( The long version )
My junior year of high school was where it all started, and I didn't even realize it at the time. I had good grades like always, I was playing basketball, I was spending time with my friends, and I was even "talking" to a boy -- everything was normal. During school, there was a place where students could go for classes that your home school didn't offer, which was called the Skill Center. Well, there was a bus that would pick kids up from my school and take them to Skill Center everyday, but along the way, it'd also pick up kids from our rival school and take them there as well.
I noticed him a few times when he got on the bus. There was something about him, but I just didn't know what it was. I thought he looked pretty intimidating, and that he'd probably laugh at me if I tried to talk to him. I remember looking at him with that thought in my head a few times, not nothing more. The school year came to an end and the two of us walked away for an entire summer without saying a word to each other.
After having three unsuccessful high school relationships by my senior year, I'd had enough. My first boyfriend was told by his best friend that he'd give him ten bucks if he dumped me, and he did. The next two boyfriends didn't last long, as they constantly begged me for sex. And I was the kind of girl that thought a relationship should be like what you saw in the romance movies. Not only had I never had sex, but I had never been kissed. And the thought of kissing someone scared me, only because I was saving it for the right person and I wanted it to be perfect. So being pressured to do things I didn't want to do, didn't help at all. I was convinced that those boys weren't right for me and that they were definitely not going to be the one I shared my first kiss with, no way. So I was done with high school relationships. I was determined to wait for college to start looking for Mr. Right. I don't know why I thought college boys would be so much more mature than high school boys, but I did. I had even gotten to the point where I'd feel <i>disgusted </i>when a boy asked me out on a date, or tried to hug me or even hold my hand. I had become the grinch of Valentine's Day, and whenever we had school dances, I'd always go with one of my best friends. I wanted nothing to do with stupid high school boys.
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| My group of friends on the SC Bus. |
Well, I ended up taking Skill Center again my senior year. I was glad because I thought I'd make new friends outside of the people at my small school (our graduating class consisted of 69 students). I was taking Vet Med because I had a love for animals, even though the medical part didn't sound so appealing. The first day on the bus, my three girlfriends and I were sitting up at the front and watched the kids from our rival school get on the bus. Normally there were fights on the bus every year because of this, and we wanted to see which kids we'd gotten stuck with this year to see if there'd be any more drama.
And then he walked on the bus, the same boy from my junior year. It felt weird to see him again, but I still didn't say anything. He wouldn't like a loser like me for sure.
A few weeks later, my friends and I were sitting at the front of the bus again (it had quickly become our spot) and the boys from the rival school would sit on the other side of the bus, but up front as well -- so right next to us. My friends and I were trying to guess their names based off of what they looked like. And guess what, we actually guessed Devil's name right (I wonder if it's as obvious to you as it was to us). That was the first time we'd talked to each other.
Everyday after that, Devil would sit by me on the bus and we'd play the car game. Like, whenever a jeep would go by, you'd say "Beep, it's a jeep!" and smack the person you were playing with. Or you'd say "Bummer, it's a hummer!" And give them a nice charlie horse to the thigh. Or "F***, it's a truck!" and then pinch them as hard as you could... you get the idea, the list goes on. We always played that game, and as we started to talk more and more, Devil added me on facebook and we talked at night after school too. I learned a lot about him during that time.
Devil was your typical high school boy. He'd been to parties, he'd had sex, the whole deal. He was almost the complete opposite of me. He was signed up to leave for boot camp in August of the following year to join the Marine Corps, and even though that was still a year off -- Devil had decided that he wasn't looking for a girlfriend and that he didn't want one. He thought it'd be easier to leave if he wasn't attached to anything back home. He didn't have the best relationship with his mother, he swore she Satan. He couldn't wait to be able to get out of Michigan and be a Marine. He wanted to travel and see the world, and be a bad ass while doing it.
I didn't think much of it at the time, because he wasn't leaving until the summer, and it was still September. The only thing on my mind at that time, was homecoming -- because the dance was coming up and I didn't want to take one of my friends my senior year, like I had all of my other dances. At this time, I had no idea if Devil liked me as just a friend or as more than a friend, and I asked my friends about what to do. They told me to just ask him. Normally, I think boys should be the one to ask a girl to a dance. But this dance was at my school, he didn't know about it -- he'd have to come as a guest. As terrified as I was, I nervously asked him if he wanted to go with me to the Homecoming dance the next day -- and he said yes.
