So, I was sitting at the bar one night, and...
... my bartender motions behind me and says, "Who what that, Nicky?"
I swivel around on my stool, and don't see anyone.
I turn back to her and she said, "He was just there a few minutes ago, in fact, he was standing behind you for about five minutes, and thought it was strange because you didn't turn around and say anything to him, so I figured you were ingnoring him on purpose."
The girl next to me nods in agreement, "Yeah, I tried talking to him three times, and he wouldn't say anything to me..."
So my barman enters the conversation, and by the time they fill him in on the details, I shrug it off and say that I've got a new stalker, and they all grin. I explain that I know who they were talking about, but really didn't know that he was standing behind me, and say that out of the two I'd rather be the stalker than the stalkee, and they all laugh again, and I give my barman a significant smile.
The whole conversation rings loudly in my head all week as I see the guy they were talking about down every hall at work, in every classroom I walk by, even in the common room at lunch. And still, I don't talk to him, and he doesn't talk to me, except for the casual "hey, how are ya?"
Thank god he seems more quiet than I am, because while I'm sure that though I seem to be seeing him everywhere, it's just a co-incidence, a student going to University, and me, putting in my time at work.
And it makes me laugh and cringe at the same time, because my own comment "I'd rather be the stalker than the stalkee." rings in my head a fair amount of times lately. I feel sorry for my barman on these occasions. There's the bell of low self-esteem, though, because I know it's not the same. Being attracted to someone isn't a crime. Paying attention to someone shyly isn't either. It is pretty damned pathetic at times, though.