"I have an doctor's appointment tomorrow. Can I borrow your car for that?" She turns around from her computer to ask.
"What time? You know that I don't care if you use my car, but I have to work a split shift tomorrow; 10-2 and 5-9. I also need to study in between," I reply.
"My appointment is at 3, so I think that if you came straight back here, I would have plenty of time to make it, and then time for you to get back to work," Dee Dee responded.
"Okay. We can make that work," I said, then saved my progress on my research paper.
I yawned and stretched, as I pushed myself back from my desk. Midterms were looming, and I was stressed to the max. Checking the clock, I realize that I have about an hour before my date. I have never been out with this guy before, so I'm a little apprehensive. I wish that I had put him off for another week or two, or said no altogether, but I feel awful turning guys down if they have clearly had a hard time getting up the courage to ask. I grab my robe and bath things, and head to the shower. As steam fills the room, I wonder what Dee Dee's doctor appointment is about. She isn't sick, and I don't know of any issues, but I try not to pry. She has been spending a lot of time with Matt. Maybe she is interested in birth control. I worry about her. She has been my roommate for over two years, and we are best friends, but there are still some things that we can't talk about.
Our religious upbringing has repressed our ability to discuss quite a number of topics. My Strict, Baptist, Preacher Daddy and her Soft Spoken, Mennonite, Preacher Daddy have loved us into model church children. My Daddy would never guess at the cougar that lies beneath the church girl facade, longing to break free from the bondage in which the Bible Belt traps me. My mind wanders back to my date. I wonder how it will go. Maybe he will get to see my wilder side. He is pretty cute and he makes me laugh, both a portent of a positive outcome. I hop out of the shower, and sling on my robe. I dry the mirror with my towel, and start putting on my makeup. I glance at the clock. I wish that I had given myself more time to get ready. I run a comb through my hair, and fly back to my room. While thumbing through my closet, I finally decide on a pink halter dress.
I'll throw a sweater over it until we get off of campus. I would hate to scandalize the entire population of my small, Baptist college. I apply some lipstick, then grab my purse, sweater and my strappy, black heels. A quick goodbye to Dee Dee and one last look in the mirror, (my hair is still wet, but it will have to do) and I race, barefooted, down the stairs toward the lobby. At the bottom of the third flight, I stop to put on my shoes and sweater, garnering disapproving looks from the young ladies going up. I roll my eyes. I will never fit in here, and I only halfway want to do so. I burst through the door into the lobby, and am met by Amanda, the Residence Hall Manger.
"Dude has been jumping up every time that door opened for the past thirty minutes. He's got it bad for you," she laughed. I looked across the room, and saw him standing there smoothing his hair and fidgeting with his shirt.
"I'm not even late! I'm five minutes early! Bless his heart. He is really nervous," I whisper back.
"Go get 'em, tiger," she giggles.
I straighten my back and flash a sunny smile at him. My smile produces one from him, and I can see him begin to relax as I walk across the room. I reach my hand towards him as I walk across the room.
He takes my hand, "You look beautiful. I thought that we would go eat at Palermo's, is that ok?"
"Absolutely! That is my favorite. You have done your research!" and I flash him another huge smile. His face lights up in return, and he presses my hand to his lips. He opens the door in order for me to walk through. A squirrel scurries across the stairs as we walk down and around the building to the parking lot. I slow, because I have no idea what he is driving. I try to guess his car as we approach the parking lot. We pass my car and many others which I recognize as belonging to friends and dorm mates. We stop at a green and tan, late 80s Ford F250.
He blushes, "I'm sorry, but this is mine."
"Sorry? Why would you be sorry? Is this yours? Is it paid for? Do you own it? That is nothing to feel sorry for. That should be a source of pride," I reply. He opens the door for me, and I hoist myself inside despite my short legs.
He climbs in the other side, and pauses, "You are so very different. I don't know any other girl that would have had that response."
"What would other girls' responses be? If they say anything else then they are utterly ridiculous." I say.
"I really don't know, but I know that they don't say that," he replies. A few moments of silence lapse as we back out of the parking spot and head off campus.
"So, are you ready for mid terms?" I quiz.
He responds, "Well, I think that I'm doing well in everything, but I'm having a little struggle in Hebrew."
"Oh, are you a Biblical Studies Major?" I ask disappointedly. These preacher boys always turn out to be extremely boring.
"Yes, but I'm not 100% certain what I'm doing though. I don't really want to become a pastor, but my parents want me to follow in my dad's footprints. They are paying for my school, or I would change majors," he replies.
I'm intrigued, "What would you like to major in?"
He pauses for a moment, "You may think that I'm crazy... but, Philosophy would be my choice."
I'm stunned, "Really?! I'm a Philosophy Minor! I'm in the midst of writing a research paper on Heidegger's major theories right now. He is my current favorite. Its a total mind screw." Stunned silence from my date. Maybe I shouldn't have used the term "mind screw" around preacher boy.
He pulls the truck into a spot close to the door at the restaurant, puts it in park, and turns to look at me, "How are you so perfect? Beautiful, smart, funny, no nonsense - everything amazing," he quizzes.
He hops out and hurries to open my door. A quick thanks from me, and we stroll through the door to the restaurant. A dinner of delicious pasta and fantastic conversation later, and we head back out to the truck.
He stops with his hand on the ignition, "What would you like to do now? Do you want me to take you home, or would you like to go do something else?"
