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TantonThe Troubles of Dating
Published: 2011-01-25 18:50:38 +0000 UTC; Views: 9064; Favourites: 348; Downloads: 151
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Description The Troubles of Dating (and Time-Travel)


I suppose she was the first girl I fell in love with because of something other than a nice pair of breasts, and therefore, the first girl I fell in love with whom I actually succeeded in asking out on a date. More than anything it was her hair, the way it was neither curly nor straight, but wavy, and in a dark and dreamy shade of red that nearly seemed black. It reached down beyond her shoulders, and I could find myself staring at the back of her head for hours during our classes, mesmerized by it. Breasts weren't half-bad either though.

And she was a nice person. At least, that was the impression I had gotten during our after-movie dinner at Alessandro's. Passionately interested 70s music, loving long walks in the wild, preferred old-school horrors to the film we'd just seen which we both agreed was tragic. All in all, we seemed to go along quite nicely. After finishing our capricosa, I led her to the car thinking this might as well have been a Hollywood style evening if what was waiting for us had been a convertible which I owned, and not my father's dented old hatchback.  

Cleverly, I drove her home by the old by-pass road through the woods, which she liked. Then I lowered our speed, and we cruised calmly by the lake, which presently was displaying a festival of colours, helped by the setting sun. This she loved. Then our car broke down, which she saw as a far to eager move from me, and did not like, until I got out of the car and told her I hadn't stopped hoping for a snog, but because an inch long nail was stuck in my front left tire. She apologized coyly, then asked me if I needed any help changing it. I thought briefly and, fortunately, quietly, that I had no idea how to change a bloody tire, and until she suggested it never considered such a thing, but instead said no, and started to rummage the boot.

I found an old tire, a well-used jack, and some other tools I half-imagined I knew what to do with, and started to work. When she saw me jacking up the car, she jumped out to make it easier, and walked around a bit. Now, say what you like about my manliness, but changing a tire gives you such a boost of y-chromosomes you may spontaneously grow a beard. On your teeth.

Sadly, she wasn't studying my newfound masculinity, but gazing upwards, at the unveiling stars. As I dropped something I had suspected might unloosen the bolts, I peeped up over the bonnet to hear her say something about a pair of parallel shooting-stars. Not thinking of anything clever to reply, I shrugged, and continued working on my punctuated tire, hoping some grease would somehow find its way to my cheek and make me look rugged.

Not knowing just what the hell to do, it took quite some time to get the old tire off. Checking that my arms were thoroughly greased, I rolled it towards the back of the car, and started to work on the fitting the new one on. The sun had now set, and my arms and hands were starting to freeze a bit. This made screwing the bolts on a proper hassle, but I got it right in the end. I think. Anyway, it stayed on for long enough to make me believe I had done it, and therefore proceeded to knock on the hub-cap, and look around to make sure she saw me clapping my hands and lifting the old tire up in the back.

She wasn't there. Had it been any later in the year, I might've suspected that she had gone down to the river for a bath. Sadly, it was far too cold for something like that. With some difficulty, I popped the old tire back in its position, and slammed it shut. Where the hell was she?

Then I heard her call my name from the woods. Turning around, and hoping I looked rugged and greasy enough, I replied. She came walking barefoot towards me, her dark, wonderfully wavy hair blowing in the chill evening breeze, and a look of half-surprise, half-suspicion on her face. Then, amazingly, she managed to overlook the magnificence of my work, and went and sat down in the passenger's seat, asking me if I could turn the heater on. Surely this isn't allowed? Surely, she has to say something?

Trying not to let my disappointment show, I sat down, turned the key, and let warm, heated air fill the cramped cabin. She looked me straight in the eye, still this look of suspicion on her face. Then she asked me the time, to which I replied there was still plenty left before the time she'd said she'd be home. Her eyes narrowed. Then she started to search her pockets for her cellphone, which she flicked open, and started to franticly hit some buttons while she hid the screen from my face. Whatever she found on the phone must've been something good, because she suddenly let out a relieved laugh, and sunk back into her seat.

