Cheapo

Let's start at the beginning - I liked Cheapo's profile. Through the service, Cheapo indicated that he liked mine, as well. A couple days later, I got an email from a woman on the site that I did not know with the subject line "Message from a friend" and the opening line was "Don't be afraid."

Yeah. That should have been sketchy enough for me to not pursue Cheapo. But...

I liked his profile and according to his friend, Cheapo "couldn't" have an account on the site. Don't ask me why but I found that intriguing, I concocted a sordid tale of this bad boy that was denied an account in my head and fully committed to that idea, I emailed Cheapo at the address provided by his friend.

My first question was - why can't you have an account on the site. The answer? Hold on to your hats... he can't have an account because he finds full (i.e. PAID) membership overwhelming; he can't stop himself from logging in and the membership is entirely too consuming.

Or... he's cheap.

Anyway, we begin an odd email exchange. Sometimes he offers a witty remark and other times he says something lame; in either scenario, his messages are riddled with typos.

We decide to meet for a drink. I don't know why. I plan to go to the grocery store next to the bar after I spend an hour with him and leave. But many hours later, I'm interested. And surprisingly attracted to him. A couple days later, we went out again.

Then nothing. I had no indication that he wasn't interested so I invited him out. He accepted then cancelled and I decided to let it go. Really, truly let it go. Like, I forced myself to forget what Cheapo looked like and what he did for a living. Which became a problem today when we ran into each other. Well, "run in" isn't quite right. I showed up at Cheapo's work for an event and didn't remember that he worked there until he turned on his microphone and started talking. I was stuck... I sat through a two hour film and then planned to duck out but then there was a Q&A with the director led by... Cheapo.

Finally, finally the event ended and I got up to leave. My friend ran out ahead of me to catch the film Director to ask him a question. So, alone, I walked down the stairs, following everyone out, passing by Cheapo who I'm certain saw me, and made the split-second decision to not acknowledge him and walk out.

I don't know what's more shameful - that I avoided him or that I ever went out with him in the first place.