In the morning, I was a very good girl. You see, I did what all young people SHOULD do (and I fear they don't do nearly often enough), and I went to the local sexual health clinic to get an STD screen. Now, I'm among the most chaste, well-behaved, careful, cautious girls out there, but all of those lectures and scary presentations about HIV and AIDS when I was in the 8th grade did their job, and scared the crap out of me. Hence, although I know that there's a 99% chance I have absolutely nothing to worry about, it's that 1% that freaks me out, and I always feel better after I get one when that 1% of doubt has gone away. Particularly after swapping lots of bodily fluids last month with the boy who still hasn't called me back, it just seems like a wise precaution. Turns out he wasn't the boy I thought he was, so must proceed accordingly. (The doctors I've spoken to about it have generally told me I'm a hypochondriac in this regard, but agree to test me anyway just to make me happy).
Now of course, going to a clinic for an STD screen is an interesting experience, because as you sit around the waiting room, you know what everybody else is there for. It's not like you're just waiting around in a normal doctor's office where people might just be there for a cold or an upset stomach, everyone is there for one reason, and one reason only. (I always wonder what on earth I would do if I ran into someone I knew there. THAT would be super-awkward as you both tried to justify your presence).
So anyway, the people-watching in the waiting room of an STD-screening clinic is fascinating. Occasionally you see couples sitting there, laughing and chatting like they're just out on a date, you see girls so overly made up you wonder if they're "professionals", you see a disturbing number of men with wedding rings on, and also frumpy middle-aged women that make you wonder, "Really? A woman like you has sex with random men?" (It should also be noted that none of the young men without wedding rings on have ever struck me as being particularly hot. So it's also interesting to see them there and hypothesize about what desperation landed them in a situation where they felt the need to go for an STD screen. Although to be fair, maybe they're just responsible, normal individuals like me). And I suppose that's the one nice and reassuring thing about being there, is to see that there are so many people, who are being responsible and getting tested. It gives me hope to know that I'm not the only one doing the right thing.
I'd been told that I couldn't pee for two hours before my appointment, and since my appointment was first thing in the AM, I couldn't pee when I woke up, and found myself crossing my legs and jiggling a lot as I sat around waiting. Which, I had to do a lot of....waiting. I will never understand why the whole process takes so long, but many signs around the waiting room warned us that appointments can take up to 2 hours, start-to-finish. (Indeed, I was there for 1.5 hours in total). When all it is really is a brief chat with the doctor and they take your blood. 10 minutes of action for all of that waiting!
Finally made my way back home, where I had just a few minutes before I had to go out again to see a flat. At least the commute wasn't far, as it was practically across the street from where I live!
When I arrived, I was a bit startled to see that the woman who would be my flatmate was obviously much older (I didn't dare ask, but she had to at least have been in her 40's, if not older), but of course plastered on my usual fake smile and proceeded with the "make them love you" charm. Although the flat was nowhere near as nice as the flat I'm in now, and more expensive to boot, I will say it's the first place I've been to where I could really see myself living. It's on the top floor, so it actually has skylights, and the living room had one wall that was entirely windows that looked out over a spectacular view of Western London. The kitchen was ridiculously small, and the bedroom was only a foot larger than my bedroom now (which is about the size of a double bed), and the furnishings looked like they all came from IKEA, very modernist. Yet, the move would be the easiest thing ever, and the woman and I ended up sitting for a two hour chat and getting on quite well. Despite being older and South African, I actually think she and I could rub along quite well.
Finally at 2 PM, I returned to my place, realising I'd spent two hours just sitting and chatting at my flat visit! So I had to rush to put in more work for the rest of the day and get everything done before it was time to go out in the evening. I'd intended to go into the office in the afternoon, so I would be near where the run was starting from and I could print out the run lists beforehand, but as time wore on, I realised there was just no way that was going to happen. So in desperation I IM'd Princess at work, and the beautiful boy said he would do it for me and bring them. There's a reason I like that boy, despite everything!
Got to the run and made some polite chit-chat with people as everyone was arriving. And then there was a great moment, when Roofie's brother walked in the door, and his face lit up as soon as he saw me. It just made me feel good, knowing that somebody was so happy to see me. We talked for a bit and I quickly remembered that as sweet as he is, he has no chat, but I'll still take a sweet boy who is delighted to see me. Just what I needed.
We set off on the run, and shortly after we headed out, it started raining. And then it POURED. I mean, the sky just opened up in buckets, it was like someone had turned on a shower in the sky. Except I think I might have stayed drier if I had simply gotten into my shower with my clothes on. Holy crap, I have NEVER been so wet on a run before!
I did a decent job at keeping up with everyone actually, to the point that I couldn't actually quite justify leaving everyone and just hopping a bus back to the pub. Even made it with everyone to a what I'm sure would be a pretty viewpoint in better weather, but on this run was just misery, I was so cold and wet.
Suddenly, at one point we were running along a canal, when I spotted a pub we'd been to about a year or two ago. And all of a sudden I knew where we were. Hence, despite still keeping up with the group and perfectly ABLE to finish the run, I'd had enough. So I turned around and ran in the opposite direction, back to the pub!
Once there, warmed up a bit although my clothes were absolutely soaked, down to my underwear. I didn't have any dry clothes to change into (I saw a lot of people change back into their clothes from work, which I wished I'd had!) Finally I did at least take my shirt off and just put on my jacket with nothing else on underneath. Funny how being semi-naked in public was preferable to wearing those wet clothes!
Survived the after-run chatter, and talked to a few nice people, including a guy from New York who was visiting who seemed super-nice. Had a French guy chatting to me for ages, and would have talked to Roofie's brother except there was a girl who was sticking to him like glue. I'm not sure if he noticed, but he didn't seem particularly interested in return, constantly leaving her to join in conversations with others (although soon enough she would find her way back into his conversation). I had to wonder, "Am I ever like that?" Goodness, I hope not...
Talked to a bit to EmRae's step-brother who seemed as enchanted by me as ever, and made me curse myself for not paying more attention to other boys. Need to remember to do that..
Finally had enough of being cold and wet, and so got on the train to head home. I couldn't make it back to mine soon enough, and strip down and jump into a hot shower. My teeth were absolutely chattering, I was so cold, but that hot shower felt sooooooo good! Finally I was warmed up enough to bundle up and crawl into bed (although at a ridiculously late hour, after staying up to take a shower!)
As I was in bed, just writing a last e-mail and getting ready to go to sleep, DM started a chat conversation with me on Facebook. A huge surprise because DM has NEVER done that before. It was just a cute little conversation, at first telling me to go to bed, but then just engaging in a little bit of joking around and idle chatter. Nothing too heavy or deep, but just a nice little casual chat as we were both falling asleep. And I feel it's like the universe was very clearly saying to me, "Don't forget, there are always other guys out there." No need to worry about whether or not the silly boy ever calls me, it's not like he's the only option...
No comments:
Post a Comment