Ok, I'll share a longish one of mine. I was in college, and for happy hour one day, we went to a local bar. When we walked in, I saw the most incredible creature that I had ever seen working as a waitress. My buddies all laughed at me. It was rude as heck, but I couldn't take my eyes off her, absolutely stunning young woman. A friend later remarked that it was the only time in my life he had ever seen me more interested in a woman than getting my drink on.........
The next week, we went to the same bar, and she was working again. I asked for her section and she ended up helping us. I got to meet her (Alyssa) and of course all my friends immediately started hitting on her. However, she made it clear that she had a serious boyfriend who was a football star at the University of Minnesota, etc. After deflecting all of them away, they left me alone at the table. I kept ordering all sorts of stuff I wasn't hungry for, and left her a $20 tip on probably a $25 bill.........
I left her a little note that said: "You are beautiful and funny and smart. Your boyfriend is a lucky man. If for any reason things don't work out, I would love to take you out...signed Financedude"..........
It became a joke of sorts in the bar. The other waitresses all gave me grief, as did the bartenders. However, I am not one to give up easily. Every week, for EIGHT MONTHS, I went to that same bar, sat in Allyssa's section, and ended up getting to know her. I wrote notes to her asking her out EVERY WEEK during that time. It became a running joke. She said no every time, but thought I was unique in my approach.
My buddies gave me grief incessantly about it, but I couldn't help out, she took my breath away. However, I was beginning to think I needed to move on, because I was getting nowhere. A bold approach was needed, so I made my plans.
Alyssa's shift ended at 8:00pm. I showed up at 7:45 and asked for her. She said what's up, and I told her I wanted to go out that night. She of course said no, but then I told her to go to the front of the bar. She looked out, and there was a white limo waiting. She looked stunned, but I said:
"Look, I just want one date. If things don't go well, in your opinion, I'll have the limo take you home. I just wanted you to know that I like you very much and would like to have a fun date". She reluctantly agreed and we set off. Of course, I had flowers and champagne waiting in the limo. We ended up driving up to a really nice restaurant about 30 miles away. I was having a great time and she was too.
The night wound down, and it was time for me to drop her off. I told her I had a great time and she said she did to. I told her I understood that she had a serious boyfriend and I would not continue to ask her out if it made her uncomfortable, but that my offer still stands that I would like to go out with her if their relationship ended.
She suddenly looked quite sad, and I thought I said something wrong. Then she started crying.........
I at this point was freaking out, what the heck had I done wrong? Finally, she dropped a HUGE BOMB on me:
At 16, she had been raped by her step uncle. He was never charged and she never told anyone. Ever since then, she did not trust men at all, and never had a boyfriend in HS. In college, she fabricated a boyfriend so her friends would leave her alone and she would not have to tell them all the horrible details.................
I didn't know what to do. I thought the worst thing possible to do would be to hug her or anything, although that was my first instinct. Instead, I grabbed her hand and held it and just told her I would be there for her, no matter what. The limo dropped us off and we talked in the dark until the sun came up. When we left I told her to call me anytime, day or night, if she wanted to talk or needed someone.
We ended up dating for almost a year. It was difficult because she was psychologically damaged and any physical act was difficult for her. Part of me wanted to confront her uncle and punch him in the face and the groin, I was so pissed. She transferred to another college, but we kept in touch for awhile. She ended up dating another guy and it got serious. I'd like to think I helped her trust men again. That was confirmed when I received a 10 page letter out of the blue from her a couple years later, thanking me for helping her, etc. It was a heartfelt letter and I knew she meant every word.......
Sorry for the length..........