The next day I woke up because my phone was ringing. Actually it was a message alert.

My head hurt like hell. I drank too much the night before.
I gave some time to myself to relax more but my phone warned me again about that message. I started to read it and got very surprised.

[Hey Sarah! It's Spencer. Why did you leave that message on SplashFace? Do I know you? :)]

I was kinda shocked. "What did I do last night?"

I went on my SplashFace profile and saw that Spencer was right. Seemed like I searched him and sent him a message with my phone number... and without an explanation.

I was so embarrassed! I started to type my answer.

[I'm so sorry! No, we don't know each other. I just saw your profile on the whynotdateme site and have to confess, I like your video ;) But last night I was terribly drunk so I have no memories about sending you that message.]

I didn't have to wait long for his response.

[OMG that video! :D I haven't been on that site for years, I totally forgot about it! XD Well, I'm glad you like it... along with a lot of prisoner ladies and strange dudes ;)]

Spencer's kind responding put me in a good mood.

[Well it was definitely different from the others! :)] I typed.

[You know my sister suggested to keep it simple and real. So what else could I do? :D]

[Yeah, you're right. Eating cereal was the best choice :D]

[That was my breakfast! XD So... I've seen your SplashFace profile and I'd really like to know some more about you ;) We should meet!]

I blushed! That was fast...! Even if I was the one who started all this with my message the night before. I didn't know what to answer! I started to think about a witty comeback but my phone started ringing. Spencer called me!

I picked up.

"HI!" he shouted along with the incredibly noisy background.

"Hey! Oh my God, where are you?" I asked loudly.

"Oh, I'm at the junkyard!" he said ("Junkyard?" I thought.) "So listen! How about a date next Friday?" he asked so naturally.

"Umm... sure..." I said embarrassed.

"Do you like spaghetti and tacos?"

"... Yeah... I like them both...?"

"Great! I'll call you later okay? I've just found some great stuff. SOCKOOO! COME OVER HERE!" he screamed away from his phone and then back to me "Bye!" he said and hung up.

"What the hell?" I thought.


That weekend I didn't heard anything from him again. I was surprised anyway how lightly we just agreed to date. I mean I wasn't even sure I want to date him... but yet again I sent him my number and confessed checking him on whynotdateme dot com. "Where lonely adults find even lonelier adults." it says.
Is Spencer a lonely adult? What's up with his sister? Everyone talks about her in past tenses. Did she die or something? Her show ended years ago and she's not here anymore... that's all I knew. But somehow I was just too lazy to do my research...


Monday morning I got up early and started having breakfast when I got a call from Spencer.
It was like 7 a.m. quite a strange time to call. I picked up.

"What are you eating for breakfast? Bitty Wheats or Fiber Nuts?" he asked without any greeting.

"Toast and coffee" I answered and added "Unlike you, I don't really like cereals."

"Unlike you I never get up this early." he replied. He indeed sounded sleepy.

"What happened then?"

"I don't know. I'm not even awake yet..."

"What?" I asked but no answer came after that. He hung up...

That phone call kept me thinking all day long at work. I mean, what was that about? I couldn't really find a reasonable explanation but...

[Are you by any chance a sleep-walker?] I asked him in a text message during my lunch break.

I had to wait a few minutes for his kinda suspicious [Why?] reply.

I started to type my answer but I got another message. [Did I call you?] he asked.

I had to erase my previous text and answered [Yeah, early this morning.]

My lunch break was over and I started working again when Spencer's explanation arrived.

[I'm sorry I hope I didn't bother you or said anything stupid this morning. The truth is I have some sleeping-issues... It all started when my sister's crazy friends used to bother me in my sleep just for fun. They don't do it anymore but it seems like I got so used to it that occasionally I have to talk to people in my sleep. In a way it's a sweet revenge because sometimes I call them in the middle of the night so they got quite mad if they can't go back to sleep. But sometimes I call people who I shouldn't, so again, I'm sorry!]

[No problem.] I replied. "So strange!" I thought. Spencer seems like an advanced level sleep walker... or rather sleep talker.

I was so amazed by this fact! That night when I went to bed I sent him a text.

[Good night! Have a relaxing sleep!]

Soon he sent back a winking smiley face.


That Tuesday something interesting happened because I accidentally met Spencer before our date.

It all started with a strange guy who just came by to our workshop. Seemed like everyone knew him except me but I was still new. He handed out leaflets about an exhibition opening and rushed away.

"Harry Joyner..." I read "Who is he?"

"That guy who just gave you that leaflet." Nina said.

"Well he could have invite us sooner. The opening is tonight. Should we go?" Paul asked.

