Rick, 25

What do you do for a living?
I'm in graphic-design school.

Does that get you any dates?
It doesn't really. I can't date within the school because it would just make things awkward.

Have you ever hooked up with a guy?
Yeah, I did in college. It was four years ago.

Was it a group thing or one-on-one?
Just one-on-one. We had this really weird gay tension, and then we just made out one night.

Where are you from?
Macon, Georgia.

How do you find the dating scene here compared to there?
I don't get to get out a lot, so a lot of people I date are friends of friends. But there are a lot of really cute girls here that I definitely would like to date. I just don't really approach them because I'm focused on my career. It sounds lame, but that's how it is.

What physical characteristics do you like in a girl?
A lot of facial features. I really like a girl who doesn't wear a lot of makeup. I know a bunch of girls who, when it's their time to go out, they put on all this fucking makeup, and I think they're more attractive when they're just at school hanging out.

Is there anything kinky that you like in bed?
Yeah, it's really weird, I don't know if I want to say it.

Say it.
I guess when I'm doing a girl from behind and she fingers my asshole.

What's the sexiest non-sex thing you can think of?
I really like girls who draw. Girls who are really good at artistic stuff. I saw this girl who's a graphic designer. She had her website up and she drew her wardrobes for days of the week, and it was really hot. I liked the way she drew herself; I liked the colors and the stuff she wore. Definitely girls who are on top of fashion and wear really cute stuff.

 

Claire, 22

What do you do for a living?
I'm an actress. I'm also a nanny. And any other job that's willing to pay me. Random paperwork, elevator operator, all sorts of random shit.

Have you ever dated or hooked up with anyone you were in a play with?
No, because the boys are either gay or I was just not into them. I don't like theater people. If they're straight they're generally obnoxious and think they deserve all the girls, because they've been getting all the girls, because they're straight. I think the closest to that was a guy who worked on one of my shows. We started hanging out because of that and then hooked up way later.

He was a grip or something?
Yeah, he was a tech dude.

That's hot.
I know.

Everybody has a hookup or a relationship that they look back on and say, "What was I thinking?"
I was in a relationship for a really, really, really long time, then I went a little bit crazy after it. So there were definitely a few boys that I was like, "That was stupid."

I have a friend who calls that a trampage.
I definitely went on a bit of a trampage. I guess my one that I wish didn't happen was that guy I was talking about, because he had a girlfriend. I was like, "This can never happen again. I'm not that type of girl." Then it happened six months later and I was like, "This can definitely never happen again." And I haven't spoken to him since.

Was she long-distance?
Sort of. When it first happened, she was in school up in Athens. But then the second time... it was always a retardedly drunk hookup; it was never deliberate. But I kind of look at that like, ugh. Mostly because I recently found out I may have been the first person that he cheated with, and then he went on a trampage whilst still with this girl. Living with her. Bad. Bad. Ew.

Have you ever cheated or been cheated on?
Nope.

Do you think you ever would?
I think there's a possibility. But I'm the kind of person who — even in situations where I really want it — if I'm really serious with somebody, the guilt factor is just too much for me. In that situation with the guy, where I knew he had a girlfriend, I gave him about fifteen-hundred chances to say no, because I knew what was happening was shitty. Then the next day I was like, "I can't be that girl. I don't want to be that girl."

What do you find attractive in someone?
I would say confident, outgoing, and funny. But I always I end up with the super-sensitive guys. I don't even know they're sensitive until two months in. I might think they're the biggest dude, and then all of a sudden they're crying.

Isn't that how it goes, though? The more abrasive and standoffish they are in everyday life, the weepier with their girlfriends?
Maybe. I'm just now in something consistent for the first time since I broke up with my ex, which was almost two years ago. Even now, I'm in something consistent, but I'm like, "Bleh, we're not dating." We are dating. We're definitely, definitely dating, but we're not boyfriend and girlfriend.

So will you sleep with other people?
At this point, since it's been seven months, I wouldn't sleep with anybody else. But I have stupidly made out with a couple of people. But not in an attempt to take them home. Friends. DFMOs — Dance Floor Make Outs. I wouldn't sleep with somebody else, but I haven't been in a situation where I could sleep with someone else.

Do you think he's sleeping with anyone else?
I don't think he's sleeping with anybody else. If I found out he was, I think it would really upset me, but I wouldn't have grounds to be really upset with him if he made out with some girl. It would hurt me, but I wouldn't be like, "I can't believe you did that!"

 

Joey, 25

Hey, girl!

Are you drunk right now?
Probably.

What's your best pick-up line?
Nice shoes. Wanna fuck?

How often does that work?
Sixty percent of the time.

When was your last relationship?
Rachel. I wooed her with my cooking.

What did you cook?
Chicken parmesan. I cooked for her and she fell for me.

But you're not together anymore. What happened?
Distance.

Physical or emotional?
She lives in Miami.

Did anybody cheat on anybody else?
No, no. It was a very honest, open relationship. Not an open relationship, but we were honest with each other.

Have you ever cheated or been cheated on?
Haven't cheated, have been cheated on.

Who was it?
We don't mention her name anymore.

How long ago was it?
Junior year of high school.

What happened?
Really? All of this is going to make me send some drunk text messages tonight. Let's move on.

What are you looking for in the next person you date? By the way, people often think that I'm hitting on them when I interview them. And that's not what's happening right now.
I'm looking for a girl with a green shirt and long, dark hair.

Actually, this color is more blue.
A blue shirt. I don't know. Someone who makes me happy. You can't put a price on that.

What about superficial things that you find attractive?
Hot and dumb.

So blonde, big boobs, wears a lot of pink.
Absolutely.

One last question: what do you do for a living?
Your mom.

Interviews and photography by Acree Graham. Want to talk to strangers in your town? Email submissions@nerve.com.