Pursuit.

Well, it's been a while since I sent an email to y'all. And... that's merely because I've been quite busy. School is a beast. But I'm doing all right. Actually, what I have to talk about is my social life. In particular, my social life with the boys. That's honestly the only interesting happenings lately. It seems there has been a sudden spike in dates. Ahhh!

Of note, I brutally rejected John. Sad day for him. He was the one who: I met on a blind date on Valentine's day, randomly showed up at my door when I really didn't want to see him, asked me on a date to dinner at his place, I refused (I don't trust him) but decided instead to take him to the humongous roommate group date where there would be plenty of people at which he insisted to make the hamburger buns himself from scratch (they were actually quite good), volunteered to fix my computer, and actually did fix my computer. I think that's where I left you guys hanging last.

Nice guy. Except I kind of couldn't stand spending time with him for more than small time intervals. He was a tad annoying. Well, the day after the big group date, I receive a text from John. "Would you like to come to dinner tonight?" No, I wouldn't like to come to dinner with you. Ever. Plus, I'm home sick from church feeling miserable. I text back "No thanks, I'm not interested." I thought that was polite. But apparently I wasn't direct enough. "Oh, are you still sick?" comes the response. I text back, "Yes, indeed." Then: "So would you be interested in dinner some other time?" Blegh. I repeat, "No thanks, I'm not interested." No response, so I figured he finally got the message. Except that twenty-four hours later, I receive a slightly bitter text: "Oh. I'm sorry to hear that. Sorry to disappoint you." I didn't respond... I figured that getting a text like, "Oh, I'm not disappointed, I never had my hopes up in the first place" would be a bit brutal.

Okay, so the other guy I mentioned from last time -- Jared. As a refresher:

Jared is probably the quietest, shyest guy I've met in my entire life. I remember I had a brief conversation with him at a ward prayer back in January. In late February, I finally realize... he keeps following me around at ward events trying to talk to me. Except that's a difficult task, since I'm kind of like an excited little puppy bouncing around trying to say hello to everyone and give them all hugs, etc.

After this realization, I stop the puppy-act and stop and just talk to him for a while. It seemed like he was struggling to make conversation, like he didn't know what to say, but I find out that he works at Teriyaki Stix, and exactly when he works, and that in two weeks he won't be working there anymore. I told him I'd go visit him.

So I'd better get a move on. One Tuesday at lunchtime I dash over to the Cougareat and head straight for Teriyaki Stix. I see Jared at the register, looking a little down. I walk up, and when he sees me, it was like sunshine just filled his soul. He perked up and was visibly happy to see me. "I told you I'd come visit you," I said. He just kind of smiled and stuttered. Aha! Suspicion confirmed. The shy guy likes me.

As I am waiting for my food, he suddenly pipes up. "Jenna! I'll call you tonight!"

I smile. "Okay, I'd like that." And then my food is ready, and I leave.

He did call, and that resulted in a date to the Hunger Banquet that Friday. He bought me a rose. Afterwards we played Boggle.

At some point he gathered enough courage to call me again. So we went on a date to Divine Comedy. It was kind of funny though -- he had already asked all the questions he had asked last time. And I could almost see him beating himself up every time he realized he'd already asked that question. So I started to take over the conversation and ask new questions. After the show was over, he took me home. And I just have to say -- the hug at the end was goooood.

So on Sunday, I find him in church. I sit two seats behind him, unbeknownst to him. The plan was to just conveniently be right there after sacrament meeting so I could talk to him. Except my plan was thwarted, because there was a ward choir musical number, so in the middle of the meeting I had to get up and walk right past him. He looked shocked. I kind of wanted to laugh. During the musical number I could see him watching me in my peripheral. I walk back to my seat; he smiles at me and is now noticeably tenser for the rest of the meeting. Aw, poor guy.

After the meeting, he walks up to me and says hello. I greet him, and then I ask, "So... which Sunday school do you usually go to?" Turns out he usually goes to the Conference talks one instead of gospel doctrine, where I usually go. "Well then, let's go to conference talks!" We did.

And then last Saturday, I am doing my laundry early in the day, and I get a call from him. I answer it and he proceeds to ask if I'd like to come country dancing with him that night. Heck yes.

So we go country dancing. In all the dance classes I've taken, I've gotten pretty good at following the guy's lead. I've also learned that dancing is basically a socially acceptable way of holding hands and holding close anybody who'll dance with you. Haha.

After an hour and a half of dancing, we are both kind of tired. He mentioned that he had gotten a movie for his birthday a few days ago. I suggested we go watch it. So we did.

Or at least we started it. Midnight came and so I had him take me home, so we didn't get to see the end. On the way home, it occurred to me that I might actually be comfortable with the idea of dating him. Hm. That's never happened before. So I plotted, and asked, "So... when are we going to finish the movie?"

Jared blinked. "Um, er... when do you want to?"

I thought for a moment, then said, "Well, honestly, I don't have time until Friday... when do you get out of class?"

"Two," he said.

"Hmm. That's a bit late for lunch. Well, we can do it at dinner. In fact, we could make dinner!"

"Okay!"

"So... what shall we make?"

At this point he was looking quite pleased. He piped up. "I don't know, but we could go shopping to get the ingredients for whatever we make beforehand..."

"Yes! Let's do that. So... how is Friday at 4?" I responded.

"Good." We decided to do it at my place. And while we'd finish the movie, we'd look through cookbooks until we found something particularly appetizing and within our budget.

Whoo! You should all be proud of me for my slyness and smoothness. And especially my boldness.

Yesterday at church I came with the intent of sitting next to him. I scan the room, only to find that he is sitting where the sacrament-passers sit. Dang. That means I don't know where he's sitting. Oh well. I walk straight up to him: "Jared. Where are you sitting?"

He seemed to like that. "Uhhh... two seats behind Sterling."

"Okay. I'm going to sit by you." And I left to secure my space... unfortunately the only empty seat there was right behind him, so when he came back he was tense again because he couldn't see me but he knew I was there. He seemed like he was kind of nervous, and if I could warrant a guess, I think he was probably trying to think of what he would say to me after sacrament meeting was over. I think I was right because as soon as it ended, he turned around and said, "I picked which Sunday school to go to last week. So it's your turn to pick!"

Ooh, good one. "Let's go to gospel doctrine in the West wing!" We did, and sat next to each other. The roll got to him first. Then he passed it to me and mumbled something I didn't quite catch. I found my name and realized he had marked it for me and what he had said was "I marked you." So I laughed and replied, "So you did!"

We had to separate afterward for Relief Society and Elder's Quorum, but not before a hug. After church I was socializing in the lobby when I suddenly realized he was next to me again. "You should walk me home," I suggested hopefully. He obliged.

On the way, he said quietly, "Are you going to the ward fireside tonight?"

"Yes. Are you?"

"Yeah," he replied.

"Yay!" I exclaimed. "Can you walk me over?"

He liked that idea. He did walk me over, and we sat next to each other, and he walked me home as well. The ward gossip queen noticed us and came over afterward and pried the story out of me. Apparently it's a cute story.

And all my roommates get giggly whenever they see us together. They all approve and keep saying things like, "Jared and Jenna. It sounds cute." Okay, guys, whatever.

My roommates also kept telling me that a few other guys in the ward liked me. I didn't believe them until I noticed them drooping when they saw me spending so much time with Jared. Oh sad.

And that's all. Two and a half weeks left of the semester! Whoo! And then I move.

Bye, Jenna!