Somewhere Only We Know

I didn't want to roll out of bed yesterday morning because it felt too warm and cozy. But, alas, I had to finally come to terms with the ungodly hour of 6:00 AM, for the sake of seeing my friends Katie and Agatha. We hadn't hung out in forever (well, since last spring).

It was the same old thing as last year's Alumni Day at the Academy of American Studies, except that most of the alumni that came were from the class of '09. Time feels weird - I'm in the middle of my sophomore year of college, and I only just graduated a couple years ago, but somehow there's this distance I feel. A kind of displacement. Like I belong, yet only on the periphery.

At around 9:00, We were served bagels and muffins for breakfast with a helping of some orange juice before heading into the auditorium, where the real reason for Alumni Day would take place. Each year, the assistant principal pretty much asked a group of alumni (representative of those who commute to school, dorm, or go to a private college) to answer some general questions about our college experiences. Katie, Aggy, Gloria, and I decided to sit somewhere toward the back so that we wouldn't get called on. And since we were really just there to see some of our favorite teachers again, the four of us decided to go upstairs to the 4th floor and find them, since there really wasn't any point for us to stick around that long in the auditorium.

We found our history and economics teachers - one of them even called Katie a "wise guy" for saying that there should be a thing as "AP Plumbing" when the conversation branched off into the practicality of having schools specificallly designed for future plumbers and electricians. We walked into the art room, thinking that we would find our funny, cool art teacher. But who did we find instead? The government teacher (who strongly resembles 'Mr. Clean' because of his shiny bald head) in the middle of giving his bored students a lecture. I guess some things don't change - his classes were always so tedious because he would spend most of his time overanalyzing every little so-called error that the Democrats would be doing. But still. Who would think that a junior government class would take place in the school's art room?

Anyway, moving on...
I saw my English teacher, but he was too busy teaching, so we didn't stop by to talk to him. I guess that maybe we still felt awkward around him because he would usually have a serious look on his face, as though he's always thinking deeply about something. He was the teacher that most of the girls would swoon over and crush on because of his charming personality and his enthusiasm for teaching. He was like the character Will Shuester in Glee. Katie was like, "I knew you still  had sonar ears when it came to hearing his name." So I had a bit of an infatuation for the guy. But he was one of the best teachers I've ever had, who pretty much opened a wider door to writing for me. The girls adored him; the guys wanted to be him (despite the occasional jokes they'd make out of stupidity). He was just one of those charismatic people, the type you can't ever seem to hate because there's just something about that person that makes you feel either inspired or motivated.

After that, Katie, Aggy, Gloria, and I just chilled out in Steinway. I didn't have cash on me, though I wished that I did. There were a couple of stores that sold really pretty and sparkly jewelry that would have gone well with a whole bunch of my outfits. But then again, everything became expensive. Earrings - the cute, costume type of earrings - used to cost around $3-$4. Now, a decent pair is at least $8. And if you want the really sparkly, elegant earrings, be prepared to fork over $20 to the cashier. Oh, the temptation of accessory shopping.

After walking around Steinway for some time, we headed over to Aggy's house and watched He's Just Not That Into You. I had already seen it twice before, but I couldn't get enough of it. Somehow, the movie always manages to make me laugh. It's become one of my favorite movies, ever. So forgive me if I'm about to sound a bit obsessive. :)

Out of all the storylines in the film, my absolute favorite is that of Alex and Gigi (played by Justin Long and Ginnifer Goodwin). They were the couple that I was rooting for since the beginning. I guess it's because I could really relate to Gigi.

For instance:
You think you've met a cute, funny, charming and decent guy - and you think that there might be a spark between you and him. But as it turns out, the guy ends up stomping on the little pieces of your heart as he walks out of your life because he's just not that into you. And it's a cold reality splashed onto your head, a jarring and painful truth that you cannot bear - the fact that you were rejected, unwanted, and alone. And it makes you wonder. It really makes you wonder what the hell it is that you did wrong. Your girl friends try to help. They pat your shoulder, offer a hug or maybe even their cashmere-clad shoulder to cry on because they care about you. But the truth is, they're probably just as lost as you are, and instead they tell you that the guy just can't handle your beauty and your brains and your delightful personality. So the guy runs, like every lying dipshit that's wormed his way into your life and shattered the already fragile pieces of your heart, while you just sit there and cry helplessly.

