The Diary Project

Natalie said that there’s nothing wrong w/ me it’s just that the guys mature slower than us.

I think that yesterday, I didn’t give myself enough credit. i’m feeling a lot better about myself. Last night, emily convinced me to start liking Dave S. She made a deal with him. I’d like him and she’d set me up with him. We’re planning on going to fair on Mon. Here’s her plan:

Sometime during the day she pulls Dave aside, (there’s only going to be Nat. + Jordan, M + Doug + Me + Dave there) and asks him how he feels about me. She’s going to say that she has a suspicious that I like him. Then I’m supposed to give him hints, like singling him out, that I like him. Then when it gets dark, we’re all going to go on the ferris wheel — the giant one and it’ll be Nat + Jordan in one, Em + Doug in one, and since we’re the only ones left, Dave and I in one. So then when we get off the wheel, Dave and I will be going out. Yeah right! I’m willing to let M try it, but I doubt it will work.

At ice-skating today, (Natalie’s starting lessons) Natalie sat she’s going to help too. Natalie’s going to talk to Dave and ask him if he’s ready for a relationship. I really like Dave, I think and I REALLY want to go out w/ him. Well I guess I want 2 go out w/ someone. I hope their plans work. I seriously do. But I want Dave to like me a little not just ask me out because he was kinda pressured to. Last time I was this close to having a boyfriend, I kinda blew it. Robbie said no. But all I have 2 do is put that behind me. I chose my divine blueprint and I know that it’ll happen if its meant to. I just hope it works out. I’ve actually started to like Dave. And I want to go out w/ him. So, Nat + M — give it your best shot! I don’t know if it’ll work though…

Becky is coming!!

BECKY IS COMING!!!

I’m so happy! They bought the plane tickets! No turning back now! I can’t wait! I miss her so much!

Natalie said that there’s nothing wrong w/ me it’s just that the guys mature slower than us. So, pretty soon the guys will come around. I still want 2 go out w/ someone before I’m 13! I’m glad me + Natalie are good friends. She’s a great one to talk to She cheers me up and isn’t afraid to tell me the truth about myself. We spent a few hours on the phone and it was very insightful! I’m glad I have such great friends that are there for me. I know M’s always there for me, but sometimes I just don’t feel like talking 2 her. I’m glad I can always ask Natalie 4 advice + help. P.S. She says she was to be a counselor when she grows up. She’ll make a great one!

I really hope that this thing with Dave works out. I’m worried about making conversation on the wheel. That thing moves so slow. I don’t know how I’m going to do it. I’ll figure something out. Maybe I’ll talk about the view. I just can’t act shy! He’s not shy — I can’t be! I’m not shy but I don’t talk much around people I don’t know. Before I know it my palms start to sweat and my voice cracks. Now, that would be a major embarressing moment! I hope I don’t smell or anything. It would be soooo soooo romantic if he liked me and asked me out on the ferris wheel. I can just see it.

He had just made a joke and we’re laughing there there’s a pause as we the study the view. I say “it really looks like they’re trying to set us up.”

He’ll say, “yeah, it does.” He pauses. “So how about it? I mean, you wanna go out?”.

I say “yeah. okay. cool.”  There only a few more feet of riding left and he makes jokes when we get off he grabs my hand 4 the rest of the night. And at the end of the night he kisses me goodnight. Ah, heaven!

I’ve never really had to make conversation alone with a guy. On the Ferris wheel will be a first.

Today Emily invited everyone to the fair. Dave can probably come. No turning back now. I really hope it works out between Dave and I. I really, really do. I like him now. At least, I think I do. From what everyone keeps telling me about him he sounds sweet. Natalie says he’s really sweet, really nice, and really funny. Which means I might have to do a lot of laughing. And I hate my laugh. Oh, well. I also hate my smile. Oh, well. This diary is too small. It’s annoying! Oh, well. This is getting repetetive, huh? Oh well. Just joking. I’m really nervous about making conversation for that long. The whole day! Oh, well! Ha, ha! Maybe he’ll be really easy to talk to. Maybe it’ll be impossible to run out of things to say. I hope, I pray! I’ve never really had to make conversation alone with a guy. On the Ferris wheel will be a first. There always is other people around whenever I talk to a guy. It may be just a conversation between me + him but there were people around. It’s just going to be me + him with no one I can turn to for help. I just choose my divine blueprint. Emily says that Jeff really liked me. I feel bad about making Wes up. But it was the only way I could get out of saying no to him. I knew he would have asked me out sooner or later. I’m sorry Jeff, but I couldn’t face you. I’m also sorry we all treated you so bad, all year. We didn’t mean half the stuff we said. In fact, we didn’t mean all of the stuff we said. I really am sorry.

