Last night was purdee durn cool. I didn't get home until like 6 this morning. I wanted to go hang out with the guys form the Jersey chatroom again. I was in from soon after my last entry til like ... hmm ... 7. Two hours later I was home, showering and questioning whether I should go or not. I probably could've made it ... but with no confirmed ride back home ... I didn't bother. I called Husani.

"Should I even bother going?" I asked.

"No."

"Where are you?"

"Starbucks on Astor Place."

"... Alone?"

"No. We're leaving here and going over to Staten Island, wanna come?"

"Sure."

"Just take the 1 or 9 to South Ferry. If we're not there just call me."

"...k. See you later."

I was relieved. I was already dressed even though I was still doubting the Jersey thing. There's nothing worse than getting dressed to go out and then having to change or something and just stay home. In no time flat ... I was in the city and on my way to South Ferry. I looked around for Husani and didn't see him so I went to the newsstand to get a Snapple. I was thirsty and I needed change so I could call him. Reaching for my drink ... some maniac poked me. It was Husani. Right next to him ... the new guy he's seeing, Brandon and his buddy, Dwight.

Shows how much I know ... I didn't even know the S.I Ferry was free. We rode over and back. Making fun of couples making out. I was in this good/'do what I want' mood. On our way back to Manhattan ... we saw this thing that looked like a pyramid and decided that when we got off we'd go on this quest to find it. We did. It was a building near the Jewish Heritage Museum. They have beautiful gardens there. I didn't feel uneasy being around Brandon like the last 'Husani-guy' I met. We probably have a good amount in common.

Brandon and I were total kids and went crazy when we saw this little playground. Husani was killing me when he said he was gonna die as he slid down one of the poles. I saw this flyer about free beginner blading classes. Perfect! And they have it on Sundays, 2:30 to 5:30.

"We have to go." I said. "All four of us. It'll be fun."

I think I'm probably the only one who'll totally suck since the others claim to be able to blade pretty well.

"Oooo! Sprinklers."

Brandon and I were the first ones to run through. I had no idea Husani was so 'grownup' until last night. Brandon's good for him that way. He'll balance him out pretty good. We walked along the water front over to the Village. Whining that we wanted to see more people making out. Some guys in the Village can be so catty. Giving you the evil eye right until you get your ass on the train back Uptown or something.

"Wait a minute ... that's Travis," said Dwight as we crossed the street.

Brandon made some comment about us kicking some ass and we all laughed. The Travis guy was ... built! I mean ... wow. Dwight introduced us and they chatted for a while. Brandon and I pretending to paw at Travis' tanktop. Soon after we hugged and said our goodbyes as Dwight headed down the subway steps. Brandon did the same thing soon after. Just before getting to the station ... this goth girl with this weird smile on her face poked at Husani. That's all ... just poked him as we walked past each other. It was weird.

"Wanna go to View?" I asked.

"Sure."

We walked and talked about Brandon and how adorable he is. He is. Anyone who could be just as ditzy as I am ... is cool in my book. I think they make a great couple. We got to View and there he was. The cute bartender everyone drools over. Since I'm in my 'boys have cooties' mood ... I didn't even wanna see him for too long. Worst of all ... talk to him. My face was all greasy so I wanted to go to the bathroom to wash off some of the sweat. I went to the counter to ask and who should manage to make his way to where I was but the cute bartender. I think his name's Murray. At least ... I think that's what he told me that night I wasn't exactly totally sober. He told me where the bathroom was, I said thanks and went downstairs.

"Ok ... go get us some drinks." I said to Husani when I got back.

"No way. You go."

"I'm giving you the money. You go."

"No."

"Ugh ... fine!"

The second I got to the bar he was right in front of me again. That damn smile that makes me weak in the knees and no different than the other guys at the bar.

"Can I have two rum and cokes please?"

"Sure." He walked over to the other bartender and came back. "I'm sorry. I need to see some ID."

"Sure." I poked Husani. "He needs ID."

I felt so good that I had ID on me this time.

"Wow ... where is this?" he asked, looking at my passport (my only valid ID).

"A rock on the middle of nowhere," I smiled.

He fixed our drinks and came back over to me. I passed Husani's drink to him and stayed at the bar talking to the bartender a while. Turns out that he's from Australia. Out of work actor type. He said he misses Oz and he'll probably go back in 3 months when his visa's up. He fixed someone a drink and came back to talk some more.

"What am I doing? Am I ... flirting with him? Boys suck remember!" I thought. "Blah!"

When he went to fix another drink I left the bar and joined Husani on the couch. For the rest of the night I seemed to be thrown in a situation where I had to look at him or talk to him. Husani wasn't helping. In fact he was feeding the whole thing. Telling me that he was looking at me or he smiled more when he talked to me. It started making me feel weird. Like ... powerless or something and when we left ... he made it a point to tell me to have a good night.

What could a totally hot blonde/blue out of work actor Aussie have a common with ... me? Me. A skinny black kid who has nothing remotely appealing about him. I mean I see the way everybody else looks at him. Yes he's hot but honestly ... I just think he's a nice guy. A nice ... hot guy with a cool Aussie accent *knees go weak*.

It was going up to 4am when Husani and I walked to the subway. 4am and I'm pacing the platform ... trying to dismiss eveything that happened.

"Guys like that date clones, Husani."

Husani was in no state to listen to me really but I rambled anyway.

"They date clones. Not people like me. I'm invisible to guys like that."

More pacing and my voice echoing in the empty station.

"Ugh! Y'know ... we should go back there tomorrow night. Mmm hmm. Go back there and just totally ignore him. You would go get the drinks. You would have to talk to him. Yeah ... that's it! I'll just totally ignore him. Mmm hmm."

"Yup," Husani replied.

"Totally."

"Mmm hmm."

"Yes." I nodded.

"Fine."

"Yup."

"Mmm hmm."

"Uuugh!"

We got to Port Authority and there were no buses to West New York. We walked around for a while and went to the internet cafe on Times Square. Still dismissing the whole Murray thing from earlier. Husani decided to take the Path so he'd get home by 5 or so. We hugged and I sat there on the steps of Port Authority looking at what I could swear were hookers walking up and down the sidewalk. I started to get a little sleepy so I went into the only part open in Port Authority, sat on the floor with my back to the wall and closed my eyes for a while. They had securityin the area so I felt pretty safe. At around 5:15 ... I went back outside on the steps again. The sun was starting to come up. I was actually seeing the city in a way I've never seen it before. More girls getting out of cars and walking for pay phones. Hookers and hustlers. Delivery trucks and construction workers.