My Bad
I feel really bad about this one, so it's nice to get it off my chest! I was a first year in law school when a third year guy asked me out. For some background - all third year guys were like sharks and first year girls were like fresh meat. We didn't know they were jerks, so then had a clean slate with us.
But back to the story, so this guy asks me out and I have zero attraction towards him, but I can't think of an excuse and don't have the guts to just say no. He says how about Thursday? I respond that I have to go watch my friends play flag football (I told you I couldn't think of a good excuse). He says he'll pick me up there. Great! Not.
So he comes to pick me up and I instantly feel like a total jerk. I am wearing old jeans, sneakers and a sweatshirt (I was at a flag football game, for God's sake). He's wearing a shirt and tie. Uggh. So he takes me to this really nice restaurant and I only feel worse and worse as the night went on.
At the end of the night he asked me out again and I finally decided that I couldn't be a wimp. I told him that I was starting to date someone else. That was a total lie, but better than going out with him again when I knew I didn't like him, right? That was it, he gave up after that. I still run into him every now and then and feel guilty that I was never just honest with him....
Annalisa, Wisconsin
I've Heard of Safety in Numbers...
My girlfriend, Mary, set me up on a blind date. I got the usual spiel, "He's good looking, works hard, loves his family, I just don't know why he's still single!" After a few innocent phone conversations, Clark and I decided to finally meet and get together for a drink. I arrived at the bar right on time, and immediately started looking for someone that matched his description. All the sudden, I saw a guy coming towards me. Somewhat handsome, well dressed, he stuck out his hand and introduced himself. Yup, it was Clark. "Come on this way, we're all at the table already." "All?" I asked. "Yeah, our sales team was getting together for a few drinks after work, and I thought this would be a great time for us to meet."
Are you kidding me? Our first date, a blind one no less, and I was being led to a table with, no lie, SIXTEEN members of Clark's sales team. Definitely not what I had in mind for our first date, but he nonetheless was attentive and charming, and we ended up dating for about six months or so ... thankfully the dates after this one were just us.
Linda, New York
Just Like One of Those Wooden Ducks
This one's an oldie but a goodie - way back from one of my very first dates as a teenager. Mark invited me to the Homecoming dance (probably not a big deal for many, but we were in a small town with not much else to do). I was excited because he was older and I felt pretty special that he'd asked me out of all the girls who would definitely have gone with him.
So he picks me up and we head off to the dance. We were standing outside, waiting to get in when another girl, Sarah ,and her friend Julie approach us. They stood in line with us and I didn't think anything of it. Then we went inside and they stayed with us. Instead of dancing his first dance with me, Mark went off to dance with Sarah, leaving me behind.
Next thing you know, he was taking pictures with her and not even pretending I was his date anymore. Turns out, Sarah was Mormon and her parents wouldn't let her go to the dance with a boy. So I was just the naive decoy date! What a way to start my dating career, huh?
Alisha, Minnesota
Fast and Furious
I had had a crush on David for awhile. Tall, thick dark hair, deep blue eyes and the pale yet ruddy complexion of a true Irishman. He finally asked me out one day, stopping by my office to see if I wanted to go by his place that night. That should have been Warning Sign #1, right? No "real" info on an actual date, just a loose "come back to my place." But I liked him, and readily agreed.
After work, I dashed home to freshen up and then off to his place. He opened the door as soon as I knocked and ushered me in, asking if I wanted something to drink. I said a Diet Coke would be great and he went off to the galley kitchen to get it. He came back and gave it to me. I had a few sips and as I took the glass from my mouth, he took it from me and said, "Here, you don't need that anymore," and put it on the shelf. He then gently pushed me down on the couch and started kissing me and unbuttoning my blouse. I was surprised at his abruptness, but god, he was so hot, I couldn't help but feel a race of adrenaline anyway. I stayed for a bit, just your basic fooling around, but that was the last time we saw each other socially. Hey, I'm not that easy. Wine and dine me first ... at least for a first date!
Rachel, Ohio
The Tale of Mr. Winky Woo
There was this guy who I'd met a few times at these dance parties organized by the same group. After making eye contact at about four of them, we finally got to the point where we decided to have dinner to get to know each other. Since he lives in the city and I work in the city we agree that I'll just meet him at his place after I get off work. I work a 10 hour day of catering and am a bit tired. We agreed to get sushi so I was thinking it'd be casual. I show up at his place a bit grungy but presentable and he's wearing slacks and a button down shirt. His place is ~immaculate~, sparkling even. Apparently, he'd had it cleaned that day.