Back 2 my crisis that’s happening right now! I really want 2 go out with Dave. I swear, I’m about 2 ask him out! I’m ready 2 call him up and ask him out. I wish Monday would come so I could get it over with. Despite what Emily says, what Natalie says, I don’t really see how he’ll ask me out on the ferris wheel! Unless he falls desperately in love with me as soon as he sees me on Monday! But what are the chances of that happening? Very slim! So, I’ll just have to let Emily and Natalie (the masters–yeah, right! J.K.) do their work! People say that it is always darkest before the dawn. My romance life has been really dark I hope Dave and Mon are the dawn!

“And how high can you fly with broken wings?”

Last night, I spent the night at M’s. It was fun. I hope the thing with Dave works out. I do. I like him; it’s not just a deal with M anymore. Of course I felt this way about Andy about a year ago. I hope I like him and I don’t just think I do. I’m pretty sure I like him–but I haven’t seen him since–I don’t know when. Awhile ago.

The fair thing is kinda falling apart. Jordan can’t go. Ana might go. HELL! We don’t want to try to find a replacement for Jordan. We’re going 2 see if he can go on Tuesday. So we might be going 2 days after tomorrow, instead the day after tomorrow. I just want the whole thing to get over with. I don’t want Ana 2 go, because though I don’t mind M+N meddling in my personal life, I definately do not want her to! I trust them but she would do more bad than good. Probably, she’d tell Dave that the whole thing is a set up. She’s a bitch! My pink pen does not work! I don’t trust her I don’t want 2 spend a day with her. I’ve had enough of her to last a lifetime. Even if she doesn’t go, the plan with me + Dave isn’t foolproof. There is no foolproof way 2 do it. I hope their plan works. When I was on the phone with Ana today, she said something about feeling sorry 4 me ’cause they’re setting me up with Dave. I’m sorry but if she’d stick 2 her own business, everyone’s lives would be better. Even an old foggie in Japan’s! I’m tired of changing colors It’s pointless.

Sick of Changing Colors

At this point, 12-year-old Jen stopped changing the ink color every line.

Maybe I should ask him out. Yeah right! Trust me, you’ll get a detailed account of the day! Why do people bother with “he said” & “she said”? Oh, well. We’ve just lost the ability to talk face to face with someone of the opposite sex. Or the same sex if you’re a homo. Does it get any easier? I hope so! I don’t know if I can stand this 4 much longer!

I feel bad 4 Natalie. Her relationship isn’t going so well with Jorday. That’s good for Emily. How can something be good for one person and horrible for another? I wish I knew Jordan really well so I could get his feelings. I hope that when (not if!) I go out with Dave, it’s good 4 both of us. Natalie said I should be more positive so it’s when we go out–not if we go out!

I could take up the rest of this diary with worries about the day at the fair. But, I’m not going to worry about it. Here is a line from Amazing by Aerosmith:

“And I just can’t tell just what tomorrow brings.”

That’s true. I can prepare and go through all the possibilities of what could happen–but what good would that do? Here’s another:

“And how high can you fly with broken wings?”

That makes perfect sense to me. It’s true, right? Think about it.

Well I’m going to fly–I’m going to go out with Dave! I don’t think I have broken wings, but:

“You have to learn to crawl
Before you learn to walk.”

I believe in myself. I’m sure that Dave will like me for what I am–hey, Wes did it right? J.K. If he can’t see what’s on the inside of me it’s not worth it to try and make him. I can just hope and pray.

