reason for conversation unknown.

"do you, like, actually date? You don't date, right?" He looks at me through his glasses with round dark eyes set in a pale very Jewish, and kind of adorable face. His voice is deadpan just like his expression. I cannot tell if he's asking at the request of one of our mutual guy friends, for himself, or if he's just decided to take an interest in me and find out what of the gossip is real. We haven't talked much before that, but we share in common at least 2 close friends. I blink at him, unable to discern exactly what response I should give.
"Well yeah. I go out. I just-" Now I knew what I wanted to say, and my voice got confident. "I don't date casually. And I DON"T randomly hook up." He nodded.
"Okay then, no, that makes sense. I just didn't know-you know, with Joe and Chris and Luke-well and them all-hitting on you all the time. I didn't-"
"I guess I just get used to it. I'm a waitress, anyway. I can be friendly and let them have their fun, but I think I make it pretty clear what my boundary line is." I say. I look at him, trying to read. "Ren thinks I lead people on and its cruel. Do you think I do?"
"I mean, sure. Its reasonable. I mean, coming from a guys point of view I know what they can be thinking.But you have every right to-psh, Ren doesn't know anything."

I am curious as to what he's hearing about me, curious what he knows.
"do they think I'm very religious?"
"Well, from what I've heard I mean yeah-I mean, Christ got the message pretty fast and all."
"I don't like that word, religious. I am a very strong Christian though." I add. I'm not sure what to say after this. People get such horrible ideas when they hear that terrible word, Christian.
"sure." he says.
Nate comes into the room. Nate is a tool and I hate him. I fall silent and so does he, and Nate says something stupid. We go back to work.

Ignore that thudding, please.

i was sleepy and the sofa was soft and he was sitting there next to me slouched towards me. i napped on his shoulder, I do not exaggerate by telling you that my head was the exact right size to fit just under his neck to his shoulder, and I was ridiculously comfortable. We talked a little, murmured in sleepy tones, but drowsed easily.
He smells so delicious. So mild, not the slightest bit musty or manly cologney, just barely fresh like a spring wind.

He had to leave; he said he'd kill anyone who took that seat. Ten minutes later he was back, and I went back to my lovely pillow. So natural.

Too soon it was my turn to have a job, and I stood. As my girlfriend stretched out to fill my seat on the sofa I nodded toward him and said, "he makes a good pillow." He sat up straight. "Excuse me no, invitation's not open to everyone." He said.

No Ren, that jackhammer pounding louder than all the clamor in the room, no that's definitely not my heart.


Psh.