Me: Well…I’m glad I came today. Thanks for the invite. It was funner than I thought it would be.
Jackson: Funner? Is that a word?
Me: Don’t be the grammer police.
Jackson: *grammar
Me: OMG!
Jackson: Sorry. Had to.
Jackson: Where’d you end up sitting?
Me: The cheap seats.
Jackson: Where are those?
Me: Are you being serious? You don’t know where the cheap seats are?? Were you raised in a bubble?
Jackson: Dude—when do I have the chance to sit in the stands? Duh.
Me: Don’t you ever go to other games? Even baseball? The cheap seats are at the 50-yard line and 50 yards up. Haha. Nosebleeds I guess you’d call them—like when you go to a concert and are up near the ceiling. Those.
Jackson: Shit, sorry. I should have left you tickets at will call.
Me: Why on earth would you do that?
Jackson: So you had better seats—so you can see? lol Those seats high up SOOK balls man.
Me: We could see just fine. My friend Natasha brought boynoculars.
Jackson: What the fuck are those?
Me: Binoculars meant specifically for staring at boys with.
Jackson: Girls are so weird.
Me: Really, Jackson?? And you cruising the strip because you’re BORED isn’t?? Instead of partying or studying or staying home like a normal person, you drive up and down the street doing nothing.
Jackson: Oh, like my house is so quiet? And so conducive to studying?
Me: Have you ever heard of the library???
Jackson: First of all, stop using so many question marks.
Me: Second of all?
Jackson: Yes I’ve heard of the damn library. I’m there almost every Sunday night.
Me: Bull crap, you are not.
Jackson: Wanna make a bet?
Me: Yes.
Me: No.
Me: Yes. Where do you study?
Jackson: Top floor, study room on the left at the end of the second row. There’s a table in it with four chairs. That’s my spot.
Me: Are you being serious?
Jackson: As a heart attack.
Me: Guess I’ll just have to take your word for it.
Jackson: Or you could join me.
Me: Lol
Jackson: What’s so funny?
Me: Me coming to study with you. Like it was a date.
Jackson: If I was askin’ you on a date, trust me, you’d know.
Me: Well thank goodness you’re not.
Jackson: But what if I was.
Me: But you’re not.
Jackson: Are you always like this?
Me: Always like what?
Jackson: So argumentative.
Me: Probably. I swear to you I’m not doing it on purpose…
Jackson: Let’s get serious for a second. What would it take to get you to go out with me?
Me: I thought you didn’t date.
Jackson: Pretend I’m fixin’ to make a few exceptions.
Me: Starting with me?
Jackson: Yeah, starting with you.
Me: Should I feel flattered by this pretend attention?
Jackson: No, you should just say you’ll let me take you out.
Me: Are we still pretending? Because it sounds like you’re actually asking me out.
Jackson: For grins, let’s say it’s for real.
Me: All right. Where is this real pretend date taking place?
Jackson: It’s a surprise.
Me: Oh brother *eye roll*
Jackson: Is that a yes?
Me: It’s not a NO…
Jackson: Friday then? We have to be in early because we have a game on Saturday and it’s in Ohio so I leave buttass early, but I figure if you don’t have any classes in the afternoon Friday it could still work.
Me: Wow. You’ve actually thought this through.
Jackson: Go big or go home.
Me: Fine.
Jackson: Fine?
Me: Yeah, sure. Fine.
Jackson: Gee, try not to sound so thrilled.
Me: Do you want me to go on a date with you or not?
Jackson: Do. But could you show a little enthusiasm?
Me: All right, how’s this: OMG JACKSON I WOULD LOVE TO GO OUT WITH YOU, LET’S GET MARRIED AFTERWARD AND HAVE BABIES!!
Jackson: Sarcasm, Charlotte? Really?
Me: Some sarcasm. Lil bit. But if you really want to take me out, I can’t make any promises about what’s gonna happen.
Jackson: What do you mean?
Me: I mean—don’t go falling in love with me is all I’m saying.
Jackson: This isn’t a movie. That’s NOT going to happen.
Me: That’s what they say in ALL the movies…
Jackson: Guarantee that’s not going to happen.
Me: Great. So Friday afternoon then?
Jackson: Yeah, Friday—if that works. 3:oo?
Me: You sure you wouldn’t rather be trolling the strip in your babe-mobile?
Jackson: No. I’ll be outside your house gunning the motor until you come outside.
Me: Oh god, please don’t.
Jackson: Then you better not keep me waiting.
Me: SUCH a Neanderthal.
Jackson: You said it, not me. And no, Charlotte, I will not fall in love with you—as long as you promise not to fall in love with me.
Me: Don’t make me laugh.
Jackson: Stranger things have happened, babe.
Me: Do me a favor and cool it with the ‘babe’ talk, ’kay? I just gagged in my mouth.
Jackson: Sorry, it just slipped out of my fingers. It made me gag, too.
Me: At least we have one thing in common.
Jackson: Should I start a list and add that to it?
Me: Very cute, very cute.
Me: Hey. I’m sorry this entire time we’ve been talking, I totally forgot to ask how your game was.