Please God–

I’m writing this from the bottom of my heart. Let Dave like me + have us go out. PLEASE!

How am I going to keep conversation going on the ferris wheel? Help!

[Note: This entry is written upside down]

Change in plans! Something came up and Emily’s mom won’t be able to drive. Dave’s mom is! I’m going to be in his house! I have no idea what’s going to happen. I know I’m writing upside-down. I want to do something different! But, I’m so nervous! What am I going to say? How am I going to keep conversation going on the ferris wheel? Help! I hope it works out! Natalie says he knows who I am. Cool! She said he was naming the list of people going and asked him if he knew me. He said like, “Isn’t she the brunette?” So he knows me! He was cool to talk on the phone with. I didn’t know his voice was so deep! Oh well. Maybe it was destorted by the phone!

I’m just so nervous! I hope everything goes right. I hope he falls in love with me. When I walk into his house. Well I’ll pray!

Bonne nuit! Bonne chance pour moi!

Because it drove Dave nutso, Natalie and I screamed at every single ride–no matter how stupid it was.

No good news to report. Unfortunately. I’m pretty dissapointed. I knew that the plan wasn’t foolproof. Dave and I are definately better friends, now. Our group, the “cool group”, is supposed to go on many other trips. Now I have a much better chance with him. Emily and Natalie kept trying to get me+him on rides together. They couldn’t have made it more obvious. They did get us to go on a lot of rides together. We ended up going on the ship ride together–about 5 times! We went on the Nightmare (stupid baby ride) together–once. We went on a ferris wheel–once. We didn’t end up going on the giant wheel at all. Whenever we went on the ship one, Emily would make a sign to tell me to get us to sit closer together. I ignored the signs. Emily ended up telling Doug the plan. I don’t mind. Just as long as he doesn’t tell Dave.

I felt very left out for a lot of the time. Doug was talking to Emily; Natalie was talking to Dave. Jordan didn’t end up going. It turns out that Dave is afraid of heights, so since I didn’t like the ship ride too much, we went on it together. We were named wusses for sitting close to the middle. I had a pretty good time, even though at times I felt it was really pointless to be there. OW, my throat REALLY hurts. Because it drove Dave nutso, Natalie and I screamed at every single ride–no matter how stupid it was. I’m really tired and depressed.

Bye.

I keep wishing that the phone would ring.

about 4:50 pm

I was talking to Emily this morning and she said that last night after she was home, Doug called her and asked her if she wanted to go on a double date to a matinee with Natalie and Jordan. I know I shouldn’t be hurt but I am. Since she’s been going out with Doug, it seems like I’m inferior. She said that maybe we could triple with me and Dave, but I have to face reality. There’s no hope for us.

I know she’d not trying to make me feel inferior but she is. Or maybe I just feel inferior. I don’t know. All I know is that it’s not going to work out between Dave and I. I still like him though. Or maybe it’s not that I’m in love with him but that I’m in love with being in love. I haven’t liked anyone for sooo long, I jumped at the chance to like someone. I guess I forgot the pain that comes with it.

I just wish I had a boyfriend so I wouldn’t feel so left out. I keep wishing that the phone would ring. Dave would be on the other end. He would want me to go out with him. But the phone rings and it’s not Dave. On what level did I choose this hell for myself? I know Natalie and Emily tried their best to get Dave and I together, but they failed. Emily says Dave asked them about making us get on rides together after I got dropped off last night. She also said that Doug thought or thinks that Dave and I would make a cute couple but I think that he was just agreeing with his girlfriend. I don’t know what to do. I wish I had someone I could talk to. Even though I know it’s pointless, I want Em+Nat to keep trying. I wish there was hope for the situation. I could call Dave and ask him out but that would just end in my dying of embaressment because he said no. I know I should be more, but I was positive and look at where that got me. I swear, I’, about to give up on myself

about 9:30 P.M.

All night I stared at the phone, hoping it would ring.All night, I sat around, staring at the phone; wishing it was Natalie or Emily. I wanted to suggest that since Natalie can’t go to the date thing tomorrow, that they all come to ice skating. But the phone didn’t right all night! And I wasn’t about to call them. The truth is, I really want them to try to get me+Dave to go to the movie. This fuckin pen j  at v   k!

