Part 6: Duck for Thanksgiving?

One weekend in the beginning of November, all of Amanda's roommates went to Las Vegas to party like it was 1999. She was home alone for the entire weekend, so I did the noble thing and kept her company. We spent the weekend doing wholesome non-Vegas activities such as watching An American in Paris, playing canasta, toilet papering Cecil Samuelson's house and cruising down Broadway listening to opera. Except Broadway in Provo is called University Ave. Anyways, on Sunday she got on ichat with her mom and started talking about Thanksgiving plans until I hijacked the computer and started pretending to be her. I suggested they have duck for Thanksgiving instead of Thanksgiving, and her mom was like, "Okay!" They then found out I was around and we got on the webcam. Talk about scary! I was talking with her parents face-to-face for the first time! And I had just gotten done telling her sister to eat cow tongues for lunch! I was dead meat!

Anyways, they talked about Thanksgiving for a while and somehow after getting on the subject of cranberry dessert they started joking about me coming over for Thanksgiving. Ha ha ha! Now that's a good one!

But wait? Was it really a joke? Amanda and I couldn't help but wonder after the conversation ended. She called them the next day to find out, and soon enough, I was actually invited to California for Thanksgiving! Holy Fremont, Batman!

Let's back up here. Not too many days before that, I had asked Amanda to be my girlfriend, figuring if things were made official, JKC would back off for good. I asked, and she flat out rejected me with a slap to the face. Now, less than a week later, I was going to her home for Thanksgiving. What was I to her? Just a friend, or more? The plot thickens. Ooooohhh...

The time arrived and I was so nervous I almost lost my lunch. Luckily it was evening as we touched down at the Oakland airport and I doubt my lunch was still around anyway. However, I was sick and the changing pressures practically exploded my head. Still deaf in one ear, I walked down the terminal to the baggage claim area to where her family was and promptly was ignored for the next few hours as they happily greeted Amanda and Allen. Oh well, I was half-dead anyway so it didn't matter to me. Just to not seem so awkward I stood around with the guys pretending to be part of the crowd. I was good at that in high school.

We drove to Fremont where I received my room. Actually it was Allen's room. Because of me, he got his brother's bed, who got the floor. I'm such a jerk. I'll never forgive myself for that. Luckily, that won't be a problem next time I'm there, heh heh :-0

After a rowdy game of Bang! (a cheap ripoff of Pow! I mean, there weren't even characters based off of the Heits in it), it was off to bed and hopes of getting better. Things improved the next day and by the end of the week, I was enjoying myself tremendously, so much that the prospect of returning to my roommates didn't seem particularly appealing. One day when we were visiting the redwoods, it suddenly occurred to me that I loved Amanda, something I had wondered about for a few weeks. It just kind of came as a gradual revelation. Perhaps it was prodded on by Amanda's mom, who dropped several not-so-subtle hints (not nearly as hardcore as when Christmas rolled along). By the end of the visit, her parents had already bet on how quickly we would get married.

The night before we were to fly back, a rather interesting experience took place. Amanda had a long talk with her parents for what seemed like two hours. I still don't know what all went on in this discussion, but I can guess it was along the lines of, "Just who is this bum we let in our house?" Luckily, I was never interviewed since I'm not an Eagle Scout and would've failed right then and there. Things wouldn't be like they are now.

Well, they all came downstairs to where Allen and I had been discussing computer science. Everyone just kind of stood around as if waiting for something, so I just announced that I would go to bed. I went upstairs to brush my teeth and could hear them downstairs, discussing, "Why didn't you tell him?" Well, that peeked my curiosity. A moment later Amanda's mom came up to the bathroom and told me, "Amanda has something she wants to tell you." With a wink and a playful nudge to the ribs, she added. "You should go down to 'get a drink,' heh heh."

Everyone was now in bed, and I decided to get an actual drink since I was thirsty. Amanda was in her room. The light was on, but I wasn't about to open the door. I knew the moment I did so, alarms would go off and a SWAT team would burst in, shooting me down before I could do something "inappropriate." So I took my sweet time getting a drink, trying to get her attention that I was downstairs as inconspicuously as I could. After knocking over the trash can and tripping over the counter, she still didn't come out so I just went back to bed, concerned about my wellbeing.

What did she want to tell me? Did she want to say things were over between us? At best, I imagined that she would finally admit to be my girlfriend. Dejected, I turned on my laptop and started to write in my journal.

Meanwhile, in dark clothing and a face mask, Amanda crept up the stairs to my room, determined not to hold off any longer. Allen and Adam's door was open and Adam was sleeping on the floor right in front of the doorway, so knowing if she stepped past them to open my door, alarms would go off and a SWAT team would burst in, shooting her down before she could do something "inappropriate," she went back to bed.