So maybe it is our faults. At least, partially. We let our imaginations get carried away too often, with aspirations for a fairytale ending with some shining knight you're destined to be with. Maybe we shouldn't live under the impression -- no, the illusion -- that we will end up with the perfect guy and live a wonderful, worry-free life.

Anyway, while we're on the subject, it's probably fitting to put some quotes from the movie here. And okay... so my favorite ones happen to be stuff that Alex and Gigi said. Just some food for thought:

• Gigi: A girl will never forget the first boy she ever liked.
  
• Gigi: We are all programmed to believe that if a guy acts like a total jerk, that means he likes you.
  
• Alex: If a guy doesn't call you, he doesn't want to call you.
  
• Alex: So trust me when I say if a guy is treating you like he doesn't give a shit, he genuinely doesn't give a shit. No exceptions.
  
• Alex: If you can find him, then he can find you. If he wants to find you, he will.
  
• Gigi: Maybe he lost my number or is out of town or got hit by a cab.
  
  Alex: Or maybe he's not interested in seeing you again.
  
  
  
• Gigi: I would rather be like that, than be like you.
  Alex: Excuse me? What’s that supposed to mean?
  Gigi: I may dissect each little thing and put myself out there so much, but at least that means that I still care. Oh! You think you've won because women are expendable to you. You may not get hurt or make an ass of yourself that way but you don’t fall in love that way either. You have not won; you’re alone, Alex! I may do a lot of stupid shit, but I’m still a lot closer to love than you are.
  
• Alex: Hey, Kelly-Ann, uh, did I get any calls?
  Kelly-Ann: Since you asked me 11 minutes ago, no. Not a lot of phone traffic.
  Alex: [He checks his cell phone for a signal.]
  Kelly-Ann: Oh my god.
  Alex: What?
  Kelly-Ann: What’s her name?
  Alex: Who?
  Kelly-Ann: The girl, Alex.
  Alex: There's no girl.
  Kelly-Ann: You can't hide it, man. I know strung-out and you are S-T-R-U-N-G O-U-T.
  Alex: [He laughs it off.] Pleaseeee. [He starts to walk away.]
  Kelly-Ann: [She follows behind.] This is amazing. You can't focus, right? Jumping every time your phone rings, checking your email a hundred times a day, wishing you could write songs...
  Alex: [He scoffs.]
  Kelly-Ann: No, feeling the need to bring up her name in random conversations...it's always the same and it has happened to you, my friend.
  Alex: [He realizes she's right.] Shlt.
  Kelly-Ann: Welcome to my world, asshole. Let me get the door.

And so, it all culminates to this... My favorite scene in the entire movie. I just about swooned.
(I couldn't find a high-quality one without subtitles, let alone one on YouTube that allows embedding, so don't mind the German[?] subs, hehe.)


He's Just Not That Into You (You're My Exception)

Heidi | MySpace Video

I would melt if the guy of my dreams (whoever he is) told me that.
"You are my exception." :)

So the lesson? I'll give the stage back to Gigi, who cleverly put it this way at the end of the movie:

"Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up: if a boy punches you he likes you, never try to trim your own bangs, and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. Every movie we see, every story we’re told implores us to wait for it: the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule.

But sometimes we’re so focused on finding our happy ending we don’t learn how to read the signs. How to tell the ones who want us from the ones who don’t, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. And maybe a happy ending doesn’t include a guy. Maybe it’s you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. Maybe the happy ending is just moving on.

Or maybe the happy ending is this: knowing after all the unreturned phone calls and broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment… you never gave up hope."

Wise words, indeed. ;)