Jun 17 2007
Chadding Along
Soap Opera Sunday and Chad part 2 (part one is here)
I know that some of you were casting bets that Chad was gay. I’m so sorry to disappoint, but he wasn’t. Believe me, a big chunk of my life would have been a lot easier if he had been!
No, actually he’d fallen for me. I’m not sure how or why, especially since every girl in the apartment complex, not to mention anyone who had a class with him, or, well, anyone who walked past him in the hallway, had a thing for him.
It made me the object of much cattiness and snippiness. Stupid, silly, girl-stuff. I didn’t mind, at first. It just meant that they were all jealous. But because BYU operated on an “Honor Code” system, we were all sort of encouraged to spy on each other and report when someone broke the rules. And having a group of girls with a grudge against me would turn out to be an unfortunate thing.
Chad and I began spending a lot of time together. A lot. We never “defined the relationship” or anything silly like that. We were just having fun. On the surface I think that we thought we had a lot in common, but the more we got to know each other, the more we realized how completely different we were.
One night, he and I were at my apartment watching a movie and I fell asleep. I woke up to hear my roommate interrogating him. I could hardly believe that she thought it was any of her business to ask him such things, but since I too wanted to know the answers, I pretended to still be asleep as I listened in.
What I learned from their conversation was that he’d stopped believing in God. He wasn’t sure he’d ever believed. What you need to know about BYU is that nearly everyone there is Mormon, and on top of that I knew he’d served a mission for the Church, so I had just made assumptions about his beliefs–that they were identical to mine. But I realized we’d never actually talked about it.
As their conversation continued, he admitted that he was finding himself falling completely in love with me, but he knew that I was extremely religious and that I would want a certain kind of wedding ceremony and a certain kind of lifestyle, but going through with that would feel like total hypocrisy on his part and he couldn’t do it.
At some point, my roommate told him, “well, I don’t think she’s even thinking about marriage right now! I mean, she just turned 18!”
“WHAT?!?!?”
Ummm, ooops? I guess I’d forgotten to mention that part. I hadn’t tried to hide it. In fact, I was quite proud to be the only female freshman in the Foreign Language Housing. It was a true honor to be there for anyone, but it was almost unheard of for freshmen to be admitted*. I just assumed he knew that about me. He was 25. Apparently our 7-year age difference was a little too much for him.
*Before you are impressed with my accomplishment of being accepted, please know that it had nothing to do with my own merits, and everything to do with who my Daddy was and who his connections were. My Italian sucked. I had NO business being there and I was painfully aware of it. Still, it made me LOOK smart and talented.
Looking back, I think I would have been ready to break up with him if I hadn’t heard this conversation. We really weren’t very good together and we really didn’t have much in common. Making-out was fun, but not worth staying together over.
But sitting there, listening to him give my roommate his list of objections over me, was the same as him issuing me a challenge. I said to myself, “My religion bothers you? My age bothers you? Hmmmm. We’ll just see about that.”
Picture me, then, arching my eyebrows, tapping my fingertips together, and chanting, “he will be mine. Oh yes, he will be mine.”
Let the unhealthiness begin.
And now, I am anxiously awaiting the passage of time. Is it Sunday yet? Is it Sunday yet? Brillig, is it Sunday yet?
That guy is toast
I’m totally with Nanette. I can’t believe I have to wait six more days for more!
How did the move go? Are you feeling better?
nanette nailed it there, just how are we supposed to wait ALL THE WAY TILL SUNDAY?
Holy macaroni girl, it really is a soap opera. I can’t wait to tune in next time…
(uh,yeah… I will also be here in between. I am addicted like that)
So funny. I cannot wait to hear the end of this story. You’ve inspired me, I might just start my own soap opera sunday memories. I have a few that I could add.
Ooooh man. You do such a good job at keeping us all on the edge of our seats. I KNOW the story and the ending already and I can hardly wait to see what next week brings!!
I’m sorry honey, but just because a guy falls for a girl doesn’t mean he’s not gay. Neither does it mean that if he gets married and has children. Especially in a world where “gayness” is sorely frowned upon. It’s very hard to “come out” in a religious community. Even to yourself.
But I was just kiddin about the gay thing (I think). My gay-dar is the most backward thing about me!
He probably is gay, though.
“Let the unhealthiness begin.”
Hahahahah!
I call that “look” my Mister Burns (from the Simpsons).
Most guys his age would have been all over it regardless, I think. Maybe. The ones I knew, anyway. They were probably pervs, though.
I’m eagery awaiting the next installment.
Ah yes, the unhealthiness… can’y wait to hear more!
Oh my. I have jumped in late to this game, but am hooked. Must go read Part One and find out more about the older, agnostic, somewhat flamboyant (I’m guessing here with the gay comment) Chad and his lucious lips.
On a side note, isn’t it interesting how much good stuff you can learn while pretending to be asleep?
I can’t remember what happened! I can’t wait to tune in and read the finale. PS - I LOVE that you said DTR in this post…I haven’t heard that in years!
I love to act like I never did stuff like this, ’cause I didn’t. Ever.
Except that one time…
Oh, the silly things we do in our youth… Can’t wait for the rest of the story.
You’re taking hints on cliffhangers from Btrfly, aren’t you?
OOOHHHH!!!! I am loving the soap opera… and I can’t wait either. Can’t you give us a hint? Please?
I don’t want a hint, because I’m enjoying your masterly storytelling far too much. Seriously, when’s your first book coming out?
Ooooooh! I can’t wait to hear more!
HaHa, yes I was amongst those that though he might be gay.
Was I ever wrong.
I’m so lovin you. Nothing like a good challenge right ?
you could definitely get a job writing scripts for soap operas….
Can’t wait for the next chapter!
omggggggg leave us hangin why don’t ya…can’t wait to hear more..lmao.
Get this…I was watching Y & R, and when it went to commercial so I thought I would catch up on my blog reading. I’m reading this….and totally didn’t realize that Y & R had been back on for a few minutes….it’s THAT good! It eclipsed a professionally filmed soap opera!
Oooooo….can’t wait for Sunday! Hey…wanna give me a birthday present? You can post your next episode tomorrow!!!