"Hey, sweetie." Andy smiled when Erin walked in the elevator, beaming.
"Hi, handsome," Erin giggled, wrapping her hands around his neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist before they kissed.
"Do you believe in love at first sight?" Andy asked randomly when they parted, arms still around each other.
Erin thought for a moment. "No," She said. "Because then I'd already be married. A loooooong time ago."
"Well, now you gotta tell me." He joked.
"You probably don't want to hear." Erin sighed. "It's just your average puppy love."
"No, tell me." Andy said. "I'll find this guy."
Erin laughed. "Well, I was ten years old...."
Ten year old Erin Hannon clutched her suitcase and held on to her marble collection in the glass container, shivering from nerves in the middle of the hustling, bustling airport.
"I'm sorry...marbles?" Andy interrupted.
"Hey, I was a foster kid!" Erin objected
She had done it before, it was just another foster family, so why was she so nervous? Maybe it was the fact that she so much wanted to be liked, or was so afraid she wouldn't be. Or maybe it was because no ten year old deserved this.
She had lost site of her 'escort' as he went to pick up the tickets, leaving Erin alone. She decided it was best to stay where she was and let him come find her, although that was right in the middle of the airport, just as a bunch of rowdy college boys were getting off a plane.
It was a large group of boys, boisterous, loud, and energetic. They were already tossing a football around, even as people were passing between them. They all wearing clothing with the logo for Cornell University on it.
"Big Red!" Andy cheered.
"Shhh! Let me finish!"
The one thing that school clearly didn't teach was manners, because one large boy didn't notice her as he ran right into her, triumphantly clutching the football. He gave one last glance at Erin, who had a large, bleeding scratch on her arm from chipped glass and was helplessly trying to pick up the fallen marbles that were scattered across the floor.
She began to cry, and then noticed him.
"Need any help?" He asked. He was from Cornell, around eighteen, but unlike the other boys in Cornell hoodies and sweatpants, he was dressed in khakis and a collared shirt tucked under his Cornell sweatshirt. The first thing Erin noticed about him was his warm blue eyes and his wide, sparkling smile.
"Sure." Erin mumbled.
Erin and the boy quietly picked up all the scattered marbles. The boy helped put them in her suitcase.
"Where you going?" He asked.
"Don't know." She said glumly.
He went silent again. Erin sniffled.
"You okay?"
"It's nothing. Just a scratch." She said quietly.
"Let the Dr. have a look-see." He aid, taking her arm. "Ahhh! Ahhh! Blood! Blood!"
Erin giggled. She didn't know if the older boy was trying to make her laugh, or he really was scared. The boy rummaged through his pocket and found a tissue, and without a glance at her arm wrapped it around the cut.
"Does it still sting?" He asked.
"A little." Erin admitted nervously, well aware that a cute college boy was putting pressure on her arm.
"You know, I always try putting on sunscreen and vinegar on cuts. I swear it works."
"You're crazy!" She laughed.
"Maybe." The boy smiled.
"Hey, Nard Dawg!" The large boy called. "C'mon, you're holding us back!"
"Coming!" The 'Nard Dawg' yelled. "Well, um, have fun, wherever you're going." He added to Erin. "And I hope that your cut feels better, and your marbles are okay."
"Thank you." Erin said softly, and for the first time in three days, she gave a genuine smile.
"That's it?"Andy laughed.
"Told you wouldn't wanna hear it." Erin reminded him.
"No, Erin, that's me!" Andy said excitedly.
"What are you talking about?"
"Cornell, sunscreen and vinegar, Nard Dawg! That's me!"
"Andy, c'mon..."
"It's me! I swear, I remember that day! And the guy, who ran into you, it was Broccoli Rob, wasn't it?" He questioned.
"I don't remember him! He was rude!"
"And I wasn't! That was me!" He laughed.
Erin thought for a moment. It did all seem to fit. And one last look into Andy's warm blue eyes, she was certain. The same eyes as the college boy. "It was you!" She gasped.
"So we met like, eighteen years ago!" Andy pointed out.
"Wow." Erin smiled.
When the elevator doors opened, Andy put his arm around Erin and led her out. "Oh, we are gonna call Broccoli Rob and make him apologize to you." He said excitedly. "He never thought this would haunt him. Of course, he also thought I was gay, so it's better because he won't expect the call from my girlfriend..."
Erin pretended to listen, but her thoughts were elsewhere. She never got to answer his question. She didn't bring it up again, but, yes, in her own way, she believed in love at first sight.