Drew and Emily

One Saturday night in February 2017, Drew was working late in Yale's architecture studio, wearing sweatpants and preparing for a long night, when his roommate Jiji and her boyfriend Gulli came bursting into the quiet studio. "Come with us!" Jiji demanded. Drew resisted momentarily, but he's never been one to resist the pull of a party. They stopped by a basement gay bar where Drew's sweatpants were a hit. Jiji then announced, let's go to this Drama party. Right around the corner from the bar was one of the Yale School of Drama buildings where the Drama graduate students were hosting one of their "Crime Scenes," an unsanctioned party in a rehearsal room with dancing, drinks, and, of course, drama. Inside the basement on Crown Street, the music was bumping and the Drama kids were blowing off some steam from another week of rehearsals and classes. A group of theater managers had been sharing whiskey and stories in the green room of Yale Rep down the street and ventured into the Crime Scene party with a healthy buzz of anticipation, among them third-year Theater Manager Emily. She was ready to dance for thirty minutes then head home to her orange tabby cat Schmitten, who was eagerly awaiting her late night meal of tuna and kibbles. When Drew, Jiji, and Gulli entered the party, Jiji took to the party like a moth to a flame, always one to know someone or everyone in the room. Earlier in the fall, Jiji had befriended many of the Drama students when she performed in a show, REVOLT. SHE SAID. REVOLT AGAIN, at the Yale Cabaret, a student-led black-box theatre in yet another basement. One of her castmates had been none other than Emily. Drew, ever the supportive roommate, had obviously gone to see Jiji's acting debut in Revolt and was blown away by the performance of Emily in particular. In the show, she'd berated a half-naked woman. She'd carried the same woman off stage by herself. She'd both lovingly caressed and beaten beyond recognition an inflatable flamingo. What a woman! There'd been no way to meet her at the time of the show but he hadn't forgotten her. And now here she was -- dancing and laughing in another basement. Drew nudged Jiji. "Introduce me to her." Wasting no time, Jiji pulled Drew and Gulli over to Emily. After hugs and intros, they all danced together. Emily could tell the tall guy with the spiky hair seemed interested but she also wondered -- Is he gay? Is he into anime? What's up with this hair? He noodled around never really touching her but also staying close to her even after Jiji and Gulli had moved on to other adventures. Eventually, they parted ways and Emily, intrigued by this tall, dark, and spiky man, went looking for him. Her intrigue was now the only thing keeping her at this party as it was way past her bedtime. She found him outside on the stairs with the smokers. "Is he a smoker?" She wondered. That wouldn't work. No cigarette in hand, just taking a break from the party and engrossed in conversation with another drama student. Emily would later come to learn that a slightly drunk Drew could make friends with everyone. For now, she worried that this meant he was no longer interested in her, but he made eye contact and smiled. Promising! Emily ventured back into the party to dance and eventually the boy with the hair found her. They were dancing closer now and neither of them was even sure where Jiji and Gulli were anymore. Emily, wanting to go home but not wanting to stop spending time with the cute guy with the spiky hair, leaned in and asked "Do you like cats?" He did. The rest is history.