We’ve All Been There: The Cell Phone Fake Out

[It doesn’t matter what school you go to, what state it is in, how big it is, whether it is public or private, all girls or coed…there are experiences that all college students share. No matter how crazy you think your personal situation is, it is not just you.So, let’s bring it all out in the open. Right here. Because you are not alone - we’ve all been there before.]

The (Fake) Phone Call:

You are walking home from class all alone when you think that person walking towards you kinda, sorta looks like the dude you made out with the other night/that girl your sorority rejected who won’t leave you alone/somebody else that you really don’t want to talk to.

You squint. You stare. You verify.

“Sh*t,” you think to yourself. “I really don’t want to talk to him/her.” But what are you supposed to do? You are walking alone (towards the person!); you have no out. You can’ just throw your iPod on – you would look like a total ass if you just walked right past jamming out to your favorite mix. And you can’t duck and cover; you’ve most likely already been spotted and hiding behind a tree is just weird.

There is only one option left: the cell phone fake out.

So, you reach into your pocket/bag, silence that sucker (because there is nothing more embarrassing than pretending to be on your phone and then having it ring in your ear), and begin a full-blown conversation with no one.

“Yeah, I thought the exam was hard. What did you think?” You ask the non-existent person on the other end of the line. You laugh, you answer questions and you continue this conversation as you pass by and wave to Person-You-Don’t Want-To-Talk-To.

You look back. He/she is far, far away, which means it is safe to give up the charade. You stick your phone back in your pocket and continue your leisurely stroll home.

Crisis averted.

And, no, you are not alone; we’ve all done it, too.