The Phone Call
This would be the summer Opal would remember for a long time……
I woke up to a phone call Saturday morning, June 25, 2011. My mom answered so I got out of bed as fast as a tired teenage girl can and got the other phone to listen. It was a old friend of the family calling to wish my mom a happy birthday. "How sweet" I thought "she remembered", but then she asked “So when you gonna come down to visit? Its been what 3 years? We miss ya’ll” My mom went into the living room with my dad and they decided that we could finally make it for vacation this year. Then all the memories came back to me.
The summer after 8th grade we went on our annual vacation from where we live in Washington to Oregon. The first full weekend of August was the little town's festival that we loved to attend and had been for as long as I could remember. But this year was special. This was the year I met Austin Evans, the grandson of the friends we stay with on vacation. I was out side with my mom when I first saw him. He was cleaning a fire truck that his grandpa drove. My mom caught me looking and watching him; she looked at me with a suspicious grin on her face and said “Why don’t you just go talk to him? He looks nice, I bet you could hang out with him instead of being bored over here all alone?” I took her advice with a “seriously?” look on my face and I walked over to him. We clicked so well, we had so much in common. I knew right from the start we were going to be really good friends. The weekend ended and we said our goodbyes.
A couple months later my dad lost his job and now works for some where that doesn’t pay so well so we don’t have a lot of money coming in. We haven’t gone on vacation during the summer for 3 years. I bet Austin had completely forgotten about me and everything that we did that weekend. When my mom hung up the phone I ran down stairs to the living room and asked my parents if we really are going on vacation this year and they both smiled and my dad said "Yes".
A couple weeks passed and I got a text message from a number I didn’t recognize, it said:
(503)542-7528: Hey Opal! This is Austin from Oregon, do u remember me? Is it true that u r coming this summer?
Me: Hello Austin! Of course I remember you how could I not? And yeah we are coming down there this summer I'm so excited!!
I gave him my number in a email like a year ago I can’t believe he still has it! But hey, I finally got his cell number, yes! So I saved it in my contacts.
Austin: that’s so totally cool, so how have u been?
Me: I’ve been pretty good, wbu?
Austin: I’ve been great! Never been better, finally moved out of the house lol remember that trailer in the back yard? I’m in that now haha my parents said I could go out and live in that instead of sharing a room with my bro.
Me: lmao that’s funny but awesome I wish I could do something like that. So have u changed at all or are u still the same little angel everyone thinks u r?
Austin: haha nope, I’ve changed so much. Everyone still thinks I’m an angel but I’m not by far lol I don’t do drugs or anything that’s just stupid but I drink with friends and stuff, I can drive now thank God! Don’t have to take that 2 hour bus ride to school.Wbu? Have you changed much? By your fb pic u sure look different.
Me: that’s cool, I don’t drink or anything lol but I have changed a lot, no more baggy boys clothes and I wear makeup now and actually dress and look like a girl lol and is looking different good?
Me: do u have a gf?
Austin: well maybe when you come up ill let you taste some lol and that’s cool. Change is good, but you really look I guess……more beautiful then before ☺ I think it’s the fact that girl clothes look good on you haha
Austin: yeah I’ve have my fair share of them since I met you. Lol
Me: you think I’m beautiful? Really? I’ve never been called that other then by the old people at my church and my parents lol how many gf is your fair share?
Austin: yeah *blushes* oh about 12 or 13 I think maybe less maybe more.
Me: 12 or 13!?! That’s insane! In 3 years?!? How long did they last? How many did u get away with?
Austin: I think the shortest was 3 days and the longest was 2 months. But I got away with most of them lol other than the one my friend set me up with I didn’t even want to kiss her let alone more lol I just went out with her because I felt bad. Lol
Me: jeez that’s crazy! I’ve only had 2 bf since I met you and one was last summer and that didn’t last long and the other just broke up with me and that was a 9 month relationship.
Austin: ooo that’s harsh… r u ok?
Me: yeah I’m kinda over it I still get sad ya know?
Austin: yeah well if u need someone to talk to im here for u sweetie :D
Omg! He called me sweetie! He thinks I’m beautiful! He must still like me! I’m so excited! Our conversation lasted really late that night. We just told stories, asked personal questions trying to see if we still had a lot in common, to find out we really didn’t anymore. He has changed so much. I don’t think that this vacation will be the same as when we met.
Leaving Home
The morning of the day we leave for Oregon I get a text at 4am, from Austin saying:
Austin: Good morning sunshine! Just wanted to wish you good luck on your 8 hour ride here can’t wait to see you. Idk if u have already left or not and I know you can't text with out internet connection so u probably won't get this message until you go to Starbucks or something lol well have fun and take a bunch of cool pics for me :D
My dad had turned off the computer right after I received his text and we were already running late so I didn’t get the chance to reply. I felt bad but he will understand.
Eight long and boring hours later we arrive at his house. The town looks and feels the same as it always has. The warm breezes and the clean dirt smelling fresh air. I’m weird like that I like the smell of dirt. We saw Cammie, Austin’s grandma, she greeted us so warmly I felt like it was a home away from home. So we took out the tents we brought from the car and started setting them up. I was constantly looking around for Austin but I couldn’t see him anywhere.
Carla, I think noticed me looking and she came and whispered in my ear, “He’s in his room getting ready to see you”.
She winked at me and continued to help set up the tent. As I was helping put the poles together for the frame of the tent I heard the screen door of the house shut. I hadn’t heard that screech in what felt like ages. I turn around and there he is, wow he’s changed. The breeze blew his hair out of his eyes a little and they were the most gorgeous brown eyes I had ever seen. Normally I hate brown eyes because I have them but his were amazing. He strutted across the yard like he was floating on air. I got so nervous the closer he got to me and I looked down at my nails, one of my many nerves habits and when I looked up he was standing right in front me. So close I could smell his wonderful cologne, it's still the same stuff he used to wear. I thought to myself, "I wonder if he put it on special because he knows how observant I am and he knows I liked that smell?"’ He opened his arms and gestured for a hug so of course without even thinking I gave him one. He sure had grown a lot too, haha. He was at least a head taller then me if not more. He helped us finish setting up the tent.
“Want to go check out my ‘pad’? “ Austin said as he raised his hands making quotes.
“Sure” I said shyly.
I don’t know why I was so shy around him, I guess it just felt like I was meeting someone new, a guy that I know likes me and it was in a way, awkward. We walked behind his house to his trailer and as I could tell from the outside it was a piece. Not in very good shape but I guess he stays dry, haha. He opened the door and the smell of his cologne and teenage guy rolled out like a cloud. It wasn’t a great smell but the cologne covered the guy smell. I just step in a little bit because I didn’t want to make things awkward since he has a gf and it was his bed room. But there was a little TV to the right and the table was folded down into a couch looking thing. I’m assuming it is what he sat on to watch movies and play video games because there was a paper plate with what look to be like a 3 day old slice of half eaten pizza and a big bag of Cheetos. At the other end of the trailer was a narrow short hall way with a big queen sized bed with curtains hanging from the ceiling by paper clips and duct tape, how romantic, haha. The blankets were all in a wad with a little teddy bear in the corner partly under his pillow. I walked over and asked him what that was and he put his pillow over it and said, “Oh…uh…that’s my bros.”
