The craziest of crazy nights, in ways more than one

Friday night in South Bend=strangely surreal.

Last night, myself, L., M., S., and E. took it upon ourselves to hang out at S.'s before heading out to hit the local hotspots (read: bars playing Journey and Hannah Montana, all in the same evening). We play a crazy game of Fork/Spoon/Cow/Horse (Is that what it's called?) and medicate with our various libations: me with tequila, S., M., and E. with v/t, and L. with a carefully selected six-pack of Miller Lite. Lest his role be forgotten, T. was also there, and definitely earned his role as driving champion of the night.

After S.'s, we head straight to Finny's, a SB watering hole known for its stringent double-ID standard and not much else. Here comes the back story.

Recently, a M.E. had caught the attention of L. (and consequently, of everyone in our group). After a few days of diligent girlfriend reconnaissance, L. made first contact and extended (possibly the most smooth, nonchalant, EVER) invitation to join all of us out tonight. Keep in mind, this is less of an invitation and more of a "Here's the info, come out if you want to." L. has skills that few possess.

Because of their brief acquaintance, L. had not expected M.E. to come out, especially since he had previously told her that he almost never went out on Friday nights. However, hope springs eternal and the girl posse loaded up in hopes that M.E. would break his boring-non-Friday streak and come out. We place the chance of seeing him at somewhere between 5-10%.

Certain discussions are had, and S. ends the evening in a very strange place—just as strange as L., who, while deep in discussion with me about M.E., turns around to find him standing two feet away from her.

OMG OMG OMG!!!
This is the reaction of everyone as soon as we find out. I almost fall down, I am so surprised and excited; M. and S., once they realize M.E. was in the hizzouse, probably feel the same way. L., however, is possibly the smoothest woman in the world, and swallows the urge to jump up and down clapping her hands. She gets into an animated conversation with M.E., and then all of M.E.'s friends. Meanwhile, S. and I are running interference for L. with our other friends, all of whom seem compelled by a simultaneous urge to talk to her. I think we did our job well, because before we knew it L. and M.E. were deep into what looked like a very interesting conversation.

Because he came with a group, M.E. ends up leaving sooner than we'd have liked—however, what he did and when he left means nothing because HE CAME OUT!!! And we had it from the source that he never did Fridays, and thus his appearance signaled more than a little interest in L., at least to our eagle eyes.

Following all of this excitement, S., L., and I (M. and E. having left earlier) load up and got on our way home. S. and L. decide to make a night of it, so we swing by S.'s to she can grab her toothbrush, and are on our way back to L.'s when S. gets a call from S.C., asking her to come and pick him up so they can talk. We head back to Finny's, which is in the same direction as S.'s apartment, only to realize that he has actually gone back to his apartment. We turn around, drive to S.C.'s apartment, pick him up, bring him back to S.'s so they can talk, and turn around again and take L. home. T., who has been driving the whole time, provides some much needed common sense as L. and I proceed to do nothing but squeal and laugh and scream about OMG HOW EXCITING M.E. CAME OUT TONIGHT OMG!

Thus ended our night—at 3:30 a.m. Like I said...surreal. But last night was one of those nights that will go down in the annals of history, if for nothing more than the sheer fact that HE CAME OUT OMG OMG HE CAME OUT!