conversation, circa 2006

"You are trouble," he said.

"Why?" I replied, even though I knew, but probably not for the same reasons he thought.

"You're a flirt and a tease."

"So are an overwhelmingly large percentage of the girls in this town." A mediocre defense, but one nevertheless.

"No, you make men think that there's a real chance."

"Well, there is."

"No - not the getting laid sort of chance. A real chance," he muttered, cryptically.

"What do you mean?"

"You make men think that they could have some semblance of a life with you. Some sort of real relationship where you would kiss in the rain and go on picnics and talk about marriage and your hopes and dreams. It's this aura about you - you're this stable ambitious artist intelligent thing, and I'm not certain why, but that makes men think they have a real chance at something. And there isn't. There really isn't, is there - because you are afraid of stability and commitment. You are the most independent and most needy person I've met, and I'm not sure I know of a single person can keep up with you." he said.

"Would you date me?" I asked.

"No, but I'd fuck you."


I had no reply.