The first day I met him, he told me he wanted to take me to the zoo.
He had a mess of brown hair, which was tousled – barely gelled, maybe – and hidden under a loose hat with a large brim. And beneath it, somehow visible in the dim light, were his bright green eyes, sparkling with every head-spinning smile he cast my way.
He had a name like satin and a personality to match. I couldn’t get over how perfect the patch of freckles over the bridge of his nose was, and was delighted to meet someone – a rare someone – who could keep up with my playful teasing and ribbing. He was funny without being immature, smart without being cocky, and relaxed without being a slob. He was boyish and charming, but attractively smooth and slick at the same time.
When it was time to say goodnight, he placed a gentle hand innocently at the small of my back, never once dipping lower like so many assholes before him, and led me to the door. He asked for my phone number, gave me a quick kiss on the lips, and told me he would text me – as is so common with our generation – in the morning.
Of course, the morning was late afternoon, and there was no talk of the zoo. Maybe another time, I thought, reasoning inwardly. We did just meet, after all. Maybe a date like that is too much, too fast? He couldn’t be overeager and neither could I because – hey now – that’s just not cool.
So we continued to text. And a few warm fuzzy days later, he asked me to come visit him.
That was when I knew.
His house was beautiful, immaculately decorated, and filled with a calm energy.
But it was also filled with signs of herbal vice, drunken stupidity and detailed discussion of this girl and that girl by his grossly vulgar roommates.
My clown maintained his cool edge, but it had lost it’s attractive framing. He was high – his instrument before him – and it was devastatingly clear that being in this state was all that mattered to him.
Yes, that was when I knew. That was when I knew that he didn’t care.
It was interesting, as the night passed, to listen to he and his troop discuss their faith and political views under such an altered state of mind. Righteously philosophical, one of his roommates noticed my silence and asked, accusingly, if their discussion was “too deep for [me] to follow,” after making a lewd comment about me and bashing my taste in music. I tried to hide my distaste, conceding only that I preferred to listen, sitting idle at Mr. Charming’s side.
Through gaps in conversation, I deciphered more and more about my freckled friend. Unprompted, he was self-deprecating: immediately diving into his laziness. His lack of motivation. His want for “fun” and “freedom.” His distaste of being “tied down.”
Oh, baby.
He inched closer to me after his friends left for the bar. Closer during his confessions and closer after they were through.
With his arm around my waist, he tried to convince me. He wanted me to want the same things, and he, the cocky asshole, was certain he could make it happen.
The boyishness that I had once found so attractive had turned into cunning sneakiness; a play on emotions and boredom that he powered with imploring upward glances from those irritatingly inviting eyes – that painted patch of freckles.
He spoke in hushed tones, he had this stupid, unwelcome, somehow victorious, wanting look plastered on his once heart-wrenching face, and his gaze was mine alone. For a moment, he forgot his addiction and his roommates, and all he knew was me. He, a boy, and I, a girl. I was finally the most important thing in the room.
I had won.
And I said goodnight.
Because I didn’t care.
Raspberry Swirl Cupcakes adapted from Baking: From My Home to Yours
This is a really great recipe for light, fluffy cake. I swirled in fresh raspberries, but any fruit will suit! Makes about 20 cupcakes.
2 1/4 c (293 g) cake flour
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/4 c (296 ml) buttermilk (or whole milk + 1ish Tbsp vinegar, left to curdle)
4 egg whites
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 c (300 g) sugar
1/2 c (118 g) butter, room temp
1/2 c (118 ml) raspberries
Preheat your oven to 350F and line two cupcake tins with liners.
Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt, then set aside.
Mix together the buttermilk, egg whites and vanilla in a small bowl. Set aside.
Cream together sugar and butter until very light and fluffy, seven to nine minutes. Be sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl from time to time. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, mix to combine, scrape down the bowl, then add half of the wet. Add another third of the dry, mix to combine, then add the remaining wet.
Toss the raspberries in the remaining third of the dry ingredients, then fold the contents of the bowl into the batter. Portion out the batter and bake 18-22 minutes, until the cupcakes spring back when pressed.
Remove cakes from pan and cool on a rack.
