Take Chances, Love Happens

 	In my absolutely crazy Mears Middle School, something like
love or a relationship wasn’t going to happen to very many
of the confused teenagers attending 7th and 8th grade there.
 I was one of the many girls that had already become
extremely unhopeful and hurt when it came to boys.  I
figured that love was just a worthless thing.  Love would
never come within five feet of a loser like me.
	“Angelina! Great news! You can stay the night this
weekend!” shouted my best friend in the whole world,
Brittany.  My beautiful, natural blonde friend came running
toward me with her binder in hand.  She wore her favorite
black Columbia coat and blue jeans.  I met up with Brittany
in the long, marble-floored hall, lined with tan lockers on
every space of the walls.  Glancing quickly at the clock
behind her, I saw that I still  had four minutes before I
had to be in class.  That was plenty of time.  I told
Brittany I couldn’t wait for the weekend and that I would
see her later.  Walking away, I turned the corner of Apollo
team’s hallway.  Suddenly, my heart stopped beating. 
	Even though I told myself I wouldn’t like anyone else
this year, there was one boy I was back and forth on the
entire year.  His name was Dustin.  He was super smart,
gifted in music, and really quiet.  I took the same jazz
band class with him second period, but I was much too shy to
talk to ever say more than three words to him.  And who
could blame me?  Dustin 
wore glasses and a lot of navy-colored shirts, which brought
out the best in his dark brown eyes and hair.  Even if he
hadn’t been incredibly cute, I would still be too shy to
talk to him because I never took chances with anything. 
Forgetting where I was for a minute, I passed Dustin and
walked downstairs to class.  
	During the next few days, it was Brittany who helped me
think about telling Dustin I liked him.  I didn’t think it
was possible to do something so courageous on my own after
all the times I’d been rejected in my life.  It was hard
enough to tell my own best friend!  After too much puzzling
over the idea, I took the easy way out and decided to tell
him over MSN Messenger.  That Saturday night, I sat at my
little computer monitor and keyboard, shaking, trying to
think of a good time to tell Dustin what was beating up my
internal organs during the pointless conversation we were
typing out together.  Finally, I jumped off the diving board
suspended from my mind, and plunged for the deep pool in my
heart.
	“Even though I know I shouldn’t, I still like you a lot
. . . ” I typed in a maroon font.  I became so scared and
nervous.  What was taking him so long to answer?  Had I just
put myself in what I didn’t want to happen?  All of the
sudden, Dustin answered, “Hmm, don’t go shouting this to
any other guys.  I don’t want them after me.”  
	After those two sentences typed back in black, I was close
to assured that Dustin liked me a lot too.  With a twinge of
absolute excitement in my stomach, I said a goodnight to him
and went to bed.  Before I fell into a dreamless sleep, all
I could do was imagine what would happen at school next
week.
	“Brittany,” I whined, “why hasn’t Dustin said
anything to me for three days?  I’m so ashamed for getting
my hopes up on someone again.”  The following Wednesday on
April 28th, 
Brittany eyed me with a sorry look on her face.  I knew
there was nothing she could do, but before she went to
class, she hugged me with her best intentions, leaving me a
little happier.  
	I walked downstairs to see if there was anyone to chat with
during the rest of passing time.  Rounding the corner of the
downstairs hall, I nearly ran straight into Dustin!  Though
I was at loss for any words, I quickly mumbled, “Uh,
hey.”  He said, “Hi,” and looked at me.  For some 
reason, the two of us started walking side by side to an
unknown destination.  I turned away, but he did as well, so
we were facing each other.  Looking behind him at the clock,
the time read 1:58 p.m.  After a long stare at the floor, I 
looked straight into his eyes that stared right back into
mine before he shyly said, “Would you go out with me?” 

	Even after all the times I told myself to forget someone or
let them hurt my feelings, this happy turn out in love had
actually happened.  Not only did I learn to stop being so
pessimistic about everything, but I also found out that
taking a risk in the game of love wasn’t so hard after
all.  I figured out that I didn’t have to be shy any
longer, just let my feelings out when I was ready.  And the
day I learned my lesson in love is still affecting me in
great ways.  Eight months later, Dustin and I are still
together!