dress pants

dress pants

He was nineteen when he first walked into that class. She was twenty-four, working toward her PhD in philosophy. She was standing at her desk, reading intently. She looked up when he entered the room. She had bangs trimmed to her eyebrows, straight across her forehead save for a few stray pieces. He liked a girl who cut her own hair. She wore a black shirt and dress pants hemmed right above her ankles. He liked a girl who wore black shirts and pants hemmed just above their ankles.

“Welcome to class, I’m glad you found me. I know I’m tucked away back here.”

He loved her then. He loved his girlfriend too, but she didn’t have an Italian accent.

“I’m glad I found you, too. Have to make a good first impression.” She smiled at that. Just a small smile, with her lips only. “I like your pants. I like pants hemmed just above the ankles.” She smiled bigger at that, with teeth this time. They were straight and white, with just a small gap in between the two front teeth, like she lost her retainer some years after braces came off.

“Thank you, I like them too. What’s your name?”

“My name is Sid. It’s really a pleasure to meet you. What should I call you?”

“Well, you can call me Anna, but in class maybe just Professor.” She checked off a box on the paper in front of her. “We’ll wait for the rest of class to show up. Just read a book or listen to music while we wait.”

“I will, thanks.”

It was a weird thing, falling in love like that. She didn’t even have to try and he wondered how many people had fallen in love with her before. She ought to be used to that by now. But how many people had told her that they loved her? Maybe he would be the first. He thought about that as he left the class, walking out onto the city street. The walk home was pleasant enough, only a mile and a half to his apartment. He lived with three roommates in a one bedroom. Their living room had a door though, so it was two to a room. Hardly the best place to bring Anna, he thought.

When he got back to his place he lit a cigarette. The walls were brick, the floors were concrete and all the windows opened. Smoke didn’t usually stick in there. He made a ham and cheese sandwich and walked around the apartment, thinking. When just the crust was left he tossed it out the window and sat down at the computer. He sent an email to Anna. He told her it was a pleasure meeting her and that maybe she could give him some book recommendations. She’d like that, and he’d like it too.

After he hit send he called his girlfriend. It rang three times as it always did and she picked up.

“Hey, Sid.”

“Hey, love. Are we still on for tonight? I thought maybe we could go grab drinks when you’re done with work.”

“Yeah, that’s great. I need a drink. I haven’t had one since last night.” He laughed at that.

“Text me when you’re off.”

“Will do. Love you.”

“Love you, too.”

And he really did. He’d loved her since he saw her for the first time. She had a fondness for wearing tight shirts and high waisted dress pants. He just loved a girl in dress pants. She had bangs cut to the middle of her forehead, save for a few stray pieces. He loved a girl who cut her own hair. He met Isabella last summer. He was walking through the grocery store, pocketing a few things he might need at some point in time. Little things like paper clips, batteries, a two pack of pens. He really just liked stealing. He saw her bent over the yogurts, picking up each one and reading the nutrition facts. Finally, she chose some plain greek yogurt.

“Plain greek? Where’s your sense of adventure?” he said as he walked by. She turned to him abruptly. For a moment she seemed annoyed. When she saw him though, her face softened. He had short brown hair, sides cut a little shorter than the top. He had green eyes and wore dress pants cuffed right above his ankles. She loved a man with brown hair, green eyes, and pants cuffed right above the ankles.

“It’s what you add to it that makes it adventurous.”

“Right, my mistake. I pegged you for a blueberry and honey yogurt type of girl. The boring stuff.”

“Is there something wrong with that? Blueberries are nature’s candy.”

“What does that make yogurt? Can I walk with you?”

She nodded and she made for the wine section. They strolled leisurely down the polished floors. The lemon scent of cleaner wafting up to the both of them. It felt good to have someone to shop with. They both loved wine. He loved reds and she said people who loved red wine don’t think for themselves. He loved a girl that challenged him. He asked her about books and music and what she loved to do. When they got to the checkout she loved him. It was a weird thing, falling in love like that.

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