One Night Stand
by Zac Kish
Dude.
Duuuuuude.
DUUUUUUUUUUUUDE.
Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?
I see her.
See who?
Jess. I’m at the park.
Chappy, it’s not Jess. She’s in Cali.
Dude, it’s Jess. I’m like 64 feet away. That’s her. I can see her nipple piercing from here.
Is she topless?
No, no, I just wanted to remind you she has a nipple piercing.
Right.
From the time we hooked up.
Yes.
In your bed.
Yes, right, right, I remember now. Highlight of my night.
Well, what do I do?
What do you mean?
You let the poor girl go on with her day without a crazy person watching her.
Joe.
This girl lied to me.
That she was moving to California.
The morning after we did the dirty.
I’m...I’m in love.
I would go confess your love then.
No, not yet. I have to do some recon first.
I was joking, Corporal.
Wait!
She got up!
She’s moving.
I’m gonna follow.
Don’t call me when you get arrested.
a few hours later
You in jail?
I’m going to assume your prison husband doesn’t let you use the phone.
Sorry, I lost her for a second. Had to keep a safe distance back.
I’m currently imagining you hiding behind a fire hydrant.
Did a little bit of that. Now I’m behind a tree. A baby girl looked at me funny. I flipped her off.
Jesus.
She’s going into a cafe.
The baby?
Yes, the baby. With a top hat, cane, and a monocle.
Classy baby.
You do know I’m talking about Jess, right?
Yes, but I really do wish it was the top hat baby.
Which cafe?
Why does it matter?
I don’t know, I just want to set the scene in my mind.
Brinkley’s on 18th. You happy?
Not really, that place has the soggiest french fries.
I’m posting up across the street.
Keep me updated, I’m on the edge of my seat.
A guy just sat down with her!
I think she’s on a date.
:’(
Aw. Wanna go lock yourself in your room and listen to the Requiem for a Dream soundtrack?
Hell no. I want to know what this guy’s got over me!
Morals? Sobriety? Not a stalker?
I’m gonna get closer.
A proper education? Friends? A life?
I took a seat outside. Doing the “hide-my-face-with-a-menu” thing.
A career? Dreams? Someone that loves you?
Okay, that last one was a bit cold.
Yeah, I felt bad as I sent that.
I love you, dude.
You too, bro.
Ugh. She seems so invested.
What’s the guy look like?
Tall. A little old, but in a refined way. Like he’s got that salt and pepper hair thing going on.
Oooh, I love that.
Yeah, seriously, if I’m 45 and have hair like that - woof.
Uh oh.
What?
I think he saw me staring at him as I texted that.
🙊
What are you gonna do?
brb
I went to the bathroom.
why?
It just seemed like the least sketchy thing to do, you know?
Normal people go to the bathroom. That’s a normal people thing.
Are you using the bathroom?
Not really.
Kind of just sitting here with my pants down.
Maybe a little tinkle.
Super normal.
I’m just going to sit in here until I muster up the courage to go talk to her.
Chappy, we’re friends right?
I would hope so.
I’m going to give you some advice. This got weird 20 minutes ago. You should quit now.
Before you interrupt miss nipple-piercing's and the nice salt-haired man’s date.
Joe - have I ever told you the story of what my dad told me when I was a kid?
Oh god, not this again.
See, one day, when I was a little boy, my dad came home from work...
Every time you’re about to do something stupid, you quote this story as if it admonishes you of all responsibility.
...and he sat me down on his lap, real fatherly like
This is extra weird that you’re texting this with your pants down.
...and you know what he said?
😒 ...what did he say?
Are you a pansy, son?
And you know what I said?
I’m half curious, half terrified of what you’re going to do.
DADDY, I AIN’T NO PANSY!!!
a few minutes later
How’d it go, big guy?
It wasn’t Jess. Turns out I don’t remember that night all that well.
Got a little awkward when I told her dad she had a nipple ring.
Well I’m proud of you, buddy.
Really?
No.
App