Well, this is about what I expected. The usual low-brow alcohol assortment, generic untz-untz dance music, a dance floor of flailing and stepping on each other's toes... yep, this is a college party alright. Is this going to be where I find a girlfriend? Seems unlikely, but I might as well give it a shot, right? Not like it's going to cost me anything... hopefully. While it's not the most high-brow place to continue my search, to some degree, I'm going to have to accept that I won't find a grade-A bombshell by just stumbling across her at my training for maximum convenience.
So, let's take a look around. Certainly, there's some pretty looking girls out there, but I don't know, none of them really seem to be grabbing me. Perhaps it's a bit superficial to go entirely by a first impression, but what can I say, I don't have all day to figure this shit out. But wait, there... smack dab in the middle of the dance floor. She looks absolutely perfect, a casual, yet clearly stylish attire that she wears with confidence and medium length auburn hair with red highlights, a simple hairstyle with just enough pizzazz to make it known she takes good care of it. Very petite, but nonetheless with a feminine grace and charm. And her dance steps are slow, but show intent and an underlying skill unlike the rest of the hapless saps. She has to be the one.
While trying to look as little as someone trying to pick up a girl as possible, I saunter onto the dance floor and make my way to the center, over to the beauty I spotted. "Hey there, I noticed you were dancing all alone. Would you like a partner?" I ask, hoping that I'm sounding cool.
The girl gives me a sly, playful smile. "Sure, why not?" she answers, and the two of us begin dancing. For the next few minutes, we move to the music, and while—to my chagrin—my own steps are not much more sure than the others', she doesn't seem too worried by it, the smile never wavering as she gracefully moves around me, practically playing with me. There's a silent confidence in her dance that's bewitching to me, and I feel certain that I at the very least have to try and get her home with me.
At that point, it was a matter of bringing the topic up tactfully, and I decide to take a shot in the dark. "You're too good for this dump, aren't you?"
Perhaps that was too blatant, because she chuckles in a way that has me thinking I blew it, but to my surprise, she replies, "Hmmm, well, what other place would you suggest, then?" Either I'm setting myself up for a fall, or I have a chance.
Now I've really got to take the shot, so here goes nothing. "How about... my place?" I ask.
And I'll be damned, she actually goes for it, giving me a little nod. "Lead the way, charmer," she says, possibly a bit sarcastic, but I don't mind right now.
On the way back to my little apartment close to campus, we exchange some basic small talk—after all, we only met about ten minutes ago—and I learn her name is Ash. I guess her name is Ashley and she just prefers Ash? Of course, right now is not the time to pry into something like that, right now is the time to slowly start feeling each other out, grow closer and all that good stuff. And during this idle talk, I get this odd feeling about her that she's not like other girls. Despite her stylish looks and girly voice, there's a boyishness about her that makes it seem like she could just be one of the guys if she wanted to, which I suppose bodes well.
When we make it to my apartment, I unlock the door and we step inside, Ash hanging her coat up on the wall. "You know, I didn't think you to be the type to pick up a guy," she says. She... what?
The statement hits me like a brick, and time seems to slow down as I attempt to process it. She... she's a guy? It's not like I asked, I just kinda assumed... Ash does look very girly. But then again... man, what the hell. This is so confusing, all I can stammer out is a meager "Uh... what?".
That sly, playful smile I saw earlier comes back to his face. "Oh, I thought you knew I was a guy when you asked me out... I hope that's not a problem?"
This is a fine pickle I'm in now. I just picked up a gay guy thinking he was a girl, and the hell of it is, he's kinda cute! It's not like my opinion of his looks changed, and not like I can just turn around and pick somebody else up, so maybe I can just go with it? Just hang out, who knows where things will go?