I'm not anti-Valentine's day, I've just not had one to write home about. They always range from poor to above average. Let me share my most frightening Valentines Day.
When I was 15 I had a girlfriend who I really liked. Her name was Rachel. She lived outside of Pittsburgh and I would see her any time I could get off campus. At the beginning of Junior year, Rachel's dad got laid off. He found another job, but it was on the outskirts of Chicago. I thought it was the end of the world. It was, but only in my little universe. They moved out there, and after tearful goodbyes, we promised to call and write and IM and all that stuff. I even told her I'd visit. And I did, Valentines day 1998 (or was it 99?) over our spring long weekend
I got a greyhound ticket and rode out there. It was 22 hours, stop after stop after stop. I was sick of that goddamn bus by the time I got there. My discman was nearly dead, but when I saw Rachel, it was all worth it. I had flowers and chocolates and she and her parents picked me up from the local greyhound station. They were a class act. They treated me like family, but not in a creepy way.
We had 2 nice, innocent nights. The third night I was there, Rachel decided she wanted to go to another level. I was cool with it, but nervous because you know, dad is on full alert when a guy dating his daughter is sleeping in the house. Around 1 AM, Rachel comes out, nudges me awake, cuddles up, and we start kissing a little. I pause, tell her to get a movie so that no one will be suspicious. Back to making out, things are getting a little heated in the living room and I hear from behind me in a low, booming voice:
"Rachel, get. back. to. your. room. NOW"
I felt everything sink, and she slipped out from under me like a magician.
I could sense he was there and just laid down, closed my eyes, and waited for the worst. You know that feeling where your entire body temperature drops 20 degrees in 3 seconds? This was that moment.
After what felt like 5 minutes of silence, he told me to shut off the TV when I was done and he went back to bed.
I don't think I slept for the next 4 hours. Around morning, Rachel's brother offered to let me sleep in his bed while he went to practice. I accepted and just tried to hide out from dad. The mom came in and asked if I wanted breakfast and I feigned a stomach ache so I didn't have to see him.
I came out of the room around 12 and dad was off at work. Rachel and I were so nervous you could taste it. Dad just left for work, so I didn't have to run into him, but mom asked how everything was and we all knew what the hell was up.
Later that day, snow starts coming down. I mean *really* coming down. Dad's off at his job and working a later shift. But as the day goes on, he calls and tells us he's snowed in and can't make it home that night. In my head, I jumped for joy.
That night, Rachel, mom, brother all watch movies and eat popcorn and drink cocoa while dad is stuck at the factory. Nothing happened that night and everyone slept in their own space. The next morning? I got dropped off at the bus station by the whole family and I expected the dad to be pissed, but he gave me a hug and said, "Julien, it was great having you! Please come back again!"
We didn't last (obviously), but I remember visiting them one more time (flew this time), and it was a cool encounter again. Her brother did bring the event up, "Hey, remember that time dad caught you and Rachel making out late at night the last time you came out?"
The dad laughed and then shot me a look and said, "We *are* gonna talk about that later," and we did. He told me he wanted to kick the living shit out of me, but didn't because he remembered being 16. Also, nothing seemed to be fully happening. I told him I understood, but I would've had to sue the hell out of him if he did. We laughed and went back in the house and I gotta tell you it was bad, but it was great.
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