Date 98

"So you go, and you stand on your own, and you leave on your own."

This date nearly didn't happen as she cancelled on me initially. We'd been chatting via email very regularly for a couple of weeks and we set a date to meet. I was really looking forward to meeting her as she used to write me some very long and funny emails, however, a couple of days beforehand she got in touch to say that the previous night she'd gone on a fourth date with someone else and she would have felt bad seeing me as she wanted to see how things would go with him. I was very disappointed, and told her so, but I said it was fair enough. I also had a feeling that I'd hear from her again, and lo and behold, she sent me an email a few weeks later.

She said she nearly didn't email me but something had reminded her of me and so we continued where we left off. I asked her what had happened to the other guy she was dating and she said they'd gone on one more date but then she decided he wasn't for her as he didn't like films or television! She obviously asked if we could meet up and I said yes.

When she'd cancelled initially I had vowed not to see her if she did email me again but when it came down to it I just thought: my social life is shite at the moment plus she did sound intriguing. I have to say though, that the excitement I had first time around wasn't there because I did feel a little bit like I was second best.

We met up in a pub in Brighton and it was absolutely rammed. She was late also so I ended up shuffling around the place with a pint in my hand for 15 minutes really accentuating the fact that I was waiting for someone and not just in there drinking on my own. I'd nearly finished my drink when she turned up and the first thing she did was comment on how the pub smelt like a toilet so she went up to the bar and told them to do something about it, which they actually did and in no time the whole place was smelling fresh again! She also introduced me to a liqueur called Tuaca. We had a few shots each and it was beautiful. Apparently, according to her, it's pretty much a Brighton thing so not many people have heard of it and it's difficult to buy unless you're in the bar trade.

So, after a few drinks she said she had to go and when I got on the bus I received a text from her saying:

'It was absolutely lovely to meet you. I didn't feel any chemistry on my part but we have loads in common and I'd really like to stay in touch if you'd also like that?'

She also asked if I wanted to go to see Interstellar with her the next day (she'd already seen it once) but I couldn't as I had other plans. I thought it was a nice text from her and I think she was right but it did make me think how had she gone on 5 dates with this other guy yet had made up her mind so quickly over me.

We did meet up again a couple of weeks later as I wanted to go and see What We Do in the Shadows and it turned out to be my second favourite film of the year so far. We've since become good friends and cinema buddies.