The Epilogue

I don't know what our conversation meant to him, but at around 5:00 PM I got the following text:

So gonna come down later tonight, or do you need to think a bit more...?

I didn't write back. Instead, I called. I told him (again) that I was going to the opera with NV but would call him when I got out. That's what I did. I called him when I got home and told him that I wasn't going to come down.

"I still need to sort this out," I said. "And I'm just emotionally exhausted from this morning, physically exhausted... and I have to wake up early tomorrow."

He started to engage me in conversation-- telling me about a meeting he had tonight with a friend of his about actually shooting a new script he's working on... I told him about the opera.

"And you should know," he said, "I spoke to Laurie today. I told her what happened-- that I called you her name and all that. 'There isn't anything weird between us? Is there?' I asked her. And she was like- 'No! Of course not! We're just friends.' So... there you go. There's absolutely nothing between me and Laurie. Nothing at all."

"Narc... It's obvious you have a thing for her," I said. "But, whatever..."

"No, really, Hyde! Laurie is beautiful and I love her and all... she's great. But she's not date-able! I could never date Laurie. I mean-- no. No way. There comes a point when you have to divide the world into 'date-able' and 'not-date-able' and Laurie is definitely not."

I didn't point out that I also fall into that category for him.

"Well, that's fine then... I don't know what you want me to say. I mean, you really don't have to explain yourself to me. It's just clear that something is up between you and her and I felt bad about it, but whatever... I guess I just wanted to know what's going on."

"I don't have to explain myself to you, Hyde, but I don't want you sitting around being in pain or feeling bad about this for nothing."

"Well, then, thanks," I said. "I'll file that information away. Thanks for clearing that up for me."

We talked for a few more minutes after that. Narc is going to see Beowolf in IMAX 3-D tomorrow night. I'm going to see it on Friday morning with B.

"I'll text you after the movie tomorrow and tell you how it is," he said.

"Thanks."

"Well... I really wish I could have seen you tonight. It would have been great if you could have brought down some Lunesta."

"It's just not the night, Narc. I really want to talk to my therapist first... maybe get some clarity."

"Just don't take it all so seriously, Hyde!"

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know, but you are inflating everything into such drama."

"Are you kidding me?? All I do is repress my feelings and toss things off and never make drama out of any of the things that go down between me and you."

"Well, that's not good either... Don't want you exploding in a rage," he half laughed.

"It's not anger, Narc. I have no anger. It's more frustration... Well, I don't know... Pain? Confusion? In any case, it's probably best to talk to my therapist first."

"I hope he tells you something that will make you feel better."

"Yeah."

"Well, hopefully I'll see you another night then... soon... since unfortunately, tonight didn't work out," he said.

"Ok. Well, then... good night?" I offered.

"Good night, Hyde."

Good night to you too, blogland!

love,
h