12 1/2 years ago...
December 2000.
I was working at the mall. My first "real" job that I landed on my own. At Forever 21. ;) Oh yes.
It was December 23rd and almost closing time during holiday hours. The mall finally died down and everyone was probably already wrapping presents for their friends and families or maybe even preparing to travel. But of course, guys don't shop until last minute so...
There was this guy that walked in with some buddies. He had a black peacoat on, perfectly styled hair, and the most handsome face. Almost immediately I remember telling a coworker and good friend of mine that I thought he was cute.
"Wow. He's cute," I said.
"Ewwwww! Stop! I know him. He goes to my school. Don't waste your time," she said.
"What?! I just said he was cute."
And it ended at that.
Or so I thought.
Five minutes later, my friend walked up to me and said, "Hey Erin. Can you help me find a present? I have to do something." Off she went, smiling and giggling, and left him standing there in front of me. The smell of his cologne seduced me. I nearly died from being overwhelmed with his darlingness.
Great. Nervous wreck in action...
The mall closed at 11 and I remember it definitely being past 10 when he walked in. He gave me the most difficult time. "I need to find a present for my sister."
But he didn't know what she wanted. Oh, and by the way, I found out almost a year later that "his sister" was actually a girl he was dating at the time we met. :-/ But I guess that's besides the point because... I won! LOL
We had some small talk, exchanged names, but no contact information. Great... so all of that work, and nothing? NOTHING?! Guess homeboy wasn't interested. I put my finest out on the line, too. :-P
I let it go.
But the next day, I worked and there he was. With more friends. He said they had to shop so he just wanted to hang out with them. Again, still no contact information exchanged. I know I was young, but I swear this is what flirting was supposed to be like. Right?
I talked to my girlfriend and asked her to put a feeler out there since she went to school with him. She talked to his sister and got his phone number for me. But that's creepy, right? I didn't want to be the first one to call. I'm a girl. Girls aren't supposed to make the first call.
The new year rolled around and he would stop by here and there with his friends. But nothing ever happened. Until the weekend of Superbowl Sunday 2001.
Two of his friends shopped at the store. Homeboy wasn't with them. But I recognized them and before they left I asked for a minute of their time.
"Hey guys... do you know Mike?"
"Uh yeah... yeah. We do," one of the them said.
"Can you give him my number, please?" Shit... too straightforward? Too late now!
"Yeah! We'll see him for the Superbowl."
I offered my thanks and felt extremely stupid afterwards. If the guy wanted to talk to me, he would've just asked me for my number, right? Damn. Stupid stupid stupid. I even remember hitting my forehead like I was an idiot.
Still nothing. No call. No text. Nothing from my friend. My friend told me to just call him. His sister said he was interested. But that would be even more idiotic of me. I tried once. The rest was up to him... if he was even interested. So I moved on...
