An attempted nice thing
I wouldn't normally post a story about something I did for someone else because I think it's a bit...showy offy I guess. But I think this one is ok, as I completely fucked it up and people seem to enjoy my various misfortunes.

Once again this story involves a girl. She was a bit older than me, lived in Cornwall, taught surfing at Fat Willy's in the summer and did modelling work in the winter. She was absolutely loaded and lived an utterly ideal lifestyle. We got on very, very well in our various written and textual correspondence and we grew pretty close.

Anyway, one day I'd gotten back home from a date that, for once, had gone swimmingly. I happen to see her online and proceed to tell her about the great day I'd just had. She got rather huffy and then revealed that she had feelings for me. To say my flabber had been gastered was an understatement. I had no idea someone of her stature would ever see a social fungus like me in that way.

Anyway, after learning this I thought I should persue this matter since I'd only held off on pushing things with her because I figured a friendship was the best I could expect. However, emails and calls went unreturned and I started getting a bit panicky, thinking I'd missed my chance. In the end I got hold of her brother, who said she was having a rough time as of late and had gone up to Edinburgh for a photoshoot. She was staying in a rather fancy hotel in the city centre (The George - it's amazing).

I was down in Dover.

...hmmm....I wonder how long it'd take me to get to Edinburgh?

Now I had free train travel at the time as my dad is a train driver. This was handy as I was at uni and utterly broke. But the mists of deluded love did descend upon me and I decided to have an Adam Sandler moment. I worked out that if I got the first train out of Dover, I could get to Edinburgh and have 4 hours to find her before I'd have to head back.

So, early one morning I hop on the train with little more than my wallet and my discman and go up to Edinburgh. My plan was simple - get to Edinburgh, buy flowers, go to hotel, ask for her to be called and summoned to the foyer, present flowers, declare love, married, kids, death do us part. Simple.

So, I get up to Edinburgh, buy the best flowers my £5 or so bank account could afford and found the hotel pretty quickly. At this point I realised what an utter twat I looked, with long hair down to my arse, tatty jeans and a Rage Against the Machine t shirt walking into this posh hotel. But thankfully the staff were very polite. However, there was a small problem.

She wasn't there.

Fuck.

So, I called her brother and he assured me that he would try and find out where she was. She had her laptop with her and so I found a small internet cafe and used the rest of my money to get 15 minutes online. She's not on MSN. Shite. I give her email address to a few friends and tell them to let her know where I am.

3 hours and 50 minutes later, I'm sat on a bench outside the hotel, leaning across to dump some flowers in a nearby bin.

I headed home feeling rather dejected and wondering if I'd done the right thing to begin with. I also wondered if her brother had given me the right address - maybe he thought these actions were the actions of someone a bit nutty (he was a good judge of character). But when I got home I eventually found out what had happened.

She'd gone to Edinburgh with a male friend. He'd changed the hotel at the last minute and whilst they were up there he proposed to her.

Still, I tried. And on the upside, I found out that I love Edinburgh very much.
(GONEism, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 23:20, 11 replies)

Jesus,
You poor sod, that was rather a downer of a story. Oh well, at least you've got a good taste in music (assuming you still like Rage Against the Machine)
(chrisdood Why yes, I am the shizzle, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 23:41, closed)

*clicks*
as well as being sad, this post made me smile.
not at what happened to you (that really sucks and you must have felt totally rotten, you poor sod) but knowing that someone else does these sort of irrational devoted things.
i was equally unsuccessful.
( kitsune-tsuki tankeløst hode får lettest sove, Thu 2 Oct 2008, 23:52, closed)

Ah a sad tale indeed ...
But I hope Edinburgh comforted you.

IMHO Edinburgh is one of the world's most beautiful cities. Lived there for 4 years and enjoyed every second of it.

Speaking of meetings not made. Hubby and I were poverty struck newlyweds in Edinburgh in 1998. We spent many a chilly weekend in cafes drinking espresso and avoiding our cold-as-an-eskimos-grave apartment.

Another person in Edinburgh was doing precisely the same thing at the same time; JK Rowling. I like to think I sat at the next table whilst she was penning her fortune.

Chin up man and good luck next time.
(Que?, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 6:20, closed)

Crikey
Either you have a much more interesting life than me, or you should be writing professionally.
( The Light in Chains don't touch the Pope's boner, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 12:08, closed)

Bloody hell!
You wonderful man. I just clicked.
( Batshitmentalist is sane for once, Fri 3 Oct 2008, 16:17, closed)

That's so sweet
and for loving Edinburgh ... have a *click*
(TheWeeWitch hasn't been here much recently .., Fri 3 Oct 2008, 16:24, closed)

aw
bum clouds.
I am unhappy for your former self (and hoping that you're now no longer unhappy)
(tweebianmonkey Should be known as Widget, Mon 6 Oct 2008, 16:24, closed)

Shit dude
That's a really sweet thing to do!

have a *click*
And I love Edinburgh too.
( Boss Keloid Got your mother's maiden name tattooed on my arm, Tue 7 Oct 2008, 14:25, closed)

Click!
For both being a Rage Against The Machine fan and also for being a top bloke in the pursuit of lurve.
Sweet.
( DUMBLONDE is a rubber lover girl, Tue 7 Oct 2008, 16:54, closed)

RATM are overated...
Your story however is worthy of a *click!*
(aroe_m0rre, Wed 8 Oct 2008, 13:45, closed)

I now where you're coming from chap
Commiserations and a click
( Fathter Puddytat Kill Kill dat widdle boid is mine on, Wed 8 Oct 2008, 17:42, closed)