I sat on the wall after class, nervously fingering the box and swinging my legs. I leaned against the wall after class, confident as usual. I had done well for myself during high school, becoming one of the most popular male students by senior year. It took a combination of ingenuity, charisma and a pinch of luck, but somehow I had managed to win hearts and minds while making very few enemies. And that was before my grandpa blessed me all the more with this wishing rock.
I was waiting for Karyn, my best friend of longer than I'd care to mention. freshman mentee for the last nine months. We obviously had no classes together, given we were three grades apart, so this was the first chance we'd had to get together for a while after spring break.
Finally, I spotted her strolling towards me across the yard. She was wearing her usual trendy pink camisole paired with a beige cardigan and jeans. Her short brunette bob was neatly kept in place by her cute headband. She displayed her joyful grin as she spotted me leaning against the wall. The overall effect, I thought, was pretty adorable, per usual. I started to reminisce...
Really, I hadn't intended to pursue a relationship with her. I originally signed up as an upperclassman mentor to help orient new students, and I just happened to get assigned to her.
And yet, I couldn't help it. Her innocence and wonder was infectious. She absorbed every word I told her, whether it was me explaining how to navigate the social hierarchy for the next 4 years, showing her which clubs would best set her up when she applied to college, or teaching her that it was always worth packing lunch from home on Taco Tuesdays except when Ms. Pining was out sick, since she would always skimp on the meat. Most other mentor/mentee pairs fizzled out about after two or three months, when the freshmen got a good sense of the pecking order.
But Karyn was different. She always had more questions, which slowly became more personal and which I was happy to answer. At first, I was concerned she was having a hard time making friends and had chosen to hover around me out of security; I had explained as much to Jay, one of my close male friends, only to be met with an incredulous stare. "Jon, are you kidding? Karyn's probably the most outgoing student here, in no small part thanks to you. She's got plenty of friends. She likes hanging out with you because she likes you, doof."
I was stunned at the time, though now I cringe at my obliviousness whenever I think back. I enjoyed her company too, and in a different way from those in my own class. But I hesitated to do anything about it- I figured it would only cause problems once I was off to college, with Karyn stuck here another three years.
And so there I was, explaining my own feelings to Karyn one sunny Friday, that perhaps in a few years it could work out, but she deserved to be in a relationship with someone who'd be around to support her during these trying years.
...but that smile.
That darn smile.
It was like she heard me say "I like you, Karyn" just before going permanently deaf.
"I like you too, Jon! Like, a whole lot! Let's be together, and I promise I'll wait for you! We'll make it work, I know it!" she yelled into the heavens, a declaration full of certainty, excitement and determination.
"I don't want anyone else but you, Jon Gibson!!"
Finally Karyn reached me, snuggling up against my chest as we laid against the wall together, in harmony.
