Xpress: The shock of being stood up

IT!

The shock of being stood up

By CECILIA A. TUCKER

First of two parts

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I don't know how to say what I need to say today. I am so hurt and embarrassed about what just happened. I have been stood up and never saw it coming.

This is how it happened. I have really liked this person for a long time. I never thought I would have a chance because this person is in the "in" group and I am not. Somehow in class one day we started a friendly conversation, and before I knew it we had made plans to get together for a date over the weekend. I was anxious and excited about this great opportunity.

We agreed to meet in a neutral location and then go to a movie and a party afterward. I drove myself to our meeting place and waited. Lots of my friends knew we were going out tonight, and I kept imagining them in the movie lobby as I waited. Everyone was cheering me on, giving me high fives and razzing me about my date.

I waited what seemed to be hours; my friend didn't show up. It never crossed my mind that would happen. I thought I had misunderstood, that maybe I was just supposed to go straight to the party or maybe I had gone to the wrong movie plaza.

I was too embarrassed to go into the movie and sit with my other friends, so I quietly disappeared from the scene and went back to my car. We were supposed to go to a party after the movie, and I kept telling myself I would just show up there; maybe I had gotten mixed up.

It was hard for me to believe because I was so pumped about this entire deal. I sat alone in my car for what seemed to be another hour; then I decided to phone my friend. The answer on the other end of the line was a voice mail so I left a message, "Hey, thought we were on for tonight. What's up? Where are you? Get back with me ASAP, and we will hook up at the party. Sorry for the mixup on my part. See you soon."

I waited for a reply, but there was none. What will I do now? Maybe my friend was in an accident and couldn't answer the phone. Maybe something came up at home and plans got changed. Maybe, just maybe, all of this was a joke, and I am the butt of it and everyone is replaying my dumb message and laughing at me.

No way that could be true.

I decided to go to the party and not be so paranoid. Off I drove, holding my head high. I pulled into the driveway; the party was already in progress. I carefully approached the door, knowing my friends were not invited. The door opened, and my so-called "date" was standing in the middle of the room kissing someone else. I was stunned and paralyzed. The laughter of the "group" swept over me as I stood in the doorway. My so-called friend then unleashed on me saying, "What are you doing here, loser? Did you think I would seriously want to go out with you?"

Feeling frozen, I cautiously backed away from the door, turned and walked to my car. It was all I could do to open the door and sit in the driver's seat. I started the car and proceeded down the street going nowhere; anywhere but there.

Humiliated and despondent, I stopped the car, trying to decide what to do and where to go next. Monday would be here in two days and I would have to face all of them then. How could I do that?

- IT! (Private thoughts of the Indomitable Teen) is written by Cecilia Tucker under the editorial guidance of a panel of teenagers (in exchange for pizza and volunteer hours). Tucker is a licensed marriage and family therapist at the Counseling Center for New Direction in Seminole. Comments are welcome. You may write c/o: IT!, Xpress, the Times, P.O. Box 1121, St. Petersburg, FL 33731, or e-mail Floridian@sptimes.com. If you are interested in being on the teen editorial panel, please contact Cecilia Tucker at revcecilia@msn.com.