Gen and I were sitting in the cafeteria during the first week of high school; you know, before we never sat in the cafeteria again. In our youthful arrogance, we- or rather Gen- was pointing out guys who we found hot. Being in a large city, our high school had a plethora of students. This means that there was no lack of potentially datable guys around, and Gen was more than a little excited to enter her first relationship. I, on the other hand, was a little more reserved on the issue. I'd like a boyfriend, eventually….. but I wasn't sure if I was ready for one just yet. I was only fifteen after all.
Gen motioned to one guy with her plastic fork. "Hottie, twelve o'clock." I looked over to who she was referring to. "He's cute, I guess." "You guess? Come on, Aerity; you gotta loosen up a little if you want a boyfriend." "I'll get one…. eventually." I twiddled with my own fork. "What? You're just gonna wait for Mr. Right to come along?" "Doesn't everyone?" This genuinely confused me- oh, the cringe. Gen rolled her eyes and grinned. "Oh, Aerity; you're so innocent. Not every relationship is meant to last; we're supposed to have fun, remember?" Clearly, we had different definitions of fun.
"What about him? He's cute," she pointed discreetly at someone with black hair; I didn't know the name of anyone yet. "You've pointed out like ten cute guys already," my eyes rolled dramatically. "Alright, Miss Romance. You pick out someone." In my later years, I would have noted what a childish- not to mention shallow- game this was and refused to participate. But since I was a mere young girl, I thought it might be a little exciting to imagine myself with someone; even if I never said so out loud. I scanned around the room, innocently inspecting all the boys about.
But my gaze eventually landed on one who just entered the room. I'll never forget those first few moments when I saw him. Tall, dark, handsome; so cliché but so true. His hair was dark and thick, and his body was stocky and built; or as built as a fifteen-year old's body could be. He was wearing a black hoodie with long, baggy jeans. Of course, he didn't notice me but that didn't matter at the moment. I simply gawked as cheesy rom-com music played in my mind, like a scene from a movie.
Gen noticed me watching with interest and turned her head to see for herself. And her own mouth dropped. "Who is that?" I heard her gasp. "I don't know….." Her expression went from stunned to smiling slyly. "Now that's what I'm talking about. He's the one." "Yes, he is….." I said before I could stop myself. I didn't realize at the time that we were both looking at the guy we would fall desperately in love with later this year- the last boy I would ever write a love letter to. Him- the most popular boy in school: Peter Kavinsky.