It all started a few months ago. The Cleveland Museum of Art, which is only a few hours away from where I live in Michigan, holds a few of my most treasured works. Since I didn't want to have to get an expensive hotel room in downtown Cleveland, I contacted the son of my parent's mutual friends, who was watching their home in Shaker Heights while they were on vacation. Since I knew they would be out of town, I contacted him directly and asked if I could stay for a night. He politely replied that it was fine with him and to let him know the exact days I intended to stay. We exchanged short and polite messages finalizing all the details, and a few weekends later I drove out to Cleveland. 

Almost as soon as I got there he was out the door, save for a quick tour of the house and light chit-chat. He had a prior engagement that was work related, not that I cared much, and to be honest, solitude sounded wonderful at the time. I went to bed early and woke up before him. In the kitchen was a hand written note from him proposing that he drive me to the museum and give me a tour of the area. Apparently, he had some business at the college and made a note that it would not be out of his way. He also suggested that we might go to lunch after that. 

 When he finally did come down, I was already busy typing on my computer and not paying much attention to him. He asked me how I slept and such. Polite but not overtly demanding. He asked if I saw the note and I replied that I had and I vote for a tour. So he made coffee and I continued working, for the most part in silence. The drive to the museum was pretty uneventful. I asked him if he liked music and he answered in a glib manner that he did. I played the CD of a new favorite artist of mine, which he said wasn't his 'cup of tea' and seemed pleased when I did not take offense. He pointed out various points of interest along the way, all and all it was a pretty nice tour. 

For the next two hours I was at the Museum walking alone with my ipod on and in complete bliss. He called my cell phone and asked if I was ready to be picked up and if I was hungry, which I was. Now this next part is when the waters began getting murky.

He picked me up and drove, rather fast, to a restaurant that he claimed to be one of his favorites.  He parked and walked in front of me to the door, which he didn't hold open for me, but that didn't phase me much, I was getting the sense that he was rather detached, but when I entered the restaurant I was completely confused. White linens, low lights, a candle on every table, wait staff in full uniform and <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic">live music? This was not the place for a casual lunch, this was absolutely a fine dinning establishment, and I was perplexed why he would choose such a place.

As we ate I tried mercilessly to have a conversation with him. I even went so far as to try and 'help' him define what was interesting about him. This is where most of the most puzzling interacting occurred. I am a very good person to have a conversation with, and I have heard this from many people. I'm one of those types who can have long conversations about anything with anyone, so when I have trouble communicating with someone, it sticks in my mind. The lunch was actually quite unpleasant. The mood made me uneasy and my company seemed to be bewildering, not to mention he kept raising his eyebrows at every statement I made and gave generally simple answers to all questions. At one point he reviled to me that he has a pet peeve when people say 'ex-presso' instead of 'es-presso' after the waitress told him they only had coffee. 

 I insisted on paying the bill as a token of gratitude for giving me a place to stay, which he made some attempts to refute. Finally he said 'At least let me pay the tip, and I promise to be generous.' So we left, me behind him again and him not holding the door, again. In the car the conversation was beginning to become a little more organic, we began joking around and he was actually warming up to my honest curiosity. 

When we got back to the house I asked if it was okay if I checked traffic and weather and such before leaving. He said of course and preceded to sit nearby and chat with me. He described the way I folded the towel and sheet he provided for my stay as 'impressive.' Or at least he seemed touched at the care I took to be a good house guest. We joked around a little more and he seemed to be highly intrigued. At one point he ventured into the other room and insisted I come see a vine of a house plant that was slowly growing around the stalk of another plant. 

Finally I was ready to leave. That morning I put all my things back in my car so I could make a hasty exit. Yet while I checked my email he repeatedly asked if I had anything that would need to be taken out to my car, and when I finally told him this, he gave me a look of utter amazement.  As I began getting ready to leave, he managed to migrate towards my car, getting out his golf clubs and examining them while sitting by my parked car as I fumbled with the GPS. When I got up to say my final 'goodbye' he walked toward me. I extended my hand and was shocked when he suddenly embraced me in a hug that lasted less than a heart beat but pressed me against him tightly. 

When I got home, I was completely flummoxed by his behavior. So I did what i always do, I sought out his sign, and from what I have read this is not typical behavior of an Aquarius man. And that when they do act coy its because they are attracted to someone. As a Pisces this would not shock me (I know how men react to my lion's main hair and brilliant green blue eyes) but I have never come across anyone like this. Whether he loves me or finds me repulsive does not concern me, but I would love some clarity and insight, as this young man is likely to enter my life again at some point and I want to know where I stand. 

 Thanks for reading, and I look forward to your sage information!

Hi Lobaluna,

I had to re-read your post again. I had thought you were a friend of his parents's generation at first. So I thought you were older than him. I do agree that regardless of gender, a person should hold the door for another.

But otherwise, I don't think it is unusual for him to be attracted to you. Why? Maybe it was a bit much for him to take you to a fancy restaurant. It doesn't really sound like you two hit it off, and he was really trying to do whatever he could to get lucky (if you know what I mean!) :-) You can't blame a guy for trying.

Anyway, whether I had a romantic or friendly day or two with someone (man or woman) I would hug them goodbye. I don't think that is unusual either. But it sounds like maybe you are not comfortable with this sort of thing. This is not really an astrological thing. Maybe more a difference of boundaries.

I'm wondering, now that you are writing about him, do you actually like the guy? having second thoughts? I'm guessing he thinks not.

I don't understand what you mean by "not typical behavior of an Aquarius."

He wanted to show you a plant wrapped around another plant!  

Just to clarify:

He and I are around the same age.

I have no feelings of animosity towards him nor do I want to date him. The Pisces in me says that there isn't a flame there but because both our parents are so close it seems only realistic that we be at least civil. 

All I ask is for some insight into why an Aquarius man would be so reserved. They are usually friendly and outgoing, right?

Why did he take me to such a fancy restaurant and not a diner or even a quaint local sushi place?

Why was this social sign so detached? What could possibly make an Aquarius clam up and then slowly warm? I would have expected the opposite. 

Why did it take so long for me to crack the ice? I'm usually the one to get the party going. 

Why did he bypass a handshake and hug me? Seriously!  

If he was just friendly and not flirtatious I would have picked up on it, but I couldn't tell if he was trying to bed me, befriend me, or give me a hint that he wasn't interested. 

These are the burning questions and if anyone out there has some insight, I would love to hear it, not matter what it is.  

Aquarius is just his sun sign.  If you go by the sun alone, sure there are twelve types of people, but add the moon and you get 144, add the rising sign and you get 1728, add mercury you get 5184...

There are other factors going on here.

Go out to the garden and look at the tomatoes, no two are the same despite being products of the same season.  The essence of the summer is there but each one is an individual.

Ah, I see. It is too much to ask that he be that simple, no one ever is 

Im a Sagittarius and Aquarius men are very attracted to me. Not because I have a mane of lions hair or green eyes. But because we are two signs apart so that makes us compatible.I find Aquarian men fascinating in the sense that they are so very far into the future than most. Besides that, my moon is in Aquarius so I do understant them.It's true what Notatirem said about Aquarian not just being a sun sign. If you want to really find out about him, get his birth chart done.Just for the record, every Aquarian man I've ever known had something weird about them. But not in a bad way. At least I didn't think so. ;-P