The Beginning...

The odyssey that is the story of these two lovebirds is a long, fate-filled experience of a lifetime! However, every story has a beginning... and this one is not lacking. It all started back in junior high. I being a young man, inexperienced in the realm of interpersonal relationships with the opposite sex, found myself at a contest of salsa. The joyous celebration took place at Shepherd Jr. High, in the choir room as I recollect. I walked in, trying my best to be the "coolest" boy in the room (failing miserably I might add). She came over to me and said hello. She was partially in charge of this fiesta (as usual, seeing as how she is so talented), and asked me my name. I had seen her before in elementary school, and thought she was very pretty. The problem was, girls had what we call "cooties". They are evil little buggers that little boys are deathly afraid of. So, as a boy I never had the courage to talk to her. The first time I had ever seen her was at an assembly. She was in charge of a club and was representing her class (see what I mean!??). I thought she was beautiful, but too afraid of catching the cootie virus. As i was saying, she confronted me at the salsa contest. She then informed me I had to come up with a Spanish name for myself. We came up with Pedro. I thought it fit well, but really I could’ve cared less. I just wanted to be around this wonderful creature. She proceeded to tell me her Spanish name was Cha Cha. I tried my best to impress this girl! I would look at her from across the room; she would look at me and smile. "I don’t have a chance" I continuously said to myself. We kept talking, and I melted. But alas, the contest ended. I left, and I figured nothing would become of us, seeing as how she was too perfect for me. Later that day, I was eating lunch and sitting on a bench with my friends. Alyssa Hinckle walked over to me (which made my friend nervous seeing as how he had a crush on her) and proceeded to say, "Hey, my friend likes you". "A girl likes me?" I wondered. My mind raced through all the girls I knew... but who would like ME?? I asked who, then the words "Aimee Blau" streamed from Alyssa's mouth. "Cha cha likes me?" I thought. My jaw dropped... my heart raced.... could this be true? I told her Aimee should write me a note (notes were cool back then.) and she consented. I walked a little taller that day.

The next day, I got a note from Aimee. The details escape me, but essentially it was a get to know you better note. What's your favorite color? What's your favorite ice cream flavor? Etc. I answered, nervous that my atrocious handwriting would be legible. I gave her the note between classes. This proceeded for quite some time. We then would call each other, talking for hours on end. I was falling for her at such a young age, I didn't fully understand my feelings, but all I knew is I wanted to be around her, talk to her, anything to hear from her and brighten my day! The 9th grade formal was imminent, and I decided to ask her to go. I nervously asked her in person, and she agreed to go with a smile on her face. "Pinch me" I kept thinking. Still nervous with every encounter. I knew what we had was special, even then. I remember the day we walked together to get the ticket to the dance. I felt like a champion, with the most beautiful girl in the school walking next to me. I kept thinking that she was too good for me, but I didn't complain.

Some time had passed and my sisters helped me pick out a stellar silver shirt and tie combination. I got ready and grabbed the corsage I bought for her. I put on my cologne (actually, it was my brothers...) and I nervously watched the clock tick as time got closer to pick her up. I had to go to a reception with my brother before I picked her up. I remember sitting there, planning how the evening would go. My brother handed me gum, "you will need this!" he said with a wink. "Riiiigghhhhttt" I thought. I hadn't even held a girls hand, much less kiss one! I reluctantly grabbed it and put it in my mouth. Then came time to see her... I hugged her, clumsily put on the corsage, and off to the dance we went. We walked around and talked for a bit... However, I was much too afraid to ask her to dance. I was NOT a good dancer, and I was so afraid she would laugh at me! But I finally mustered up the courage... "Would you like to dance?" I asked in a trembling voice. "Of course" she said with a smile. A slow song was on... I could do slow songs (all you have to do is walk in a circle right?). We slowly danced and I held her at arms distance, too nervous and scared to hold such a wonderful girl so close. She smiled the entire time, and I melted.... I don't even remember seeing other people there, I was so caught up in her perfection. The time came to say goodnight. I wanted SO BADLY to kiss her... but I didn’t know how. So I hugged her, and said goodnight.

Some time passed, we continued to pass notes for a while and I loved every one of them. I had fallen for her, as much as a 9th grader could. Things were looking up for me in my life! But then I got a very particular phone call. It was her, and she told me that her mom told her we couldn't date anymore. I was devastated! I couldn't believe a girl I liked so much couldn't date. I didn't know what to do, and I got VERY awkward. We began to grow apart, mostly because of my awkwardness and not knowing how to deal with the situation. She stopped by my house one day to give me a pink creature made of clay, and I loved it. I saw her mom sitting in the car outside, so I figured she was waiting for Aimee. I didn't invite her in because of that (later she told me she wanted me to invite her in... I was such a stupid kid!) That was the last time I remember seeing her for some time. I was crushed.

More time passed, and the pink clay creature sat on top of my stereo for years before my dog got a hold of it. I never imagined we would ever be together again. I dated other girls, became more comfortable around girls, had some girlfriends.... and became content with my life. I began dating a girl for a while, and she asked me to Red Mountain's Prom. I went and just so happened to run into someone very special.....

To be continued....