Matthew. She winced in indignation. That lying worthless cheater! She caught him with her own eyes, making out with some lanky blonde from an opposing high school. The worst part was that he had been doing it in the back corner of Randy's Eatery, which was their hang-out. It added humiliation to the degradation of his wandering hands that he had the audacity to "suck face" with some other girl in a location that belonged to them, a place where her friends and peers could see his obvious philandering.
That happened her senior year, with prom just a week away. She didn't go. Her father told her she would regret missing such an important event in her life; but, oddly enough, she still didn't feel disappointed at missing out on it ten years later. Apparently, not every missed opportunity was regrettable.
What she did regret was how the experience affected her over the years. After that incident she never could quite establish a relationship with a man again. She always distrusted, and never let her guard down. With this impenetrable shield of wariness, men didn't bother for long. None found it worth their time to diffuse her defenses.
Ess knew she had issues. It didn't take a psychiatrist to tell her what her problem was. Still, she had yet to manage it, to get over it; and she was disappointed in herself. This flaw looked like it would keep her from happiness forever. She would die an old maid; and since she was allergic to felines, she wouldn't even have cats to keep her company. Ah yes, she knew the consequences of Matt's cheating far outweighed the act itself.
She brooded over this for quite some time before a knock at the door startled her back to the present. How unusual. Since visitors could not get in unless they rang up and she buzzed them through the door, it could only be a resident of the building. Unless, of course, someone slipped through when another person had opened the door at the building's entrance. Manda had done that before.
As she approached the door, she reflected on the lack of a peephole. She would prefer one right now, so that she could pretend not to be home if the visitor turned out to be an unpleasant one or a stranger. She unlocked the deadbolt, but kept the chain in place as she opened the door a crack to peek out.
It was the familiar stranger. Oh, no, Ess thought, how did he know she lived in this unit? Maybe he was just looking for someone else, and knocked on the wrong door. She looked so unpresentable right now in her worn out jeans and faded college sweatshirt, with her unkempt hair sloppily tucked behind her ears. And on top of that, she felt the blush starting to warm her cheeks. Damn it!
"Ah, hello," the stranger began. He looked as attractive as before, still in his slacks and button up collared shirt. He even wore the tie, though casually loosened. "I don't mean to disturb you."
Well, he came across as very polite. "Yes?" was all Ess could get out in response. Her absurd timidity was really starting to infuriate her.
"I, um, happen to live down the hall," he replied, "and I'm making dinner. Well, I began making a pesto for my penne, and realized that I was very low on olive oil." He held up his nearly empty bottle of oil so that he could emphasize his predicament. " I had a very long day at the office. I'm really too tired to run to the market, but I've already started preparations. Could I beg a little olive oil from you?"
He was very courteous, and so sincere in his need. "I don't have any olive oil," she started. He looked a little surprised and slightly disappointed. She felt obliged to help him, so she continued, "But I do have vegetable oil. You're welcome to it."
He seemed appeased. "That would do just fine." Then he flashed a rather alluring smile at her, which put her right at ease. This, she decided, may be her best opportunity to strike up an acquaintance. Fate kept pushing for it, and she would be stupid to keep pushing it
That happened her senior year, with prom just a week away. She didn't go. Her father told her she would regret missing such an important event in her life; but, oddly enough, she still didn't feel disappointed at missing out on it ten years later. Apparently, not every missed opportunity was regrettable.
What she did regret was how the experience affected her over the years. After that incident she never could quite establish a relationship with a man again. She always distrusted, and never let her guard down. With this impenetrable shield of wariness, men didn't bother for long. None found it worth their time to diffuse her defenses.
Ess knew she had issues. It didn't take a psychiatrist to tell her what her problem was. Still, she had yet to manage it, to get over it; and she was disappointed in herself. This flaw looked like it would keep her from happiness forever. She would die an old maid; and since she was allergic to felines, she wouldn't even have cats to keep her company. Ah yes, she knew the consequences of Matt's cheating far outweighed the act itself.
She brooded over this for quite some time before a knock at the door startled her back to the present. How unusual. Since visitors could not get in unless they rang up and she buzzed them through the door, it could only be a resident of the building. Unless, of course, someone slipped through when another person had opened the door at the building's entrance. Manda had done that before.
As she approached the door, she reflected on the lack of a peephole. She would prefer one right now, so that she could pretend not to be home if the visitor turned out to be an unpleasant one or a stranger. She unlocked the deadbolt, but kept the chain in place as she opened the door a crack to peek out.
It was the familiar stranger. Oh, no, Ess thought, how did he know she lived in this unit? Maybe he was just looking for someone else, and knocked on the wrong door. She looked so unpresentable right now in her worn out jeans and faded college sweatshirt, with her unkempt hair sloppily tucked behind her ears. And on top of that, she felt the blush starting to warm her cheeks. Damn it!
"Ah, hello," the stranger began. He looked as attractive as before, still in his slacks and button up collared shirt. He even wore the tie, though casually loosened. "I don't mean to disturb you."
Well, he came across as very polite. "Yes?" was all Ess could get out in response. Her absurd timidity was really starting to infuriate her.
"I, um, happen to live down the hall," he replied, "and I'm making dinner. Well, I began making a pesto for my penne, and realized that I was very low on olive oil." He held up his nearly empty bottle of oil so that he could emphasize his predicament. " I had a very long day at the office. I'm really too tired to run to the market, but I've already started preparations. Could I beg a little olive oil from you?"
He was very courteous, and so sincere in his need. "I don't have any olive oil," she started. He looked a little surprised and slightly disappointed. She felt obliged to help him, so she continued, "But I do have vegetable oil. You're welcome to it."
He seemed appeased. "That would do just fine." Then he flashed a rather alluring smile at her, which put her right at ease. This, she decided, may be her best opportunity to strike up an acquaintance. Fate kept pushing for it, and she would be stupid to keep pushing it
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