My Valentine

i am writing about this so i can win this contest. But it's fun to have an excuse to tell the story, too.

i met Kris in high school, the very end of school junior year. i met him when he was auditioning to play drums for Show Choir Band. He had a few hours to kill before he had to work (at Arby's) so i asked him if he wanted to go pick up my dog from the groomers with me. i was seeing someone at the time, but we were having problems, so it was fun to have a day with a guy that wasn't laced with pressure to be cool or whatever:) Anyway, we got along really well. And then we didn't see each other again till school started in the fall.

We would see each other in the hall, and we'd hug because we're both very huggy people, but we didn't have any classes together and he was dating some girl, whose real name i can't remember, as i always referred to her as "Ugly Hair". i dated two guys between spring and winter that year, but as it happened, i was single on December 2, 2002, when i saw Kris walking down the hall during school. Neither of us had to go to class that hour, as fate would have it, so we talked for a while. i thought he was pretty cute, and i generally go after what i want. So here's the conversation we had:

Me: How's the little lady?

Kris: What little lady?

Me: Oh, I thought you were dating that one girl i see you with.

Kris: Oh, no, I'm not dating anyone right now.

Me: Oh. Well then, what are you doing Friday night?

And that's how it went. December 6, 2002, we had our first date, even though neither of us were positive if it was a real date. It was kind of funny, actually. We hung out after the Holiday Show that night, and drove up North 100 really far, and then decided to go to Perkins. Kris was really not very talkative that night, because he was very tired, but he said my voice was soothing. And i was very talkative because i get all jazzed up around cool peoples.

We decided after about an hour of driving to go to Perkins. Here's where it got awkward: we went in there and saw friends eating after the holiday show. We were talking to them, and the server asked us if we wanted to sit by them, or if we were on a date and wanted to sit by ourselves! And we both just stood there and felt stupid, eventually deciding to sit with our friends. For some reason, can't remember why, i think they left, or we didn't pay much attention to them or something, but i don't remember them at all during our time there. We weren't hungry, and just ordered drinks. i ordered a Coke with grenadine, which is one of my favorite things, and had Kris taste it. Kris said he liked it. (Come to find out, he HATES cherries and was just trying to make me happy that night. Isn't that cute?)

After Perkins, we went to Walgreens and looked at those tiny books you give people as gifts, and all the funny birthday cards, because there is truly a limited amount of activities for teenagers to do on Fridays after 10 PM. i had borrowed his jacket, because i'm always cold, (thus why he calls me "jessicle" and my handle is "pianomomsicle") and when i was dropping him back off at his car at school, he asked for his jacket back. i started taking it off, and he leaned over really close to my face, so i kissed him. And it was one of those kisses that is not reciprocated that makes you feel like a complete fool! And we got all stammery; he was sorry, he was mostly leaning in to get his jacket. Then he leaned in to kiss me on purpose, but i laughed at him and said good night.

i got home, and felt stupid, but was on the high that comes from knowing you're getting into something good. Then i realized i didn't have his phone number, or last name. So, Stalker-jessica got online with one of our mutual friends who gave me his cell number. i called him, and this is like 11:30 PM, but he was really glad to hear from me and felt stupid we forgot to exchange information. And then we talked for about 4 hours! And we talked about stuff we were too shy to talk about on our "date". i learned about his faith, and we found out we had very similarly eclectic tastes in music, and about our plans for college. It was a great talk. We got together the next night, where he came to my house, and (always a great thing) met my parents, who fell in love with him right away, because he's just one of those guys you trust right away. We watched the movie "Blazing Saddles," where we shared our first perfect kiss and everything was all gooey and wonderful from there. And five years later, even though things are much more realistic and stressful, they are still wonderful, and i'm excited to spend the next 50 years waking up next to him.

That's how i met Kris. *Sigh* i wish he were home now so i could give him a nice big kiss. i love these beautiful memories!

P.S. i did finally learn his last name:)