"I have nothing to do this evening... as usual..." I said.

"Maybe there will be free drinks!" Nina said. So we agreed to go.

I didn't even read the invitation so I was a bit surprised in the gallery when I found out that Harry is a sculptor. I thought we're going to see paintings... so lazy from me! But I was happy about it because it reminded me of Spencer. "We gonna have something to talk about on Friday." I thought. So I really tried to observe all of the sculptures very carefully... especially those I didn't really understand.

Later on when Harry arrived it started to be very crowded. So many people came, it made me realize that he must be really famous. We could only watch him from afar. He was talking to a lot of people and shook hands all the time.
For a minute he seemed more happier than usual and he fought his way out of the crowd to greet a guy who just arrived... a guy who really reminded me of...

"Spencer Shay! That's him!" Nina tapped my shoulder aggressively.

"Really?" I asked but I was sure about it too.

Spencer was slowly blending in the crowd. Without thinking I wanted to get close to him so I started to fight my way in his direction.

"Hey Spencer!" I said when I finally got next to him.

"Hey!" he said politely but he wasn't sure who I was.

"It's me Sarah. Your Friday date." I tried to be funny.

"HEY!" he said again but this time more louder with realization.

But that's all we could talk because Harry started his speech.
It was just so strange to listen to him while I was standing next to Spencer. Secretly I was peeking him from the corner of my eye. But a few minutes later Harry invited him to the podium.
It turned out, they worked together on some of the exhibited sculptures. How did I miss this info when I was observing them? Seemed like Harry is very fond of Spencer and it's mutual. It was good to see them together, they were like good friends.

Later on I really had no chance to communicate with him some more. There were always too many people around them and they were busy talking to them after that speech.
A half an hour later Nina and Paul wanted to go and I joined them. The truth is I became kinda bored too.

We were one block away when I heard someone screaming my name behind us.

"Sarah wait!" Spencer yelled breathless while he was running to us. "I'm so sorry we couldn't talk more. I didn't want to leave you like that!"

"Hey! No problem! I totally understand!" I said. Not gonna lie, I was touched by this.

"Listen! When do you finish work tomorrow?"

"Around 5 p.m. Why?"

"How about having a smoothie with me?"

"But... we're gonna meet on Friday."

"I know, I just wanna make it up for you... for tonight."

"Ohh, okay!"

Spencer told me where and when to meet next day, said goodbye to us and quickly went back to the gallery.

I was speechless and laughing like an idiot, Paul pulled a naughty smile on his face, and Nina got so jealous.


The next day I became kinda nervous. I didn't expect to meet Spencer sooner than Friday. Of course the whole workplace knew everything already and pulled cheap jokes about us. But I didn't care, I played along. And counted back the hours...

We agreed to meet at the Groovy Smoothie. I turned onto the street Spencer told me and I could already see him in front of the shop. He was talking to two guys but they said goodbyes when I approached him. The taller guy turned around and waved to me.
"Hey pretty lady!" he said but the shorter guy next to him put his hands on his shoulder.
"Stop it Gib!" he said and turned him forward. But he smiled at me too.

"Bye Gibby!" Spencer yelled with angry emphasis and waved like "Go away!"

"So, hi!" I greeted him.

"Hey! After you!" he said and opened the door for me.

I've never been in the Groovy Smoothie before. It was an amazingly colorful place almost full with people in all kinds of age.

Seemed like Spencer and the guy behind the counter were good friends. We didn't have to get in line, this guy T-Bo just took our order. I didn't know what to drink, all of those smoothies sounded so delicious, but Spencer helped me. And fortunately we didn't have to wait much.

We sat down to a table. I was a bit embarrassed. I didn't really know what to do in this little date which wasn't a date yet actually. So I just pretended to be busy sipping my smoothie. Which was quite tasty just as I thought. Spencer just waited for my reaction so I hold my thumb up. He smiled wisely and sipped his smoothie.

"So listen!" he started "I just wanted to apologize for yesterday. I know you wanted to talk to me more but it was just impossible."

"Hey, no problem!" I said. I just realized I didn't even know what to say to him after I greeted him yesterday.

"Harry invited you right?" he asked.

"Yes but I don't know him actually. Only my colleagues are friends with him. I'm the new girl at work. I only moved here like two months ago." I was so puzzled I started giving away so many useless information about myself.

"Really? From where?" he asked and seemed interested.

"Yakima."

Spencer slowly put down his smoothie. He was surprised but he started laughing.

"Are you kidding me? My granddad lives there!"