“Right” I said. I knew it wasn’t but its ok, I’ll let him keep his pride.
New Friends
That night was the huge fire pit meat roasting night I have never been old enough to stay up late for it. So we went over to the place where everyone parked their trailors and watched the fire flicker. Boy was it hot, I didn’t want to get too close, I was scarred I would fall in. Most of the people in the trailors drank beer and liquor so the area smelt like that fruity alcohol smell. Most people get super drunk that night besides the people that put the beef in the fire. It's really cool how they do it. I never knew how until now. They take the raw beef wrapped in aluminum foil then wrap that in a canvas-like cow hide type clothe, put out the fire to where just the coals in the bottom of the pit are still glowing hot, drop the wrapped meat in, put a board over the pit and put dirt on top. After they put it in, Austin noticed some friends that he met last year and I followed him over to say hi.
“Is it ok if I follow you around? Cuz I don’t really know anyone else.” I asked him.
“Yeah sure why not? I want to hang out with you this weekend as much as we can” he said as we headed over to his friends. He introduced me to them.
“Opal this is Katie and Liz, I met them last year and we had some good times” he said with a smirk on his face.
When I looked at them I could tell that Katie wasn’t exactly looking at Austin as a hot guy but more as a fellow bro if you know what I mean? She sat a little to close to Liz and by the look on her face she wasn’t to comfortable with it. But they both seemed pretty cool. Liz was a short little Hispanic girl, she looked like she was like 8 or 9 but she was 14. And Katie looked over her age of 16. Austin just had his 18th birthday at the end of July and mine was in a couple weeks so we were the oldest ones there. We hung out until about 1 or 2 in the morning, walking around town and out in the field of tumble weeds. Oh, did I mention this was a really old western town with most of its original buildings and roads? It was pretty creepy at night. But man, was that open sky beautiful. I looked up and I don’t think I have ever seen so many stars so big and bright. Living in the city you have all the clouds, lights and pollution in the air you can't really see the stars. My parents made me go to bed before most of the stars came out. We were all getting tired so the girls went to Liz’s house across town (like 3 blocks) and Austin walked me to my tent. We said good night and I got into my tent very quietly as to not wake my parents. That night was so sweet.
Remembering
I woke to the smell of bacon and eggs my mom was cooking out side the tent. But for some reason I wasn’t very hungry, I went into the house to go wash my hair but when I went in the door I saw Austin in a towel coming out of the bathroom. I don’t think he saw me so I hid around the corner until he went out to his trailer. I ran into the bathroom and washed my hair in the sink since they didn’t have a bathtub and I didn’t want to take a full shower. By the time I was done everyone was getting ready for the day's events and I couldn’t find Austin anywhere. At first I thought he was hiding or something but I went and asked his grandma if she knew where he was and she said that he went to the next town to pick up his friend. So I looked around for Liz and Katie but I couldn’t find them either. I just wondered around and looked at the different venders that were all up and down the main street of the town.
It was kinda nice to be all alone enjoying the different smells of fresh air, kettle corn, and ice cream from the ice cream parlor that had a line reaching out the door and across the building. Their ice cream is by far the best I have ever tasted, and trust me I've tasted a lot. haha. I went into a store that sold little toys and gadgets from way back when. My dad was friends with the owner but Cammie informed us that he passed away about 2 years ago. He was the sweetest old black man I’ve ever met. About 5’6 bright white short hair and a mustache. R.I.P Booker.
A couple hours had passed when I saw Austin drive into town. I tried to make it not look obvious that I was heading back to the house to meet him so I went in my tent and changed my pants. I don’t know why but I’m so insecure about my body. I can't wear shorts cuz I think my thighs giggle too much when I walk and I can't wear just a t-shirt and jeans because my tummy fat is very clearly visible as it bulges over the top of my pants. But it was really hot out and jeans rolled up and a sweatshirt was too much so I changed into basketball shorts and a t-shirt. These shorts were loose and went below my knee a little and I could pull them up more the my jeans so my tummy wasn’t bulging, plus they were looser. Anyways…. When I came out of the tent Austin and his friend were sitting on the swing set right out side my tent.
“What were you doing? Why were you in there so long?” Austin asked with a smirk on his face.
“Ummm.. I was changing my pants because I spilled ice cream on them….” I lied but I didn’t want to tell him I changed because I was to hot because I don’t want to show that my being over weight was making me sweat.
“Oh, ok that’s a good reason” he said sarcastically.
He introduced me to his friend, Johnny. He was really tall, really skinny, had dirty blonde hair cut to where it looked like it was a military cut about 6 months ago. He had some major buck tooth-age going for him that made his smile look funny but cute. We all went to the ice cream parlor and the line was still super long. We stood there awkwardly for about 2 or 3 minutes and Johnny decided to go get a soda at the gas station just down the road. So Austin and I were finally alone, so to break the ice once again I said “So, what’s going on tonight, do you know?”
Austin paused a minute and said “Well, we are having a band come in, that’s what the big stage is for and the granny cloggers are coming again this year…” I interrupted,
“Oh really! They are so awesome!”
“Yeah, they are pretty sweet huh? But yeah, I think that’s all for tonight but me and my friends have made a little tradition for the past 3 years where we go out at night during the concert and walk out to the cliff and see who can get down it the farthest while we are drunk off our butts” he said laughing.
“You get drunk?” I asked surprised.
“Yeah? Remember I told you I drink now?”
“Oh, right. Ok….. So do I have to?”
“No, of course not, but its just more fun and hilarious”
“Well, I’ve never drank so I don’t think tonight would be a good time to start, especially since I don’t know how I will react to it.”
“True, I guess that would be a good reason not to”
Johnny started heading back over, at first he was walking so I thought I could ask Austin one more question but then Johnny began running and boy can that kid run fast. Oh well, I'll ask him later I guess. After we got our ice cream and ate it, it had been about 45 minutes by the way, that line was too long, we walked over to where they were going to serve the meat they roasted last night in the pit. Cammie came over and asked if we had anything to do.
“Nope, just hanging out grandma” Austin said but he soon realized that was the wrong answer because Cammie asked us if we could help serve people the food. Oh well, I like helping out, its fun. I served the baked beans, Austin's little brother Paul, served the cold slaw, Austin served the potato salad and Johnny served the rolls. There were some big men serving the meat on a different table about 10 feet away. We ran out of cold slaw and baked beans pretty fast so I was the first one that could leave and Paul was just about to walk away when Austin handed him the potato salad spoon.
"Awe man… this sucks” he complained.
Paul was a short 11 year old, light brown hair and little bucked teeth; he looked more like Johnny then Austin. He sure was a little cutie though. So Austin and I left Johnny and Paul to the serving. Johnny didn’t really mind that Austin just left him there, I was kind of confused about that but maybe… nah I won't think it, well, maybe he told Johhny that he really does like me still? Just as Austin was about to talk, Liz ran over and jumped on his back and Katie pushed her way in-between us. Well that’s great, the second chance we get alone together and they come along….
