The Second One - He made me hate bowling

 Not sure if I would call the next guy my second boyfriend maybe he was the first?  They were all pretty awful looking back.

I did get to go on a date with the next guy I really liked.  I didn't know I had liked him until he pretty much hung around me one evening.

I had a Christmas job at a department store and I sucked at it.  Any job I have worked at?  I have given 200%.  Not my first job though. I wanted extra money and well this was the only gig that was available in our small suburb.  

You pretty much have to hold up a sign and say "I LIKE YOU.  WANT TO GO OUT?" for me to even realize that Oh, so this is flirting?  I didn't know!   And if it seems like anyone might be interested in me, I am looking for a ring.  Yeah, a sign.  What is the catch?

He was older than me and I never thought someone older would be interested in me.  By older, I had just turned 18 and he was 19.  Not Alec and Hilaria Baldwin old but I was a senior in high school and he was going to a technical school for business.  

I hadn't noticed he had an interest in me until he spent an evening at my lane talking to me when we didn't have customers.  He was my type - dark hair, glasses, smart and he seemed to be down to earth.  When he suggested we go out, there was no hesitation.  It was exciting when it initially happened.  He pursed me and made me see that he was someone who would treat me well.  

When we went on our first date, he kissed me as soon as I got into the car and that was a kiss that should have been my first kiss.  It was unexpected but welcome.  It wasn't forceful, it was natural. He told me I looked beautiful and kissed me.  It was fantastic.

Until we arrived at the bowling alley and met his friend.  I was on my first date with him and his best friend.  His friend was an overbearing bore.  He was not happy that his friend had a girlfriend.  Despite that, I had a good time with this guy.  He was affectionate and kind and had a good laugh at my horrible bowling skills.  I think I scored a 35.

We had only gone out one more time and it wound up to be watching a movie at his house and babysitting his younger brother who was maybe 3 years old at the time.  His little brother was sweet and I didn't mind. His parents were both working.  I thought we'll go out more.  We were even going to the Christmas party at work.

Before Christmas, he approached me and said we have to talk. I had 2 hours left on my shift and I didn't like the look on his face.  I said tell me now.  He didn't think we should be going out.  He crushed me.  It was because he thought I was too quiet and he was used to more loud and talkative women.  Even his dad had said that I was too quiet.

Here we go again with the critiques.  I was too quiet.  I wasn't loud and obnoxious. I wasn't good enough. I didn't fulfill the ideal woman qualifications.  I didn't go to the Christmas party.  He went with the woman who would later become his wife.

He wasn't done with me though.  I wasn't picked to stay at the department store after Christmas and I was ok with that.  My parents found a place in Bay View and we were moving February 1st.  I was going to be going to UW-Milwaukee in the fall so it would have been easier for me to get their by the bus versus where we were at now and it was closer to my dad's job.  I was in the store when I ran into him.  It wasn't a coincidence.  I didn't want to be done either.  He saw me with a friend and sought me out.  When he found out I was moving, he called me.

He did come over to see me once.  He spent the time talking about how dangerous the neighborhood was.  It wasn't dangerous.  We had a Dairy Queen down the street.  I was still smitten with him.  I figured when he didn't call again that was it.

The school year was almost out and he saw me driving home as he was coming home from school and he waved out his window at me.  He had me over at his house one last time. I thought maybe he changed his mind, especially when his mom talked to me about babysitting his little brother.  She worked at a jewelry store and her husband worked nights sometimes.  I didn't know what to say.  I didn't have to say anything because He who dazzled me with his pursuit and chase, was done with me.  I never saw him again on a romantic am I your girlfriend or not situation.

I saw him when I got a job at Target and ran into him when I was getting my hours.  He said that was a difficult job to get when I told him that I was a cashier.  Yeah. I wasn't good enough.  I worked there a year and a half.  I asked him straight up why didn't you call me again?  He told me about the woman who would be his wife.  They had gone to the Christmas party together and they fought a lot but he loved that about her.  He loved that she was a bitch and tell him off.  He said I was too easy going.  There we go again with my faults.  

I should have thought well then you two deserve each other.  I felt disheartened that I wasn't good enough.  My mom told me she was glad that things didn't work.  She thought he was too crabby when he was waiting for me the first night we went out.  He was impatient and crabby.  I didn't see it again.  I took it as you're not good enough.

I was good enough.  He was just a mean person.  He made me hate bowling.