Email to Marie D'Ancato

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

To: (Em)
From: (Doug)
Subject: What do I do now?


Em-

So Angie and I have kinda slowly gotten closer over the past couple weeks, I think. Kinda amazing what helping each other through nervous breakdowns will do to strengthen a bond of friendship.

Anyways, we were chatting on IM late the other night. (Well, late here, early in the morning there.) And she asked me if I believed in gender equality or something, and the next thing I know, I'm agreeing to let her pay for dinner on a date.

A date. Me. And Angie. On a date.

Am a touch freaked out. Will probably be more so when I go with Alison to get the Europe crew at the airport on Monday. Especially because she's apparently got some sort of plan to make me blush.

Anyways, Tuesday morning we(Ali, Jamie, Kit, me, Angie, Alex, and Lorna) are headed up to Minneapolis to see if Alison can recruit Jamie's and my friend Guido for that record label Ali's starting up. And in the process, Jamie and I hope to convince Guido that Kit and Angie do actually exist. Ans also get some back at Guido by having Ali in an image inducer which she won't take off until Guido's told some really embarassing stories. (And believe me, he's got quite a few.)

So while we're in Minneapolis, I think Angie and I are going to go on that date. And I am _really_ nervous. I like Angie. And I don't have the first clue what I'm doing. And I don't want to mess this up. Not to mention trying to reconcile my interest in Angie with the vague remnants of feelings I have for you, which I doubt are going away. Why do feelings have to be so complicated?

And yeah, it took a lot to write those last couple lines, but no facades, right?

So yeah. I am _really_ nervous.

What do I do now?

-Doug

Comments

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

I think this is great, Doug. :)

What do you do? (Oh, and I can imagine how much it took for you to write those lines, but I'm glad you said it. Saying it makes it easier in the end, I think.) You should be yourself, Doug. You're caring and genuine and that's the most important thing. I can't imagine you doing anything wrong on a date.

You don't need to reconcile anything, Doug. You can love more than one person at once without taking anything away from the other. Just concentrate on how you feel about her, okay? There's nothing too complicated about love when it comes down to it. It's everything else -- insecurity, jealousy, fear -- that makes it complicated.

I'll be around tomorrow if you want to say hi, okay? Don't worry about the date. It'll be fantastic. I'd worry more about brushing up on your CPR for Guido. *g*

Marie

[x-cypher.livejournal.com]

Em-

I think you're right. Saying it does make it easier in the end.

I'm more scared of doing something wrong out of inexperience than any malicious intent. I would never do that to Angie. She's one of my best friends. It's not a stretch to say that she probably saved my life a couple weeks ago.

I never thought about the whole love thing that way. You're right. It's all the other stuff that complicates it.

I'd very much like to chat before we go. I hope the date goes well. I'll probably still worry, though. And CPR? With Guido? *wrinkles nose* Ew. I'll let Ali do it. Give the big lunk another good story to tell his friends. "And this one time, Alison Blaire gave me CPR!" ;-)

Hm. Bed looks good. Am a little wiped. G'night, Em.

Love,
Doug

[x-rogue.livejournal.com]

Doug-

Why not let Angie take the lead? From the few things I've gathered from the journals lately, she's had a hard time of it, so why don't you let her guide you (and you know you're better than anyone at reading signals) and be your usual giving self?

You two have already done the hard stuff, gone through awful times together and stuck by each other, what else is there? Angie is not going to dump you because you step on her toes while dancing or get parsley between your teeth or forget to hold the door. And you're not going to push too much, because you never do. You're not going to kiss her at the wrong time because I'm sure she's going to kiss you first and even if she doesn't, she'll either have been waiting for it or she'll tell you it's too soon and you'll work it out. She trusts you, and you trust her and really, what more could anyone ask for?

You're going to do fine. Like I said, you already have her trust, and I'm sure you have her respect, and I know she thinks you're attractive. Have fun on the date. All the stuff people are nervous about on a first date, you've got covered. This should be /fun/. It should be a celebration of both of you making it that far and being together. So go be happy. You've both earned it.

Love,
Em