After a little while longer, we hung out for the first time at my house... what a wreck that turned out to be. We had planned that our first date was going to be at a haunted corn maze. It was perfect, because you know girls, it's an oppourtunity to cling to your man the entire time. Well, that didn't happen. It started to rain and that canceled our plans, so we stayed at my house after renting movies and getting pizza. He and I were sitting on the loveseat, and there was no room inbetween us. I was sitting there, paying no attention to the movie at all. I kept staring at his hand because it was resting on his thigh with his palm facing upwards like he was waiting for me to hold his hand. I didn't, I was too scared to make the first move. So I simply put my hand on top of my thigh as well, and sure enough, Devil went for it only a few moments later.
I was surprised that I didn't want to smack him. I was definitely getting over the 'hating being touched by boys' and my 'not so touchy-feely' stage. I sat there for a while just holding his hand, and then before I knew it we were cuddling on the loveseat! I wasn't even dating this boy yet! We hadn't even talked about liking each other yet and look at what we were doing? I didn't mention anything though, it felt nice, so I let it be.
Right before that night was over he was getting up to leave and we stared at each other for a short, but very long ten seconds... like something was supposed to happen. I felt sick to my stomach when I realized I knew exactly what he was thinking. He wanted to kiss me. Inside my head, I immediately started to panic. But he just gave me one of his adorable smiles and walked out the door.
The next day he sent me a message over the computer and it went like this:
Devil: So like. Are you and I friends? I don't really know how to ask this. Lol.
Me: Friends like... just friends? Or friends like, right now we're regular friends?
Devil: Well we were snuggled up and holding hands last night, which is why I asked.
Me: Well, yeah. You're my friend, silly. You're just my friend that I kind of have a really big crush on, so that's why I snuggled up to you and was holding your hand.
Devil: Well, I really like you too, if I didn't make that obvious enough.
And everything took off from there. We even talked about dating, but I suggested that 10.10.10 was coming up and it was the coolest date ever... not to mention it was my basketball number. Devil took the hint, he didn't ask me yet.
I was surprised that I didn't want to smack him. I was definitely getting over the 'hating being touched by boys' and my 'not so touchy-feely' stage. I sat there for a while just holding his hand, and then before I knew it we were cuddling on the loveseat! I wasn't even dating this boy yet! We hadn't even talked about liking each other yet and look at what we were doing? I didn't mention anything though, it felt nice, so I let it be.
Right before that night was over he was getting up to leave and we stared at each other for a short, but very long ten seconds... like something was supposed to happen. I felt sick to my stomach when I realized I knew exactly what he was thinking. He wanted to kiss me. Inside my head, I immediately started to panic. But he just gave me one of his adorable smiles and walked out the door.
The next day he sent me a message over the computer and it went like this:
Devil: So like. Are you and I friends? I don't really know how to ask this. Lol.
Me: Friends like... just friends? Or friends like, right now we're regular friends?
Devil: Well we were snuggled up and holding hands last night, which is why I asked.
Me: Well, yeah. You're my friend, silly. You're just my friend that I kind of have a really big crush on, so that's why I snuggled up to you and was holding your hand.
Devil: Well, I really like you too, if I didn't make that obvious enough.
And everything took off from there. We even talked about dating, but I suggested that 10.10.10 was coming up and it was the coolest date ever... not to mention it was my basketball number. Devil took the hint, he didn't ask me yet.
A few days later, I had a double date with Devil, and a friend of mine and a boy she happened to have a crush on. Devil and I agreed to let them sit on the loveseat because that's where the magic happened for us. My friend was thankful, to say the least. We watched Armageddon, and the Notebook. Classics, right? Well, after my friend and her boy left after an unsuccessful night of trying to hold hands on the loveseat, Devil and I ran outside to lay on the trampoline and look at the stars now that it was night time.
I think this was the first time the two of us had really been alone, and it was nice. We talked for awhile, just laying there and looking up at the stars. We talked about the Marines, about school, or just anything to keep it from being silent -- at least I did. He rolled onto his side and was laying right next to me, looking at me while I was still on my back looking up at the sky. I tried to keep talking, but soon I ran out of things to say... and I felt my heart starting to beat harder for every second that it was silent. We were staring at each other again and I knew it was about to happen. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I was about to have my first kiss, and with a boy I still wasn't even dating! After saving it for so long? You'd think we'd be dating first!
I was caught off guard. Devil kissed me -- for what seemed like forever. I had been expecting a simple peck on the lips, but I was way wrong. Once he was finished, I had a terrified look on my face -- I could feel it. I was embarassed and shaking and everything. The first word that came out of my mouth was "Wow." He was certainly experienced in the field of kissing, while I had none. I didn't think I'd ever be able to kiss him like he had just kissed me. After a few moments of even more awkwardness, we both ran back inside to watch one more movie. My mother instantly knew what had happened and claimed I looked like I was on cloud nine the entire time afterwards. How embarassing...
