Stalker returns!

I don't think I've mentioned Stalker. (His name is Dave -- which I found out after many encounters --, but I'd rather call him Stalker because I know too many Dave/Davids already)..



Sometime this past summer when my friend Michelle was visiting me, we were standing in the Pentagon metro station waiting for our morning train. Some dude came up to us, interrupting our absorbed conversation and said to me, "Sorry, but I just wanted to tell you that I really like your hair. It's very bold of you and not a lot of people can pull it off. I saw you on the bus and kinda followed you so I could tell you that." (This is when I had the blonde streak of hair in the front)




Of course I was a little taken aback; shocked and surprised, but also flattered. So I said thanks for the compliment. Not long after this first encounter, I ran into him again.... or I should say that he ran in to me. I was getting off the bus at the Pentagon maybe a week later and Stalker jogs up to me to chitty-chat.

--SIDEBAR--

Now, you must understand.. I have turned in to the typical East Coast snob, in the fact that I keep entirely to myself, don't want anybody to invade my bubble, and I don't make eye contact with nor talk to strangers. Especially when I am commuting. I say 'Good Morning' to the bus driver when I get on the bus and 'Thank you' when I get off. That is the extent of my stranger contact.

--BACK--

Stalker starts saying something, which I imagine is along the lines of 'hi, how are you', but I have my headphones in, so I can't hear him. I reluctantly pull them out to be polite and say hi back.

Stalker: It's Emily, right?

Me: Yeah, that's right. And what was your name?

Stalker: Dave. So I saw you on the bus again this morning.

Me: Oh Yeah?

Stalker: Yeah. Do you always sit in the front?

Me: Usually I do

Stalker: I don't usually get on the 8AM bus, but each time I do, I see you on there.

Me: Yup. That's the bus I get on every morning. Unless I'm running late. Then I have to wait for the 8:20 bus

~down in the pentagon metro station at this point~

Stalker: So what line do you take?

Me: Yellow

Stalker: Cool. I can take Yellow, too

Fantastic. So then I'm forced to chat with this guy on the entire metro ride.. Maybe if he were hot I'd be more inclined to get to know him? How shallow is that... It wasn't like he was ugly or anything, but just his presence was nerdy and a tad annoying.

I found myself dreading the morning bus ride even more than normal, hoping that Stalker wouldn't be on the bus. I would try to nonchalantly take a big glance around the bus to spot him before I sat down. Sometimes I would see him. It was these times that I would then rush off the bus and hurry down in to the metro station to try to lose him. I was annoyed that I had to be bothered with this intrusion on my personal space/time. I was unsuccessful many times in avoiding him and we had many a conversation about things that are not captivating in the least.

Several weeks went by Stalker-free. Then he made a surprise move.... Sometime in October, he was on my bus ride HOME. Tricksy! He sat right next to me on the bus this time, clearly pleased with himself. He noticed that my hair was growing out.

Stalker: Oh, I can see your brown roots growing out on the blonde streak.

Oh really? Cause I CERTAINLY haven't noticed myself. Idiot.

Me: Yeah, luckily I have a hair appointment on Friday.

Stalker: Getting it re-done?

Me: Going all dark this time.

Stalker: Like Goth?

Me: No. Like just dark.

Then sometime toward the end of November, he creeps up on me again on the bus ride home. He comments on my new dark hair color.

Apparently he likes it. Goody. I crave his approval. **sarcasm** He then rambles on and on about how he dressed up as an elf last year and participated in Santarchy and wants to do it again this year, which is mildly amusing. I was still glad when I was able to get off the bus and end the interaction, however.

I have not seen Stalker since November. I actually started to forget about him. Until this morning! I was waiting by my bus stop, trying my best to shield myself from the cold snowy wind with my umbrella, when the couple who always steps out for a morning smoke on the front steps of their apartment building (and ALWAYS throws their cigarrette butts in the grass! HUGE pet peave of mine) walked down the steps and over to the bus stop. They asked me some questions about the bus; when does it come, does it stop at Pentagon City, does it take the SmarTrip card? I of course was very polite and answered all of their questions with a smile. Apparently they wanted to take the bus instead of their car today since it was snowy.

About half-way through the bus ride, I was curious as to where the couple ended up sitting. I don't know why. So I finished the chapter I was reading and lifted my head to take a look around. I looked all the way to the back of the bus, and BAM! There was Stalker!!! It was like I was shocked with those heart-shocker things. I believe I gasped. CRAP. I quickly averted my gaze, hoping that he didn't see me looking at him. PLEASE don't find me and talk to me! I looked out the front window of the bus to see how close we were to our destination. And wouldn't you believe... there was that cigarrette couple. Only one seat away from me.