"Be soft. Do not let the world make you hard. Do not let the pain make you hate. Do not let the bitterness steal your sweetness. Take pride that even though the rest of the world may disagree, you still believe it to be a beautiful place."
-- Unknown
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Wednesday, December 31, 2008

A New Year's Eve best forgotten

This week’s writing assignment from MamaKat: Describe a New Year’s where you would have been better off just staying home.

This one is too easy, given that there is one cursed New Year’s Eve that stands out vividly from all the rest.

But first a little back story:

During the summer between my freshman and sophomore years at Troy, I met a guy that I thought hung the moon. Sure, he was one of the biggest jerks I knew, but for some reason, I stayed infatuated with him for months. One day, he’d act like he adored me. The next, I was nearly a stranger. Each time he’d act like an ass, I’d swear to myself that I was going to quit answering his phone calls. All he ever did was let me down and piss me off. But then the phone would ring and all would be forgotten (yet never totally forgiven.)

It just so happened that this particular jerk had a younger brother who, as it turns out, was as infatuated with me as I was with his brother. (Weird, I know.) Although the younger of the two was definitely the sweetheart of the family, I wasn’t interested. I’d been hung up on his brother for too long. I was never mean to the brother, though. Always friendly — So what transpired New Year’s Eve of 2005 was completely unexpected.

The night started off okay. My roommate and I went to the Delta Chi house to hang out with friends. I remember that there was a great band playing that night – one of my local favorites. After the clock stuck midnight, I decided to go home and get some sleep since I had to be at work early the next morning. My roommate wanted to stay, but said she’d catch a ride from someone else. So, I went home, completely unprepared to face the fury of Hell by myself.

When I pulled into the driveway, I could tell there was someone sitting on the steps to my front porch. As I got out, I realized that it was the Jerk himself, obviously VERY drunk. (He was holding an empty bottle of whiskey. Classy, right?) Had I know what was coming, I would have gotten back in the car and driven far, far away.

But bleeding heart that I am, I thought he might be in some sort of trouble, or need someone to talk to, so I approached him and was greeted by the longest, loudest string of obscenities I’d ever heard. He called me every name in the book. Horrible, vicious, untrue things. He told me he hated me. Said I never meant a “damn thing” to him. Me. The nice one. The one that bent over backwards to be his friend, even after he proved himself the biggest jerk on the planet.

And you know what warranted this attack?? Apparently his little brother was heartbroken because I wouldn’t go out with him, and the Jerk held me accountable. After all the crap he put me through – for MONTHS – he was mad at me because I wouldn’t date his brother!?

When I finally managed to get inside and slam the door in his face, he stood on the porch yelling and beating on the door. I called a mutual friend of ours and made him come pick the Jerk up and take him home. Then he called me, incessantly, blocking his number – apparently thinking I was stupid enough to answer. I went to bed crying, mostly out of anger, wondering why I was stupid enough to fall for his crap for so long.

And guess what? The Jerk had the nerve to call me two days later, after swearing he hated me and would never speak to me again, to apologize for his behavior. His excuse was, “Well you know how I get when I’m drunk. I just thought you could have been nicer to my brother. He really liked you. I know you were never mean to him, though. I’m sorry.” He wanted to know if we were “cool” – couldn’t we stay friends? He said he didn’t mean any of it. I think I remember laughing and telling him where to go.

I don’t know if staying home that night would have fixed anything, since that’s where he was, so I guess the assignment should read, “Describe a New Year’s where you would have been better off just leaving the county or hiding in a hole somewhere.”

The Jerk is now married to someone far better than me. She would have to be to put up with him. The woman deserves to be made a saint.

12 comments:

Diane said...

You ARE nice... I would have called the police and had them pick him up for 'drunk and disorderly conduct'. Loser. Glad you told him where to go (it WAS someplace not-very-nice, right? ;)

Lacey said...

I love this story! The audacity of that guy! Although I don't know if I agree that whoever ended up with the Jerk is "far better" than you... it sounds like you're waaaaay smarter! :D

Unknown said...

He sounds like a real winner! Aren't you glad you dodged that bullet?! I have no idea which prompt I'm doing yet! Hrmm... decisions.

((My old blog was hacked, so I've switched addresses! Come visit me @ http://laceyinloveblog.blogspot.com))

HAPPY New Year!(You hear me? HAPPY! No drunken crazies this year! haha!)

Jen L. said...

What a doofus. Remind me this weekend to tell you about New Year's Eve 1998. Oh, honey. Travel safely!

Melanie Gillispie said...

My mouth literally fell open at the paragraph where you said why he was upset with you. What a jerk! And, why do we so often really like those jerks? UGH!

ps - I loved your dream about Diane and her mom!

pps - Happy New Year!!

hebba said...

someone "far better than you"? I think not.

J Cosmo Newbery said...

At least it wasn't a total loss; you are getting some mileage out of it now!

Jenners said...

I got hung up on guys like this all the time in college before I wised up and realized that "bad boys" are exactly that and you really really don't want them in your life. I'm so glad that this indicent didn't escalate into something physically violent. Even as it was, I can't even imagine how scary that must have been for you. I'm so glad you found a good guy!!! You deserve the best! And I loved the phrase "hung the moon." So poetic!

Jessica said...

I hope this year was far better for you!! I'm sure it was. We have to fall for a couple rotton eggs before we get the good ones. I'm not sure why that rule exists!!

And P.S..
Don't fool yourself. Trey knows exactly who you are. Ha! I'm training him to learn your actual name so I don't have to take as much time explaining. Mostly he associates you with Alabama though :)

Jay @halftime lessons said...

Oh boy...Im pretty sure I was that guy once...or twice...

;-)

Happy New Year!!
Jay

Unknown said...

The only thing that I ever experienced even close to this didn't involve New Year's. It was when I was in college. A young lady that I never (and still haven't to this day) officially met decided she was infatuated with me. I had a July 4 to remember when she broke into my room and was waiting for me when I came in. I have never been more frightened of any human being in my life than I was of her as I escorted her out of the room.

Congratulations for handling the situation so well.

KatBouska said...

Wow. What an ass. You are MUCH better off!!!