When In Doubt, Delete His Number.

Tonight Kate and I had plans to do dinner at a popular Yaletown lounge called Society. To our disappointment, the restaurant had been rented out for the evening, so we hopped across the street for a less original evening at The Cactus Club.

We discussed our updates over won tons and blueberry tea. I rambled on about work and dance, she rambled on about boys and dating. I listened and learned.

"I've discovered something I believe to be very smart," she started. Kate was in the middle of relationships. She had just had her heart half broken by a guy she dated a total of 30 days, and was throwing herself back into the dating scene, with safe screening.
"If you're about to go out for a night that includes cocktails, delete the ex's number from your cell phone. Write it down and stash it in your jewelry box, or wherever. That way, you still have his number, but you won't be tempted to drunk and text him later that night!"

She was impressed with her new found scheme. I for one, had never found myself in this situation. I'm not a huge drinker to begin with, and have had only two real relationships in my life. This made it only that much more fascinating when Kate went on about her love life.

It had been only a few weeks ago that I had joined Kate for her birthday at another Yaletown pad. It was there that I met her newest ex, Nathan. He seemed like a decent guy, stable, but how much can you know about someone in an hour? I guess it depends on the person. Either way, about a week later, Kate was unpleasantly surprised with the break up call, while at work. Typical excuse, 'I'm just not in a good place right now with my work and my health...'. Loosely translated, 'I'm just not that into you'.

In an effort to forget, Kate took herself out for a night with some girlfriends. After a few too many drinks and a lot of flirting with a pack of cute Aussies, she decided to send Nathan an innocent message. 'It would be great to see you'. Send.

After passing out with no reply, Kate sent a damage control message the next day. 'Please disregard my previous message'. The reply? 'Haha don't worry I did'. Slightly stung, she replied, 'I know, it wouldn't be good for me to see you right now'. To which he replied, 'It's really never a good idea. Take care'. Ouch.

Thus explaining her stash-his-number idea.

Now the real question is, why keep his number at all?

Meet The Gang

I'd like you to meet my girlfriends.

This is Kate. Kate is twenty four years old and lives with her father in a spacious Vancouver apartment. She is a huge yoga buff and recently landed her dream job at Lululemon Athelica. She is short, spunky, and full of life. Great fashion sense, and a great head of curls decorating a slightly light headed personality. Spacey yes, but very honest.

Next is Claire. A dark, tall, ballerina shaped beauty, all of twenty six years old. Coming from wealth, she lives with her parents in West Van, and works at a gym as a personal trainer. Her true aspiration is to be a ballet dancer, but is trying to convince herself social work is her forte.

Natalie. Twenty three years old, brown haired and voluptuous, and full of happiness. Happiness hiding a painful past. In this way Natalie and I are quite similar. We bubble with personality to escape a lingering reality. But that's another story. Natalie is a stewardess, and lives with her recovering alcoholic mother.

Oh Jules. Julie is all of twenty two, and is hard as rock. The no pain, no gain type. She broadcasts, I feel no feelings, yet underneath is a deep old soul. Dark hair, dark eyes, and expressive tattoos. Artistic in may ways, Julie enjoys photography. She works as a server at a local club.

Natasha. The mama hen. Twenty three years old, acts twenty eight. European, blonde, and naturally beautiful. Natasha has a sense of maturity we all look up to. A sense of knowledge about herself we all wish we could attain. A woman of many talents, she is never still yet amazingly grounded. A fashionista, godmother, and pioneer all rolled into one.

Then there's Gillian. The oldest of us all at twenty seven. Very driven and career orientated, she runs her own business downtown Vancouver. Relationships come last with this one. Standing all of 5'6", this brunette has one thing in mind. We're just not sure if it's fame or money.

Last but not least, Emma. The most inexperienced of us all, relationship speaking. The youngest of the group at twenty, Emma is far from naive on every topic except men. She always speaks her mind, which limits the amount of social bonding she has with those around her. A sweet girl, but blunt. Not being an obvious knockout, she carries a certain 'men are stupid' energy to mask the reality of wanting a boyfriend.

I guess that leaves me. Kristen Marks, hitting quarter life crisis this year with the big twenty five. I am a dance instructor living in a bright Kitsilano studio that faces the beach. I am tall, slender, brown hair, brown eyes, the usual.

Now that you know all of us, here are our stories.