I asked her if everything was alright. Did she have to reach something perhaps, or was it something she had forgotten to do? She shook her head, and let out a small laugh, eyes closed. I think I might have stared at her for a while. Then I turned the key, and drove on, towards her house. She kept her eyes closed for a few minutes, before she slowly sat up properly, buckled her seat, and turned down the heater. As we neared her house, her smile grew wider and wider, and she gazed longingly at every house we drove by. As I pulled up beside her house, she even let out a small whimper, before turning towards me as I unbuckled. She put my hand in hers, and stared at me. If you are thinking this is when we kiss, then brother you interpret signals the same way as me, and sadly we are both wrong.

Instead, she started to tell me this incredible story of how this had to end tonight, and told me not to talk to her again. Her voice was solemn when she told me that though I found her hair pretty now, one day I would hate it, and that though we might seem to have the same taste in film and music, the differences would only grow larger until we disagree so much we cannot see a movie together at all. Lastly, she added chuckling a bit, as she eased her gaze at me and unbuckled her seat, her breasts would one day become unbearably saggy, and I would no longer find her even remotely beautiful. Then she turned around, opened the door, and put one foot out on the pavement. Her face was a great smile when she suddenly stopped, mid stance, and turned towards me.

The last thing she ever told me was that I did a good job on the tire, and looked quite rugged and handsome, even though I hadn't gotten any grease on my cheek.

Next week, we changed places, and I no longer sit behind the girl with the pretty hair. Instead I sit two rows behind a girl with such fiery eyes that though I only see their reflection in the window, it feels as if she stares right down to my soul. We're going on a date Friday. And, just to make sure, this time I've read the weather forecast and it should be far too cloudy for stargazing.
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Comments: 141

Seth570 In reply to ??? [2012-09-13 14:21:10 +0000 UTC]

I think it has something to do with the parallel shooting stars, her walking out of the woods barefoot (in the middle of the night, while it's cold out, i.e. not a time most people would, even the strnage ones, would take their shoes off for a jaunt in the woods), and then her knowing exactly all the points he based his likeness for her, and what the outcome would be of them and his likeness-es, if they had a future. I.e., I'm thinking she time-traveled as her request of the shooting stars ('make a wish when you see a shooting star') to see if they had a future together, first-hand... Sorry if I ruined that for anyone, just my take on it...

I kind of thought the whole thing was horrible... Simply because that really is just about the way it goes, until I saw your comment, actually read the whole title (it didn't fully appear on the DD page), and thought about what the "time travel" bit could have meant to do with the story itself. Then I had a small "aha!" moment after piecing it all together and replied.

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Taiyou-Shoujo-01 In reply to Seth570 [2012-09-18 12:24:45 +0000 UTC]

now that detail makes sense, makes the story even more interesting to me ^^, thanks for explaining ^^

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Seth570 In reply to Taiyou-Shoujo-01 [2012-09-19 15:41:36 +0000 UTC]

Just one/ my interpretation as Tanton expressed.

I think he was saying that one could also assume she "time-traveled" while she had her eyes closed during the car ride home, or that maybe she had some insight, intuition, or past experiences that more or less gave her an idea of what the future may hold and she was able to "time travel"/ "tell the future" in that kind of a way. (Though I still think her time traveling and ending up in the woods seems like a much more logical/ easily assumed/ obvious idea/ assumption, given the details of the writing! ) But anyway, no problem!

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Tanton In reply to Seth570 [2012-09-13 15:50:50 +0000 UTC]

This explanation is where the Time Travel bit comes in, indeed. Or, at least the "I" persona thinks so. As I think I discussed somewhere in an earlier comment - is it really sure that she did? Might she possibly have previous experiences or something to explain her actions?

Anyway, thank you for reading even though it didn't quite suit your fancy. I never expected this to get blown up like this and doubtless there are vast amounts of texts and writers who deserve this attention and credit more than I.

