Well. That lasted a long time. Sorry Dad. But. Fuck that noise. It's not me online.
Sorry soulmate. You'll just have to read this. I need to protect myself. You'll understand. I know you will.
So the code I've been writing is shit. Ok, not shit, but someone somebody who apparently is better at me than writing code (and believe me, I question the the fuck out of that) has been assigned to "fix" my code. Can you fucking believe that?
Whoever it is better be a fucking genius. That's all I'm saying.
They want me to go meet this genius. I was told we both signed the same NDA so we can talk freely about the code.
I was moving back to my home town anyway. And by a really fuckin' weird coincidence this programmer is going to be there the same time I am.
I can't wait to see the expression on his fuckin' face when he see's I'm a girl, and then tries to go all superior on me.
Can't fucking wait. :)
XXXXX
[textl from Eleven to Madmax]
On my way back home. Please don't try to set me up with a blind date. You know how I feel about those. Unless it's my soulmate from the bus I'm not interested.
[text from Madmax to Eleven]
I know better than to do that. But you CAN me my boyfriend. Want to meet us at The Hideaway? I'll try not to make you feel like a third wheel.
XXXXX
[email from Ranger to Paladin]
Ok, I just had a bit of a weird thing happen. I had my first date with Max. No, that's not the weird part. She invited her best friend for an hour or so, but said she wouldn't be around the whole time. Nothing worse than a third wheel on your first date.
Anyway, I was ok with it. So… the hair.
Max had hers all volumey, and maybe had a touch of makeup on. She's beautiful, I'm trying really hard not to be a mouthbreather around her.
Her friend's hair was super short. Like it had been buzzed in the last few weeks or something. She was cute, you would like her. I know I know, if she's not the girl on the bus you aren't interested.
She was very shy. Mike, I mean, she barely looked at me. She was polite and all but, small voice, pretty eyes, and that really short hair.
That's not the weird part. Her name is Eleven.
I told her she doesn't have to be that polite around us, I said, "I mean look at Max, she's not shy at all… or polite. You're the kind of girl my best friend likes."
Max just gave me a glare, but then smiled. "You get away with that one because you are my boyfriend... We are NOT setting her up with one of your friends. And El is only shy in person, you should read her blog."
And then, Max pulls out her cell phone, and taps away at it, hands it over to me and says "read this"
That shy girl has a foul mouth on her. She didn't say boo or two words to me while we were all sitting at the table. She's loud and outspoken online though. I wouldn't want to get into a war of words with her.
I'm reading her blog and I look up to her, and say, "YOU'RE the girl on the bus."
She went all pale and I thought she was going to pass out. I think Hawkins had an earthquake or something at the same time. Bottles and glasses were rattling at the bar, lights flickered on and off.
She looked at me. Her eyes were intense. Beautiful, but intense. "How do you know that?"
I told her my best friend Mike, has been pining for some girl on a bus since he got back to Hawkins, I pulled up your blog and passed the phone to her.
She cried.
I swear there were more tears than water over Angel Falls. They were streaming down her face.
Max looked at me, "You know the guy on the bus she's been moping about?"
"Yeah, he works out of his mom's basement."
Max rolled her eyes, but I told them why you lived there. The girl cried even harder.
She asked me in a voice that made me just want to hug her. Take care of her. It was very weird with your new girlfriend sitting right across the table from you. But she asked if she could meet you.
So, long story even longer, I know you have a business meeting some time today, but I figured you'd want take time to meet her?
If not, let me know, we are sitting here trying to comfort her.
Sending you a text for you to read this email.
XXXXX
[text from Ranger to Paladin]
URGENT. READ YOUR EMAIL
[text from Paladin to Ranger]
YES, let me postpone the peer review meeting I have with the NDA contract.
XXXXX
[incoming text - flagged as URGENT]
Can we postpone? Urgent personal matter came up. I REALLY need to postpone.
[outgoing text - flagged as URGENT]
Same thing happened to me. I'll send you and updated calendar event when I can.
[text from Ranger to Madmax]
Ok, I don't think I've ever been happier for my friend. And yours who I don't even know. When I sent Mike that text and he said he'd have to let his contract person know, and THEN El gets that text seconds after… who knew they'd be the same person.
[text from Madmax to Ranger]
I know, right? I hope your friend isn't an asshole. El deserves better than that. You already know she's a nice girl, she needs an equally nice guy.
[test from Ranger to Madmax]
I've always thought that about Mike, he deserves a nice girl AND smart.
XXXXX
I had to make this entry before it actually happens.
What a wasteoid I am. I can't stop crying. I'm so nervous I'm sweating buckets. I have to calm down, take a shower.
I was supposed to have that NDA type meeting today, but I texted them and told them I had to postpone it. No way I can take a chance that this girl… might be the one from the bus…
If it's her… If it's her…
If it's her, I'll know right away, that feeling will be there. I'll tell her I love her right away. If it's her she will know anyway.
I get the feeling my whole life is about to turned upside down.
I can't wait.
I'm almost sick to my stomach I'm so nervous. What if she doesn't like the fact that I'm over the top nerdy? Shit. Or even my looks for that matter. I mean, she's pretty, she could have any guy she wanted. My choices are… let's call them limited. I've known that for a long time. I had to come to grips with it the first time that asshole Troy called me frogface.
There's a knock on the door. I am praying to the gods of my ancestors that it's her…
The girl on the bus.