A Faraway State of Mind 2

One evening Thomas More got a phone call. It was a college buddy of his, Jed Berger. Jed happened to be in Centropolis this coming weekend and wanted to hang out for an evening or two. You see, Jed knew Thomas and Bosendorfer in college, but moved back to Delano City to find work and earn enough to pay for graduate school. The friends hadn't seen each other since graduation several years ago, so suffice to say, they were excited.

Thomas recommended meeting up at Jerry's a restaurant and bar on the northeast side of town, famous for their brats, noodles, and wide selection of European beers. Bosendorfer would meet Jed at the airport that afternoon. The following evening, Thomas made his way to Jerry's via the 21 Bus just a couple blocks from his house after work. Right as he was about to enter Jerry's, he heard a car door slam behind him. He shot a brief glance to his left, where the noise originated. Jed and Bosendorfer had just gotten out of Bosendorfer's car, and Jed looked up and recognized his friend.

Jed: Hey Thomas!

Thomas: Hey Jed! Hey Bose!

Jed: Good to see you buddy!

Bosendorfer: Hey man! (Jed and Thomas embrace)

Thomas: Yeah, you too! How have you been?

Jed: Oh, you know, work... had a business meeting not too far from where Bosey works.

Bosendorfer: Yeah, at the Hilton, right?

Jed: (laughs) Very funny... wait, yeah it was at the Hilton. (Thomas and Bosendorfer laugh)

Thomas: (opens the door) I bet you're glad to be done with the meeting, though.

Jed: Oh, yeah, that's for sure! (the three walk in through the door)

Maitre d': Hello, how many are there with you tonight?

Bosendorfer: Three, please.

Maitre d': Right this way.

Jed: You know, I can't remember the last time I've been here. It had to have been before I turned 21, when I came and visited you guys freshman year...

Thomas: Yeah, it's definitely one of my favorite places to eat and grab a beer on occasion. Actually, I think I came here every night during the playoffs when the Hot Shots made it to the finals a couple years ago. You remember that, Bose?

Bosendorfer: Yeah, it was quite the spectacle. The place was packed like every night, too.

Maitre d': Here you are. Your server will be here in a minute with water and some menus.

Thomas: Thank you. But yeah, the place was packed. Even though they ultimately lost a tough series in the finals, it was still a lot of fun all around.

Jed: Yeah, who did they play in the final?

Thomas: The Eurekaopolis Dobermem. They're a really good team; they deserved to win. ... It happens.

Bosendorfer: Yeah. The Hot Shots doing really well again this year. They have another shot to win it all this year.

Server: (arrives) Hi, my name is Kristen and I'll be your server this evening. Can I get you guys anything to drink to start off?

Jed: Yeah, I'll have a Bass.

Thomas: Hoegaarden, please.

Bosendorfer: I'll have a Dr. Pepper.

Server: (to Thomas and Jed) Can I see your IDs?

Jed: Sure.

Thomas: Why not... it's nice to know I still look young. (Bosendorfer chuckles)

Server: (examines IDs, returns them) Looks good. Would you like me to give you a few minutes to look over the menu?

Thomas: Yeah, that'd be great, thanks.

Server: OK, I'll be back in a few, then. (leaves)

 

Jed: Wow! You guys check out our waitress?

Bosendorfer: Yeah...

Thomas: Yeah... what about her?

Jed: I think she's kinda hot...

Bosendorfer: Hey, you should ask her out. (winks)

Jed: (chuckles) It's tempting... but I'm gone in two days. ... I'll leave her for you two to fight over. (winks)

Thomas: Bosendorfer can have her. I wouldn't be able to put together a sentence. Not with someone that good-looking. ... Well, OK, I can say "Hi," but that's about it. (To Bosendorfer) She's yours, Bose.

Bosendorfer: (shrugs) Meh. I'm not too concerned about it right now.

Jed: (confused) Really? Huh... you guys used hang out with the ladies all the time when we were in college. What happened, did corporate suck all the fun out of you? (Thomas and Bosendorfer chuckle)

Bosendorfer: Jed, you know I had a girlfriend for a couple of years. I mean, she was nice, but we both knew it was time for a change when we broke up.

Jed: OK, but what about you, Thomas? It seemed half the time we hung out you were always with a girl or two...

Thomas: Well, there was one I hung out with the last couple years of school... but, we never even came close to starting a relationship. That's probably what you're thinking.

Jed: Oh, right ... Maggie Felton ... Cute girl ... How come you never asked her out?

Thomas: (almost interrupting) Yeah, I've ... wondered that myself for quite some time. But I'm learning I can't worry about the past. I've just got to let it go.

