Ex Marks the Spot

In the game of tic tac toe, it is only mathematically possible to put down five X's before you win, loose, or draw.

Enter New Character: The Ex's "girlfriend"

I was invited, by The Ex to go watch him preform some songs at a gig he was playing tonight. I agreed. I failed to ask if his new girlfriend would be there. If I would have known ahead of time, I may have said no.

I got there early. So early that the person opening for EX and his friends wasn't even playing. I decided I was going to write a letter to a friend who had moved to the Midwest to be a camp counselor for the summer. I almost forgot that I was planning on doing this, just before I scurried out of the house I grabbed the first thing with blank paper I could find so I would be able to compose that letter. This blank paper happened to be one of my journals.

I hadn't remembered the last time I wrote in it. In fact, the thought didn't even cross my mind. I sat down in Mr. Spots Chai House- where the gig was supposed to be- opened my journal, and for no reason just started balling (silent as it was, it was still more than noticeable). I had to leave the building. I realized, once outside, that, by chance, I opened to my last entry- which was what I wrote right after my friend died last year. I want to think that there was so much emotion drained into those words I wrote, that it flooded back to me and was the reason for why I was crying.

After I composed myself, I went back inside and wrote the letter I had initially planned to. Not long after that The Ex and some of his friends who were supposed to be performing with him came in. No girlfriend. Not yet. Not that I could see any way (and through my own little snooping- via facebook- I already knew who she was). We sat and talked for a little while. I had a feeling his girlfriend might show up so I told him that I could only stay until 10. I asked him where his girlfriend was, and if she was planing on showing up. He told me that she was, in deed, planning to- she was just going to be a little late. I felt relieved that I had already developed my excuse to leave prior to finding out this information. I mean, it might look a little suspicious if I came up with some concoction after he told me she was going to be there.

It was around 5 minutes to 10. No GF and EX was still not playing. I told him I was really sorry, but I was probably only going to be able to stay for a song or two. He told me I had to stay until he played his new song. I agreed to do that. As he was preparing to play his set (as it was now 10:00 and he told me his show started at 8:00 pm in the first place. Liar), I see the new love interest pull up on her bicycle outside. Ok, I only have to stay for two songs. The first song he plays is his new one. He says "This song is called...and he used my name". "Ah Shit" I am thinking. Here he is singing a song about me (or at least named after me) in front of his new catch-of-the day. Just my luck. As I am listening to the lyrics I pick up on these specific ones "Punch you in the mouth and shove your ego down your throat". Glorious. Thanks for that 'lil shout out there. I left after the next song with out even so much as look at his new lova, but I did manage to make my exit known with a very boisterous wave and goodbye.

I go home- not really even upset, but mostly amused. I check Craig's List M4W (which is a guilty pleasure I have been doing for a few weeks now... almost like checking the I Saw You section in The Stranger, and wouldn't you know who I see there? The 19 Year Old! His ad says he is looking for someone to cuddle, preferably "tonight". I couldn't resist, I text message him and say "I see you have resorted to posting on Craig's list now". I also tell him, just to clarify things, that it if there was any confusion before, he should know by now that we are completely through. To which he responds "Have fun with your lame ass friends" which I shoot back at him "I hope your video games keep you warm at night". And that was the end of that.

After that encounter, I decided I would try and be bold- try and go out by myself. I failed. I drove to Capital Hill and parked my car. It was almost 11:30 now. From the streets I could tell that there were a lot of people out-and-about. I wondered what all of the commotion was. Being as I had never drank in a bar on Capital Hill (or by myself, let alone), I chickened out. I also realized that it was Pride weekend (hence why it was so busy), and the only people I would probably be picking up would be girls. I just walked around for 15 minutes or so, glumly got back in my car and headed back to the U District.