By ATARI JAY
dearatari(at)gmail.com

Another save by my navigator helped me pull up to a carnival-like setting in a park outside the firehouse. Beyond nervous, I reassured myself that I looked great and was totally ready. I texted Jason as I wandered for a few minutes before seeing him doing a demonstration involving a car on fire. Realizing how hot he looked in a fireman’s uniform, my confidence was once again blown away.

He spotted me before I had a chance to plot an escape. He smiled; I melted. He waved and I blushed. After the demonstration ended, he walked over and invited me to follow him into the firehouse. We joked during a mini tour of the place before ending up on the top floor.

It was the same setup as a firehouse I had been in before — there was a huge bar, a kitchen, pool tables, couches and a large screen television. I made several comments, allusively questioning the existence of a girlfriend, and I was only answered by avoidance.

Several of his friends joined us with beers. I stayed shyly in the couch next to him as we conversed among random people floating in and out of the bar. One man, giving a tour to his sister, asked my name and then proceeded to introduce me as Jason’s girlfriend. I’m officially in the clear to start flirting. Jason takes very well to this.

As plans for later in the night were about to be made, Jenni walked in. She immediately walked over to Jason and claimed her territory. She grabed him in a huge rub hug and did the most obvious hair toss while giggling. With one look up and down, I realized why I have a mere three best friends of the female gender.

With Jason now occupied, I made attempts to befriend another fireman’s girlfriend. Erin, a nanny who moved from Kentucky, had been dating Pete for about a year. I was talking to Erin, but I kept an ear over to Jason and Jenny because I was determined to figure out their relationship. Ex-girlfriend? Late night booty call? Best friend? It wasn’t long until I heard Jenni telling a group of guy how much she paid for her breast enlargement. Jenni’s relationship with Jason was the same with every guy: booty call. Erin confirms my suspicions.

The drunker I got, the more open I was to Jenni. While we were playing pool, I realized she perfectly fit into a stereotype. I discussed how my 6-year-old cousin was talking about her ottoman in her room, and Jenni started her constant “Wait, what? What is that?” questioning. There were very few words she understood. Calling her unintelligent would be an understatement. At one point, she proudly exclaimed her status of a “super senior.”

Girls like Jenni and I never got along.

Regardless, she insisted on exchanging numbers so we could hang out every night. I politely respond with an invite to go out the next night shortly before watching her hop on Jason’s lap for an intense make out session on the adjoining pool table.

Several hours later, five of us managed to finish over 40 bottles of beer. Jason and Jenni disappeared, and I started belligerently explaining my dating situation. I have an immense need to discuss my ex, basically, anyone who will listen, and that included my new fireman friends.

Erin left to go to Katonah Bar and Grill, apparently the main spot in the surrounding town. An hour later, I stumbled in on Jason and Jenni not bowling in the mini alley downstairs. After seeing Jason’s “attributes,” I decided he’s not worth my time, and I found Pete to walk me to my car.

This entry was posted on Wednesday, October 31st, 2007 at 12:01 am and is filed under Life. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.