Forgotten feelings
I don’t really know why but I don’t like Liz very much…. I have a feeling that she doesn’t look at Austin as just a friend… more like she has a crush on him. But there’s no way that Austin would go for her… is there? He sure didn’t push her off his back in a hurry… oh well, I'll just slowly start walking away. So I went to my tent and grabbed my phone to see if their house had any wifi and it didn’t, which I was pretty bummed about because I was texting this really sweet guy I met on a online teen dating site and I didn’t want him to think I stopped talking to him. So I walked around town looking for wifi and the hotel had it. Sweet, so I sat on the front porch and texted him. His name was Max and by his pictures he looked like the big teddy bear snuggling type of guy. I knew that even though I really liked Austin, there was no way that we would have a relationship this long distance. Plus I was pretty sure that this guy would be a lot nicer then Austin because, for starters he didn’t drink a whole lot, if at all, he wasn’t a player and had so many girlfriends he couldn’t remember how many and he just had the face that I would love to meet. So we chatted for a little while, but I had to go because my mom needed my help back at my dad’s booth so I told him I would try to text him later.
I helped my mom make some of her tea that she sells and helped her set up her booth. I sat with her awhile and discussed what I thought about Austin and Max and she said that she wants to meet Max before she gives any advice, but she said that he seemed like a pretty nice guy the way I described him. Austin walked over and asked if I could come with him to the old car barn museum to show me something really quick. At first I didn’t really want to because I didn’t know if he was going to play a trick or something. But my mom said “Sure go and have fun, you don’t have to sit here with boring old me all afternoon.” So I went with him and he showed me a really old rusty broken down car, it looked as though if you touched it it would just turn to dust. But he pointed out what looked like a heart on it with a A+O in the center.
“What’s that?” I asked
“It’s a heart…..” he said
“Well yeah, I know that, duh I’m a girl, I like hearts. But what is in the middle of it?”
“The letters A and O…… cant you tell?”
“Oh, now I see it……did you do that?”
“Yeah, I did it 3 months after I met you. I snuck in here one night through a loosened wall board in the back and used my pocket knife to carve it.”
“Wow, that took guts, isn’t the guy that owns this place kind of mean?”
“Well yeah, but I’m a angel remember? Haha no one would think I did it.”
“That's true, hehe, so why did you?”
“Because I liked you a lot when we met”
“Liked? Does that mean you don’t like me anymore?”
“I do, its just……I don’t know, I guess you’ve been away for so long I don’t think I like you more then a friend now, plus I have a girl friend but that might change after tonight, the liking you part at least.” he said with a mischievous smile on his face.
But before I could reply he ran off out of the barn and was gone. I had no clue were he went. Hmm… I wonder what he meant. I hope he’s not going to kiss me or anything but at the same time I’m kind of hoping he does. It would be the first and last time I would ever kiss him because I have a really good feeling that when we get back I’m going to meet Max and we will click. I kind of want to have something that Austin described, he said it was called “Mikes lemonade”. I love lemonade, it’s like one of my favorite drinks, but why would he list that among the beers? Oh well, I guess ill find out tonight.
A New Enemy
The afternoon went by fast, but it was 7 pm and still pretty light out, so I walked to the closed down RV park and remembered all the times I had there when I was little. I could hear very quiet music coming from somewhere near by but it was hard to tell exactly where and it wasn’t from the band in the center of town…. So I walked around to the back of the building at the RV park and I saw a foot sticking out around the corner and then I heard Liz talking to someone but that was Austin’s shoe… at first I was going to just walk over and say hi, but I figured I shouldn’t interrupt so I just stood around the corner and listened to their conversation.
“So do you really think that you still like her?”
” You say that as if it was a bad thing. Yeah,I think I might, she is so much prettier then when we met and I liked her a lot then”
“But what about your girlfriend?”
“I told her that what happens this weekend she might not approve of and she said it was fine just not to tell her what happens”
“So, does that mean if you cheat on her it won't count?”
“I’m not going to have sex with her or anything, she’s special, I don’t want to just use her for that”
“You wouldn’t be using me….”
"What?!? What are you talking about?”
And then I heard what sounded like Austin’s mouth being covered because he was trying to talk but it was muffled.
“Wow, where did that come from? Why did you just kiss me? I thought you and Katie were like …. You know?”
“We have an open thing I guess…..and I did it because I like you and I want you to spend tonight with me…”
“You're cute and sweet and al,l but I don’t like you like that and probably never will, sorry Liz”
I heard him stand up. But he didn’t walk away.
“Let go of my pants! I need to go talk to Opal!”
“But I want to show you how much I like you?”
I heard what sounded like his the zipper of his pants go down.
“No, get off of me. You’re not going to do that to me, back off!”
He zipped his pants back up and ran around the corner, he didn’t even see me.
I could hear Liz starting to cry, but then she said “I'll get him some way, some how.”
"Oh no you won't little girl." I thought to myself.
So I followed Austin back to his house but he didn’t go inside he just sat on the swing. I don’t think he saw me because he started sniffling like he was crying. So I walked over and I’m pretty sure he heard me then because I stepped on his dogs squeaky toy, I did it on purpose though, so I didn’t scare him when I walked up behind him, but he just glanced over his shoulder and whipped away his tears and stood up.
“Awe Austin, what’s wrong? Why were you crying?”
“It’s nothing…..nothing,,,,”
“Did your girlfriend dump you or something?”
“No…..its just, I don’t know how to say how I feel”
“About what?”
“Nothing…..now isn’t the right time to talk about it.”
“Ok, well, when you’re ready to talk I’m here ok?
“Yeah I know” he said with a little smile.
“K, lets go somewhere cool”
"Ok I know just the place”
So we walked over to the old school house and sat on the front steps. He sat really close to me and leaned back and rested on his elbows.
“Wow that sunset is so pretty, I haven’t seen one like that for like….. 3 years haha” I said
“Don’t all sunsets look the same all around?”
“No way the sunsets where I live aren’t ever this pretty.”
“I know some thing that is really pretty, prettier then any other one I’ve seen.”
“And what would that be?” I laid back and looked up at the sky.
“Ill give you hints and you can guess k?” he laid back with his arms behind his head.
“Ok? Like what?”,
“It’s a she”
“Ok….. that says a lot”
“Im not done…..she has soft long black hair that falls over one eye that she hides behind when she blushes. She has gorgeous brown eyes that she covers with makeup which makes them stand out even more. She has cute crooked teeth that she hates but I like them. She clams that she is over weight but I like a girl with rounded edges.”
“Wow Austin, I didn’t think you looked at me that way?”
But before he said anything back he leaned over me and whispered in my ear, “You’re beautiful”. I closed my eyes and just laid there speechless. He started playing with my hair and it gave me chills down my body. I knew that this moment would end soon but not as soon as it did. Well, what do you know, Liz and Katie! Can’t they just leave him alone? I guess it would be more like, can't Liz leave him alone and Katie is just following Liz. But Austin doesn’t have the heart to tell them to go away. Austin pulled out his phone to check the time and it was 8pm, he got up quick. “I have to go get Savanna!” then he ran back to his house and drove away. I thought to myself who is Savanna? Is that his girlfriend? Oh great, now I get to meet her, that’s just fabulous, I won’t even get to sit by Austin, let alone be with him alone.
Ugh…. Liz walked up to me and had a serious look on her face.
“What were you and Austin talking about?”
“The sunset…………”
“That’s it? What's so special about the sunset?”
“He said that it was as beautiful as…..” I paused I don’t want her to have any ammo to fire at me.
