Day 1
It was raining outside as I stepped out of the dorm
room. I wasn’t a college student yet, just a visitor. But it felt fun to play
this role for the week I was visiting my high school best friend at her
Florida college. We were going to meet a group of guys and play in the rain. I
think the consented game was football. I’m always game for a raucous adventure
and the rain has always been a favorite of mine, so it seemed like the perfect
way to spend the afternoon.
Green eyes framed by dripping wet perfect ringlet curls
looked at me as I stepped out of the door into the drizzle. This small statured
young man caught my attention as the group of girls converged with the group of
guys headed to an empty field for what was sure to be a messy time. His smile
and attention was obvious, but I was only there for a week of fun. So I focused
on the task at hand, which was football. The rain mixed with dirt felt soothing
on my freshly sunburned legs from the beach day earlier that week. We all
laughed and ran through mud. And I found out his name. Craig.
A friend grabbed my camera and snapped a picture of our
muddied and smiling group. In the picture, you can see he’s smitten and I’m beaming.
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Day 2
After flying across the world, adjusting to a new
time zone, checking into my dorm and attending orientation for the wierdos who
started college in January, I sought out my high school best friend. This had
been the college I wanted to attend since I was 14 and just because my best
friend had made it her’s first did not deter me. She graciously shared the
place she called her intellectual home and gave me a tour.
On our trek around campus we stopped at the gym. Inside the
noisy building I spied familiar bouncing curls dribbling athletically down the
court and taking a shot. He spied my friend and came over. “Oh, are you
visiting again.” “No.” I said, “I go here now.”
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Day 3
We met to play checkers in the campus café. Instead
of playing the game, we spent the evening trying to contort our faces into the
silliest expressions. We were laughing, flirting and memorizing every inch of
the other’s face without ever touching. It was the innocent sweetness that
comes with first getting to know one another. The smiling eyes, flushed cheeks
and excitement of the introduction to another soul.
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Day 4
We just had to read the book. Our lives were missing
out on a vital cultural phenomenon. That’s what she told us as we settled into
the common room loveseats we had pushed together to make our “couch cocoon.”
And page-by-page, we began to read out loud the very first Harry Potter book
with Craig, myself and Karen snuggled up. At the chapters end we switched the
reader. Hours and hours we spent on those couches reading book after book.
Craig ended up doing the best Dobby voice and he was always passed the book
when Dobby had something to say. He and I sat next to one another as we read.
The light brush of our hands sent chills through my body. Just being besides
someone felt electric and tantalizing. There was such electricity in the air as
we sat and read.
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Day 5
Valentine’s day on my first semester in college came
with an unexpected surprise. Waiting in my mailbox was a small gift that spoke,
“I am known.” It was the largest bottle of Hidden Valley ranch I had ever seen,
accompanied by a card with two dogs on the front that read, “I like you so
much, I’m surprised my tail doesn’t go flying off my butt.” Signed, Craig. This platonic gift and card looked
ridiculous to everyone else in the mailroom, but to me it looked like an
invitation to pursue something more.
Stay tuned for more of the story!
p.s. photo by Emily Rose Portraits and she has great pricing for everyone starting at just $100.
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