This fucking pen won't work!

What I was TRYING to write was that the pen won’t work. and that I want them to try again at getting me + Dave together. I really like him. I don’t just like the idea of liking him as I had suspected. Ana called and I’m talking to her. This SUCKS!

She’s prying into my personal life. Shut up, Ana! Lately I’ve been taking my anger out on anybody. Usually my sister. I kept snapping at her. Then, early this morning when snapped at her, she started crying. My point is that I have to much anger and hurt. Well maybe not hurt but upsetness (is that a word?). I don’t feel like crying but I’m so upset.

I’m dissapointed that we didn’t get together and I’m hurt that just because I’m not going out w/ anyone, I’m excluded. I know that it’s not really that way. There are two couples in the “cool group”, and they’re getting together. I don’t really belong in the “cool group”. Why? Well, I don’t know any of the guys very well and lately it seems as if Emily and Natalie are better friends than Emily and I.

I just don’t feel like a part of any group. I wish it was. If it was up to the guys in the “cool group”, I wouldn’t be in it. I know that. Everyone in the “cool group” has all these inside jokes. I’m not part of any. Maybe I just won’t go to anything that’s planned. I don’t belong there. I know that the only way for me to belong there is if I keep going, but I won’t be able to handle the pain. I hate being left out! It is just one thing I can’t stand. And I will be left out in the “cool group”. I could hang out with Natalie or Emily but they’re hanging with their boyfriends which leaves me with no one I know well. For awhile my life seemed to be looking up. But it went downhill.

My life sucks and I know it. I watch Barney for heaven’s sake! I have the TV listings memorized. My life revolves around the tube. I did go to see Maverick today with Fred. It was fun. Tomorrow I have ice-skating. That’ll be cool. At least I won’t watch VH1 + MTV all day. DAMN, my life sucks. It’s pointless. I’ll bet I haven’t made one person happy that I’m alive!

I was playing computer games earlier. I told myself as I began a game of “Keys 2 the Castle” that if I won I’d go out w/ Dave and if I didn’t I wouldn’t. I hardly ever win but I won. I know that
doesn’t mean anything since there’s no hope for us as a couple. I believe in fate and I know that if it was meant to be, it would have been. Or will be–YEAH, right! Snort, snort. Dave obviously isn’t interested. I just have to face the facts. I may never have a boyfriend. I wonder what the best way to kill yourself is, I’m joking. I would never even consider suicide. But, right now a gunshot looks mighty tempting.

I can’t count my chickens before they’re hatched, so nothing’s certain.

[Note: In the latest of adolescent Jen’s “gimmick” entries, the first page of the following prose is written right to left, in the fashion of Arabic calligraphy]

Directions: Hold to mirror and read!

Do you like my writing? I’m doing something different again. I’m getting good at it. Anyway, Emily called me this morning. She said that since Nat couldn’t go to the movie, Doug asked if she’d go by herself. So Em was going to go on a real date! But they didn’t go. Nat can’t go tomorrow or Fri. So M (Em) is going tomorrow (with Doug of course!) To-night we were talking on the phone. She asked if I wanted to go. I said yes, so she called Dave.

(I’m tired of writing backwards)

So now Dave and I are going on a double date with M + Doug. Of course he doesn’t know it’s a double date–Em asked if he wanted to go to the movies with her me + Doug. But technically it’s a first date. Except that in order for it to be a “date”, Dave has to ask me, or we are going out. Or I ask him. Here’s how the seating arrangement is supposed to be:

[    ][    ][    ][Dave][ Me ][  M ][Doug]|aisle|<—–chairs

It’s going to be majorly obvious that we’re being set up. M’s going to say that she wants to sit by me + Doug and since Doug has the aisle seat, Dave has to sit next to me. I pray everything works out. We’re going to go see “Getting even with Dad.” It’s a comedy starring Maccauley Culkin. I’m really nervous.

Getting Even With Dad

Romantic choice, eh?