Bosendorfer: Yeah, we've talked about it a bit in the last month or so. (to Thomas) You said you'd try to visit her when you get a bit more money saved up?

Thomas: Yeah, but either way it wouldn't be happening until this summer. I've been keeping an eye on my expenses vs. my income. Right now I'm only able to save a minimal amount each month between now and about mid-summer. Flights all the way down to Fordstate aren't cheap.

 

Server: (returns with drinks) Here's your Bass (hands it to Jed), and your Hoegaarden (hands it to Thomas), and your Dr. Pepper. (hands it to Bosendorfer) So are you guys all ready to order?

Jed: Yeah, can I get the sautéed Pablano chicken?

Server: Yes you can. (to Bosendorfer) And for you?

Bosendorfer: I'd like the, uh, sirloin steak?

Server: And how would you like it prepared?

Bosendorfer: Let's go with medium-rare.

Server: And what would you like for your side?

Bosendorfer: Mashed potatoes, please.

Server: Soup or salad?

Bosendorfer: Let's go with... the salad.

Server: Great! (to Thomas) And for you?

Thomas: Can I get the pasta primavera?

Server: Yes you can. I'll get those menus out of your way, and we'll have the food to you shortly.

Bosendorfer: Alright, thanks! (server leaves)

 

Thomas: (to Jed) So what about you, Mr. Smooth-with-the-ladies? (Jed chuckles) I wanna hear some success stories!

Jed: (sighs) I've a secret for you guys ... I'm really not that good at it myself. I was asking you guys because you've been in relationships and you always seem to be able to talk to them.

Thomas: Huh! You don't have any stories of your own?

Bosendorfer: What about the time you and Emma LaPatra hooked up?

Thomas: Yeah, she seemed nice... why didn't you go out with her?

Jed: Well, do you want the long version or the short version?

Bosendorfer: The long version.

Thomas: The long version.

Jed: Hmm, the short version is that I wasn't attracted to her, and I felt very dirty after having spent the night with her...

Bosendorfer: So...? (gestures for Jed to continue)

Jed: OK. (takes a deep breath) It was over J-term one of those years. I was in Chem 211 that month, and Audrey Wall, who was my lab partner... let's just say she had a thing for me.

Thomas: Huh. (looks at Bosendorfer) I don't know her. Do you?

Bosendorfer: No, not really. (to Jed) Go on.

Jed: Thing is, I wasn't all that interested in Audrey initially, but after a day or two I picked up on it, and thought, hey, let's give it a shot. So next thing you know, we're hanging out after class just talking and listening to music and sharing things, and I actually... became interested. But... there was just one hang-up.

Bosendorfer: What was it?

Jed: Well, a really good friend of mine, Charlie Jarvis ... Thomas, you know him, (Thomas nods) ... Bosendorfer, I don't think you've ever met him...

Bosendorfer: Nah, I don't think so...

Jed: He had transferred to another school the previous year, and he was back in town to visit. First time I'd seen him since he left. I was really excited to see him and hang out with him and catch up, just like old times. So that was why I didn't press on Audrey more than I did. I kinda wanted to spend all my free time with Charlie while he was around, and then hang out with Audrey again after he left.

Thomas: Yeah... totally understandable. So what happened? It kinda sounds like you two didn't... you know...

Jed: Yeah, I knew I needed to tell her, but I wasn't sure how I was going to do it. I mean, I did have interest in her, even though it took a couple days.

... So what happened was, just about every time I hung out with Charlie in that week, Emma, who's really good friends with him... I mean, she and I were pretty good friends, too... but she was always there... every time I hung out with Charlie, Emma was there, too. I mean, when we went bowling, ate meals, played pool... she was always there. I mean, I didn't mind too much that she was always around, but there was a time or two where I would've liked to have hung out with Charlie alone. You know, just like the old days.

Bosendorfer: Yeah, I hear ya.

Jed: So then, we get this bright idea to go clubbing...

Thomas: (exclaims) Ah! That's when... that happened?

Jed: Yeah. Thing is, earlier that day, I was hanging out with Audrey like I normally did, and she asked me what I was up to the rest of the day. I told her I had work, but ... I felt so bad because I didn't feel right telling her I was going clubbing that night...

Thomas: Ya know, if you wanted, you could've invited her to go along...

Jed: Yeah, I guess that was a possibility. Rats! I didn't think of it, though! ... Of course, I still had absolutely no idea that Emma liked me. ... I mean, we did go out to dinner one time when she picked me up from the airport a few weeks earlier ... but I was always under the impression that she and Charlie were planning to be... together, y'know? And that I was going to be on the prowl that night at the club...

Bosendorfer: Yeah, so what exactly happened? Did Emma... (gestures for more information)

Jed: I mean, when we got to the club, we got drunk, danced, and then started making out ... the whole flippin’ time I thought it was 'cause we were drunk... I mean, it lasted all night...