Thanksgiving was over. The following day we flew back to Provo, and the secret still hadn't been told. Just what did she want to tell me? Was it good? Bad? Anything at all? I could hardly stand the anticipation.

Part 5: Fly-With-Fire-Guy

One night I was walking Amanda home from work and this kid rushed past us, giving Amanda a playful slap on the arm as he went by. I soon learned I wasn't the only one competing for her affection. I had just crossed paths with the infamous published rock star, suave conversationalist, starting quarterback from high school, 3rd degree black belt whom we will refer to only as JKC. Me, I was just some dorky computer science major with glasses. JKC was in direct competition with me.

What was I to do? Luckily, it seemed I was gaining the upper hand after being preferred for Preference, but how long would that last? Rumors surfaced that JKC had written a song for Amanda that would debut in the approaching ward talent show. What could I do to top that?

I soon realized that I would have to pull out the big guns. It was time for me to fulfill the reason I had even gotten a job which led me to meet her in the first place: buying a car. It was my trump car. With a vehicle, the world would become our playground.

Now, where would a poor kid like me get a car? I had my contacts. In April of 2007 I was the best man at an old mission buddy's wedding. Now, in November, I came back to him with a deal. In exchange for the great service I had done for him months ago, he would now sell me his car. The deal was struck, the car was repainted, and I had my wheels: a sweet 1994 Chevy Cavalier codenamed Fly-With-Fire-Guy.

There was only one problem. I only had one month of experience driving a stick, and that was three years ago. Determinately I hit the parking lot, stopping and going like the best of them. Within a week I was comfortable driving it on even the eight-lane interstate amidst a raging blizzard.

The effort was well worth it. It turned out that Amanda couldn't resist a guy who could drive a stick. Unbeknownst to be at the time, she fell madly in love with me the moment she first set foot in the car.

A certain someone was going to admit defeat that easily. Though I held her hand freely in public now, JKC continued his pursuit when I wasn't around. Finally he appeared to give up, and for a month I didn't hear from him.

One cool night I was walking to my car after work. It was almost 9:30 PM and the parking lot was mostly deserted. I heard footsteps and stopped cold. Someone was following me. Glancing back, I saw a shadow duck behind a tree. Somewhat disturbed, I continued for my car. There was another noise and I spun around, finding myself face-to-face with JKC all alone in the vast parking lot.

"Listen, buddy," he hissed. "Last night I had a revelation that Amanda is the only girl for me. I don't want to see you anywhere near her from now on."

What was I supposed to do? He had a black belt. Sure, my brother might be the mighty Rikkon, but in real life, I had nothing on this kid. Backing up towards my car, I stuttered, "H-have you talked with her about this yet?"

"That's not important," JKC took a step for me. "What matters is that you get out of my way before I'm forced to hurt you."

Frantically looking around, I sought a way to escape. Alas, there was none. My car was locked; there was no way I could escape in it either. The only choice was to fight. Instinctively I rushed at him. In surprise he jumped out of the way and I ran with all my might towards the Wilk, having to dodge traffic as I rushed across the intersection. Luckily the traffic held him up and I was able to duck inside.

Now what? I needed to get to my car and get out of this place, but he was sure to hang out right next to my car until I came back. I had to outsmart him. Luckily, I had won an award in high school for being Mr. Smarty Pants. As luck would have it, I was wearing those smart pants that very night. Quickly I punched in the code to the Cougareat locker area where he couldn't follow me and pulled out my phone.

"Brandon, I need your car right away," I muttered so JKC couldn't hear through the door. The plan was quickly set up and I glanced back into the basement hallway. JKC was nowhere in sight. He must've returned to the parking lot. I slowly made my way back to the parking lot hoping my plan would work. As far as I could recall, JKC had never seen my car, but he would assume the Chevy Cavalier was mine after our run-in a few minutes ago. I walked across the street, holding my breath. If things didn't go exactly as planned, I would soon be laying on the ground in pain. Scanning the parking lot, I located the white Dodge Intrepid exactly where we had planned. I hurried straight past my car just as JKC appeared from the shadows. Kicking on the high jets I made way for Brandon's car. The door was unlocked and I leapt inside. The keys were in the ignition waiting for me. Locking the door again, I turned the car on and backed away. What a classic look on JKC's face as I left that parking lot!

After driving home, I walked back to the lot to get my own car. Thankfully, I never had another run-in like that.

Part 4: Cranking Things Up a Notch

Right around this time it was beginning to occur to me that Amanda was the most amazing girl on the planet and that she deserved my full attention. Unfortunately she did an excellent job at hiding her thoughts and feelings so I had no idea what she thought of me. We went to Divine Comedy the following week for the follow-up date and then ate out at Red Robin. The waiter stole my debit card behind my back and I didn't realize it until several hours later. My roommates and I had to perform a midnight rescue operation involving throwing a brick through their window in order to catch the man before he made his escape with my card. Unfortunately, he had already spent over $6000 with it. I'm never eating at Red Robin again.