I think this was the first time the two of us had really been alone, and it was nice. We talked for awhile, just laying there and looking up at the stars. We talked about the Marines, about school, or just anything to keep it from being silent -- at least I did. He rolled onto his side and was laying right next to me, looking at me while I was still on my back looking up at the sky. I tried to keep talking, but soon I ran out of things to say... and I felt my heart starting to beat harder for every second that it was silent. We were staring at each other again and I knew it was about to happen. There was nothing I could do to stop it. I was about to have my first kiss, and with a boy I still wasn't even dating! After saving it for so long? You'd think we'd be dating first!
I was caught off guard. Devil kissed me -- for what seemed like forever. I had been expecting a simple peck on the lips, but I was way wrong. Once he was finished, I had a terrified look on my face -- I could feel it. I was embarassed and shaking and everything. The first word that came out of my mouth was "Wow." He was certainly experienced in the field of kissing, while I had none. I didn't think I'd ever be able to kiss him like he had just kissed me. After a few moments of even more awkwardness, we both ran back inside to watch one more movie. My mother instantly knew what had happened and claimed I looked like I was on cloud nine the entire time afterwards. How embarassing...
10.10.10 finally rolled around and Devil asked me if I'd be his girlfriend, and of course I said yes.
Things took off after that. I met his family for the first time at a pumpkin carving party at his house. His entire family. Mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews, you name it! It was intimidating, but I fell in love with his family almost instantly.
Devil and I became joined at the hip for the next couple of months. We couldn't wait to see each other on the Skill Center bus everyday, and we couldn't wait for Friday to get here so that we could hang out all weekend. He made sure to go to my basketball games whenever he had the chance, and it gave me more motivation to play hard knowing that he was in the stands watching me. We spent Thanksgiving and Christmas together, at each of our family's houses -- which was really nice. He would always come over and kiss me on my forehead every once in a while. It was really adorable.
Before we new it, it was February -- and Valentine's Day was coming up. And being the Grinch of Valentine's Day every year up until then had gotten old. I wanted to do something big for Devil, and I knew just what to do. I bought a big stuffed red and black dog (perfect devil dog colors, right?) and I made a t-shirt to put on it, one that matched a shirt I had bought Devil for Christmas. It said "Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" on the back of it. I also got him a bag full of goodies -- Swedish Fish (his favorite candy), two Monsters, a card I made, and a CD full of songs that reminded me of him. Before school started, I drove over to his school and dropped it off in the office for him without him knowing! He was surprised when he was called down to pick it up and he told me that the office ladies kept telling him how cute it was. I can only imagine him walking around with a big stuffed red dog in the hallway.
We also had a Snowcoming dance in February and the theme was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was cute. There was candy everywhere, they even let you fill your own take out box with candy -- and being the fatties we are, we stashed some more. But before we even got into the dance, there was at least six inches of snow on the ground and I had high heels on... being the gentleman he is, he carried me the entire way so that I wouldn't have to walk in the snow. We had a lot of fun, and it wasn't as awkward as the Homecoming dance. Slow dancing with Devil is one of my favorite things ever, it gives you a chance to be close and talk to each other, and it's romantic at the same time. Plus all of the 'aww's' from the people watching us gave me this mushy feeling the whole time.
Before we new it, it was February -- and Valentine's Day was coming up. And being the Grinch of Valentine's Day every year up until then had gotten old. I wanted to do something big for Devil, and I knew just what to do. I bought a big stuffed red and black dog (perfect devil dog colors, right?) and I made a t-shirt to put on it, one that matched a shirt I had bought Devil for Christmas. It said "Pain is Weakness Leaving the Body" on the back of it. I also got him a bag full of goodies -- Swedish Fish (his favorite candy), two Monsters, a card I made, and a CD full of songs that reminded me of him. Before school started, I drove over to his school and dropped it off in the office for him without him knowing! He was surprised when he was called down to pick it up and he told me that the office ladies kept telling him how cute it was. I can only imagine him walking around with a big stuffed red dog in the hallway.
We also had a Snowcoming dance in February and the theme was Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, which was cute. There was candy everywhere, they even let you fill your own take out box with candy -- and being the fatties we are, we stashed some more. But before we even got into the dance, there was at least six inches of snow on the ground and I had high heels on... being the gentleman he is, he carried me the entire way so that I wouldn't have to walk in the snow. We had a lot of fun, and it wasn't as awkward as the Homecoming dance. Slow dancing with Devil is one of my favorite things ever, it gives you a chance to be close and talk to each other, and it's romantic at the same time. Plus all of the 'aww's' from the people watching us gave me this mushy feeling the whole time.