“As beautiful as what? What else were you talking about?”
“Nothing it doesn’t matter”
“Well I know something about him that he told me that you don’t know yet”
“Well, maybe he doesn’t want me to know yet?”
“He does, he just doesn’t want to hurt you. And make you cry”
“Ok…. So what?”
“Ill just tell you, he’s going to dump his girlfriend for someone else and it won’t be you. He doesn’t like you and he doesn’t know how to tell you. He likes someone else…….”
“And who would that be?”
“I don’t know if I'm supposed to tell you that”
“Well, you have already told me everything else?”
"Yeah, but still……ok, me”
“What? He doesn’t like you like that……”
“What makes you think that?”
“Because you don’t care about your body and are willing to let him use you.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I heard you talking to him you……you tried to do something he didn’t want you to and you got upset. And now you’re here making crap up to get me to be mad at him or stop liking him. Your not gonna win!”
“Whatever, you don’t know anything”
I got up and started walking away but I yelled over my shoulder with a smile “bye Katie!”
“Bye opal!” she yelled back.
“Really? What's wrong with you?" Liz said to Katie as she punched her in the arm.
“What? She's really nice to me, I'm not the one trying to bring her down. You're being really rude.”
I heard Katie running up behind me, I could tell it was her because she was about as heavy set as I was, maybe slightly bigger, but all in all about the same.
"Where are you going?.......... Katie!!!! What are you doing?” yelled Liz.
“Hey Opal, I'm gonna hang with you, ok? She's not very nice, but don't worry, I won’t hit on you or anything haha, just pals ok?”
“Yeah that’s fine, but when we get to my tent I just kinda want to be alone to think ok?
“Oh, yeah, sure, no prob.”
Missing Max
We got back to my tent and I said bye and told her I'll find her later to talk. She walked off, I have no clue where she was going, but I watched her walk away out the window of the tent and as soon as she was out of sight I grabbed my phone and head phones and booked it to the hotel and sat in a dark corner on the side of the building where hopefully no one will find me. Cammie gave me her wifi password so I checked my message inbox and there was a couple from Max. Wow, they are really long messages.
MAX: hey opal, I have something that has been on my mind to tell you for a while now. But at first I wanted to wait to meet you to tell you but I can’t, I want to now. I just wanted to tell you how much I like you, I know we haven’t met but you’re really sweet and funny and beautiful. When you get back we should plan to meet. I really think we could be good friends, maybe more if you feel like that could ever happen.
MAX: man im so bored without you txting me…………what are you doing? I wish u could have wifi everywhere.
Me: hey Max! I'm here for a little while idk how long yet….”
(buzzzz my phone vibrated as I was texting him back)
MAX: I cant wait for you to be able to txt, I kinda miss u. ☹
Me: hey Max! I'm here for a little while idk how long yet cuz I think we are going for a walk.”
MAX: hedo! I missed you!
Me: yeah I know lol I got all your messages hehe
MAX: oh really? Umm…….did u get the long one?
Me: yeah that was sweet and yeah I really want to meet you and yes it is very possible we could be more then friends :P I just have to get my head out of the clouds.
MAX: about what?
Me: eh its nothing I don’t really want to talk about it, it just makes me sad and depressed.
MAX: awe ☹ I don’t want you to be sad.
Me: its fine you always make me happy when I talk to you cuz your so sweet and nice to me. I feel like I can talk to you and you understand me.
MAX: no way me too! That’s how I feel about you! I've never felt like anyone understands me.
Me: that’s cool
MAX: so r u ok now?
Me: kinda………….as long as im here I wont be normal I guess
MAX: why is that? I thought you liked………….Seaton? is that what the place is called?
Me: Sandson lol but yeah I love it here but this year is depressing. People change too much…. Y cant people just stay the same?
MAX: I know what u mean……. People turn into terds over time and it sucks
Me: yeah…………..so what are you doing?
MAX: playing xbox, gears.
Me: you really like that game huh?
MAX: ah yeah! I love it lol
Me: nice……..damn Austin is back…… I gtgttyl luv ya! Buh bye!
MAX:………………whos Austin?
I didn’t get the last message....
I wasn’t too excited to go back to Austin’s house but I guess if Savanna is his girlfriend I can at least see who im compared to. I saw her get out of the car….. holy crap she’s gorgeous. That’s just great! Austin saw me and waved me to come over so I couldn’t just stand there and pretend not to see him, so I walked over slowly and they met me half way. He introduced us, it was really awkward but he said that she was his friend, so I guess she's not the one, but I don’t know why he wouldn’t like her, shes really pretty.
A First for Everything
Austin, Savanna, Katie, Liz and I met up at the fire pit to plan what we were going to do tonight. It was like 8:30 so we had to think of something fast before the adults found us and put us to work. So we all agreed that we would go to Katie's trailer and get what we could from her mom's beer cooler and then go to Liz’s house to see what they had there. When we went inside Liz ran to the fridge but all they had was one beer and some vodka and no one but Katie wanted the vodka. So Austin opened the beer and handed it to me.
“What am I supposed to do with this? I told you I don’t want to because I don’t know how I will react.”
“You don’t have to drink the whole thing silly.”
“It smells good?”
“It doesn’t taste how it smells but you should try it.”
“I don’t want a big gulp of it though, I'm scarred”
“Liz, get her a cup!”
“A little one please”
Liz was actually being kinda nice to me, maybe Katie leaveing her showed her to be nicer. She handed me a little green cup. Austin poured about 3 sips worth and handed it to me.
"Drink it, its ok, nothing will happen with just this little bit”
"You promise?”
“With all my heart” he said with a sexy smile and a wink.
I looked into the cup, it looked like Pepsi. They all started to cheer me on, it was so intense, I could feel my heart beating fast so finally I put the cup to my lips and tried a tiny sip. It was a interesting taste, to me it tasted like apple juice mixed with ginger ale. Not exactly a really good taste but not so horrible I wouldn’t try it again, so I drank the rest and Savanna gave me a high five and said,
“I didn’t want to tell you until you drank it, but I hate beer, I like Mike's hard lemonade, it’s so much better.”
“Does that have alcohol in it?” I asked her but before she could reply, Austin interrupted her,
“So, did you like it opal?”
“Yeah I liked it, it was ok, I guess.”
“Ok cool, me and you can share that one then.”
“Ok, but you can have most of it.” I said and everyone laughed.
We walked back into town and it was really dark, Austin had handed me the beer, I slowed down away from the crowd without anyone noticing and I drank some. I don’t know why, but I just didn’t really want to in front of them. I caught back up with them after a few swallows and no one noticed until Austin asked for some.
“Where did half the bottle go? Did u spill it?”
“No…” I said with a grin on my face.
“So you do like it then, hmm?” Austin said as he gave me a buddy side hug. We walked along the wagon trail out to a old wool barn and climbed up to one of the loading zones and sat and drank and they told stories, but I just laid there thinking and looking up and the beautiful stars. I think I dozed off for a couple minutes because I woke up and everyone was gone but Austin and my head was on his lap.
“Hello” he whispered with a little smile on his face.
“Hi” I said, adjusting myself more comfortable. I looked around and there were beer bottles all over the ground.
“Who drank all those?”
"Mostly Katie, I had 2 and Liz had about 4 or 5 I think, she got pretty buzzed and they both left. I think they went to Liz’s house.”
