We originally met when I was a junior in college and he was in the middle of medical school applications. I didn't really know what I wanted to do with myself after I graduated and he seemed so confident in his plans for the future. I remember feeling nervous during our first date, especially since he seemed so much more mature than me. After dinner, he walked me part of the way home and I didn't know if he was going to end the date with a handshake, a hug, or a kiss. I didn't know what was going to happen, and I joked that the situation was awkward. He apparently took that to mean that I thought the entire date was awkward. We didn't talk after that. However, I kept seeing him on the bus to the Hopkins Medical Campus periodically. I would see him all the time, but apparently he never noticed me - maybe it was because my hair color kept changing that year. This went on for about a year and a half. At some point, he sat right across from me and I thought, "If I got back on Tinder, would we match again?" Surely enough, we match on Tinder again. I tried to play it cool and messaged him first, "Hey I think we went on a date before." I think he had a vague recollection of who I was, though I was saved as Alicia on his phone. We agreed to go on a second first date. Naturally, the day we were supposed to have our date, I see him on the bus, AGAIN. I got really nervous and ducked me head so he wouldn't see me - I think I was afraid it might be so awkward to talk before the date that he might cancel it. We met up after work for drinks and for some reason the conversation flowed a lot better. Maybe it was because I've grown-up since our last date; maybe it's because I had actually watched some "real" anime. After drinks, we held hands and walked around in the streets of Mount Vernon. We sat down and shared photos with each other when I realized he had Pokemon Go installed on his phone. It had been about a year since the game came where you can walk around and catch Pokemon. He had given up on the game, but I was very enthusiastic about. I think I guaranteed myself a second date after I showed him my extensive Pokemon collection.

The first time we met, I was not sure either of us was ready. I was studying for the MCAT, without really wanting it. I even still lived at home with my parents! Meanwhile, she was a junior in college, with a world of opportunity ahead of her. Anything and everything could have happened. I wanted it to be a casual first date – no pressure…but sure enough, we ended the date with an awkward kiss and goodbye. I thought then that I blew it, but in retrospect, it might have been the best thing to happen to us. Fast forward a year, and lo and behold, we matched again. I recognized her but she looked so different – and it wasn’t just the hair that she had dyed. She seemed more excited, and more engaged in our conversations and her smile lit up the room. I felt at ease around her – I could be myself, no strings attached. I told her of all the nerdy things I love, and that I grew up doing. And she told me hers. It seemed as though the year between our first date and our second date had better prepared us for our second meeting! As our conversation developed into the evening, she showed me that we had so much more in common than I imagined. She was smart, beautiful, AND, her Pokemon Go collection was absolutely impressive! After our second “first” date, we walked hand in hand catching pokemon together (I know how nerdy are we?!) This time I was determined not to blow it. I dropped her off at her apartment, gave her a kiss goodnight. The exhilaration!