Beautiful Girls, Lottie, and Cleaning Up

Why is it that a girl can brush up to you at lunch, rub close, smile, say a few words and disappear… and you think about her the rest of the bloomin’ day?

Nina is a friend of mine. She is half Indian (from India) and half Filipino, and though we locked eyes some time ago and did the smile-when-you-see-them thing for the past two years, I’ve only actually properly met her the beginning of this summer.

It turns out we’d both been meaning to meet each other, though neither of us can explain why. She always was one of the first people into breakfast at 7AM, and consequently the first to leave. Her departure usually coincided with my arrival at 7:15, though she would always smile mysteriously before she left.
It was the smile that intrigued me, and persuaded me to shave off a couple minutes in the shower to meet her.
Finally, we sat at the same table at the same time.
People chattered around us, some dozing into their cereal bowls, others griping about the status of the eggs.
I had rushed in, as I usually did, picked out my food and sat down. She sat at the other side of the table, watching me curiously.
I chowed down, eggs, bacon, cereal, oatmeal,– wait.
She had been finished for some time now. He plate was empty, her glasses downed. She fiddled with her orange juice cup. She smiled.
I gulped down my mouthful of eggs, and took a sip of milk “I don’t think we’ve been properly introduced.”
She smiled, and stopped playing with the cup. “I don’t either.”
I smiled back. “I’m Benjamin Young Savage.”
“My name is Nina Solanki.”
“I’ve been meaning to meet you, but you always disappear before I can even get to the table. I’ve… seen you for a while, but just never got the chance; I suppose.”
“Yeah, me too.”
I raised my glass and took another swig. “You’re Indian, aren’t you? I noticed you wore a sari to the International Banquet this past year.”

…it went from there, even long after I had finished breakfast.

It turns out she’s kinda shy, and usually keeps to herself. Her summer job keeps her on the far side of campus, and she lives in a dorm that’s on the rim too because part of her job is being the hostess to the guest that stay there during the conferences.
She usually sits by herself in the dining hall too, but after I got to know her (ok, after the first day I met her) I began sitting at her table (asking cordially each time, of course). I tend to have the ability to transcend every “clique” anywhere by getting to know key members of the clique, so consequently people began following my lead and soon an entire new group formed.

Anyhow, I asked her for her phone number a week or two back, because she still stayed by herself in her room most nights. Almost every evening someone is usually planning something (movies, volleyball, ultimate Frisbee, shopping, road trips, etc.) and I thought it would be cool to get to know her more if I invited her along.
So, smiling, she gave it to me, and that evening I gave her a ring about a movie we were watching (Monsoon Wedding; good movie) and left her a message telling her to call me back even if she couldn’t make it.
She didn’t call me back.
I didn’t want to seem too pushy, so though I kept calling; I didn’t leave any more messages. I still wanted her to come, but didn’t want to be to extroverted and scare her off.

I hadn’t seen her for a little while, and though I kept calling her, she was never around. I think she went on vacation.

However, today I saw her again. Lottie was closed because they’re redoing the carpeting, so we ate lunch in the Falcon, an on-campus deli-style place. They have an ice cream bin with a lot more different kinds of ice creak bars than Lottie. I was standing there considering which to take, when suddenly she she moved up next to me, bumping me over.
“Hey you.” She smiled, “Haven’t seen you in a while.”
“Seen me? I’ve been calling all the time, but you’re never home…”
She looked at me wide eyed. “You have? But you only left one message…”
“Well, yeah. You didn’t call me back, so I didn’t want to be too intrusive… I still call you whenever anythings going on, though, but you’re never home…”
“Really? Well… um, I haven’t been around… but.. you can.. you can still leave messages, you know.. I don’t mind…”
“You sure? I don’t want to bug you..”
“No! I mean, it’s ok, you can call me..”
“Ok.” I smiled “I will.”

I picked out an ice cream bar. “I don’t think they’ll be much going on this week; with everyone moving.”
She picked out one too. “Oh, that’s fine.”
She smiled, and turned to her friends.
I turned to check out, glowing… for some reason…

Wait– she was heading the other way…
“Nina! Where are you sit– did you eat alrea–”
She turned. “Oh, I already ate. See you…”
She smiled, and disappeared.

I began singing softly to myself, and ended up singing the rest of the day.

Lois walked into the food court and smiled at me. She loaded up her tray, and met me at the beverages.
As we were pumping soda into our cups she looked over at me.
“Where are you sitting?” We asked simultaneously.
“Booth?” she inquired.
“Booth.” I grabbed another cup “Benjamite Frappuccino first. I’ll meet you there.” I

mixed myself some hot cocoa, French Vanilla cappuccinos, Mocha cappuccinos, ice, milk and a dash of coffee and headed to the booths.

Lois and I have been hanging out the past couple days. A good friendship is growing, I think. I’d been up to her room with Kanke almost every night since Friday, and on Saturday we went out to see S.W.A.T. (ok movie, typical good-cop/bad-cop movie, lots of explosions, and a girl that kicks butt. No sex, surprisingly though) with some friends (all girls). It was strange. We got there rather early, and since I was holding the door, I got into the seats last. Lois seemed to have arranged it so I sat next to her. Not only that, but she sat on my right. (good for conversation; since I’m deaf in my left ear).

Anyways, we sat there about a half an hour before the movie started, and got to talking. Something happened, though, and our thoughts kept matching up. That happens with me and other people sometimes, if we’re close friends. In any case, it happened quite a bit and even into the movie. I think she found it a bit strange, but intriguing. There’s definitely some kind of connection. How strong it is, I don’t know.

I do know she’s still looking for “the One” still, and it’s been discouraging after her ex boyfriend. She’s humorous about it, though. She’s a very very strong girl.
Whether I’m on her list or not I don’t know… I am white; and that’s not one of her major considerations it seems. I don’t know.
She seems to be looking at me different; though I don’t know in which way.

I’m so tired, I’ve spent the entire evening cleaning out the basement.

Goodnight…