“Where’s Savanna?”
“She went to go find Johnny I think,”
“Oh really?”
“Yup, so now it’s just us.”
“Yeah, I see” I said sarcastically.
He looked at me in the eyes. I could feel him looking into my eyes so deeply it’s like he knew what I was thinking. He leaned down and kissed my forehead. And started running his fingers through my hair. I just lay there with my eyes closed. I could feel something getting close to my face and then I felt him breathe on my cheek as he kissed it. He held my face and kissed me on the lips. Oh no! Why did I let this happen! I shouldn’t have drank, I shouldn’t have come out here with them. I shouldn't have let him hold me like this and most of all I shouldn’t have let him kiss me! What about Max, if I told him that this all happened. I don’t know how he would react. I bet he would be really sad, I hope he doesn’t stop talking to me.
So I got up and brushed off my pants and fixed my shirt.
“I really want to stay here with you but….”
“But what? What’s the matter Opie?”
“I don’t know, I just, I don’t know what to do about this.”
He walked up to me and grabbed my hands, “Its ok Opal, nothing bad is gonna happen. Don’t worry about it.”
“That’s not what it’s the matter, it’s just I really really like you and all but, I don’t want to ruin what I could have back at home. Do you know what I mean?”
“Do you have a boyfriend?”
“No, but I like this guy and I’m pretty sure he likes me to. I just don't want your's and my friendship-crush-thing to go any further, liking each other is ok but…”
“I understand, I do, but once you leave here your emotions and everything stay. They won’t go back with you trust me. We will forget this weekend sooner then you know it.”
I had a feeling he was just saying that because he didn’t want to be alone tonight. But I was not willing to go that far with him at all.
“And I’m not saying this because I want to sleep with you or anything, really, it’s just I really like you and the next time we see each other you will probably have a boyfriend.” He said with a look on his face like his puppy just died.
“Yeah, right” I said very unconfidently.
I gave him a hug but he pulled my hair away from my neck and kissed it and I just melted and I passed out. Not because of the kiss but because I was tired and the beer had kicked in.
A Sad Goodbye
The next morning I woke up pretty early, about 6:30am, the sun was just rising and my parents were already up and packing up to leave. I didn’t want to leave yet, but I really wanted to get back home and forget about this weekend. I couldn’t exactly tell my mom how I felt and what was going on but she could tell there was something wrong. I packed up my things and put them in the car. Austin wasn’t around anywhere so I was beginning to wonder what happened to him last night because I don’t remember how I got back to the tent. I walked around town one last time and when I got back it was about 8am. Austin was sitting on the swing set next to where our tent was. He looked kind of upset.
“Whats wrong Austin?”
“I don’t know its just I was hopping this weekend would have been more but I still had fun”
“What do you mean?”
“You passed out last night and I wanted to kiss you and stuff but I knew it would be wrong to take advantage of you while you were asleep. So I didn’t. I brought you back here and helped you into the tent and you said ‘goodnight Max’. Whos max?"
“Really? I said that? Thanks for not doing anything to me though that would have been a little weird.”
“Yeah you did……who is Max?”
“This guy I met online that I'm gonna meet when we get back home. I'm hoping that if all goes well and my parents like him, we will date.”
“Oh, is that is that the guy you were talking about last night?”
“Yes. I'm really sorry, I wish that I could have came back every year so we could see each other change slower, you have changed so much and I just don’t want to be another one of the many girls you have had. I know we aren’t going to date but I don’t want to go any further physically with you, ok?”
“Do you think I wanted to sleep with you or something? You're not like the other girls I know. I would never do that to you without you suggesting it. You're special, you care about your body and stuff.”
“Yeah, I know…”
“What do you mean you know? How did you know I felt that way?”
“ I heard you and Liz talking the other day at the RV park…”
“Oh…. Really? Darn…..did you hear everything?”
“Yeah”
“So you understand what's going on then right?”
“Yeah, but its ok, I'm kinda happy I heard you talk that way. I was able to stand up to Liz when she came and told me that you are gonna dump your girlfriend for her.”
“What?!? I would never do that….. Gross. I mean she’s cute and all but I couldn’t picture myself dating her.”
“Yeah.”
Our conversation pretty much ended there. We walked into town to find my parents and told them that we were going to walk to the ravine and back really quick. Once we got away from town, no one saw us leave, thank God we finally get to be alone. Our hands kept bumping together and finally he grabbed my hand. I just went with it, what harm could a little hand hold do? We got to the ravine and sat on a big rock on the edge and just sat there. He didn’t say a word to me, but neither did I. We just sat there and enjoyed the warmth of the morning sun on our skin and listened to the birds chirp. We started back and he never let go of my hand until we got back in site of the people. We got back to his house and he told me he had to go to his uncle's house for a family BBQ and he won't be here when I leave. So we said a quick goodbye and a some what long hug and he started walking. His uncle's house was just over by Liz’s house so I was thinking that maybe he was lying to me but I watched him walk past her house to his where there was a bunch of cars parked. My parents found me and we said goodbye to Carrie and her husband Hank, got in the car and my dad asked me,
"Where’s Austin?”
“He's at his uncle's”
“Do you want us to drive you over there to say goodbye?”
“Sure”
"Ok sweetie”
So we drove over and Austin came running to the car so I rolled down the window. My mom whispered to me “get out and give him a hug opal”, so I did as she said and got out. The hug was by far better then the one he gave me 10 minutes ago. It seemed like he didn’t want to let go and I didn’t really want to either but then I remembered Max. I need to let go, let go Opal, let him go, you’ll see him again soon.
So we let go and he gave me a little kiss on the cheek so my parents wouldn’t see and I got back in the car and we drove away. I looked behind us to see him wave and then run back inside. I don’t know why, but I started crying. I wish that Max and I lived here but I guess that wouldn’t be a good idea since Austin is here too and I'm pretty sure they would not get alone very well, but you never know.
Heart Broken
Eight long, tired hours later we were back home. I was so happy I flopped on my bed and pulled my phone out and texted Max.
Me: hey max!! I missed you so much I wish I could have txted you so much more. I thought a lot about you this weekend and ive have decided to invite you to my birthday party so we can meet. Do u want to come?
He didnt reply very fast…….about 10 min went by and finally……buzz.
MAX: hi
Me: whats wrong?
MAX: u never texted me back last night, I know u said u would try but I was just hoping u would….. and ya sure ill go to ur party when is it?
Me: im so so sorry. I didn’t go by the hotel again last night and I was hanging out with some new friends….. my birthday is 2 weeks from now on the 14th. August 14th can u make it?
MAX: u never answered my question about who Austin was but I hope u had fun. Ummm I think im going to silverwood that day but ill see when we r getting back and ill try to make it k?
Me: hes a old friend, oh really? No fair I wanna go lol I sure hope u can make it though cuz I really want to meet u!
MAX: yeah I cant wait to meet u either :D
Me: im so tired from the trip so im gonna go to bed ok? Ill txt u in the morning k?
MAX: ok that’s fine I understand. Good night ☺
Me: nightie night Max ☺
Morning came and we texted all day, everyday for the next 2 weeks but on August 10th Austin texted me….. I really didn’t need this right now and I didn’t want to talk about what happened but I guess it would be better if we did.