We go out for sushi and he orders for me. I don't really like this, but he goes all out so at least he wasn't cheap. He asks if I like the sea urchin and when I say that I do he practically swoons. Over the course of dinner he winks at me twice, while walking back he takes my hands and asks me if I ever want to have kids. Back at his place we watch an episode of South Park, good and safe, but after it's over he turns it and all the lights off and proceeds to light one of those big kitchen candles that come in the glass jar. He goes to the refridgerator and pulls out a container of milk chocolate squares. First of all, I hate milk chocolate, second who keeps their chocolate in the fridge??? He unwraps a square and proceeds to feed me while saying "Woo, woo... See, I'm wooing you." The date ended shortly there after.
Emily, California
Oh What a Tangled Web We Weave...
... when at first we practice to deceive. So John and I had been dating for about 3 years, when I finally had had enough and broke up with him. A few days later, I stopped by my parents' house and happened to pick up a church bulletin and was browsing it while waiting for my Mom. And there, right under Birth Announcements was, "John & Megan welcome the addition of their twin boys, CJ and LL." Yes, that would be "my" John. This was only
days after I broke up with him, mind you. I always suspected that he was more than friends with Megan, but he always had some story to make me think I was crazy for even mentioning the notion. Turns out that they had been dating for 5 years, 3 of which he was supposedly exclusive with me. After we broke up, he proposed to me. I said no, and he then took the same ring and proposed to Megan (after the birth of their twins). Fool that she was, knowing that he had cheated on her for 3 years, she married him. I was lucky to get out when I did as theirs has not been an easy relationship. Certainly can't say the warning signs, flashing neon lights and all, weren't there.
Anna, California
The Tall Tales
I dated this guy about 15 years ago, when I was young and very naive. Oh the stories he would tell. Problem is, I didn't know they were "stories" at the time. He told me that he was in a bad car accident and had a glass eye. Lie. He told me he was related to one of the guys in the boy band, New Kids on the Block. Lie. He told me that his mother kicked him out of the house. Lie. He told me that he stood to inherit his brother's car dealership. Lie. He told me that he had Crone's Disease (sp?). Lie. He told me that his friend had received some type of medal while serving in the military. Lie. He also repeatedly told me he loved me. Yeah. probably a lie too. Luckily at some point, I came to my senses.
Rachel, New York
Way to Go, Pepe!
I hadn't dated in about 3 1/2 years, and my friend John got wind of this. Now, John and I had known each other for several years, and he's a good guy. He set me up with Jon (no 'h'), who is 12 years my senior and a lawyer. I showed up to the Korean restaurant wearing a dress and heels - we were going to the symphony after that. First words out of his mouth? "Do you always wear heels?" Yes, with heels I'm taller than he is. Ok, so we have a complex. That's cool. Whatever. We sit down to dinner and he asks if he can order for me. A bit odd, but I'll play along. He orders one appetizer and one entree. Apparently we are a) sharing and b) cheap. Conversation is stiff but ok. We leave, and I offer to drive. All the way down he criticises my driving. "I wouldn't have changed lanes there." "I would have taken I-94, not Warren." Alright, this is starting to piss me off. But, all I have to do is get in there, the lights will go down, and we don't have to talk. The concert that evening was Pepe Romero, Spanish classical guitar. It was wonderful. So wonderful, in fact, that Jon proceeds to clap, like a human being, then let's out a "Woohoo! Woohoo! Way to go Pepe!" at which point he turns to me and OFFERS ME A HIGH FIVE. I gave him my best withering teacher look and tell him "We don't do that at the symphony." The ride home was silent. I barely stopped the car to let him out.
Bethany, Michigan
Hey, Where'd You Go?
We had been dating for about three months, seeing each other a few times a week for dinner or a movie. Things had been going fairly well, although I wasn't head over heels yet and I still hadn't been to his place yet. Then one Friday, we had a date for dinner at 8. I got there a few minutes before and grabbed a drink at the bar. I waited ... and waited ... and waited. I finally called his cell number, only to find it disconnected. Same thing with his home phone. Never heard from him again and he seemed to disappear off the face of the earth. I'd like to think he just got whisked off to the Witness Protection Program, but who knows?
Cecelia, North Dakota
Three's a Crowd
I got ready for my blind date, excited, since it had been a few months since my last date. The friend that set me up mentioned that Brad was very close to his family. Sounded good to me. We had had a few conversations over the phone over the past week, and he seemed like a nice enough guy. The doorbell rang and I took one last pass in front of the mirror before I ran downstairs to open it. Tall, blonde hair and blue eyes, nice. But next to him, was a woman about 50 years old or so, looking strikingly like him. Brad introduced me to, yup, you guessed it, his mother. I've heard you can always tell how a guy will treat you by how he treats his mother. I just wasn't expecting to see it in action on our first date. First and last date.
Carla, Michigan
