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About Chris
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I met Chris my senior year in high school. I was taking calculus classes at Coastal Carolina University for dual credit, and she was in my class. I'm not exactly sure how we started talking, but I quickly found that she was someone I could comfortably talk to for hours on end without running out of topics or tiring of her company. We would often just stand in the parking lot after class and talk about whatever. Considering I'm not a particularly social or talkative person, this is noteworthy. In fact, I think she's the only person I've ever known that I've been that comfortable talking with. And I really can't explain why.
I suppose it should also be noted that there was absolutely no sexual tension or romantic interest in the relationship. Admittedly, she's a very attractive girl, and I'd be lying if I said I'd never had sexual thoughts about her. But it never really mattered, as I never felt uncomfortable as I would around girls I was actually interested in. She was just a friend, and that was all I really wanted.
After I graduated from high school and left for college, we sort of lost touch (this is a common thing with me). However, when I came home on break (I think it was either summer my first year or winter my second year, but I'm not certain), I found out that my friend Robert had found a LARP (eww) Vampire game. As several people both of us knew were playing it, Robert invited me to a coffee shop where they were discussing their plans for the next game (in hopes of convincing me to join). To my surprise, when we arrived I saw Chris at the table. I realized how much I'd missed our conversations and such, and we ended up chatting for quite some time. Because Robert had a crush on her, I think he was a little jealous over that.
I found out that night that she worked at a store in the mall, and (luckily) it wasn't one that minded if I hung around the store and chatted with her. Obviously, I tried not to interfere with her work, so it was never a problem. So I would drop by often, for long periods of time, such that many customers started thinking that I worked there.
Sometime around Christmas I got dumped by Jessica. The exact details are best left to another discussion, but the short version is that a little after New Years Jessica started up going out with Robert. This was, needless to say, not a good situation for me. It not only strained my friendship with Robert, but was like twisting a knife in the wound left by Jessica. To cheer me up, Chris invited me on a "not-a-date," as we called it. We caught a movie, grabbed dinner, and went back to her apartment to watch more movies till something like 4 or 5 in the morning. Somewhat typical date stuff, but it was understood that there was nothing beyond friendship in our relationship. It stands out as one of my favorite memories nonetheless. Anyway, it worked to cheer me up for the most part.
Then, right before I heading back to school, Robert invited me to go out with him and Jessica for a farewell party or something. That seemed rather awkward, as I really didn't want to spend the night watching my ex and my best friend playing lovey-dovey in front of me. So, I asked Chris to come along as my "date." Again, it was understood that it was just to ease the awkwardness and no romantic meaning was intended. After some amount of begging, I managed to convince her to come along. In my opinion, that showed what a great friend she was (even if it doesn't come across well in retelling). She played the part incredibly well that night, and considering Robert's continuing crush on her, it was rather gratifying that he felt at least a little of what I'd been feeling. (Incidentally Jessica dumped him less than a week after I left. Again, the explanation is best left for another time.)
After that, every time I came home from school I'd try to drop in on her store and chat with her when I could. However, one summer (I forget which) she disappeared for a while. When she finally returned, I learned that she'd attempted suicide (because her roommate was driving her nuts or something) and had been in mental treatment for a while. But she assured me that she was now on "happy pills" and things were fine. This has nothing to do with anything other than further supporting my belief that almost all the women I know have serious mental issues.
So, yeah. After a while (I'm unsure of the specifics as I only learned of things as I came and went from school), her job went for a few months without scheduling her for work, so she started working at a bookstore instead. They were less forgiving of her stopping to chat with me, but I could still drop in and say hi occasionally, at least. Then apparently she left town for a while applying to some job actually related to her degree. By the next time I saw her (about a year later), I learned she'd gotten married. Her husband is actually quite cool, and we got along rather well the one time I met him.
After that, we caught a couple movies together, but since I no longer had any easy way of getting in touch with her, we sort of drifted apart. I haven't talked to her in well over a year now. I miss her.
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