Austin: hey im sorry about this weekend and what all happened. Idk y I acted like that I shouldn’t have. Im sorry but I think I relize I don’t like u like I thought I did. ur beautiful and everything but I don’t think I like u more then a friend.
Me: what do u mean? I thought u liked me, I thought u pretty much loved me? What happened? Why did u change ur mind?
Austin: idk really but I don’t think that we are ever gonna be together k?
Me: but u said that if we are single when we both graduate we would be? And we would live together and stuff?
Austin: idk what I was thinking, and that was u that said that remember? Not me. All I said was ok.
Me: but…… I had everything planned out? ☹
Austin: I know im sorry I just don’t want to be with u like that k?
Me: so theres no way possible? Ever?
Austin: I don’t think so…
Me: not even a little spark?
Austin: nope
Me: but I think I love you D’:
Austin: thanks and I thought I felt the same way about u too but my child feelings aren’t the same now. r you crying?
Me: yes y? how could I not be crying? im balling my eyes out!
Austin: its not that big of a deal….. u have Max don’t u?
Me: is this about max?
Austin: ummm no? I just don’t like u like that ok?
We texted until about 2 or 3 in the morning the whole time I was crying my eyes out and my make up was running down my face. I told him I was tired and want to go to sleep because I couldn’t take anymore I didn’t want to talk to him anymore that night. So I said goodnight and he never replied. But around 3:30am when I thought nothing could make me happy, max texted me asking if I was still awake. So I said yea barely, and he asked if everything was alright because I’m not normally up that late. I told him everything. Like EVERYTHING, he understood. But he told me that he didn’t think that he would want to be with me if I liked another guy so much. I told him that I don’t. I will stop liking Austin since he doesn’t like me anymore and plus, I have him now so I won't like another guy if I do date him. I promised him I wouldn’t and he believed me and said ok we can try it. That made me a lot happier and I finally fell asleep.
A New Start
The next morning I woke up with black make up all over my cheeks and I almost forgot why. I texted Max everyday, all day until my birthday. I asked him if he could still try to make it and he said possibly but he wasn’t sure yet. My birthday party came and went….no Max. He texted me all night though. He said he was just too tired to get up and walk to my house, so I was fine with it and he promised to come to youth group with me that Wednesday.
Tuesday night, the night before youth group we both agreed to meet. I walked down the street and we met in front of an old union hall. That night was a night I will never ever forget…..
It was about 7:00pm, the sun was almost set, so it was kind of dark outside. I asked my mom if I could take my dog, Oscar, for a walk, she said yes! I was surprised she didn’t say no because it was getting dark outside. I couldn’t decided what to wear. I wanted to wear something comfy but not to comfy, you can meet someone for the first time only once. I put on one of my favorite sweatshirts and my favorite skinny jeans and my converse. Put some perfume on and headed out the door. I got to the parking lot of the union hall and waited by the lamp post. I was so nervous I had no idea what direction he was coming from and I didn’t know really how tall he was, other then by what he told me, so I wouldn’t really know it was him until he walked up to me. I stood there in complete silence, just me and my doggy under a lit lamp post. About 10 minutes passed, I was beginning to think he wasn’t gonna come so I pulled out my phone and listened to my music. Just when I finally got my head phones in and pushed play, Oscar stood up, his ears were moving around like he was hearing something so I took my head phones out and listened. I could hear foot steps coming up the hill around the corner so I quickly put my phone and head phones away, fixed my hair, put a new piece of gum in my mouth and watched anxiously at the corner for any sight of someone. Then I saw a guy. I wasn’t sure if it was him or not because one, it was dark and two, he said he was 5’10 and he looked really tall in his picture, but from my view he wasn’t that tall. So I just stood there looking around but not too obvious and then when I could here him get about 10 feet away I looked over and the light was shinning on his golden light brown hair. He didn’t look like his picture as much I thought he would, but in a way it was a good thing, he was much more handsome in person. As he got closer I noticed that he looked as if he hadn’t shaved for a couple days, but I liked it.
Max’s thoughts when he first saw me……
I hope she likes me…I wonder what she’s like in person…oh my gosh, I'm so nervous. Ok, almost there, just around the corner… Wow, shes really hot! She looks way better in person, I hope she doesn’t think I'm someone else and not see me come up, I don’t want to scare her. I hope my breath doesn’t stink. I hope she has gum. What a cute little doggy. I wonder what his name is, I didn’t know she had a dog…I hope she didn’t tell me she did and I forgot already. Ok, here goes nothing……
“Hey.”
“Hi.”
“Cute dog.”
“Thanks.” Oh my gosh this is kind of awkward, I don’t know what to say!
“Wanna walk?”
“Sure.” Wow, I haven’t heard his voice that much but I like it a lot.
“Where do you want to go?” She's really hot!!
“Have you been to the school down the road?”
“Yeah, I think so.”
“Let's walk over in that area, we can't go past my house though. becuase my parents don’t know I'm meeting you remember?”
“Oh yeah, right, ok”
That was the night I met my future boyfriend......
Now at this time I didn’t know that he would be my boyfriend though. But this day was the start to our amazing friendship.
Max comes over everyday, literally, EVERY single day. I never get tired of him and neither do my parents. My parents absolutely love him and I'm beginning to really love him, I think. Since it was summer we have our pool set up so we spend a lot of our time in the pool, splashing around and having a sweet, innocent, flirty time together. Once it gets late, around 10pm, he gets ready to head home, but he never leaves right at 10 because we stand and talk on the street corner by where we met for almost 15-20 minutes, sometimes even longer. It is so hard to say goodbye and its getting harder and harder every night.
This night was special, he kissed me on the forehead. We weren’t even dating yet. If felt like we were though. The next couple nights he would give me a kiss somewhere different on my face. First it was my forehead, then my left cheek, followed by my right, and then my nose. By the 5th night he finally kissed me on the lips. OMG! It was the greatest kiss I had ever had. I felt like there was energy going through my whole body. It was a nice kiss though, no tongue or anything, that would have been a little too much for a first kiss. He held my face and looked into my eyes with his amazing green eyes and asked me to date him. Of course I said yes, how could I not, I liked him a lot. He knew that too, I’m so happy he finally asked me. At first I was afraid he wouldn’t because my dad wanted Max to ask him before he asked me but Max was too shy to and was super nervous. I guess he just decided to do it without asking. My dad said yes in his own way, I mean, why wouldn’t he agree to let us date? He let him come over everyday for about 3 weeks.
That night after he left I ran back home and when I got inside I yelled "WOO HOO!!" I was so happy and full of energy I told my parents what happened and they were very cool with it. Every night I write him a little note. I stick in his sweatshirt pocket or his wallet he keeps in his back pocket. At first he didn't know how I got it in there and other times he knew exactly what I was doing. But this night I had to write something new because it was our first night with a note that I could write something romantic. I couldn't think of what to say. I don't want to say I love you yet because that's his job to say it first but I really want to. I just said something about how handsome he is and that I'm happy he picked me. The next couple days were more intimate, we held hands every chance we got and he always was next to me when ever I went in the house. He would give me a kiss every chance he got. I love it so much. Most people would think that it's to clingy but I don't because I do it too and he doesn't mind one bit.
