What Goes Around May Not Come Back Around

Story Submitted by Grace:

Ray was a joker. In the middle of lunch on our first date, he went outside and came back in with a worried expression. "I think they just towed your car," he said.

I bolted from the table and ran outside. My car was still there. When I went back in, furious, he laughed, "Ha! You should've seen your face! You're so gullible."  I could have killed him, but the best was yet to come.

After lunch, we had made plans to visit a museum, and went to the subway. We waited, the train pulled in, stopped, and opened its doors.

"I'll be right back," Ray said, and suddenly ran behind a pillar. I ran after him, but he ran back around the pillar's other side and ran into the subway car.

I followed right behind him, but he turned and held up his hand, blocking my way. "Wait," he said, "I—"

The doors closed between us. I stepped back on the platform, hit the doors, Ray made a funny face at me, and the train pulled away with him on it.

I took it that Ray was ending the date. How else should I have taken it? For a minute, I came to my senses, then left the station, planning to head home.

A half-hour later, a text arrived from him. "LOL Should've seen ur face! Where r u?" I didn't reply. He texted again, "Where r u for real? I'll come back for u."

I didn't respond. He called and I let it go to voicemail. When I listened to it, it said, "Hey, I was just kidding. The look on your face was priceless! Anyway, I guess you're still down in the subway, waiting for me, so I'll head back down to the station. See you soon."

I was home before I received another call from him. This time, I picked up. "Can you help me?" I asked him, "I got on a train and must have gotten lost. I'm at Forest Park and don't have any money. Can you come get me?"

He said, "What the hell are you doing way out there? Why didn't you wait at the station for me?"

I told him, "I tried to follow you. I didn't want to lose you. Now I'm at Forest Park and don't have any money and I need you to come get me."

"I'm on my way."

He called me a little while later. "I'm at Forest Park. Where are you?"

I said, "I'm not there. You should see your face, asshole," and hung up. His further texts, calls, and messages were ignored.