I watched the tangerine moon rise as I waited for him, and of course, he was late. I hate it when he is late, and he knows this, but he's an actor and sometimes things prevent him from being on time to, oh say, EVERYTHING!
So I'm sitting in the little local pub near my apartment waiting for him, and I'm starting to wonder, is it all worth it? Is he worth it?
My friend, Stacy would say as soon as you ask yourself that question, the relationship is basically dead because you don't love him anymore, and you probably never did. I can practically see her blonde head shaking sadly at me and hear her tsk-tsking me that I'm still in the pub and still waiting.
I hear her voice in my head saying, "Get out now," and I stand up and head to the cash register to pay my tab.
"Glen didn't show, huh?" Barb my waitress says as she rings me up. Just like they said on the TV show Cheers, one of the best things about a local pub is everyone knows you name. Barb and I have known each other for a year or so since I started coming to the pub, and I've met Glen here lots of times over the past six months. I've also waited here for him a lot.
"He must have gotten caught up," I say vaguely, and I realize that I'm defending him. He stood me up, and I'm making excuses for him.
"You know what, Barb," I say. "If Glen shows up looking for me, and he probably won't, tell him that I say we're through. In fact, I'm done with all actors. They are terrible boyfriends."
Barb looked at me and smacked her gum, "You sure about that?"
"Definitely. I'm done with egotistical, self-centered men who only want me to pump up their egos and cheer them on. I can get along just fine, even better, without Glen."
"Sure, Sweetie, I'll be sure to tell him all of that. He's a real jerk for treating you as if you aren't as important as his career," Barb smacked her gum again, and turned toward the next customer.
I walked out of the pub feeling lighter than I had in weeks. I should have done this weeks ago. The cold, Chicago wind made me wrap my tangerine colored coat tighter around me as I walked the block and a half to my apartment building. The sound of a motorcycle engine cut through the busy traffic sounds, and I turned to watch the bike pass me by.
The guy on the bike was dressed in jeans and a leather jacket. He was probably a construction worker. I could defiantly date a construction worker. Or he might be a lawyer. I would even date a lawyer, but I was never dating another actor again.
Feeling like I had made a decision I was happy with, I hurried up the steps to my apartment building. In the foyer I checked my mail quickly, retrieving the catalogs and bills from the box, and then I headed to the elevator. After a few minutes the elevator opened, and I got on alone. The doors were just closing when the engine powering the elevator gave a high pitched whine, and the door froze open just a crack. The lights went black, and I was standing in a pitch dark elevator.
"This day is just getting better and better," I muttered sarcastically as I tried to force the doors open, but they were stuck stubbornly open just a few inches.
"Can I help you?" a man's voice from the outside of the elevator called. "Is anyone in there?"
"Yes," I shouted, "I can't get the doors open."
Suddenly two strong arms appeared in the space between the two doors. They bunched muscularly inside he sleeves of his oxford shirt as he applied pressure, and the doors slid smoothly open. He reached a hand in and helped me out of the dark elevator into the light of the foyer.
"Are you okay?" he asked as he picked up his leather coat from where he dropped it on the floor.
"Thanks, yes, I'm fine," I stammered as I looked up at a very handsome man. He had curly dark hair, a crooked smile, and was that... Oh yes, DIMPLES! He was dressed in jeans and now with his leather coat on, I wondered if he was the man who I had seen on the motorcycle.
He took my hand and shook it,"I'm really glad. I'm Brett, by the way, I live on the 6th floor." I must have been staring at him because he smiled and flashed those dimples again. "And you are?"
"Oh!" I felt my face get warm with embarrassment. "I'm Mags, um Maggie, and I have been having the most rotten day. What did you say you did for a living?"
He laughed quietly, "I didn't say, but I'll be happy to tell you. I'm an actor."
"Of course you are," I said as the overwhelming sense of irony practically smacked me in the head.
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