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Romantic: Fiction Gail (Part 2) By Likeglass One problem with an open chat-room is that anyone could post as GC, or JL for that matter. If I was going to be loosing my heart to someone, then it better be Gail, and not some imposter! For that matter, what would I do if some stranger came on and started posting as me and chassed her away? It was time to kill a few birds with one stone. I wrote a new server-side script that would allow the room to stay open to all, but would also allow for members to be identified. If the user chose, they could click away to a special page and sign in with a password of their choosing. Once they did, there name would appear in a special way. Time to get tricky. What could I use that would be just a tiny bit of a hint? I didn't want to spook her, but I needed to get a message across. Maybe a little heart... Yea, a little red heart. I included it in the code and gave it a test.. JL It was about five thirty, so I hadn't expected the following reply- GC - "What's with the little heart next to your name?" Well, no turning back now! I explained how I had some concerns about imposters disrupting chat and that there was a new option available to sign in and be identified as a member. I explained that she could if she wanted, click on a member link and set up her own name. Gail asked if anyone else would be able to see her password and I told her that no, outside of myself, no one would be able to see it. I waited as she left to investigate. In a few moments, she returned. Gail I was breathless! Not only did she decide to use her own name, but seeing that heart next to it was about the cutest thing I could imagine! Somehow, a giant step had been taken tonight! As we chatted, I found myself opening a new window and logging into my management database. I was dieing to see what password she had chosen. Many times, the password says something about the user. This was no exception.... The password she had chosen was "brokenhearted." I knew when I read it that there was a long road in front of me if this was headed in the direction of a romance. I had planned to try to ask her what line of work she was in, but now I knew that I shouldn't. Instead, the conversation turned to relationships that had gone bad and how we let ourselves get used in life. By the time we wrapped up for the night, it was well past midnight. Still, some major things had happened. In addition to getting our ID system straight, I had learned that we had both been through experiences in our lives in which we had given our hearts away only to find them stripped bare and handed back. It took awhile to go to sleep. At work, I learned that one of the Gails could be crossed off the list. It seams Gail Cooper had been in a relationship alright, but it was with another woman! So much for the GC theory at work! In a way, it was sad, but it reminded me of how hard it may be to find the real GC. Our print server was up and running and a lot of us were so glad that we decided to celebrate by going out to lunch. Whoever was in control of my life must have been having a good laugh! When we got to the restaurant, our waitress's name was Gail, and you guessed it, hoops again! For two months this went on. Each night chatting with Gail. Each day running into more people who may or may not be my love. I had learned a lot about her, but it was a public chat room so she was very careful about what information she would post. Nothing was in any of the conversations that might bring us together, and she was reluctant to give me an Email address. I could tell that although she loved to chat, she was not ready to bring anyone into her life. On several occasions, the little hearts came in handy as there were people who tried to post as one of us. I now knew of at least twenty people named Gail, who worked at businesses that had mainly women on staff, and who wore hoop earrings. The funny thing is, the chat had become even more important then the search for the person. There was a very powerful bond that we both felt. I had even grown to worry that if we met, we might not like each other as much in real life as we did in chat. Something, however, told me that this meeting would happen, and that this bond was for real. I had pictured how it would happen, or at least many of the ways it would happen. Maybe, she would just give me her email and we would arrange a date. Maybe I would come across a discarded paper in the trash can with a note at work. Maybe we would both agree to meet in a public place while chatting. I could tell that her heart was starting to heal a little. She didn't dwell on how lousy this guy had been. In fact, much of our time was now spent chatting about our future hopes and dreams in life. Once again, many of these seamed to be shared by both of us. My encounters with real life Gails continued. At a local mall, I ran into a girl, knocking her bags out of her hand. As we picked them up, she told me her name was Gail! Gail Jones that is. Oh Well! My new accountant was named Gail. Gail Simmons. Darn! On the way home one night, I stopped to help a girl who's car was broken down. You guessed it! Her name was Gail O'Neal. Still, something special happened. When I went to help her, I felt a kind of electricity flow between us. Had I become so wrapped up in this search for CG that I was ignoring any relationship that might happen outside of the chat room? I decided right then and there that this had to stop. Here was a real person, so I did what I usually would die before doing. I asked her out! I was almost surprised when she said yes. I got her car working and she followed me back into town to my favorite restaurant. You know, the one with the waitress named Gail! This was at least a real person. Maybe the whole chat thing had been a lesson on how to open up to someone and not fear rejection due to lack of attraction. I was ready now to move on with my life, and barely noticed that seven pm came and went. Our banter was very light, never digging into the depths of our souls. I could tell that something was bothering her and I also started to feel bad that I has missed my chat time with my cyber soul-mate Gail C. It came as a real surprise when Ms O'Neal invited me back to her place! In some ways, I wished that she had been my Gail. The small button earrings were a big clue that this was not the case. Still, what did I have to lose! I followed her back. Her apartment was tidy but small. I sat down on the wing chair that was in her living room. My eyes caught a computer in the next room, and the urge to go on chat was pretty powerful! Still, there was something very powerful about the electricity I was feeling from this Gail. I closed my eyes and tried not to look. Gail came into the room and plopped her coat on the couch. Her face looked distraught. "I don't know what I'm doing", she said, "I have never invited a man back to my apartment. I'm sorry, I think I have to ask you to leave." Oh yea, here was that rejection feeling! Big time! I got up and she walked me to the door. Walking was hard because my heart was in my foot, about the lowest place it could find. There was a coat hook in back of the door. I reached over and grabbed my coat. The drive home was horrible. It was difficult to see through the tears in my eyes. I got home and flipped on the computer. Maybe, at least, the Gail of my heart would be online. Why should she! Everything else had gone wrong. I went on to chat and my fears were confirmed. No more Gail. My rejection was complete. I don't know why, but my fingers typed out what would be the beginning of my final rejection. JL There it was. Complete with a little heart she could squish when and if she read it. This, I knew, would end any further conversation from her. Her heart was not ready for this. Minutes went by. There was no post. Then.... Gail Gail Huh? This is not what I expected! What was going on? A minute passed... Then a second... Gail Gail Gail I was now shaking! Was this true? What could I say?? OK, take a deep breath... JL JL Gail JL Gail Usually I'm good about shutting my computer off. Not today! Not now! I jumped in my car and headed to her house! Every red light and slow car seamed to come out to greet me. Was it her??? What If I got there and it wasn't? She'd be wearing the hoops! If not, I'd just make up some lame story. Who was I kidding! Make up a story! I couldn't even think!! There were no parking spaces in front of her apartment!! I pulled around and parked my car on the grass! Who cares if they tow it! As fast as my feet could carry me I ran to the door! The face I saw stopped me dead in my tracks.... No hoops.... For a second, which seamed like a year, I stood frozen on the front step. Then she yelled, "I couldn't find them! Get in here you silly!" I flew through the door and entered an embrace like I had never felt before in my life! Neither of us could talk! Just half syllables and laughs that lead into a kiss that seamed to last forever! Her eyes had magic in them! This was something I had prevented myself from seeing before! I was overwhelmed! Still, there was one question I needed to ask... "Why GC ? Your last name is O'Neal?" She laughed. "GC was for Gail Crying! That's what I was doing, crying! I dropped the C later and went with Gail because I was no longer crying! That was thanks to you!"
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-"Testing new membership Icon."