The Story Of Us

Foreward

"And I got you... THIS!"

And there he is with his abnormally large hands trying to hold up this little wooden sign. Expertly placed wooden pins hold up various photos of us, a little token of memory. Alongside it in his trunk is a bright green candle. It's the kind with the crackling wick. I don't think he knows I like those.

"Awh, thank you Colton." I say as sweetly as I can. I hug him even harder only for him to pick me up and spin me around. I'm flattered but something is off, I can't quite put my finger on it.

You see, the problem with this relationship is that there is no problem. Except for the fact that I don't think I'm sexually attracted to him at all. There's a lot of factors that go into that but-

"Are you nervous for tomorrow? The whole move and everything?" He looked into my eyes, pleading with me for information.

"Not really! Sad to leave my parents and all," I shook my head, "but, I've been texting my friends from orientation and we're all meeting up to go out so I'm excited." I smiled to myself, remembering what my roommate, Carlie, had said to me:

"I've have Pat and you have Ryan."

The whole thing is, I wouldn't have Ryan, I had Colton. But, for some strange reason, I liked the sound of it.

I snapped out of it as he cleared his throat. We sat on my porch steps in the late August night warmth. The curling wood scraped a bit against my boyfriend jeans and my faded Duke college tee was being wrung around my fingertips as I played with the hem. I was nervous. I had to do it. I had to rip it off like a bandaid.

"For college, listen, I'm thinking I visit you your first weekend up."

"That's too soon!" I shake my head in reply.

"But I'll miss you, won't you miss me?" He asks, looking into my eyes for my response.

Would I?