Episode 4: Girl of My Dreams

Over the next few weeks, I tried to steer clear of Dustin. Our relationship had become strained since the incident. When we did happen to be in the same room, we exchanged pleasantries, but nothing more. He refused to apologize according to Jack who apparently tried to get him to do so. Also, Jack told me that Dustin still did not think that he had done anything wrong. Other than that, everything was still going great.

John and Tiffany were still seeing each other which meant that I had a roommate every weekend and sometimes once during the week when he came into town. I did not mind though; John was always welcome to crash at my place. My relationship with Katie seemed to get more serious with each passing day. The new relationship excitement had worn off, but other than that, I was still crazy about her.

It was Friday night at ten after nine when Joel, Katie, John, Tiffany, Brian, and Lauren exited the movie theater, heading toward their cars in the parking lot.

“That was a good movie,” said Lauren.

“Yeah,” said Katie. “I really liked it.”

“Does anyone want to call Jack and see where he and Dustin are?” asked Brian.

Jack and Dustin had been going out without the rest of us lately seeing as how they were single and the rest of us were not. The rift between Dustin and myself played a little part in that too.

“I think we will pass on that,” answered Joel, referring to Katie and himself.

“Oh yeah,” said Brian. “I forgot about that. He has been getting on my nerves more and more as of late too. I guess the only reason I haven’t said anything to him is because I have to live with him.”

“Fair enough,” responded John.

When the six of them had reached their cars, Joel, Katie, John, and Tiffany stopped by Joel’s Charger and Brian and Lauren stopped beside Brian’s Mustang to discuss their plans for the rest of the evening.

“What is everyone going to do?” asked Brian.

“I was wanting to go downtown,” answered Lauren.

“I am kind of hungry,” said Tiffany.

“As usual,” said John, who immediately turned and moved away from Tiffany to try and dodge her slap, however, she caught him in the middle of his back. The result was a loud thud. John just laughed as he shuffled away from Tiffany to avoid another hit.

“Me too,” said Joel, looking back over at Brian and Lauren. “You guys interested?”

Brian shook his head. “I think we are going to head downtown, but I don’t want you guys to think that we are blowing you off to hang out with Dustin or anything.”

“It’s cool,” said Joel. “We don’t think that at all.”

“Ok, good,” said Lauren.

And with that, Brian and Lauren said their goodbyes and left in Brian’s Mustang.

“Stratler’s?” asked John, looking around at his three companions.

Everyone nodded in approval of the question and piled into Joel’s Charger. Turning out of the movie theater parking lot, they drove off in the opposite direction of Brian and Lauren. The theater was not far from Stratler’s as it took them only five minutes to arrive at the bar.

Everything was going fine while we ate, but near the end of our meal, things took a weird twist. It came out of nowhere and hit me like a ton of bricks. Actually, I’m still not sure what got into Katie.

“-so needless to say, Stacy and I were pretty embarrassed,” said Joel with a laugh, but quickly noticed that Katie was not laughing along with everyone else.

“What is wrong?” asked Joel.

“Nothing,” replied Katie.

“It doesn’t look like nothing.”

“Do you have feelings for Stacy?” asked Katie bluntly, catching Joel off guard.

John’s eyes got wide as he turned and look at Joel.

“No,” answered Joel... At least not anymore I don’t.

“Well the way you talk about her says otherwise,” retorted Katie.

“I have known her since elementary school,” said Joel. “She is my best friend. Of course I talk about her like I am fond of her.”

“You always have to be a smartass, don’t you?” asked Katie angrily.

“I’m not being a smartass, Katie,” replied Joel. “What is wrong with you? Why are you acting crazy?” And that was definitely not the right thing to say at that point, not by a long shot.

Katie stood and grabbed her coat, threw it over her arm, and said, “I am leaving.”

“Come on, Katie,” said Joel. “I didn’t mean it like that.”

“Well, it sure sounded like you did,” said Katie, making a move for the door.

“How are you going to get home?” asked Joel.

“I’ll take a cab,” said Katie as she stormed out of Stratler’s.

Joel immediately stood and followed her out of the bar and down the street. “Katie, wait a minute,” he said, trying to catch up to her.

