text: Familiar Faces Josh had been a pretty awkward guy throughout highschool, and that awkwardness followed him through college. Now, as a twenty-four year old employed college graduate, he is a slightly less awkward version of his previous self. It was something he had always resented about himself. Because of this awkwardness, he didn’t have much of a social life and dating “wasn’t really his thing.” Josh is now a slightly less awkward young man who is trying to meet someone. There is no one he has his eye on, so he has taken to popular dating apps in hopes of finding someone special. He had been on a few dates, but has yet to meet someone who was worth a second date. He managed to find a flaw with every girl he met - too chatty, too much of a partier, couldn’t hold a moderately intelligent conversation, not looking for anything serious, the list goes on. After matching with a girl from his area, Sarah, he decides to go on one last date before he gives up. They spend a couple of days talking and seem to hit it off, so Josh decides to take her to a local bar that is known for its craft beer selection. He gets to the bar a few minutes early and grabs a table for two and a few glasses of water while he waits for Sarah to arrive. She was supposed to be there around seven, and it was now nearly seven thirty. Losing hope, he finally orders a beer and hopes that maybe she’ll show. Sure enough, she does, but she does not come alone. Confused, Josh stands up to introduce himself with a handshake. “Sarah? Hi, I’m Josh. I almost didn’t think you’d make it.” “Here I am,” she responds as her guest and she sits down at the table that was once for two. “I hope you don’t mind that I brought company. This is my roommate Alex.” Of course he minds, you generally don’t bring a friend on dates. But awkwardly he responds, “Of course not, the more the merrier I guess.” The three are awkwardly sitting there in silence when their server finally returns to grab the two girls drink orders. They order their drinks, and Josh his second beer, as well as put an appetizer in. Josh tries to start a conversation on his “date,” but does not get very far. The two girls are too busy chatting about someone they met last night. As they sit there in awkward silence, their server returns with the round of drinks and their chips and salsa app. Again, Josh tries to spark some sort of conversation with Sarah and Alex as he has been sitting here basically in silence. He asks them about work and they both give him very short answers and continue to talk about where they are headed after this. Knowing that this “date” is going absolutely nowhere, he leaves some cash on the table, says goodbye to the girls and leaves. “Well, this has been, uh, fun but I should be going,” he tells the girls sheepishly. Sarah and Alex barely noticed his presence, let alone his absence. Frustrated from his worst date yet, he heads across the street to his usually spot. There he is greeted by a fairly good friend of his, the bartender, John. “How’s it going Josh? Happy Friday, huh?” “It’s going alright, happy might be a stretch,” he replies as he takes his usual seat at the bar. John walks away briefly and returns with a beer in hand for Josh. “Here ya go, freshly tapped today. So tell me, Joshy, why so blue?” “Ya know just life. I just left an, uh, interesting date. Will not be seeing her, or them, again.” “Them? Two girls at once, you a player or something now?” Shaking his head, Josh responds, “ Ha. You know me I could barely get one girl to go out with me, let alone two. She showed up thirty minutes late and brought her roommate. They barely noticed I was there. Easily my worst date yet. Might be time to throw in the towel.” “Oh shit, man. That sounds terrible. How about another beer on the house?” “Sure.” John walks away to grab the beer and greet his newest bar guest. Josh notices her sit down, as she looks oddly familiar. He is confident he knows her, but is having a hard time remembering how. Looking into his now empty beer glass, he remembers his freshman year of college and the girl he sat near in a biology lab. He remembers the two of them hit it off and even went on a few dates. Was that really who just sat down at the bar? John returns with a beer and questions why Josh seems to have been staring at this new girl. “I swear, I know that girl. I think we hung out a few times in college.” “Maybe you should go say hi to her then?” “Nah. Not with the luck I’ve been having.” “C’mon man. You’ve got some liquid luck in your system now. What’s the worst that could happen? She invites her sister along?” Reluctantly, Josh responds, “I guess you’re right. I don’t have much to lose at this point. Let me get another beer and whatever she’s drinking.” John hands him the two drinks and Josh makes his way to the other end of the bar. Handing her the Tito’s and cran, it finally clicks, it was Emily. He couldn’t remember why they drifted apart over the years. “Hey.. Remember me? How have you been?” “Josh? Good to see you! I’ve been doing pretty well. You?” “Oh ya know, I can’t complain. My job treats me well and I’ve got a roof over my head.” Laughing she says, “That’s good to hear. You live around here now? I just got relocated so I’m still getting familiar with the area.” “Yeah, I live not too far from here. Relocated huh? What do you do for work,” he asks as he sits down next to her. “I’m a salesperson for medical equipment. Nothing too exciting, but I like the traveling.” “Yeah I bet. That sounds like a pretty good gig. How long are you going to be around here for?” “I’m not entirely sure yet, but at least a year. Maybe you can show me around sometime.” “Sure sure. I could do that. Let me give you my number.