From Slushy to Single: Students Recall Their First Dates

With the seemingly never-ending amount of overpriced Hallmark cards, Dove chocolates and the overuse of ‘I love you’ buzzing across campus around Valentine’s Day, Loyola students share their first date horror stories to cast a spotlight on the reality of the dating pool. 

“He wanted to stay and watch the movie, even after he spilled slurpee all over the family next to us” 

First-year Taylor Macias was a senior in high school when her then-boyfriend showed up to their first date late — 15 minutes late. 

As a movie lover, Macias and her date were set to watch “Incredibles 2” at her hometown theater in Maui which was irregularly packed, according to Macias. She said her date’s tardiness and last-minute trip to the snack bar was “red flag No. 1” during their night at the movies. 

Attempting to rectify his delay with slushy and a large popcorn, Macias’ date tripped over a family of three in the middle of the seat aisle, launching sticky slurpee and freshly buttered popcorn onto the family. 

“Not only were we causing a massive scene at the start of this movie, but this family was sticky and cold and covered in popcorn,” Macias, 18, said. 

To make matters worse, Macias said her date tried to bribe the family’s forgiveness by offering money, but the family refused. Macias said the child was on the verge of tears as the mother tried to assure the visibly upset father it was an accident. 

Macias said she offered to not watch the movie because she felt it was awkward, but her date refused. Wanting to give her date another chance, Macias said she stayed for the rest of “Incredibles 2.”  

To Macias, a bad date is void of laughter — if the other person can’t find humor in the situation, she said she sees a problem. When acknowledging the slushy and popcorn spill, she said her date didn’t want to speak about it and found it unfunny. 

“I wanted to make light of what happened in the theater,” Macias said. 

Macias continues to find humor in this situation, despite no longer being in contact with her date. She said she is on good terms with him and they separated over issues unrelated to the movie monstrosity. 

“I went home and deleted Tinder right after” 

A junior Loyola student — using the pseudonym “Jane” due to privacy concerns — downloaded online dating platform Tinder the spring semester of her first year. 

After matching with a hopeful new fling, Jane and her date agreed to venture to the Loyola Beach lighthouse but met at the Information Commons (IC) first. She mapped out the journey the night before with her friend for safety purposes. 

When it was time for her date, Jane’s date showed up 10 minutes late. While waiting outside in the cold for her date in front of the IC, Jane was unable to access her phone because it was almost dead. 

Without saying hello, Jane said her date greeted her with unsettling pessimism. 

“He said there was nothing for us to talk about,” Jane, 20, said.

She remained hopeful and assured him there was plenty of conversation to be had. 

The pair began their trek to the lighthouse through five degree weather and inches of snow while Jane’s date kept grumbling complaints about his wet and probably ruined socks, Jane said. 

Jane’s match suggested they take a shortcut through his apartment, adding that he wanted to take the trash out. After throwing out his garbage and any chance at a successful romantic evening, Jane said her date started talking about his experiences in Mertz Residence Hall — and the destruction he and his friends caused to its bathrooms.

“At this moment, I was like, ‘I think I need to go home now,’” Jane said. 

She said she utilized the classic first date escape tactic of a fake friend emergency, leaving her date in the cold. 

After she made her way home from her date, Jane said she immediately deleted Tinder because of her odd experience. 

The two occasionally pass each other on campus in awkward silence, but Jane does not have hard feelings for this individual. 

“I didn’t know what to do, so I put on ‘Victorious’ while my dog barked at him”

Sophomore Allison Quist said she went on an “interesting” first date her junior year of high school. Coincidentally, Quist shared the same last name with her date, which the two had bonded over. 

When Quist first climbed into her date’s car, she said she recalled him playing one of her music playlists. She said she had sent it to him when he expressed interest in her music taste, but she didn’t expect him to play it in front of her. 

“It was so awkward because it was so obvious it was my music,” Quist, 19, said. 

Quist said her and her date spoke very little in the car, causing her to feel like the date would be unusual. 

The first destination was a popular bowling alley in their hometown of Grand Rapids, MI. After seeing all lanes booked, the Quists headed elsewhere. 

After getting Culver’s custard with a side of bland conversation, Quist didn’t know what to do. 

“It felt like I was talking with my cousin,” Quist said. 

She decided to bring her date home to try and save the night.

“I put on ‘Victorious’ to try to set the mood,” the biology major said. “The mood as in, this isn’t going anywhere.” 

While watching Victorious, Quist’s dog starts barking at her date, which she found humor in. 

“I don’t think she liked him,” Quist said. “She wouldn’t stop.” 

Unfortunately for Quist, her tactic was unsuccessful and she was asked on another date by this man, but she turned him down. 

Even though their date was offbeat, Quist and her date remained friends. 

Featured image of Allison Quist, taken by Holden Green | The Phoenix