Wednesday 10/16/02                 Can’t Get Away from Room 18

 

            I had completely no desire to go out tonight and for some reason, Stella and Debbie called and SMSed me to no end until I gave in:

 

SMS after my first “No”: 

“don’t say no…it will be fun.  ginger, deb & daisy will be there too…it’s more fun on wed…say yes.”

 

SMS after my reply of “If was somewhere other than Rm 18 again, then MAYBE, but think I’ll pass”:

“it’s still going to be room 18 ‘cause tons of other people are going too…it will be fun…yes?”

 

SMS after I don’t even reply:

“i’ll come with you to plush next wednesday for a change of scenery.”

 

I continued to ignore, but she called and I said, “FIRST of all, I just TALKED to Ginger and she says she’s not going out!”  Stella said, “What?”  Apparently, neither now was Daisy.  And this was supposed to give me an even BIGGER guilt trip to go, since Debbie was all excited that we were all going out together and now people were bailing left and right.  Debbie called:  “I NEVER get to hang out with you guys!  This is my first time!  My boyfriend is coming out too!”  Finally I said, “Well, maybe I’ll go, later.  If I do, I’ll call you guys,” with no intention of going, but just getting them off my case. 

 

They said if I went with them now, though, they could pick me up in their cab on the way.

 

Somehow I found myself running to their cab in front of my apartment in skirt, tank top and heels, three days after making my one-month club vow, getting in the cab and telling them I hate them all.

 

I finally met the famous Debby’s boyfriend who she talks about in class, tall and with a cute face like hers so that they look almost related, and with perfectly disheveled hair.  His friends had a private table and were waiting for us with bottles of whiskey—gross.  Not like I felt like drinking ANYTHING, after last weekend.  I had to explain this multiple times to him since he kept egging me to drink. 

 

The night was in a word, weird.  Everyone and their brother was there and subtle dynamics and conflicts were flying all over the place, or maybe it was nothing and that’s just what it appears to someone who’s totally sober and not drinking.  We saw Eric (dancing with a white girl) and Dave (dancing with every girl), and Bill’s brother Phil (waved hello).  I sensed one of Alex’s friends was interested in me; he’d talk to me leaning in really close so that I was bending backwards on the seat, then suddenly said he shouldn’t be talking so much to me since he was sick.  Great.  Once a large girl from Chris’ class at school just plopped down next to us and said hello.  No one said a word.  Alex gave her and us a look, like “What the hell is this girl doing at our private table?”  Alex got mad about something, then he and Debby kissed and made up.  Everyone was playing the “Tsai Chuan” drinking game even though I didn’t feel like it since I wasn’t drinking.  I saw John, Joe and other familiar faces from school.  I mostly walked around and danced with school people.  By 2:30 I really wanted to leave and Stella said we’d leave together but by the time everyone said goodbyes it was 3:15, then I thought we were heading out the door, but instead she dragged me to the bar where her favorite bartender made us some lychee-tasting shots and she made me drink even though I groaned in protest.  The lychee tasted pretty good actually.  Chris was bugging to go too, Stella was very drunk, I thought I heard Chris say “F--- you” to Stella but wasn’t sure, and we all cabbed home.

 

I looked for Elva, but never saw her.