Arranged Marriage

The only thing I seem to be able to set myself up for is failure.

Enter New Character: The Marine aka The Arranged Marriage

I was invited to the Roommate's friend's beach house for the Fourth of July.  I learned that there were going to be no...I repeat, NO fireworks there.  Nothing made me more happy than this.  I hate fireworks.  I hate the Fourth.  It is my least favorite holiday, even after Columbus Day, and that mother fucker pilfered an entire country and didn't even know where the hell he was while doing it.  As I explained to Roommate's boyfriend on the way over though, "There is a difference between nationalism and patriotism.  I am not patriotic, but don't get me wrong, I enjoy the liberties that this country provides me.  I enjoy my nationalism". 

There was an age division of the people who were in attendance at the beach house party.  More or less early 20 somethings (eh hem, that would be myself) or their parents.  Roommate's parents were there.  I enjoyed watching the "adults" drink.  I hadn't been around that kind of comic behavior in a long time.  It was great.  

Amongst the 20 something's there was Roommate, Roommate's boyfriend, her best friend, her best friend's boy friend, one of their mutual female friends (in a relationship), an ex marine, and another boy who actually is in an arranged marriage.  Throughout the night we would sometimes casually, yet discreatley, talk about the boy in the arranged marriage: how much he didn't like it, how much he didn't like her, how much it would suck to be bound to someone you didn't love for the rest of your life because someone says you should.  

In an almost (but not quite) ironic twist, Roommate and her two female friends at some point  tried to convince me to make a move on The Marine.  I looked over at The Marine, who was sitting next to the boy in the arranged marriage.  This situation seemed all to arranged as well.  Sure, I could go over there; maybe Roommate's friend's could put in a good word for me- maybe we would go out on a date and text other people the whole night- we would entertain the idea, if nothing else, out of politeness to our friends.  I felt for the boy in the arranged marriage at this exact moment in time.  The Marine, though nice, funny and cute, I could tell wasn't the least bit interested in me.  But I was ok with this.  Sometimes people just are not each other's types.  And as far as I know, The Marine was pining over someone he couldn't have- maybe someone in a relationship, maybe a friend, maybe an Ex, or maybe a random stranger he met at a train station...who knows.  Whoever it was, he was texting them throughout the night, or so it is presumed.  

After accepting defeat for the evening, if you want to call it that, and after the "adults" went home we played Kings Cup- which was my first drinking game.  Problem- I didn't drink.  Earlier that night Roommate's Boyfriend and I decided we were going to be the only one's not drinking, after we were offered Jello shots (which everyone said were awful, so glad I passed on that one).  We marked X's on our hands and would periodically unite in "straight-edgedness".  I had to warn Roommate's boyfriend that this was only temporary and I would be washing it off tomorrow, just in time for Girl's night out.  Regardless, we both still played Kings, with invisible drinks (and he used Iced Tea).  It was entertaining enough.  Throughout the weekend we also played Rock Band and Speed Scrabble.  I liked how low key this fourth was, even though I got as much action as there were fireworks.  Holidays suck to be single, even if I hate the holiday anyway.