The Dating Chronicles – Conflicted

The Dating Chronicles

Conflicted

Cindy looked out of the window as Rick entered the building.  Her mind was racing.  She didn’t know what to do.  Nate had called ten minutes earlier to invite her out for drinks and she acted as if she didn’t already have a date.  When the doorbell rang, she stood at the window in a quiet panic.

She couldn’t let Rick in, because she preferred to be with Nate.  Rick was nice, but Nate was exciting.  She thought about the bouquet of flowers she’d seen in Rick’s hand, and how much he tried to be what he thought she wanted, and she felt guilty.

The doorbell continued to ring.  She peeked through the window with the blinds parted slightly to avoid detection.  She could see Rick pacing in the lobby.  Her heart was in her mouth.  She prayed for him to leave, but he kept ringing the doorbell.  Nate was due there in thirty minutes to pick her up and there was only one way out of her apartment.

As she nervously paced the floor, she tried to rationalize her decision to go out with Nate instead.  She liked Rick, but she was fascinated with Nate.  Rick was steady and attentive.  Nate was elusive and mysterious.  She was flattered by his call, though it was at the last minute, and that he wanted to spend Friday night with her.

However, as soon as she finished the thought, she suddenly felt very stupid, as another thought quickly filled its place.  The only real reason Nate called me is because he knows I’ve got a thing for him, and that he could call me at any time of day or night, and I’d jump to be with him.  She thought about all the times she waited for him to call and he hadn’t, and the last time he didn’t show and didn’t call for two days.

The doorbell rang again and she knew Rick was worried.  Suddenly, she didn’t want to disappoint him for a fleeting moment with Nate, who might not call for another two weeks.  She decided that it would be ridiculous to eat hamburger when she could have steak.  She put on her coat and ran down the stairs to meet Rick, and apologized for not hearing the doorbell.