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joe-wright In reply to ??? [2012-09-13 11:10:54 +0000 UTC]

Nice work, not many things on here hold my attention enough to read to the end, but this captivated me all the way through. I'd like to recommend this [link] as something you might like to read, it has a similar kind of vibe.

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Tanton In reply to joe-wright [2012-09-13 15:45:21 +0000 UTC]

Thank you ever so much for the reply!

Will definetly check out that story later, the little I had time to read appeared promising.

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Chenguang23 In reply to ??? [2012-09-13 10:21:44 +0000 UTC]

Nice~

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Tanton In reply to Chenguang23 [2012-09-13 10:43:10 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

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wispy-blue In reply to ??? [2012-09-13 10:03:35 +0000 UTC]

congratulations!

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Tanton In reply to wispy-blue [2012-09-13 10:42:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you!

and thank you for taking time to read it, much appreciated

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wispy-blue In reply to Tanton [2012-09-13 10:49:09 +0000 UTC]

i'm glad your work has been selected
for DD! you should be very happy. your story
has been a of mine even before the DD!
i'm so proud of your achievement.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Tanton In reply to wispy-blue [2012-09-13 10:54:33 +0000 UTC]

Oh I am absolutely thrilled. Never expected this, I've been shaking all morning!

And of course, I recognized your profile - again thank you

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wispy-blue In reply to Tanton [2012-09-13 11:06:36 +0000 UTC]

hmmm... let me give you a gift.
maybe you can put this on your top shelf or somewhere visible.

for you from me.

(and also, .... celebration!)

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hyousetsuryuu [2012-09-13 09:30:30 +0000 UTC]

I chuckled to myself a few times while reading this wonderful short story, and loled when you said that you were too awesome at changing tires to be the "I" person in the story.

Out of curiosity, does the girl time-travel? Because it's in the story title... and I'm not too sure...

But anyway, I love this <3

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Tanton In reply to hyousetsuryuu [2012-09-13 10:42:20 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for reading, and for such a kind reply!

I am not quite sure whether the girl does travel or not, but the idea behind the story was what it would be like to be the first person in contact with someone who had experienced something as dramatic and fantastic as time-travel. So the "I" persona certainly believes it.

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hyousetsuryuu In reply to Tanton [2012-09-13 10:54:28 +0000 UTC]

I'm so glad I came across it! I feel so privileged to have read such a wonderful story, and so you deserve (kind?) replies!

The problem with me analysing stories - I only get what the author literally gives. And so this stuff... It's too confusing for my brain to comprehend DX But thanks anyway for the explanation! <3

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CreaNyu [2012-09-13 09:01:26 +0000 UTC]

This story is catchy, I like is a lot. You really deserve a DD! The character's reaction and thinking seem so true.

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Tanton In reply to CreaNyu [2012-09-13 10:38:59 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very, very much!

I never even thought about a DD, but I am glad you liked the story. Tried to make it as if it was told directly after the main character had experienced the event

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CreaNyu In reply to Tanton [2012-09-15 13:33:42 +0000 UTC]

You don't need to thank me, since you're welcomed anyways.

You told it so well, I believe you imagined the scene in your head? Id like to read more of your works.

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Miyako-K [2012-09-13 07:44:16 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations on the Daily Deviation!

This story really deserves it. I had fun reading it, and I actually chuckled when I read this part, "Now, say what you like about my manliness, but changing a tire gives you such a boost of y-chromosomes you may spontaneously grow a beard. On your teeth."

All in all, I enjoyed this very much and I thank you for it!

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Tanton In reply to Miyako-K [2012-09-13 07:46:43 +0000 UTC]

THANK YOU!

(my mind is currently too busy to comprehend everything that's going on, so I thought I'd just sum it up.)

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monstroooo In reply to ??? [2012-09-10 19:41:48 +0000 UTC]

Congratulations! You've been featured in our Weekly Round-up

Thanks for sharing your work with the group!

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Tanton In reply to monstroooo [2012-09-11 06:12:17 +0000 UTC]

Oh my jebus, thank you!