Swiss Meringue Buttercream
5 egg whites
1 c (200 g) sugar
2 sticks (226 g) butter, room temp
1 tsp lemon extract
Cook the egg whites and sugar in a small saucepan over medium heat, whisking constantly, until the sugar is completely dissolved (test by rubbing some between your fingers. If it’s completely smooth, it’s done). Pour into another bowl (a stand mixer is preferable) and whip on high speed until room temp. Then, on a medium-slow speed, add the butter, waiting until each piece is completely incorporated before adding the next. After all the butter has been added, turn the mixer back to high speed and whip until it has come together, about five minutes. Add the extract, beat briefly and then use.
If you have extra, store in the fridge for the next time you need to frost something.
I love the details of this story so much. I want more! But man, your college life is so much more exciting than mine, haha.
Way to go!! Good on 'ya, Girl!!!!
Well if that isn't a story that every girl can relate to, I don't know what is! Brings me to that Jack Johnson song 'having you was never worth putting up with your friends'. You have far more everything in your little finger than he would in his whole body!
These look like perfection.
Ugh. His friends sure sound like d-bags. I hate being put on the spot like that, by self-righteous folks with big opinions. Pretty cupcakes, though:)
Haha good for you! As for these cupcakes? Divine – love the simplicity and anything with fruit and buttermilk definitely gets my vote.
As a dude, I loved your story and it reminded me of those college days when that behavior was all that my hormone driven, drunken high soul was capable of doing. I have since spent quite a lot of time correcting those relationships. I'm happy that you are smart and that you are helping other women be smart…it gives me hope for my college age daughters. I'm turning them on to your blog.
Very heart felt! You are so grown up and knowable for your young years! I like you do much! Oh yes, please give us a recipe to use up all those egg yolks!
You GO GIRL!!!
Well, at first, every word I read got me madder and madder, but you're too smart to fall for his nonsense. You are far too pretty, too smart and too talented to waste you time on a loser. I'm so happy you know your style and stood up for yourself. Job well done!<br /><br />Mary Kay
Your writing is beautiful. Please write a book so we can all read your amazing work!
Please do!
LOL I was just thinking the same thing! I love how you describe things with so much detail..it almost feels like I was there watching the whole thing!
His loss!
I've been reading your blog for a long time, but this is my first "comment".<br />LOVE your writing – and your recipes, and your photos – but I LOVE your writing! Thank you!!<br />And, yeah, you GO GIRL!!!
I just love the classic-ness of this story. Glad you escaped 🙂
yummy!!!
you're so talented in backing cakes! I just subscribed 🙂
It is difficult to be an intelligent, mature young woman and deal with male peers who so far behind in maturity and far less emotionally developed!<br />Keep the faith. You will find the right one when the time is right.
I wish I was as insightful as you when I was your age, ..would have spared me a bit of heartache! ..green eyes are not easy to resist, sometimes! 😉 ..going to give these cupcakes a whirl soon!
Hey Kaitlin! I love your blog and have been an avid reader for quite some time! I noticed you go to MSU. I go to U-M, haha. 😛 I would love to meet you if you're ever in the Detroit area some time. 😀
In a situation like that, it is so easy to fall into the trap of thinking, "maybe i'm being to uptight", "maybe i'm being defensive by thinking of them as self-righteous". Although, if one is not a pushover, one would make the same choice you did (yours was so much better executed than mine), but to never have a shadow of doubt about your impression of those assholes..
There are so many jerks out there I don't know what I would do without my hubby. You are so awesome for being such a strong woman. SO many girls fall into the trap of just wanting someone to ogle over them and forget about the awful negative things that way too often come with that. And those cupcakes look heavenly! I love the simple, yet slightly elegant finish. A smart girl who also can
Girl, you deserve so much better. Hang in there.
I wish my daughter to be this clear headed this young, it took me much longer, several countries, even a continent to find out what you already know. I love your blog, droll at the goodies, but bake few (the waist line is hard to maintain when you reach certain age). Thank you so much for sharing, fingers crossed
Starting to get worried about you – no posts since 16th September… are you OK?
aww I remember I had this exact same story from my college days… college boys! i'd rather take the raspberry swirl cupcakes 😉
AHHH! I love your blog. A high five to you for having some class and making cupcakes that sound amazing!
AHHH! I love your blog. A high five to you for having some class and making cupcakes that sound amazing!