Based on a true story.

I am staring into the mirror trying to make sure the trimming on the beard is just right when I hear the ding of my phone with a text message. I glance down and it’s Marissa.

_Hey! Sorry to do this but I am going to be a bit late meeting you tonight. Just got home and need to get ready. Lets push it by a half hour._

__

_No problem! See you there!!_

__

__

Well that makes this process a little more slower. No need to rush. I really only need about 5 minutes, but I can work with an extra 30.

This is to be a first date. I’m meeting Marissa for the first time after having texted for about a week. It was kind of spontaneous, but we agree this morning to meet up and have a drink and shoot some pool to see what’s what. I’m trying hard NOT to take the delay as an omen. I mean stuff come up. So I’ll still see how this goes.

The trimming took about 7 minutes. I figure i’ll head to the location now and just wait in the car in the parking lot for a bit. If she’s early, I’ll go in and meet her. If she’s not, I’ll just head in a couple minutes before the time we are supposed to meet. The new time that is.

__

Steady traffic comes and goes from The Lone Spot. A decent size pool hall with a good selection of drinks. Beer and cocktails. Whatever you’d like. I’ve been waiting here about 10 minutes about this point.

DING

Marissa.

_Roomate didn__’__t feed and walk the dogs. I need to do that before I head out. I__’__m only going to do the short one, so maybe 20-30 minutes more. So sorry. I am looking forward to meeting you!_

__

_OK. Can__’__t forget the dogs! See you soon._

__

__

Well now what? I mean its another half hour, so maybe 40 more total. I can do that. Should I go in and have a drink while I wait? No. I’ll wait. People watch for a bit longer.

__

The flow in and out has tempered a little. More in than out. I hope we can get a table. Oh well if not, we can just chat until one comes open. It’s a little over an hour since our original meeting time. Which makes it a little longer than she originally said

_ETA?_

__

_Just heading out in about 5. Going to walk over, leave me open to have a few drinks :)_

__

_How long is the walk?_

__

_10 minutes or so. See you soon!_

__

__

Well, I’ve waiting this long, I can do another 15 right? Sometimes I hate dating.

_

It’s been 18 minutes now. Not that I am counting. But I’ve already been here over an hour and I could have been doing something more fun.

_Ok not sure what__’__s going on, but Ive been here almost an hour and a half waiting. Are you coming soon? Because if you aren__’__t here in 12 minutes, I__’__m leaving._

__

_No! Don__’__t leave! Neighbour cornered me on the way out, but i am on my way. 10 minutes. 5 more minutes. Promise!_

__

_OK_

__

__

5 more minutes. I can do this. I hope it’s worth it. Some people are leaving. Good. Should be some tables open. At least it’s a nice night. Oh no. A group of three. Should still be fine. I can’t beleive I am waiting an hour and half for this. Oh well!

Where is she? It’s been 10 minutes.

DING

_Here! Where are you? I don__’__t see you. You said The Lone Spot right?_

__

_Yeah. I was just waiting in the car. I__’__ll be in a moment._

__

__

I get out of the car and walk to the door. It’s cooler than I thought sitting in the car. The Lone Spot is in the basement of a stripmall. I open the door and walk down the stairs and walk into the main room. Its laid out with the washrooms just inside the door. The bar on the left. Some video games along the one wall. Some tables to sit at. No food though. That’s a shame. And then pool tables at the back. I look through the crowd and don’t see her. Or anyone sitting alone for that matter. No solo tables either.

Movement in the corner of my eye. Its Marissa waiving at me. I recognize her from the pictures she sent. But she’s at a table with two other guys. She is coming towards me. Laughing. Very animated. And not entirely stable on her feet.

Dammit she’s drunk.

Marissa grabs my arm. “Hi Jeff! I thought you left. I brought my two roomates’. She points at the two guys. Not people I’d normally chose to hang out with. It’s also supposed to be a date. Not a hang out with roomates. My definition of a date is one on one.

“Billy. Sam. This is Jeff”

The both grunt greetings at me as they size me up. They are kinda greasy looking.

“You look familiar,” says one of them. I haven’t determined who is Sam and who is Billy. “Do I know you?”

“I don’t think so,” I reply. “I’m usually good with faces”

“No. I’m sure I’ve met you before. Have you ever been at Sterling Street?”.

Sterling Street. How the locals refer to the local jail. He think’s he knows me from jail.

“No. I assure you that you do not know me from Sterling”.

Just then Marissa cozy ups to me. Running her hand up the back of my neck. It gives me shivers. I’m not sure if it’s a good or bad feeling. She leans in to whisper in my ear. “Hey, since you rushed us to get here, we left without our wallets. Are you ok with covering us?”

I rushed you? I waited in the parking lot for an hour and half while you got drunk before meeting me. And cover all of you? I didn’t even know Sam and Billy even existed.

As this is happening, Billy is ordering two pitchers of beer. Some IPA.

“Ok. But since you guys were so late and I was waiting outside, I really need to use the bathroom”.

I get up and walk towards the washrooms near the exit. Instead of turning into the washroom, I go through the door, up the stairs and to the car and leave.