Ditched for dinner and drinks

The day is bright and shining. The sun is out and there isn't a trace of rain in sight. The only clouds in the sky are the ones that resemble fluffy lambs. To make the most of the beautiful weather, I decide to spend most of the day indoors at the Museum of Natural History.

On my way there, I call X about our plans tonight. He's in a bit of a tizzy, but I brush it off - no one is like that for too long. Our plans are to meet later on in the night. I'm still not sure if we're having dinner and/or drinks. Still, I leave the matter in his hands. I already plan for everything and might as well take something off my plate.

The museum is filled with families and tourists, which is no surprise. When I pay for my entrance ticket, I flash my student card and shy smile and get in with a discount. I might as well use that card for something; it cost me enough money.

For the next several hours, I'm walking along, taking pictures and seeing variations of my family in numerous exhibitions. Even though humanity has progressed throughout the years, there are still quite a few people who resemble neanderthals.

There's a period where it feels like I'm in the same room as this hot couple. I don't think they're following me, but it feels like it. I'm pretty sure they think I'm following them, but that's not the case. At least, it wasn't the case. Part of me wants to think they'll ask me to come along with them on a night out of debauchery. The other part of me wants the same thing.

By the time I get out of there, I'm famished. I didn't have a proper lunch in the caf because their prices were outragous. Did they think they're Per Se, or something? No matter, I'm going out with X tonight. The food will be secondary, as the company will come first.

I pull out my phone and check for messages. There aren't any. I dial X's number and leave a message. I still don't know what time we're meeting at. Fuck, I don't even know where we're meeting.

On the A train I go, back to Mike's place to decompress and get ready for my night out. Lucky for me, Mike left his laptop in his living room; I check my e-mail. There aren't any messages. No matter, X will call.

My clothes were already chosen for the night, so I didn't need to spend additional time getting ready. All I need is a shower to freshen up and a brush with toothpaste to get minty in the oral department. All of this takes about 15 minutes.

For the next two-and-a-half hours, I wait. And, I wait. And, I wait some more.

I make another series of phone calls, but get voicemail. I check my voicemail, but there isn't anything. I log onto my hotmail, facebook and gmail accounts and there isn't anything there. Part of me wonders what's going on, and the other part of me hopes X died in an incredibly painful accident.

Not knowing what to do, I try my best to contain my anger and disappointment from being stood up and write X a message: I'm all dressed up with no where to go. I wonder if he'll get the passive-aggressive hint.

Because it's almost 10 p.m., I'm starving. I haven't eaten since lunchtime. Making the most of a negative situation, I grab my coat and umbrella and walk outside. It begins to rain by the time I step out of the building. Funny, but not funny, at all. It's like I'm living some colossal weather joke that no one laughs at.

I grab a slice of pizza, a sundae at McDonald's and make my way back to Mike's. The rain stops when I walk into the apartment. I'm still not laughing with the weather.

Mary is still watching TV and I sit down on the couch, opposite her. We talk for a bit and she notices how disappointed I am. It's true. I'm also drawn. I hate making plans only to have them fall apart, but I hate when other people make plans and don't follow through with them. They know I'm in town for three days, and they know one of the reasons I came down was for them. The mind only remembers what it wants to, I suppose.

I check my messages. There aren't any. Fine. I don't care, anymore. They're off my to-do list.

When Mike walks through the door, he makes me smile. He didn't ditch me. I regale him with my night and he listens. That's what I need right now. By the time everyone goes to bed, I fall asleep with a smile on my face. He didn't disappoint me like so many before him have.