"Really?" I laughed because his laugh was so contagious.
He nodded "Yes" and we sipped more smoothie.

"So... seemed like you and Harry are great friends. How did you meet?" I asked.

"Uhh!" Spencer said like he was wounded. "It's an awful story actually." He took a deep breath and I got interested.
"You know, Harry was always my hero, my number one favorite artist and years ago my sister arranged to have him over our place and show him some of my works."

"That's sounds great!"

"Just wait for it! He looked at my sculptures and totally dragged them down. He said awful stuff about them... I couldn't even pull myself together for days."

"What?" I didn't expect that.

"Yeah... I was about to give up being an artist but my sister believed in me and didn't let that happen. And it turned out later that Harry was just jealous of me and he likes my work very much."

I didn't know what to think about Harry after all this. "I don't like him now..." I confessed angrily.

But Spencer just smiled. "He's a great guy and I forgave him... especially after he revealed his true feelings about my work."

I still wasn't impressed.
"But..., I mean..., what was he thinking? Talking shit about your work is gonna help him? Or anyone? You almost gave up your passion because of him... that could have been a serious damage..." I was thinking loudly.

Spencer got surprised about my little rant. But he was still smiling. "You know, to be totally honest I don't think I could have stop. For a few days I had a daytime job as a dental assistant. But secretly I was making little sculptures out of cotton wool, cast, floss, or any kind of filling and implant materials during my breaks." he laughed but my heart was breaking. "So I realized it's not something you can just quit."

In a way I was glad to hear that.
"I've never really understood sculpting... I mean yeah we all like statues, but what you do... is something totally different. I mean how do you get your ideas?"

Spencer was thinking for a few seconds.
"I go to the junkyard. There are incredible stuff there just thrown out! Usually I got inspired there."
He drank some smoothie.
"You know, that's what great about art! You don't have to understand, but you can feel something you can't even explain. That's what most people don't get... it's not wrong to experience something you don't understand. You can just be amazed by it... don't have to define everything! When it comes to sculpting, it's just so cool to make something new from stuff... to give them a new form, a new purpose. Well... maybe they're not useful but keeps you thinking when you see these things in a different way as a part of a sculpture... they just become something else, which means everything can be anything from a different point of view or in a different environment, you know what I mean?"

He looked at me full with enthusiasm and joy on his face. He was so inspiring.
"I do now..." I said and put my hand on his, without any thinking.
He seemed comfortable with it and for an instant, as he looked at me and moved a bit closer, I really thought we're gonna kiss...

...but then:
"You two love-birds wanna buy some bagels?"

"T-BO!" Spencer yelled at T-Bo who was behind us with a big smile and a stick with bagels on it.

They started a loud argument about personal space and high prices and I just felt like I woke up from a dream. I was sure my face became red from embarrassment and I wanted to bury it in my smoothie. But all I could do was sipping it faster.

Minutes later they were still arguing and I couldn't really put up with it any longer.

"All right, all right! I'll buy a bagel okay?" I yelled like them. "Just stop with this screaming!"

T-Bo was satisfied with himself and Spencer looked disappointed because I gave up.

"Well if you're gonna end up with Spencer you should get yourself used to loudness..." T-Bo said.

"HEY!" Spencer was indeed loud (but so was T-Bo...) "Okay, let's get out of here!" he said and stood up from the table.

T-Bo was still pleased with himself as he was waving us.

"You guys are good friends right?" I asked as we got out from the GS.

"Nah!" he answered but he smiled "Well... I've known him since he opened this place... and he's my neighbor actually. We just live across the street right there in the Bushwell Plaza." he pointed at a tall building not so far away. "Which reminds me, see you there on Friday around 8 p.m. okay? I'm making dinner, so don't eat anything after lunch!"

"In your place?" I wondered.

"Sure!" he said so casually "Apartment 8-C. Avoid the doorman!"

"Wha-?" I wanted to ask lots of new questions, but Spencer gave a quick little kiss on my cheek.

"Bye!" he said like he was in a hurry to arrive somewhere.

I just stood there for a few more minutes, with a smoothie and a bagel, speechless as I saw him going away to the direction of his home he just showed me...


On Thursday there was absolutely no interaction between us. Like the silence before the storm.

I got some feelings I'd never admit to anyone... I missed Spencer...
Even though I've only known him for a few days we almost talked every day. And I confess, I missed it.

The whole day at work I was thinking about a valid reason to send him a text... but I couldn't find any.
Ohh, how a long day it was!

At night I literally had to put my phone away where I can't see it. I wanted to send a "Good night!" or a "See you tomorrow!" message. But I really didn't want to seem that desperate.