Today at ice-skating there was a guy about our age. He was semi-cute. He had his own skates and was hella good at hockey skating. Anyway, he kept sitting on the wall, looking too solemn. So Nat dared me to go over to him and ask him his name.

So I finally did it. It was Mark. A while later I was dared by Nat to go over, wave to him and say “hi, Mark!” Well, I did it. His younger brother was there and after some investigating, I found out that his name was Isaac and that Mark likes Dr. Pepper. It was so funny! It gave ice skating a twist.

Mark the Hockey Skater liked Dr. Pepper

The unwritten subtext: I didn’t particularly like Dr. Pepper, so it wasn’t too into him anymore.

I don’t know what to do about the movie tomorrow. I’m so nervous. What will happen? I can’t count my chickens before they’re hatched, so nothing’s certain.

In an effort to look good, I braided my wet hair tonight. If it doesn’t look good, I can just brush the crimps out and look normal. I hope everything works out. Wish me luck!

Anyway all morning I was really nervous. But everything turned out OK.

Well, it couldn’t exactly be classified as a double date. It was more of a get together with 2 girls + 2 guys, at the movies. Emily and I came together and the guys came together. We got there at 2:30, which was when we had agreed to meet. We bought our tickets 4 the 2:40 showing of City Slickers 2, and headed into the lobby. We bought food at the concession stand, and proceeded towards a bench to wait 4 the guys. It was about 2:35.

We waited. Emily went to the bathroom and returned. Soon after we spotted the guys. They bought their tickets and joined us in the lobby. After Doug had bought food, the three of us ditched Dave and began to enter the theatre. Quickley Dave caught up with us. We strolled down the aisle looking 4 an emty row. There were a great many of them. We chose one. Emily took the second seat from the aisle, I grabbed the one on her right. Em shoved Doug into the aisle said which forced Dave to sit next to me.

After a few previews, a sad advertisement for the garbage can came on. Everyone remarked at how pathetic it was. I had bought Sour Patch Kids. About 20 minutes into the movie, I accidentally inhaled a few grams of sweet n’ sour sugar. The effect was a few sneezes.

Sour Patch Kids

Little known danger of Sour Patch Kids: “a few sneezes”

About halfway through the movie Dave’s Reese’s Pieces spilled all over. Dave’s face was a tomato and Doug doubled over with laughter. Em struggled to keep from laughing and I laughed slightly and asked Dave what happened.

A while later the movie ended. The guys went to the bathroom and after realizing that that was where they had gone, we went there too. Em’s mom had been waiting outside for forty minutes and was not very happy. We dropped Dave off and went to Doug’s house. He told us that he was planning to move near Dave. Doug went bye-bye. We went to M’s house and then to ours. And now my feelings on the matter:

Wasn’t that account of my adventure just fascinating? I’m really wierd. Anyway all morning I was really nervous. But everything turned out OK. I’m not even dissapointed. I mean he couldn’t have asked me out. It was just a movie. Did you know that Dave’s brother was fifteen and that he has made all four of the holes in the walls of Dave’s house? the holes all happened because his brother was pissed at Dave. Emily made a complete and utter fool of herself in the car. Just Joking. (kinda!) I had a really great time today. I can’t wait till next time!

Ciao!

City Slickers Movie Ticket

The souvenir from my very first double date.

I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for ice-skating.

6:45 PM

Howdy Doody! I’m at Emily’s house. We’re sitting around. My stomach is talking to me! It’s saying: feed me! feed me!

I’m just joking.

Maybe I’ll stop liking Dave. It’s pointless. Oh well. Now I’m going to write with my left hand.

Emily thinks I’m crazy for trying to make my diary interesting.

I’m tired of that.

I make my diary interesting so that it looks interesting. My life is rather bland, so I need to liven it up. Lately, though, my life has been cool. sorta. It hasn’t been wonderful. I don’t know what I would do if it wasn’t for ice-skating. When I go, it is like, I can skate fast and leave my problems behind. Or I can just skate around and think about my life. Usually, when I do that, I end up bumping into some poor little kid or something. Oh well.

More Later