When basketball season was over, I was a wreck. It had been my life for as long as I could remember and I didn't know what I was going to do with out it. My last basketball high school game was emotional for me. And as soon as the buzzer went off for the last time, I started balling. Devil comforted me for a long time, and it was nice to have someone there for me. It was at that time, when I really started thinking about what I wanted to do with my life. I had changed my mind a lot the past couple of years and I needed to get it straight. First it was a lawyer, then a forensic scientist, then a vet, and then a zoologist, or a marine biologist... And then I couldn't decide which college to go to. I honestly started thinking that none of it was for me. It didn't feel important enough, like I wasn't destined to be one of those jobs. I was supposed to do something more.
I went up to the office for PT with Devil for the first time and I was scared out of my mind. I was begging him to turn aroud and take me back home the entire time. He just laughed and kept driving, telling me to relax and that it'd be alright. I was worried. What if I wasn't in good enough shape to keep up? What if I couldn't do a flexed arm hang? I didn't know anyone up there? What if the recruiter's didn't like me? These were thoughts that constantly ran through my head the entire 20 minute drive to the office. We finally got out of the car and walked up to the door with the "Marines" logo on it, and when I walked inside, I almost had a heart attack. There had to be twenty some boys standing around and they were staring at me. I felt intimidated instantly. And then the recruiter's told me to join in and I proceeded to do my flexed arm hang for about 30 seconds, I guess that's alright for a first time. And I also had to pair up with Devil to do crunches after that, plus we went on a run with the boys and sang cadence. I guess you could say I fell in love with it that day.
It didn't take long before I decided I wanted to join the Marine Corps as well. He was thrilled with my decision, and he said that we were going to be the most bad ass couple ever. He even told me that he couldn't wait to brag to his friends about how his girlfriend would be able to kill him from 500 yards away, and he said that I'd look pretty hot in some MARPAT cammies. He would treat me like one of the boys when we were up there, which I liked. Whenever I started to fall behind or get tired and slow down, he was the one that was pushing me to keep going. He told me he was proud of me because I could do things better than half of the boys that we worked out with. I loved hearing that, too. I've made a lot of friends at the office so far, some of them have become better friends to me in just a few months than some friends who've I've known since I was little.
I went up to the office for PT with Devil for the first time and I was scared out of my mind. I was begging him to turn aroud and take me back home the entire time. He just laughed and kept driving, telling me to relax and that it'd be alright. I was worried. What if I wasn't in good enough shape to keep up? What if I couldn't do a flexed arm hang? I didn't know anyone up there? What if the recruiter's didn't like me? These were thoughts that constantly ran through my head the entire 20 minute drive to the office. We finally got out of the car and walked up to the door with the "Marines" logo on it, and when I walked inside, I almost had a heart attack. There had to be twenty some boys standing around and they were staring at me. I felt intimidated instantly. And then the recruiter's told me to join in and I proceeded to do my flexed arm hang for about 30 seconds, I guess that's alright for a first time. And I also had to pair up with Devil to do crunches after that, plus we went on a run with the boys and sang cadence. I guess you could say I fell in love with it that day.
It didn't take long before I decided I wanted to join the Marine Corps as well. He was thrilled with my decision, and he said that we were going to be the most bad ass couple ever. He even told me that he couldn't wait to brag to his friends about how his girlfriend would be able to kill him from 500 yards away, and he said that I'd look pretty hot in some MARPAT cammies. He would treat me like one of the boys when we were up there, which I liked. Whenever I started to fall behind or get tired and slow down, he was the one that was pushing me to keep going. He told me he was proud of me because I could do things better than half of the boys that we worked out with. I loved hearing that, too. I've made a lot of friends at the office so far, some of them have become better friends to me in just a few months than some friends who've I've known since I was little.
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| This was my old PT crew. The first three boys on the left in the back row are now Marines. And so is the one on the right in the front row. They have all become very good friends of mine and I miss them all dearly. Devil is the second one from the left in the back row, and there I am -- the only one smiling, great. |
I cried for the first few days as I was starting to adjust to being alone and not having someone to hang out with all day. I was already counting the days until I would be getting on a plane to go San Diego and see him graduate from boot camp. I swear, those three months were the longest of my life. I had gotten a job to save up money, and I worked out as much as I could, not to mention I even had my own fourth grade basketball team to coach. But I wasn't busy enough. There wasn't a day were Devil didn't cross my mind. The letters I got from him while he was away made it easier. Except whenever I got one, I would hold onto it for awhile before I'd actually open it because I knew I wouldn't get another one for at least another week. I didn't want to read it and then go back to waiting in a matter of seconds. With the help of friends and family, I finally made it through those three months and I got to leave for California with Devil's mom and dad.
