The He Said She Said

He says she's just too sensitive. She says he's too inconsiderate. He says she's too insecure. She says he's too laid back. He says she's too bossy. She says he's too lazy. He calls her a moron, and she calls him an ass and says, "you're not like you used to be," as she walks away.

Welcome to my world ladies and gentleman. The dialogue above is a day in the life of me and my significant other. We've been dating for over a year. . .

How it all began. . .
We officially met our Junior year of college. We were both studying Communications and in the same Advertising a program. I had heard of him from my friends that had classes with him, but I never put a face with the name. Then in the Spring semester of 2006 when the class went around giving introductions, he said his name and I finally knew who this boy was.

He was handsome. The kind of guy I could crush on based on his looks alone, but that thought soon passed as at the time I had a boyfriend I had been with for two years and was living with. I was happy and in love (at least I thought I was) and not looking for anyone else.

As the semester progressed I had the chance to get to know "him." The class we were taking was our final class to be taken in our program and there were only about 8 or 9 of us and we had to work together a lot. I remember wondering, "I wonder if he has a girlfriend. . If he does, she must be really cute. He's good looking, he dresses nice and has a great personality. He has to be taken and she must be a knockout." Besides even if he wasn't involved, I couldn't possibly be his type and anyways I have a boyfriend, so why do I care?"

I found myself having these same thoughts in my head throughout the semester. Especially the more I got to know him. And the more I go to know him the more comfortable I became around him--and the more we flirted and the more I looked forward to going to class...

Oh and yes, he did have a girlfriend and like me and my boyfriend, they lived together. Anytime we talked about our significant others we never had anything great to say about them. He would say how she complained that he was too busy with school and we connected on this level because my boyfriend did the same. We'd often joke that they just didn't get us and that we were meant to be together and would one day get married.

This joke continued through the remainder of the semester, but at this point it was harmless flirting and that was that. Like I said, I had a boyfriend and I was in love. . Not looking for anything else.

The semester ended and though we were glad it was over we were all kind of sad that we wouldn't be seeing each other over the summer. We had one last hurrah the last night of class and we all got highly intoxicated. At the end of the night a group of us were outside and it was cold. I am always cold even when it's hot so I was shivering and dying to get in my car. He noticed and came over and rubbed me to warmth. . and I liked it. We all said good bye and wished everyone a happy summer and said our farewells until the fall.

I drove home, again highly intoxicated, but I made it and right before I opened my car door my phone rang. . It was him. He wanted to make sure I got home alright. How frickin sweet is that?? I remember feeling so special and thinking what a nice guy. . .

The summer came and went. My boyfriend and I weren't doing well and I couldn't wait to go back to school. In fact I remember getting all dolled up for my first night of class because I knew he would be there.

As soon as I entered the classroom I looked for everyone but him. I am very laid back when it comes to guys and always choose to play the hard to get part. I eventuall ynoticed him and coincidentally there was an open seat next to him.

We did the usual how was your summer talk and then he said did you break up with him yet? And I said no, did you break up with her yet and he said not yet. We both laughed and boy was it good to be back to school.

Over the next few weeks I started thinking about him more and more. Even when I was with my boyfriend. He and I started partnering up for group projects and even going to lunch during class breaks. For one project in particular we had to complete it over the phone. I can't remember who called who, but the project was complete in about a half an hour. . we stayed on the phone for over two hours.

Was this really happening? Does this boy like me? Do I like him? He could not like me. He's just a nice guy and he's flirtacious. Plus he has a girlfriend and she is probably beautiful and perfect.

I began doing some Facebook snooping. I had to see what his girlfriend looked like. He let me borrow a book of hers to complete a portfolio that she had done in the past. Now I knew her name so out of curiosity I entered her name and searched. One girl in particular popped up, but this could not have been her. She was not very attractive and they did not look like they went together. I read through her profile and all the information added up and after doing some investigating I realized this was her.

I have to say I was in shock. Don't get me wrong, I am nothin to look at myself, but I had built this vision of what I thought she was and let's just say this girl that stood on the screen before me did not fit the bill. In a sick and twisted way this made me happy.

Over the next few weeks the flirting got more and more intense and lunches became a weekly thing. He even brought me a diet coke one day to class because he said he noticed I drank diet coke and he loved it too. No one ever paid that much attention to the details of me. I was impressed.

Things at home weren't the going well. My boyfriend had severe issues with alcohol and after 11 plus times of putting him in and out of rehab, I had had enough. Plus he was ready to get married and have kids, and I was waiting to graduate and start a career. We were drifting and I ended up moving back home with my mom and brother.

I didn't tell him my boyfriend and I broke up. He and I were getting closer and I didn't want him to think that had anything to do with it. I still wasn't positive he liked me and I didn't think it was any of his business. Until a week later he told me he and his girlfriend broke up and she moved out.

WHOAH!

I then told him my story and it was really strange.

Not long after getting together for projects and lunches turned in to nights out at the bar. Never alone though. Always with friends. I had never really lived the single life. I had a serious relationship for 5 years prior to my ex relationship of over 2 years so I was finally free and spending lots of quality girl time.

We started hanging out on Thursday nights with our friends. After a few weeks I started inviting him out on the weekends. Then he started visiting me at work. Then my friends and his friends would go back to his apartment and hang out. Then my friends wanted to hang out with his friends so as you can see we started seeing more and more of each other.

One Thursday he asked what I was doing that night. At this point it was assumed we'd hang out. It was a Thursday tradition. But I kind of closed down. I didn't want to give him the wrong impression. I did like him, but I didn't want to rush in to anything. I told him I was going out with my friends and left it at that. I really had no plans and really wanted to hang out with him, lbut I was being difficult. He seemed confused and Long story short we ended up hanging out. We went to visit one of my best friends that he had never met before. She lived about a half an hour away so we went out for dinner, got pretty drunk and crashed at her lpace.

Dustin and I slept in the guest room. Nothing happened, we passed out, but in the morning we woke up and had our first kiss. It was scary, exciting and fun all at the same time. But I felt guilty. I just broke up with my ex, he just broke up with his ex. I was confused and kind of avoided him the rest of the weekend.

As the months went on Dustin and I got closer, but I resisted every step of the way. He didn't try to hide the fact that he liked me and God he was so sweet. He gave me back rubs, took me to fancy restaurants, we watched movies, played games, went clubbing, went to the gym. You name it, we did it. He never said no to me.

I was pretty brutal during this time. I always let him know him and I weren't going to be together but as I spent 5 out of 7 days with him and most of the time slept at his house I knew I I was sending mixed messages. I was confused. I still loved my ex even though I knew we weren't meant to be and I just wanted time to heal. But Dustin always wanted to be around. He'd always try to make plans with me and always asked if he could join me and my friends. Most of the time I said yes, even if I knew it made my friends mad and even if I knew it might lead him on. I am not denying that I liked him because I did, I knew he was something special and I wanted to wait until I was ready to devote myself to him. . . .

To be continued. . .