Anniversary Week: Beginnings

WBH and I met at lunch on the first day of high school (at the same school he now teaches at). As a freshman, all of my friends had a different lunch than I did. When I complained of this to the guy I met in my morning drama class, he invited me to join his friends for lunch. We'd been flirting during the first day get-to-know-you activities, so I took him up on his offer. My journal entry for that day reads "I think this guy is interested in me, but his friend is really cute."

We became part of the same circle of friends, and I crushed on him through high school. At a party, I overheard him say "I'm pretty sure Rae likes me, but I'd never date her." Don't be too hard on him; we were both very different people in high school.

Years passed. We graduated. He went on a mission to Argentina, and I meant to write to him, but instead I dated a series of losers. It was a busy time for both of us. My father came home from a church meeting and told me (so subtly) "You know, I saw WBH tonight. You should give him a call- he's back, and I'm sure he'd like to hang out with an old friend. Give the guy a call." It should be noted that my dad loathed the guy I was seeing at the time, with good reason.

A semi-annual church conference was the next weekend. We saw each other from across the room. It wasn't exactly like the dance scene in West Side Story, but I had a funny feeling in the pit of my stomach. I had forgotten how hot he was.