A couple days went by and we said bye every night and we were out at the corner longer and longer. Every night I was waiting for him to say those 3 words. I knew that he probably wouldn't within a couple days of us dating, that's a little soon. A week went by, I was so ready to say it, I wanted to but I also wanted to wait for him to say it first and then one night I slipped. He was walking away and I yelled "good night" like I always do and he yelled back but this time I yelled:
"I love you!" OMG! I said it first, why? I can't believe it just slipped out like that!
"What did you say?" he said with a smerk on his face as he turned around and started walking back.
"Huh.....oh nothing...." Oh my gosh..
"Say it again"
"Say what again?" I'm trying to play the dumb girl now, hopping it will work but he knows me to well already.
"Exactly what you just said, those 3 words you just yelled" he said smiling at me.
"I love you" I said softly.
"What?"
"I love you" I said a little louder
"What? what did you say?" His grin getting bigger and bigger.
"I love you!" I yelled.
"I love you too." He said back as he leaned in to kiss me, but this time it wasn't just a normal kiss, it was a full mouth, tongue kiss. I got shivers down my body when he gave me a hug and said "I love you" into my ear and kissed me on the neck. I couldn't sleep at all that night, I was so awake and happy.
Fun Times With My Boyfriend
The first 4 months of our relationship we did a lot together, he still came over every day............
Before school started we went to two different fairs. It was so much fun. The first fair was in a town about 35 minutes away and that one was a blast. We went on a tun of rides, but it was so hot out that day that I had to take off my shirt and just wear my tank top underneath. Before we left I offered him a pair of basketball shorts and white shirt because he was wearing back jeans and a black polo shirt, in other words, really hot clothes. But no, he didn't take them. My mom even suggested he should because its going to be hot that day but, nope, he said he will be fine. Well, he wasn't around 2pm, it was like 95 degrees outside, clear skys and hardly any shade. We kept lots of water on us though so we wouldn't get sick but we got sunburnt. His neck was so red, I felt really bad for him. We went on this one ride over and over and over again. It was so fun, I think it was called The Tornado or something, but it was an awesome ride, really nice to cool off. We also went on a ride called "The Zipper", oh my gosh, I was so scarred the first time I went on that ride, but I swear we went on it about 15 times. It was so epic! They also had the ride where you're on a swing. That is by far one of my most favorite rides, I love it so much. Max begged me to go on the bumper cars with him, to tell you the truth, I was scarred to go on them because some of the people were getting hit really hard, but then I found out I could ride with max so I tried it out. I had a blast! I got in my own and tried it but it was way more fun together. Max let me drive instead. We kept hitting this one fat little kid, I know mean, right? But it was funny because he kept hitting this little girl and karma is a boob.
The other fair we went to was in the town where we live. It had more rides so there were more to choose from and they had some new rides. Holy crap, they had some awesome ones there. Of course they had the swing one and The Zipper. So the first ride we went on, after we looked at all the animals and crafts and stuff, was The Zipper. Did I tell you that ride was awesome? We got all strapped in and ready to go, as they were loading everyone up I put my iPhone in my pants pocket. I figured it wouldn't fall out because my pants were tight, plus the soft padding on the bar holding us in was super tight so it was pretty stuck in there. The ride started going and it was getting pretty fast and then I saw my phone fly past my face. I started freaking out like no other. Max didn't understand what was going on at first but he caught on when I started crying and yelling "where is my f***ing phone!!!" I was looking all around the cage we were in and it wasn't anywhere, so I tried my hardest to look on the ground below us, it was really hard to see because of the way the ride moves around, but I manage to see it. I started praying out loud "God don't let anyone take my phone, please let it be in one piece and not broken." I was still crying like hard core because I was scarred that it was broken. I know what your thinking "Wow that girl is obsessed with her phone" No I got it from my Uncle Tom and if he found out that I dropped it out of a ride at the fair I doubt he would give me another one, plus I have everything on that thing. All my contacts, plans, assignments, you name it its on there. We got out of the ride, I ran over to my pour phone. The case had flew off but it was only broken on the corner. The phone had no scratches and it worked just fine. The mexican guy running the ride said "Wow your phone still working? That amazing, usually people phone don't last the big of a fall. How you so special?" He said laughing and I just replied with a big grin "I prayed for it" and I walked away.
We were getting tired of ridding rides, so we took a little break. We had about $50 to spend so we got food and ice cream. After we ate we walked over to one of those game things where the people running them usually jib you. Well, I felt lucky today and Max said he would try to win me something. So he asked me what I wanted. There were tons of little teddy bears but they looked really cheep so I pointed at one of the humongous bears that were as big as me.
"That one?" He asked nervously.
"Mhm." I said all sweet with a smile on my face
"Alright all try" he said. The game was throwing rings on bottles, seemed simple enough. The guy gave us two free rings to try and if we got one of them we could get two more for free, but he threw and missed both. So he asked if I wanted him to keep trying and I said yes. So he bought five more, he threw the first four and got really close but missed them all.
"Can I try the last one?"
"Are you sure?"
"Yes very and I'm gonna laugh my butt off if I get this one." I said laughing. The guy running the stand laughed a little too.
"Ok, but its pretty hard"
I threw the ring........it landed right on a bottle. I made it! No way!
"No way" Max said "No way, she made that"
"I made it!!! haha I told you I would and now I'm laughing my head off!"
"Wow dude, she made it, that's totally awesome." This guy seemed like a hippy type guy, at least that's how he acted.
"So what would you like little lady? He asked me as he showed off all the gigantic teddy bears.
To bad they didn't have a panda, I love pandas. But I picked the light brown bear with a white tummy. Oh my gosh, it was so soft. The thing was too heavy, hard and awkward to carry. I had to switch positions holding it a lot, but it was fun. We got a lot of attention from people. We couldn't take Spartacus on a lot of rides..... yes Spartacus, Max and I named him. Don't ask why, because I have no clue. Max liked that name and I thought it was cute so that's what we went for. We got to the giant ferris wheel, one of the biggest in the U.S. and they let us bring Spartty on. I was so excited. The seats were like a bowl with a umbrella, rather then a bench like the smaller ones. There's a saying that if you kiss the person you love on the top of that ferris wheel when its stopped, you will be together for ever. The ride was really long and the sun was just starting to set, it was like a dream. Then the ride started to slow down, slowly we reached the very tip top and it stopped, I think the guy did it on purpose because there was only four other groups of people on the ride. Max pulled me to him and we kissed. I just sat there in his arms until we got off, we thanked the guy for the ride and got off. We went to another ride and there was hardly any people at the fair still because it was getting late and it was a week day so not many kids were there either. We got in line for this one really fast spinning ride that we went on earlier that day and the guy running it was different, he was a really cool black dude, he let us strap Spartty on to the seat in front of us. It was so funny watching him ride, his big ears flopping back and forth. We took him from ride to ride, getting a lot of looks and stares from little kids asking their parents for one. That night was amazing.
Two words, Home Coming......
