double take

i volunteered for the Canucks for Kids Fund telethon on thursday night. it was put on by telus so my mom is the one that informed me about it. she volunteered too but i met her at the call centre building where we were going to be taking pledges.

i took the skytrain from work to brentwood since it was walking distance to the building and i didn't want to have to drive if i didn't have to. as i walked through the mall parking lot to get to the building, i noticed this guy walking on the other side of the sidewalk - tall, dark hair, glasses. he was dressed well too. i mean, jeans and runners but he was well put together. i looked once and then i looked twice. he was hot. i could tell that he was younger than me - probably no older than 25 or 26. as we stood on parallel sides of the street, waiting to cross to the other side, we exchanged glances. i thought to myself, "hmm, that's what the Ex would look like if he wore funky glasses."

as we crossed the street, i had to wait to cross one more time so the Lookalike was ahead of me. when i got across the street, i walked to the back of the building, convinced that the Lookalike was gone. instead, i see him on the other end of the parking lot, obviously wondering how to get into the building. at the same time, we both spot people opening a side door and we both head towards it. we get to the door at the same time and he looks at me, smiles this amazing smile and says, "i guess this is the way to get in?" i laugh and say, "i guess we'll find out!" he reaches for the door but, being me, i open it myself. there's a girl standing there who is on her way out. she's clearly too busy checking the Lookalike out so i scoot past her and to the sign-in table. he follows. i give my name and take the stairs for the three flights up. then i duck into the washroom to see what i look like. by the time i'm done, he's gone into the waiting area with the other volunteers.

when we finally are able to go into the training room where the computers are so we can learn the pledge-taking program, i grab a seat closest to the door, strategically leaving one computer station empty beside me. and he takes it. i sit facing the overhead screen; he sits facing me but not looking at me. here's where i think i always end up going wrong: instead of just saying hi and starting up a conversation, i busy myself looking at the screen or reading the information sheet we've been given. he does the same thing. i think it was him that started up the converstation. i think he said, "have you ever done this before?" i said no. and the ball rolled. we introduced ourselves. turns out he's originally from montreal (hence the hint of a french accent) and he moved here a year ago to work for telus. we chat about the inane things you chat about when you don't know someone. then, this other guy walks in - tall, blonde, very cute in a geeky sort of way. we make eye contact too. i'm starting to think i need to volunteer more, especially at telus events.

when we're done "training", we get taking to the call centre room where we'll be taking the pledges. the Lookalike and i walk together. i see my mom waving me down (how embarrassing!) but she's in the pink section and i'm in the yellow. awwwwww.... i stepped outside of my comfort zone and took a seat beside the Lookalike. normally, i would've picked a spot where i could see him but not necessarily be anywhere near him. i dash off to the snack room to get some water and we bump into each other again. it was that kind of night. by the time i get back to my station, the tall blonde is setting up behind me.

short story long, i had a great time. the blonde turns out to be married but he was a lot of fun to talk to. the Lookalike spent most of his time on the intraoffice MSN-messenger type site, presumably chatting with friends. he didn't quite get my sarcasm, although the blonde did. at one point, the Lookalike asked if i was taking the skytrain home and it was looking like we were at least going to walk to the skytrain together but when time came to go, i zipped off to the washroom and when i got back, my mom was standing at the station and the Lookalike was taking off with one of his friends. color me a bit disappointed. i waved goodbye to the blonde, who was still on a call, and he waved a cheery goodbye back. i walked by the Lookalike on my way out, who was surrounded by women but mostly because he was asking a question to one and the others just stood around and stared at him. i wasn't going to wait around like a groupie to say goodbye so while he was talking, i touched his arm and said, "it was nice meeting you." i'm not even sure if he saw who it was who said it but he turned his head slightly and said, "good meeting you too."

and that was it. i didn't really expect anything to come of it. i'm glad i did step outside of the ol' CZ and spend four hours with a really hot guy, joking around, instead of just glancing at him from across the room. i doubt i'll ever see him again, even if i do volunteer at another telus activity. even if i do, he still reminds me of the Ex.

this is the second guy i've been attracted to that is the spitting image of the Ex. i don't know what that means; maybe it means nothing. but it always makes me think about him and what he's doing now. we've been apart longer now than we were ever together and if he's changed as much as i have over the past six years then really, we are strangers again. but that doesn't stop me from thinking about him, every now and then.