Very strange things.
So, there's this girl at work. I'll admit right away that she's cute as hell, and even though I've only seen her in her requisite uniform, I'm fairly certain that she's goth, punk, or some blend along those lines. And her last name is the same as one of my best friends.
Now, some other requisite background without divulging anything that probably shouldn't be divulged. You know, company secrets, national security, and so forth. We work in different departments. Our departments are on different schedules. Other than the fact that my department fixes and/or calibrates things in her department's spaces, there's almost no interaction between the departments. And, given the nature of her department, it's probably preferred that way. I've been working at the plant for a year now, and as best as I can guess, she's been there about six months. In that time, I've had one opportunity to speak to her, and that's where this story begins.
The other day, I had an opportunity to ask about her name. I asked if she had any kinfolk in Faquier County. Verbally, her response was no, but the tones in her voice and the look on her face suggested that not only was it a no, but that she probably couldn't find Fauquier County on a map, given a reasonably short period of time. I can't blame her. I drive over an hour to get to work and I'm barely inside the county lines. I told her I was curious about her name because it's an uncommon name to the area, and it's my best friend's name. She said it was her married name and she didn't know anything about its origins.
My buddy confirmed, his family's from CA and OK, and his parents settled here in the 70's when his dad separated from the army. No local relatives.
Here's where it gets weird. Today, as I was sitting at a stoplight about halfway home (30 minutes into my drive), I noticed the vehicle behind me was being driven by a girl with a cute (from what I could tell behind hat and sunglasses) face and really pale skin. So I payed a little more attention. She followed me another 20 minutes to the intersection at the main highway. Just before that intersection is a local road. Her turn signal went on, she got in the turn lane to the local road, and then she quickly got back in the main lane. Sort of like when you don't know where you're going and your GPS tells you "Turn left now" and you don't know if it means ten feet now or 100 feet now. So now I was really curious and she followed me onto the main highway. Add another ten minutes and we get stopped at a stoplight. I look over and see that it's the girl from work. I figure if she looks at me, I'll wave hello and be done with it. Instead, though, either she was REALLY interested in the Sunbelt Rentals bucket truck in the turn lane next to her, or she was completely avoiding eye contact. I know this trick well, because I use it all the damn time. So I shrugged off, saw the light turn, and went about my merry way. Ten minutes later, I took my exit, and half expected her to follow me again, but she kept going.
Given what I know of the cost of living in this part of the state, the local industries, and the pay scale of her department, I figure she can't live too much further up the road. Probably the next town or two at the furthest. Also, I figure that if she lives up here, her husband must work in a particularly high paying local industry, or it wouldn't be worth her while to drive as far as she does in the kind of car that she does (I know my gasoline runs me $35 a day in my truck).
What I can't figure out is the big picture. Was she being creeper and following me? Was she just going someplace else while still in her work uniform, following her GPS, and just coincidentally being behind me for 50 miles? Or did I read her wrong the other day, and not only does she know where Fauquier County is, but she also lives here?
Strange indeed.
So, there's this girl at work. I'll admit right away that she's cute as hell, and even though I've only seen her in her requisite uniform, I'm fairly certain that she's goth, punk, or some blend along those lines. And her last name is the same as one of my best friends.
Now, some other requisite background without divulging anything that probably shouldn't be divulged. You know, company secrets, national security, and so forth. We work in different departments. Our departments are on different schedules. Other than the fact that my department fixes and/or calibrates things in her department's spaces, there's almost no interaction between the departments. And, given the nature of her department, it's probably preferred that way. I've been working at the plant for a year now, and as best as I can guess, she's been there about six months. In that time, I've had one opportunity to speak to her, and that's where this story begins.
The other day, I had an opportunity to ask about her name. I asked if she had any kinfolk in Faquier County. Verbally, her response was no, but the tones in her voice and the look on her face suggested that not only was it a no, but that she probably couldn't find Fauquier County on a map, given a reasonably short period of time. I can't blame her. I drive over an hour to get to work and I'm barely inside the county lines. I told her I was curious about her name because it's an uncommon name to the area, and it's my best friend's name. She said it was her married name and she didn't know anything about its origins.
My buddy confirmed, his family's from CA and OK, and his parents settled here in the 70's when his dad separated from the army. No local relatives.
Here's where it gets weird. Today, as I was sitting at a stoplight about halfway home (30 minutes into my drive), I noticed the vehicle behind me was being driven by a girl with a cute (from what I could tell behind hat and sunglasses) face and really pale skin. So I payed a little more attention. She followed me another 20 minutes to the intersection at the main highway. Just before that intersection is a local road. Her turn signal went on, she got in the turn lane to the local road, and then she quickly got back in the main lane. Sort of like when you don't know where you're going and your GPS tells you "Turn left now" and you don't know if it means ten feet now or 100 feet now. So now I was really curious and she followed me onto the main highway. Add another ten minutes and we get stopped at a stoplight. I look over and see that it's the girl from work. I figure if she looks at me, I'll wave hello and be done with it. Instead, though, either she was REALLY interested in the Sunbelt Rentals bucket truck in the turn lane next to her, or she was completely avoiding eye contact. I know this trick well, because I use it all the damn time. So I shrugged off, saw the light turn, and went about my merry way. Ten minutes later, I took my exit, and half expected her to follow me again, but she kept going.
Given what I know of the cost of living in this part of the state, the local industries, and the pay scale of her department, I figure she can't live too much further up the road. Probably the next town or two at the furthest. Also, I figure that if she lives up here, her husband must work in a particularly high paying local industry, or it wouldn't be worth her while to drive as far as she does in the kind of car that she does (I know my gasoline runs me $35 a day in my truck).
What I can't figure out is the big picture. Was she being creeper and following me? Was she just going someplace else while still in her work uniform, following her GPS, and just coincidentally being behind me for 50 miles? Or did I read her wrong the other day, and not only does she know where Fauquier County is, but she also lives here?
Strange indeed.
oddbill:
Thanks!