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Ravenswd In reply to ??? [2012-09-07 14:36:15 +0000 UTC]

Very interesting. I like that you followed an outside "bystander", rather than the person who time-travelled. It's interesting to see how such a situation would appear to someone outside of it.

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Tanton In reply to Ravenswd [2012-09-08 14:06:32 +0000 UTC]

Thank you for reading!
That was exactly my idea prior to writing this text; how weird it must be to be the first person in contact with someone who has experienced something extraordinary

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monstroooo In reply to ??? [2012-09-06 15:31:16 +0000 UTC]

Love it. Funny, witty, clever, enjoyable. Fantastic piece, very well done!

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Tanton In reply to monstroooo [2012-09-06 22:27:13 +0000 UTC]

Thank you ever so much!

Reading, commenting, liking, thank you!

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TheMoorMaiden In reply to ??? [2012-09-06 00:21:55 +0000 UTC]

I really enjoyed this. Your narrator's quite charming in his own little way, and I found the story quite original. I usually dislike prose in which the characters talk without the use of any dialogue, but this story was told so well that that aspect of it didn't bother me at all. I loved the line: changing a tire gives you such a boost of y-chromosomes you may spontaneously grow a beard. On your teeth. Great work!

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Tanton In reply to TheMoorMaiden [2012-09-06 07:47:43 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for reading, commenting and liking!

I didn't put any dialogue in it because a)I thought it might break up the 'first-hand' feel and b)it might reduce the mysetriousness of the girl. I'm glad you liked it!

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TheMoorMaiden In reply to Tanton [2012-09-06 13:07:01 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

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Alessaandra-the-Fair In reply to ??? [2012-09-05 18:45:21 +0000 UTC]

I think this is quite cleverly written. But the omniscience of the girl is what sticks with me.

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Tanton In reply to Alessaandra-the-Fair [2012-09-05 19:52:51 +0000 UTC]

First of all, thank you very much for reading & commenting

I am glad you liked it, even though I see now several spots of possible improvement (as always with these texts)

The omniscience is added deliberatly, and in some part was the original thought which spurned the story: if you were to be the first person to talk to someone who had just experienced time-travel, what would it be like?

Also, it is because this text is written from the viewpoint of a teenage boy. And to us, girls are more mature, somewhat magical and infinitely mysterious ^^

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Alessaandra-the-Fair In reply to Tanton [2012-09-06 10:25:15 +0000 UTC]

I did pick up on the implied time travel -- it opens up a big can of questions, that's for sure.

Magical and mysterious, huh? You must know a whole different class of girls.

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Sleyf In reply to ??? [2012-09-05 11:13:09 +0000 UTC]

A nice read, I have to say it was interesting and I love the character you've built.

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Tanton In reply to Sleyf [2012-09-05 11:19:15 +0000 UTC]

Thank you very much for reading & commenting!

The protagonist here is a recurring character in a lot of my texts, and is, I suppose, a comedic reflection of my own experiences and emotions as an eager and somewhat unexperienced teenager. Glad you like him, currently working on a project to combine a number of these texts of his adventures into something resembling a connected story

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Sleyf In reply to Tanton [2012-09-05 11:23:07 +0000 UTC]

You're welcome!

I guess that's what makes him so believable then, it's great when characters start to take on aspects of your personality because it makes them so much easier to write for but also for the reader to connect with

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random-kumquats [2011-03-11 23:21:26 +0000 UTC]

the first sentence is a run-on. just saying.

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ChibiBatGraphics In reply to ??? [2011-02-18 19:21:38 +0000 UTC]

I hate changing tires...I can do it but what can I say - I have noodle arms. I do have a certain fondness for oil changes though.

Anyways, good story i'm glad I checked it out.

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Tanton In reply to ChibiBatGraphics [2011-02-19 10:30:25 +0000 UTC]

Thanks for that

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ChibiBatGraphics In reply to Tanton [2011-02-19 19:10:01 +0000 UTC]

You are quite welcome.

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