The boy with dimples

I was back at school visiting with my old editor tonight. We laughed at how the place we both still call home had become so foreign for us. We had issues with which bars were located where. I walked in my favorite pizza place for dinner and I couldn't remember my usual sandwich. I had to call Ze German three separate times to figure out where exactly he was. I ran into people on the street who knew me, but I had no idea who they were. I shared a couch with someone for 45 minutes before recognizing him.

"Oh, are you Matt Amin?"

"Hey Jamie, I was wondering when you were going to say hello."

I was so embarrassed. I felt like they should take my Athens card away from me only to realize I had voluntarily given it up over a year ago when I moved.

We ended up at a bar called 8es. The old Uptown Lounge as Leah had to explain to me. Bars never stay the same name for very long and drinking games had been developed where you name the history of a bar. "Uptown Lounge to Sterling Britches to something else to 8es" I recalled involuntarily, thinking of the game.

At the bar a familiar face passed in front of me. I grabbed Leah's arm.

"I know that boy," I hissed.

"You do?"

The face walked closer and I began to panic because I knew I would have to say something soon. "I could never forget a boy with dimples," I whispered.

He was different, but I knew those dimples. I ignored the rest of him and focused on his smile as he approached me.

"Travis!"

A girl could never forget her bartender. Sure I forgot people I worked for years with, but with my dimpled bartender the name came easily. (Before you pass judgment, the same thing happened to Leah at the previous bar, so you'll have to judge her too.)

"Jamie!"

It was unusual for bartenders to remember their customers. Work in Athens and you'll end up serving thousands of people that know your name, but you have no idea who they are. Once people leave the city, any bond is usually forgotten in lieu of new tippers.

The boy with dimples remembered me.

"You grew your hair out. Now I can't rub your head anymore!"

Maybe this is why he remembers me.

He looked me up and down, "You look good, can I get you something?"

I was planning to get water at this bar, but when a boy with dimples remembers you, you have to order your signature drink.

"Sapphire martini with three olives."

He set the drink down in front of me and waived my hand away when I tried to pay him. Instead I put a couple of bills on the edge of the bar which he grabbed and stuck in his pocket.

"What's new with you? Where are you living these days?" he asked.

"I'm in Atlanta; I'm a grown up now!"

Leah snickered. The boy with dimples laughed. "Oh yeah? What's so great about being a grown up?"

I pressed my lips together and gave it a quick thought. 50 hour work weeks, more bills, higher rent, no boyfriend in sight... "Better shoes!" I announced triumphantly.

Leah doubled over and the boy with dimples laughed again. "You haven't changed at all."

We talked some more and I couldn't hear most of what he said so I just smiled and nodded at the boy with dimples.

Oh yeah, and Michael Stipe sat at the table next to me at another bar, but as you can tell, dimples excite me way more than celebrities.

I must go to bed, I have an 8 o'clock implosion in the morning.