If you want to know the story of how our relationship came to be, then you have to first go all the way back to the 7th grade when Anna was 12 and I was 13. I can’t recall the first day we officially met, but it was in that academic year that we shared our first classes together. We pretty much had most of our classes together that year, but it is math class and gym class that stood out the most.
It was in that math class that I remember flirting or joking or whatever you want to call it for the first time with Anna. I don’t know if she was attracted to my wonderful sense of humor or took pity on me because she thought I was a little slow. Either way, I was able to grab her attention, pretty much everyday, by pretending that I could never quite tell what time it was on the big, mechanical, classroom clock. She sat right between me and my line of sight to the clock, which gave me ample opportunity to look in her direction and not have it be too weird. It may sound kind of lame, but she found it hilarious, and we were friends ever since.
Gym class that year was also a big boost to our friendship, because everybody knows, gym class is just one big social hour. We were sat in alphabetical order and as the order worked out, Anna and I sat right next to each other. This gave us at least an hour and a half to talk about whatever or whomever, and we did. The conversations would continue into lunch, after school, and then on the phone everyday at least until high school began.
We developed a very strong talking relationship, whether the topic of conversation be about nothing or something of actual interest. Over time, I came to realize that Anna was the only person I could actually enjoy talking to every day and look forward to talking to the next day. This strong conversational foundation very quickly developed a very strong friendship, which led to me quickly considering Anna to be one of my best friends.
As we entered the 9th grade, we went to our separate, rival high schools but still were able to remain very close. There would be small periods of time where we wouldn’t talk to or see each other, but as soon as those times ended, we would be right back to talking everyday. And as before, Anna was always the one person I could talk to and tell everything to, no matter what was going on.
It wasn’t until just before our senior year of high school that I finally realized my feelings for Anna. I don’t remember the exact day that I realized my feelings, but I remember the feeling of coming to that realization, because it came about in merely a matter of minutes, and it changed my life forever. As soon as I realized that I had feelings for her, it wasn’t just liking her or some sort of crush. I realized that I actually loved her, and not only that I loved her, but that I wanted to be with her forever. Of course I didn’t tell anybody the full extent of those feelings, that is except for Anna. Before we got together, when Anna and I were merely best friends, I told her that I planned on marrying my best friend.
Shortly after, I actually did openly reveal to her that I had feelings for her and wanted to date her, but she turned me down (it might have been out of shock, I don’t know). A few months later though, she came around and we got together. Finally after five years of being friends and talking virtually everyday, we started dating.
A month later I told her that I loved her, and our relationship really began to blossom. Then, after a lengthy yet wonderful, long-distance courtship through college, I told her that I loved her and that I wanted to love her forever. I asked her to marry me, she accepted my bribe, and now we are planning for our future together as a married couple.
I don’t know if I can refer to her as my high school sweetheart because we only dated for a semester of high school, but I do know that she is my life’s sweetheart, and I make sure to let her know everyday. I can’t express how excited I am that I am getting to spend the rest of my life with my best friend. Excited may not even begin to describe the emotion, but I will say that I am definitely looking forward to spending every moment of happiness, every moment of sadness, every moment of silence, every moment of laughter, every moment of argument, and every moment of bliss with the woman that I love.