Thomas: Hmm, but you were having fun though, right?

Jed: Oh, yeah. I mean, it was great and all, but then at the very end of the night, after we'd gotten back to school and spent more time together, she said something about how she was planning on asking me out. That is when I started feeling dirty. I started thinking about Audrey, and how she, uh, kinda had dibs, and how I kinda, just... cheated on her. I felt dirty knowing that, while I enjoyed the stuff that we did, I had no romantic interest in Emma, and I had just committed adultery on what was going to be my dating Audrey. (pause)

Bosendorfer: Wow.

Thomas: Yeah...

Bosendorfer: I feel for ya, man.

Thomas: So how'd you handle it?

Jed: Thing is, I didn't, really. I called Charlie right after, around 4 in the morning, to ask for advice. He was still up, and I know he was a bit pissed about the whole thing. But I told him about my dilemma and how bad I felt about what had happened. He said I had to tell Emma...

Thomas: I'm guessing you didn't...

Jed: No. It freaked me out.

 

Server: (returns with food dishes) Alright, we've got the sirloin steak (puts steak dish in front of Bosendorfer), the sautéed Pablano chicken (puts chicken dish in front of Jed), and the pasta primavera! (puts plate in front of Thomas) Can I get you guys anything else?

Thomas: I think we're good, but thanks!

Server: No problem! (server leaves)

 

Bosendorfer: (to Jed) So, you were saying...

Jed: I knew that Emma had a bit of a temper sometimes, and I was afraid that I was gonna piss her off if I told her.

Bosendorfer: So what did ultimately happen?

Jed: Charlie told her everything a couple days later. And I mean everything. ... He told me she was pissed, too, when she found out. ... I mean, it did kinda validate why I didn't want to tell her in the first place.

Bosendorfer: What about Audrey? What'd you say to her?

Jed: (sighs) Nothing. Never mentioned anything of it. At least with Emma we did eventually meet up to talk about it, and we apologized for everything. But there was no way to even begin to explain any of this to Audrey, and quite frankly there was no conceivable way I could ever start a relationship with her without telling her about it.

Thomas: Because the relationship would seem like one big lie.

Jed: Exactly.

Bosendorfer: So what did end up happening between you and Audrey? Did you stay friends?

Jed: Well, yeah... I mean, we were lab partners, and we still had a couple more weeks left in J-term, so I knew I couldn't not talk to her. But yeah, we stayed friends even after that... we had a lot of friends in common, anyway, so we were gonna be hanging out regardless. I do still wonder, if there was any way I could've told her... I mean, she had to be really confused for some time...

Thomas: It happens. I wouldn't worry about it so much. You had a lot of stuff on your mind... aside from maybe telling both Emma and Audrey what was going on, you did the best you could.

Bosendorfer: Who would you have picked between the two?

Jed: (ponders for a second) Back then, I would have picked Audrey, if for no other reason than we were already hanging out, and I kinda knew she was interested in me. But you were right earlier, Thomas... Emma's a really nice person. I'm not sure why I didn't go out with her. ... I mean, yeah, Audrey would have been disappointed, but at the same time I should have figured out who my heart wanted me to be with... kinda like with you and Maggie.

Thomas: (chuckles) Ha, yeah...

Jed: (immediately, almost interrupting) But what really frustrates me is that they both had to express interest in me at the same stinkin’ time! And if there's no clear-cut preference it bothers me because I actually have to think hard and choose... and if I choose the wrong one then I reject the other for no real good reason at all! What's wrong with having one and only one girl come into my life and then choosing her?

Thomas: (chuckles) Huh, sounds like someone wants to hurry up and get married...

Jed: Baah! It's just that once you hit the real world it's hard to meet people... unless I decide I want to hook up with my boss' boss whose marriage is on the rocks, and needs a night of satisfaction because her husband's impotent. (Jed rolls his eyes, Thomas and Bosendorfer chuckle)

Bosendorfer:  Aw Jed, you crack me up!

 

The friends continued with their dinner and their evening. By the time the server returned to clear their plates, Jed had lost interest; his story spilled, he'd reached his primary gripe for the evening and was content to down a couple beers and enjoy a guy's night out. At the end of the night, Bosendorfer, the designated driver, had dropped Thomas off at his place before taking Jed back to his place to stay overnight.

By this point Thomas was at peace with himself, thankful for friends to vent with and to share in their venting, excited to have finally seen Jed for the first time in a few years, and of course happy that he and his best friend still lived relatively close to each other. Once he got home he sat down to check a little email before bed. Apparently there was one new piece of mail in his inbox. It was from Maggie.