I was set up with Paul after he stopped by my work to talk to one of my coworkers. I told her I thought Paul was cute so she said she would set us up.
Paul Bettany
Our first date went well. He made me dinner, (I LOVE a man who can cook!) and took me bowling. I STINK at bowling, and of course he was amazing, but I didn't mind. Paul felt really bad about it, but I'm a good sport, and not that competitive, so I still had fun. He then took me to a movie, where I was hoping he would hold my hand, but didn't. I had a lot of hope after this first date....
Then I went on the second one.
He sent me a text one day asking when we could go out again. This was after a few texts finding that I had booked weekends. I thought it was super sweet of him to be so persistent that we go out again. (I find persistence attractive, weird I know!) So we made the date for the next weekend.
First strike against him: He forgot where I live. He lives less than five minutes away from me, and I live in a really remote area. OK not really that bad until I get in his car and he doesn't remember a THING about me!!! Granted we did talk a lot about him the first date, but that means he should at least remember the FEW basic things we talked about me. He didn't even remember what school I went to, let alone what I was studying. W-O-W. At this point, the first five seconds in the car, I was worried.
He then says he is starving and that we are going to go to In-and-Out..... "because it's cheap." Yes, ladies and gents, he just HAD to include that little tid-bit. Once we get there and step up to order he turns to the lady and asks if they have a student discount. So first he's taking me there because it's cheap, and then he wants it to be CHEAPER! Man I feel important. Can't even pay for a full price hamburger for me.
He then informs me we are going laser tagging. So much for the heads up, I was wearing slip-on shoes, not so great for running.
We get to the laser tag place, and luckily the laser tagging was down, so we decided to play around the arcade. He says to me that he is just going to buy two season passes. Immediately I know one of them is not for me to keep. I decided to avoid the awkwardness and escape to the bathroom. I get back right in time for the poor, teenage employee to be asking for my information. Paul tries to explain that he just wants it for whenever he brings anyone with him there. She then turns to us and says, "oh, I thought you were married." No, my dear, and as she is still confused about how he wants to bring other dates back, I turn to her and tell her that she needs to ask her manager if it is even possible. It wasn't.
I had luckily told him at the beginning of the date that I had an early class in the morning. By halfway through the date when he asked me what time I needed to be home, and I said 9, he didn't object. I did enjoy the go-carts, but I was alone for that part....
Right before we left something grand happened. With the ticket he purchased me I got 10 tokens for the arcade. On my second token, I won 500 tickets!!!!! Luck and skill baby, luck and skill! This little 10 year old came up to me, as I am standing there as the machine feeds all it's tickets to me, and just stares. Yes, little kids envy me. Now if I only had that luck at the casinos..... or with men!!!
We shared the tickets and got a ton of little dumb trinkets.
I haven't heard from him since.
Lessons learned:
It is always, ALWAYS, a good idea to have a backup plan.
All of his date asking was through texting. RED FREAKING FLAG! I need someone who cares enough about me to remember me, and to actually call me!
I understand the whole poor college student life, I get that. It's the talking about it, and repeating it that kills me. If you want to use a coupon on the first date, be discrete. If you want to save a few extra pennies and get a season pass: go beforehand. No tact. For the first dates try and go out of your way for a good impression.