But regardless of that incident, Amanda seemed indifferent towards me and I decided to call it quits. I stood no chance. There was no hope for progress. I therefore kept my eyes open for other prospects more on my level. Meanwhile, Halloween was approaching and my roommate Jason wanted to do a double date at a haunted house. We decided that I had by the end of the night to find a date for the very next weekend after Red Robin incident. Well, there was only one person I could think of that I could take: Amanda.

And so it was. I marched onto campus that night determined to complete my mission. I was almost done typing up Part X of The Book. I had to complete it. But that wasn't my main mission. My main mission involved the Cougareat. At that time I had nice fifty percent discounts, so I decided to take advantage and have dinner there. Guess who was working as a host that night? Some kid named Daniel. Oh yes, and someone named Amanda as well. I sat there eating my food thinking of Jason's challenge. Yes, I had to ask her. I had to give myself one more chance. There she was, changing trashes all by her lonesome. I approached her and after a little hesitation, I extended the invitation. Despite my fears that I was taking away all her weekends from my friends, she accepted for a third week in a row.

Things were even better. The very next day I was sitting in the library studying for my D&C test, when the phone rang. It was Amanda. She had never called me before, but I had stuck her number in my phone for convenience. I answered, expecting something work-related. It was not. She invited me to the Halloween Preference dance! Wow! Maybe she did see something in lowly old me after all!

Two dates with Amanda on one weekend! Could life get any better? Probably, like in 23 days from today, but back then it was pure bliss. Even though most songs were of the unknown jump in the air like monkeys variety, we still managed to enjoy ourselves. The night was memorable in that we took our first pictures together then:

As you can see, I snuck my arm around her. Chris, you sly dog, you! Afraid she would think I was nothing but a player, I've never done it again since.

The following night was the big one. I had a feeling it would be the deciding night. If things went well, I would keep pursuing the relationship. If not, I would run away and hide in a cave for the remainder of my days. It was time for the scary haunted house, the Nightmare on 13th. The double date dare had now become a triple date: Jason and Holly, me and Amanda, and my roommate Brandon on a blind date with Kerri. Now, since I still consider this to be the defining moment in the progression of our relationship, you all get a special treat. I'm taking the following directly out of my journal!

"After Brandon got back home, we were supposed to prepare for tonight’s date, but instead hooked his laptop up to the big screen TV we got yesterday and played Bomberman until an hour beforehand. Finally Jason came back from the library and we vacuumed out Brandon’s car and filled the tank before picking up the girls: first Holly, Jason’s date; then Kerri, Brandon’s date, and finally Amanda. We drove up to Salt Lake and basically held three separate conversations. I needed to pee really badly. We went to Rumbi’s Island Grill to eat, and Amanda and I decided to get two things and share them for more variety, so I got a sandwich and her a rice bowl. It even had Jamaica Jerk sauce! Talk about gross. We ended up eating my fries and most of her rice, but the sandwich still hasn’t even been touched.

Then we headed over to Nightmare on 13th, supposedly the scariest haunted house in Utah. There were a bunch of guys in costumes who stuck their noses in your date’s face while we were in line. One of them got uncomfortably close to Amanda, so I knocked his stilts out from under him. He didn't bother anyone else that night.

After getting inside the building while winding through the dark lines, the lights went out. Axes fell from the ceiling and screams of pain arose around us. Realizing this haunted house was for real, I threw Amanda to the ground just as a razor blade flew overhead. The six of us crawled out of the room as people collapsed around us. Finally we made it into the dimly lit hallway where a zombie admitted us into the main building. His eyes rolled up and a ghost flew out of his mouth just as a tarantula dropped from the ceiling and landed on Amanda's head. She screamed, flung it off and grabbed my hand. For the remainder of the night, she held me in a death grip. We continued on threw different planes of the surreal, traveling across dimensions and dodging ghouls and demons. At one point a suit of armor swung a sword at Amanda and I valiantly took the blow in my stomach. It was a rough night, but we made it out alive.

After the haunted house we drove back to Provo and rented 1408, which was supposed to be a scary movie about a haunted hotel room. Well, in actuality I wasn’t the slightest bit scared at any point in the movie, and nobody else really seemed to be either. Except Amanda, she clutched me tightly throughout the entire thing. Suffice it to say I had no difficulty getting to sleep."

We held hands for the first time! Great, I thought. Now everyone's gonna want M&Ms. Luckily, at this point few people even knew about Amanda. For the most part, the night was great. It was the closest I'd ever felt to Amanda before. However, I went to bed feeling discouraged. What if she had just held my hand from fright and not because she liked me?

It was a feeling that I quickly had to overcome in the weeks to follow. Things were about to get complicated.