My first dance was home coming but that was with my ex........I didn't have much fun. But when I went to this dance with Max it felt like my first dance ever. We showed up a little late but who cares, its a dance, every one shows up at different times right? Anyway, I had a cute black and white dress that went just past my knees, poofy just how I like my dresses to be and he wore a suit that he and my parents bought. It was a little too big so it made him look like he was wearing his daddy suit. He was so handsome in it. My dad took pictures of us, I don't know why but his pictures just never turn out very good when it's of me and Max. See, my dad's a photographer, but I think he should stick to nature and car shows and stuff and not do people. Anyway, the dance ended too fast but we had so much fun together. My friend Nikki was there but she didn't have a date, so it was kinda of awkward to dance with Max, with her just sitting there all alone, but we did anyway, she didn't mind much. There were a couple of fast songs that we didn't dance to, but when the slow dance came on it was our first time dancing like that together and it was so amazing. I'll remember that night forever.
Now you know how I told you that he came over every singe day? Well, even on holidays. He came with us up to my aunt's house for Thanksgiving. It was really awkward and uncomfortable for us though because my aunt's the type of person that doesn't believe in relationships for teens, so he was nervous and didn't really want to show me any affection in front of my aunt and family. In font of my parents he is ok though. But, I mean, imagine that though? It sucks, you wanting to sit by your boyfriend but he will move or stand up. You try to hold hands and he pulls away. It kind of makes you feel not wanted or that he is embarrassed to. So, unlike most girls, I went and talked to him about it. He explained himself and everything was fine. We stayed pretty late that night, mostly my mom's fault, she talks to much.
Christmas was great. We were going to go back up to my aunt's for it, but my dad and I didn't want to and my Uncle Tom was coming up from Oregon and we just wanted it to be us four and Max. So we stayed home, plus if we would have went to my aunt's, Max wouldn't have wanted to come. He would have been home alone for Christmas and I wasn't going to let that happen. My parents and I gave Max some gifts and he opened them like a little boy, big smile on his face and a innocent surprised look when he opened each present. He got me some pretty sweet stuff too.
New years rolled around very slowly but surely it came. We stayed up late of course playing board games and watching movies. Then we went out side at midnight to hear everyone's illegal fire works going off. There were some pretty nice ones down the street we could see. Max was getting pretty tired and wanted to start heading home. He got his stuff and my dad and I drove him home.
That was our first winter together and boy was it fun, not enough snow to sled, but we did play in it a little bit. Spring came, more walks, more pretty sunsets, more hanging out outside in the fresh warm air. School was out, we had finally graduated. But wait! I haven't told you about prom yet!!!! Prom came up pretty fast. Max's mom had told him that he could get a limo to take me to the dance. She kept her word, it arrived right on time at my house. He got out of the limo and stood there holding the door open. He looked at me as if I was an angel. I was wearing a dark purple, light blue and pink colored ball gown type dress. I felt like a princess. I lefted up my dress so the trim wouldn't get dirty on our gravel drive way. He saw my shoes and giggled. I was wearing yellow converse all stars. I don't really care for heels that much and he didnt want me to be taller then him. I bought them special for the dance. It was hard to get into the limo because my dress was so big and poofy, but we managed. It took up most of the seat and I could tell he was getting really hot because he was pretty much covered in the whole bottom of my dress. It was so romantic and he had made a CD and had the driver play some of our favorite songs. The dance was amazing looking, all the girls in their pretty dresses and the guys in their tuxes. A night to remember for sure.
Graduation came and he went to mine and I went to his. We of course celebrated after both. His mom had been wanting to move into her boyfriend's house for quite sometime, but Max really didn't have anywhere to go other then his older brother's house about 30 minutes away. He didnt want to do that and neither did I, way too far away. We had a long wise chat with my parents about him maybe moving in with us and having his own room or something. My mom was crazy about the idea and thought it would be great since he's over here all the time anyway, but my dad wasn't as enthusiastic about it as she was. He thought it would be kind of improper for him to live with us but he will think about it and get back to us.
3 weeks passed and his mom was ready to leave. Max had all his things packed up and finally my dad gave us his answer, he said yes, but only on one condition, that he let my dad hall his stuff to our house. We all laughed and Max and I were so excited. The next day we got all his stuff from the apartment and moved him into our spare bed room. It was great.
We both got jobs and saved up enough money to rent our own apartment across town, we couldn't stand my parents much longer. We moved out and continue saving money towards other things.
The Happy Ending
Max and I dated for two short, amazing years before he finally popped the question, where we met on that one corner under the lamp post at 7:30 pm on August 23 the same date and time he asked me out. It wasn't a huge production like most girls dream of but I'm not like most girls. It was in every way what I wanted and hoped for.
That night was like any other Thursday night, sitting in our apartment watching The Incredible Hulk, I swear I've seen that movie so many times I could recite it in my sleep, it was Max's favorite movie. Once the movie was over he told me to get my coat on and shoes and get ready to go because he's gonna take me somewhere special. He takes me to special places all the time, usually it's to a little fast food restaurant we used to go on dates when we first met, but this time he put a bandana in his pocket. I thought that it was kind of weird but he does weird stuff sometimes. So we got in the car and drove to the fast food place and ate the same thing we always did and he bought me a chocolate milk shake. We left before I could finish it which was fine because I could finish it on the way home, Then when I got in the car he put the bandana over my eyes and told me not to look until he said so. I went along with it of course, because I always love it when he gives me surprises. We drove around in what felt like circles and I had no clue where we were but I bet he did that on purpose. So finally after about 10 minutes he stopped and got me out of the car, still with the bandana on, drinking my milk shake. He walked me over so a grassy spot and he let go of me but told me not to move. I just stood there like a weirdo drinking my milk shake. I could hear some scratching noise, I couldn't really tell what it was but I could tell it was him.
"Almost done, just a sec"
"OK, I have time." I said sarcastically.
We both laughed and he took the bandana off my eyes and fixed my hair, he always puts it behind my ears. I looked around, we were where we first met, in our old neighborhood, we only came here to visit my parents. He pointed to the lamp post. So that's what the scratching noise was, I thought to myself. He had carved a lop-sided heart with MJB+OMC=true love, carved into it with an arrow pointing down to more words
"Will you....."
I turned to him and he was holding a little black box, he got down on one knee, opened the little box and said "Marry me Opal?"
I was so speechless, I dropped my milk shake. I knew something was new but I didnt think he was ready to ask me yet.
"Did you ask my dad?"
"Yes I did and he said yes."
"Well, even if he said no I would still say......YES!!"
He stood up and kissed me, that kiss I will never forget. Yeah we have had plenty of kisses but this one was the first kiss we had being engaged and it was so wonderful. We stood there, under the lamp post, hugging and kissing for what seemed like a hour or so, but really it was only a couple minutes. We got back into his car and drove to one more place. He took me to a flower shop. He told me to pick out three packets of seeds, one to symbolize our love, one for me and one for him. So I picked three packets and we left. I asked him why and he said "I have three flower pots at home, we will plant these together and take care of them every day. When they die we will get new ones."
So for years and years we planted the same three kinds of flowers in the same three pots. We occasionally added a pot when we had a child. After 30 years we were done having children and we had a total of ten flower pots on the front porch of our three story dream house, seven kids, two parents, and one love that went all around. We never forgot to plant new flowers, so our love never died.
Impressum
Texte: my wirtting
Bildmaterialien: my photography
Lektorat: my boyfriend, some friends, me and my mother.
Tag der Veröffentlichung: 11.03.2012
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Widmung:
to my boyfriend Matthew and my old friend Alex.