Dating is Emotionally Disturbing

A guy who's been crushing on a girl he works with finally gets his shit together and realized that the moment was more than just right to ask her out, it was passing quickly. The guy's name is Matt for the purpose of this story. Matt had just returned from working elsewhere and was welcomed back with open arms by everyone at work. He'd changed his look, attitude and had matured during his 2 months away. It seemed that when he returned he knew what he was wanting and set out shakily to get it. The guy hadn't dated in nearly 4 years. We aren't going to count the older lady who would take him out to eat because he was good at listening and would offer a good point of view on her situations. The thought of screwing up dating again scared him shitless! He literally had knots in his stomach thinking about the other dates she was going on. It didn't hurt that she was going on other dates, no that wasn't it; he was afraid that by the time she got to him there wouldn't seem to be anything interesting about him at all. He was determined for his last few semesters in college to not be alone. He felt that he had a few things going for him though. In talking with her he felt that they had really connected, there had to be something there. They had made these verbal plans saying, "yeah we're going to go here, because you have to try this"; things like that. And even though there wasn't a huge emotional connection between them yet, Matt couldn't help but think that there was a possible future. All he has to do is to date this girl! Matt believed that the point of dating was to be looking for and weeding out the people you don't want to marry. Simple right? Wrong. Matt had to watch as she left for a date right in front of his eyes. It made the knot in his stomach feel like he was going to vomit if he thought about it too much. Was the connection all for not? Would Matt have a chance to date her?
Well the truth is Matt had a date coming up the coming Sunday with her. He asked her if she would like to go to church and afterwards have some brunch. He kept asking himself if it would be enough, and would the connection continue to grow after that point, or would work and someone else get in the way of dating this girl? Matt sat helplessly at work waiting for her to return from this date before he left to go home for the night. Before she had left she changed clothes and put on extra makeup, though she was already a beautiful girl. She went the extra mile by brushing her hair until it was straight and spritzing some perfume on. Oh the agony Matt felt as he wondered if he would get the same girl back after the night was up. As she was leaving she told him that she was leaving her bag and jacket in the back and that she'd come back to get it later. As it turns out she didn't come before Matt went home for the night. This was unsettling to him. He went home and tried to put the worst of thoughts out of his mind. Matt changed and went outside to get some fresh air hoping this would clear his head. Clearly this made it far worse, he wanted someone to go on midnight walks with. He jogged around until he found a bench in the middle of some apartments next to a pond. The mosquitoes were biting, but he was determined to sit there for awhile until he found someone who would text him back. He texted 5 people hoping one of the would respond. When his friend Rachelle finally responded back the conversation helped take him away for a few moments as he caught up with her. As he made his way back to his house he thought perhaps he could just date her if things fell through; but quickly decided that it wouldn't work. She eventually said she was going to bed because she had meetings the next morning so he said goodnight as well. Matt began to let his thoughts get to him again. He thought he knew what kind of girl she was and even still he had nightmares of her drunk and rolling around under the sheets with this other guy. He woke up in a full sweat. His other friend from work Cullen had texted him back, finally, wondering about what Matt had sent the night before. He quickly answered to ask whether the bag and jacket were still behind the desk. Cullen texted back that it was. She hadn't come back last night to get them! This sent bloody pictures and unfortunate ways of finding her dead body in a hotel room swimming through his thoughts. He couldn't help but worry now. It made him sick to his stomach. Matt had only just the day before flirted almost unsuccessfully the girls middle name out of her, as she had made it a guessing game. And the thought of never seeing her again made him realize that he'd do anything to just get a date to show that he was worthwhile. Matt also realized that he was being very silly about all of this because he trusted her, and if anything got between that trust then that's a problem for another day.
Matt was aware of the pending date that she also had tomorrow evening. He was feeling like this would just be a nicety type date so that she could just see who this guy was. A very similar situation that he was in. Somehow it didn't worry him.  Friday night rolls around and he ends up going over to a friends house for drinks and to hang out. She was of course invited to come after she finished up her date. She declined through text saying that she was still on her date though it was 12:30 AM. It was annoying Matt tremendously. He managed to have a good time with his friends though and turned in around 3 the next morning. Matt was frantic with trying to get advice. He contacted his friend in Costa Rica, and asked what his opinion was of the situation. He simply said that "whatever happens, happens for a reason; whether she was meant to date you, or whether you should use your energy on another girl as she's doing with other guys". It was solid advice.
She texted Matt saying that she wasn't going to be able to go the next morning, and that she was sorry that it was such short notice. Matt knew the reason she couldn't go with him... She was going out with the same guy from the night before and would either being going to church with him instead or would be too hungover from the evening she had just finished to show up in public by 10. He thought about what his response should be. Should he go to work right now and have a talk with her, say all the things that were on his mind? No that would only push her away. He began typing words into a text message directed at her. Though once they were there and ready to send he read it out loud. "I'm going to be honest I'm a little confused. I like you, and I thought you agreed to go to church because you liked me too. I'm sorry if I was mistaken." He couldn't send this. Regardless Matt didn't want to feel this way just to try to get a single date. He sees her every week at work and there is no point in burning this bridge if things didn't turn out right. He was getting over trying to date her all together; especially if this is how hard she was going to make it. He decided to leave this thing alone for awhile with the eternal thought, dating is emotionally disturbing and there was definitely a reason he had waited to be nearly done with college to start dating.