Family Day was full of emotions. When I woke up that morning, I thought about how it was the day I had been waiting for, for so long. I was getting ready and trying to look really pretty because I knew that this was the first time Devil would see me after three months. I couldn't believe I was going to be seeing him in a matter of hours. We got to the Depot and were forced to wait even more. Infact, they had a motivation run and Devil's platoon stopped right in front of us and their Drill Instructors ordered them to do a left face so that they were staring right at their families. I wonder what that felt like for him. He knew we were there waiting to see him, standing in the crowd infront of him somewhere. When I saw him, my heart started beating faster and I couldn't believe he looked so different. Then again, I was trying to see over a crowd of people and it wasn't the easiest to pick him out of a group of boys that looked almost identical. Soon enough we were sitting in the bleachers and the platoons were being marched out onto the parade deck. His platoon was right in front of our bleachers and once I saw him, I didn't take my eyes off of him. I was wondering if he was still the same Devil. I was wondering what was going through his head at that exact moment. My heart was starting to race as I realized the moment I had been waiting for was finally about to be here. And then the Drill Instructors gave the command to fall out so that they could greet their families for the first time in three months; for the first time as being a Marine. When I saw Devil fall out and then turn to his side to shake the hand of another fellow Marine who he had gone through boot camp with, I sat down as everyone else rose up around me. People were shouting out names and even starting to cry as they ran out of the bleachers to find their new Marine. I was nervous. I didn't know what to say, I hadn't thought about it. I didn't want to walk up to Devil, mostly because I didn't want this moment to be over. I had spent so long trying to picture how it would go in my mind. I couldn't believe I was about to see him. Devil's mom and dad found him before I did, they left me behind (and I would've too). I slowly started making my way down the bleachers and walking through the crowds of families, trying to find someone I knew. I was surprised at how quickly Devil had said hello to his parents, because I hadn't been expecting to run into him. He was walking towards me and he instantly gave me one of his famous smiles that make my heart melt. I hugged him. Although it didn't go as I thought it would. I thought I would've ran and jumped into his arms and he'd spin me around a hundred times and kiss me. It was more awkward than I thought it was. The hug was over with in seconds and we were walking to find a spot to stop and talk where it wasn't so crowded. A boy named Rod, who Devil and I used to go to PT with, had been in the same platoon, and he didn't have any family there, so he hung out with us for the day. Devil and I kept staring at each other and smiling, but we didn't say anything. I couldn't believe how much weight he had lost, or how good he looked in his uniform. And we couldn't believe that we were finally standing right infront of each other. It was like every time he talked, I had this weird feeling, a good feeling. I hadn't heard his voice since he called me at the airport while on his way to boot camp.
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| I had to make this picture larger because Devil's face cracks me up in this one. And that's our friend to the left of me! He's a sweetheart. And on another note, I will own that house behind us one day. |
After getting back to Michigan, things finally felt normal again. He was able to catch up with all of his family members and friends, which was nice. It was when we were walking through the mall one day when one of the ladies from behind a jewelry counter shouted out, "Hey Marine, when are you going to buy this nice young lady a ring?"
I thought it was weird, because we had talked about getting married on the flight home. I wondered how she knew so much, and then it was obvious -- he was wearing his Marine PT jacket and we were holding hands the whole time.
Not long after that, we were walking out of the mall with ring. Yep, he bought one. Crazy, isn't he? I was upset at first, I didn't want him spending money on something I didn't need. Especially if we planned on getting married soon, I'd only be able to wear it for a few months! There was almost no point. Plus he only had about $2000 after boot camp, I didn't want him wasting that when I knew there were things he'd need to get for himself. But he insisted, and he said he wouldn't feel right if I didn't have an engagement ring. I'm kind of glad he did, because now that he's gone it's nice to look down and see my ring. It reminds me of him while he's away and it let's everyone know that I'm taken by a wonderful man.
And that's basically where the story has left off. I'm at home, waiting to be married and waiting to leave for boot camp and start my own journey to become a United States Marine. While Devil has just finished MCT and is off to MOS School for another 8-10 weeks, and after that, his permanent duty station. God only knows how long he'll have before they send a deployment his way. But it's to early to be thinking about that, I hope. As our story grows, I will update this page! I hope you enjoyed reading, until next time.
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