She doesn't want to be here

She closed her mouth, sighed, and slumped back into her seat in the booth. She did not look like she was having a good time. She didn?t look like she wanted to be here. I frowned and asked, ?You didn?t want to come here, didn?t you??

She looked at me, and shook her head.

?Then why?d you come here?? I asked, hoping she had a better answer than a nod or shake of the head.

She just stared at her untouched mug and said nothing. Obviously something was bothering her. I pushed her mug to the end of the booth to the wall, forcing her to shift her focus to me instead. She turned her head towards me and frowned.

?Come on now,? I began, ?you can tell me!? I tried to jovial, that way she would open up to me more and not feel so threatened. It must have done something because after that, she told me that she did not want to be there. Apparently she needed help to get into UIC and Jacob had promised that he would get her in ? this was three months before. Now she had to hold up her end of the deal ? to basically feign being interested in me and eventually go home with me. This was indeed a deal-breaker for me; I understand that Jacob just wanted to help me, but this was ridiculous! I don?t like being a pity case and being set up like this. Not only that, but this wasn?t fair to her. We left the pub ? leaving Jacob and that woman with him in the washroom ? and we began to head back to her place.

Outside of her apartment building, I had decided to make a deal with her.

?Jessica,? I started, with an annoyed tone, ?don?t worry about all of this, just go home and just don?t make that kind of deal ever again.?

She pouted; ?I?ll just tell him that I had a good time or something,? I rolled my eyes, ?If all else fails, I?ll say that you?re good with your mouth, alright??

She seemed shocked, then relieved and gave me a quick hug. She smiled in glee and ran inside the apartment building in haste. People tell me all the time that this is the reason why I?m friend-zoned all the time: I?m too nice. I just simply reply that it is better than being a douche. Too bad that doesn?t help me in the dating realm.

From there, I headed home.