. "Can I take this seat?" she said, flashing her radiant smile.
"The pleasure is all mine," was all I could say as I openly gawked at Fantasee.
"I'll take that as a yes," and she took the seat. Her soft skin gently rubbed against mine as she made herself comfortable in the seat. Victoria's Secret body spray was strong enough to smell, but not overpowering. I finally came to my senses and spoke to my dream woman.
"You look very nice."
"Thank you... Professor," she said and flashed a mischievous grin.
"How did you know I was a professor?"
"I googled you. Gotta be careful who you're around these days. Especially if you are interested in going out with them." Huh? Was she flirting with me?
"You're a wise woman. What do you do for a living, Ms. Crimson?"
"I am a TA at Dana's school. She is with her daddy so he will drop her off this morning. In my enchantment with Fantasee, I didn't realize she was by herself.
"That must be convenient," was all I could muster, still in awe of Fantasee's beauty and intelligence.
"Sam, I am a straight shooter. I think you are a very handsome, intelligent man and would like to get to know you better. Are you going to ask me out or do I need to wear a sign around my neck?" The look in her eyes was serious.
"Fantasee, I would really like to see you when we're not on the bus as well. But I live in Greensboro. Would you be willing to meet me at the college sometime?"
"Now we're talking. How about tonight?"
"OK. 6:00p.m. work for you?"
"I think that definitely works for me. Oh, my stop is coming up." Fantasee leaned across me from her aisle seat to request a stop. In the process, her hair gently grazed my cheek. It was as soft as cotton. She smiled and gently rubbed my thigh before leaving the bus. "See you tonight!" she said while leaving the bus.
At 5:45 p.m., I was eager to see Fantasee. But how would she find me on this large campus? I decided to stand in front of the main academic building. As I exited, Fantasee gracefully climbed the steps.