Katie stopped at the edge of the sidewalk and leaned forward with an arm stretched out as a cab rode by. The cab did not stop, giving Joel time to catch up to her.

“Will you just wait a minute?” asked Joel.

“No, Joel. I am going home,” replied Katie, continuing to try and hail a cab. Finally, she was able to successfully call attention to one, which pulled over in front of her.

“Katie,” asked Joel, “can’t we talk about this?”

“Just go back inside and reminisce about Stacy,” said Katie. “That is obviously what you want to do, isn’t it?”

Joel looked around as he shook his head, obviously irritated by Katie’s remark. “Whatever,” he said, giving up on stating his case. “Just go.”

And with that, Katie got in the cab. Joel stood there, watching it drive away and when it was out of sight, he turned and walked back to Stratler’s where he returned to the table where John and Tiffany awaited.

“No luck?” asked John.

Joel shook his head. “Are you guys ready to go?”

“Yeah,” said John, nodding.

When we left Stratler’s, I took John and Tiffany back to her apartment and dropped them off. After refusing a request to watch a movie, I headed home. I tried calling Katie, but I was unsuccessful. What set her off like that? I know I should not have said she was acting crazy, but she was mad before that. The more I think I understand women, the more it is apparent that I do not.

I was not tired when I got home so I retrieved a beer from the fridge and popped in one of my favorite DVD’s. I could barely focus on the movie as I sat there trying to figure out what I had done to make Katie so mad, but the more I thought about it, the more frustrated I became with the whole situation.

Eventually, I started to nod off to sleep while laying on my couch, watching the movie I had picked out. It was almost two in the morning when someone knocked on my door. I was startled as I sat up, wondering who it could be. John was staying at Tiffany’s, so I knew that it was not him.

After unlocking the deadbolt, Joel turned the knob and pulled the door open. Much to his bewilderment, Stacy stood in front of him.

“Stacy?” he asked, confused as to why she was knocking on his door at two in the morning.

“Hey Joel,” replied Stacy. “Can I come in?”

“Of course,” said Joel, sliding to his left to let Stacy enter his apartment. What could she be doing here so late?

When Stacy had entered the apartment and Joel had closed the door behind her, Stacy turned to face Joel. “There is something I need to tell you, Joel,” she said, taking a step toward him. She looked up into Joel’s eyes; her own eyes were filled with passion. I almost forgot how beautiful those eyes were.

All of Joel’s feelings for Stacy were beginning to resurface. It was as if they were a freight train and he could hear them barreling toward him. Before he could say anything, Stacy pressed her lips against his and kissed him. Joel’s eyes closed immediately as his emotions surged through him. I cannot believe that this is actually happening!

When Stacy finally relinquished the kiss, she slowly moved her head beside Joel’s and whispered, “I love you,” in his ear.

Joel’s heart leapt as he heard the words. He smiled from ear to ear as he said, “I love you too, Stacy. “I always have.” Finally! I don’t have to hide it anymore, and what’s even better is that she feels the same way! Is this real?

The rest of the night was a blur as we sat on the couch entwined in each other’s arms, watching movies. It was perfect.

As the night wore on, Joel and Stacy eventually began to grow tired. Stacy fell asleep first, resting her head on Joel’s shoulder and soon after he began to doze off as well. His eyes slid shut as his head fell forward. He jerked his head back up as his eyes shot open. For some odd reason, he felt as if he did not want to fall asleep. The last thing he remembered was looking at the digital clock on his cable box, which read 5:48, before he finally succumbed to sleep.

After what seemed like only moments, Joel opened his eyes to find himself laying on his couch alone. He looked around his living room, but Stacy was nowhere to be found. He got up and walked into his bedroom, but she was not in there either. The bathroom door was open as it was empty. Confused, Joel returned to his living room and examined the front door. The deadbolt was locked.

Joel ran his fingers through his hair as he stared at the deadbolt. “It can only be locked from the inside,” he muttered to himself.

Joel walked back over to his couch and sat down. After a brief moment of pondering, it finally hit him. He looked at the clock again, which read 3:04. Joel slumped down on his couch and stared blankly at the floor. One thought echoed in his head as he sat there, heartbroken.

It was a dream.