Hide and Seek

First off, if you haven't heard the song "Hide and Seek" by Imogen Heap, you should listen to it immediately as you read this.

Have you ever had that one friend that you have always wondered what would happen if you were to date? In my life, I have had several. And, as I intend to be writing this blog for quite some time, I am sure I will talk about all of them in great detail. I was a huge tomboy growing up and I have always had a better time hanging out with the boys than playing "pretty, pretty princess" or making snow angels. I loved snow football and getting driven into the snow by the boys who I considered to be my friends despite the fact they outweigh me by at least 45-50 pounds without leniency.

Anyway, back to the boy at hand. Wow, I guess I should actually refer to him as a man now... crazy how that works...

I met him my freshman year of high school, which now seems like ages ago. We had one of those ultimate high school relationships where there was awkward tension and blushing (at least on my part). Most teenager movies refer to this guy as "the guy you get up and go to school for," I am sure everyone can relate to this feeling. The best part about this story is that there is SO much information to it that would make you think that we were extremely close; but in reality, when we were in classes or walking in the halls, we hardly spoke. We were in different circles, as high school always works out in the most inconvenient manner. Maybe that lead to the appeal.

We went miniature golfing one time. As previously stated, the tomboy in me enjoys a physical challenge, so we and two other friends decided to make a "play date". I still remember exactly what I wore- which definitely wouldn't fit me today. I had on blue capri's which made my ass look better and some stupid white shirt I had worn a million times just because I think white and blue make the best combination of colors (Go UNCW Seahawks! <-- sorry). Anyway, the particular boy of which I am writing killed me in miniature golf, leaving me baffled because not only do I hate losing, but I had thought I was good at mini-golf. So, since we were merely freshmen, we got picked up by his parents and went through the McDonalds Drive-Thru to get McFlurries, an excellent suggestion because it was hot and CC (one of our other friends), loves McFlurries with peanut butter cups. Weird the things you remember when you think back...

Anyway, we get back to his house to watch a movie and I am super nervous because he is right there the whole darn time and I am too much of a chicken to talk to him or make any type of move to show that I am interested. So how do I show this? I spill fucking McFlurry all over his basement floor carpet. Great first impression to him and his family... great. Somehow, thank God, they let me stay and we hung out while my face simmered from a flaming hell red back to its normal "I really like him" blush. Later in our sophomore year, the very same foursome pattern, me, him, CC, and another boy, decided to grab a bottle of liquor and go drink on some neighborhood park. Since I was driving, I kept it to a minimum, but I made sure to pour some in a McDonalds (again with that damn McDonalds) cup for my return home. Unfortunately, karma strikes again, and I was driving Chris (oh yeah his name is Chris), and took a sharp turn into his neighborhood, spilling my wonderful drink all over his lap. This is the only fight as I recall we have ever been in- "how will I get the smell out Stephanie!!" aaaaand I wanted to die. But eventually, we laughed about this... at least I did once I got the smell out of my mother's jeep passenger seat.

There were a lot of instances like these in high school, where I would do stupid things to embarass myself in front of him. It was really quite annoying and out of my control. I never knew if he was interested in me, or if he just thought I was amusing. So, I permanently decided to have a boyfriend that was not him... an interesting, but altogether satisfactory decision I would say. It allowed us to still be friends and not have the awkward break up.

Junior prom. I had been dating a guy for a few months leading up to our junior prom but he had a soccer game in Pennsylvania the night of my prom. And like a true gentleman (not a conniving to any extent), Chris stepped up and offered to be my date. Again, here's the problem with me and Chris. Timing is never EVER right. He had a baseball game that day and injured his freakin' knee, and was bitching as I recall all night about it. Not to mention the stupid fat skanks from the sophomore class kept hitting on him all night... it was interesting prom, but I had a great time. I wish we would have taken more pictures. So, my parents had agreed to let me and all my friends stay at the house after prom, just so we could enjoy each others company some more after the music and the "soda" had ended. Into the basement of my house we all went, and Chris somehow ended up on the only couch we had down there. Pissed off that he got to it first, I tried to lay with him... which I guess is when those stupid old feelings started coming back. Redirected from current boyfriend to him, I wanted to lay next to him and sleep. But nope. Chris- my little princely friend- kicked me off because of his knee problem. As I recall it went something like this, "Stephanie get down my knee hurts!" Another failed opportunity.

Then my senior year came along, and I was truly in love with another boy from another school, but he was always in the back of my mind as the "what if" boy. And the worst part is that the new boyfriend knew it and viewed Chris as a threat, so I had to stop hanging out with him because there is nothing more annoying to me than high school drama. But in our classes we managed to make fun of other people and procure our own happy relationship, to a very small extent.

Years went by and the boyfriend and I broke up. On a family vacation, my sister and I decided to head back to my house early because... well, wow. Now I have no idea why... but in any case, there was a HUGE monsterous bug in the house! And my dog was still with my parents at the beach, so we didnt have anything to kill it- instead we hid in the laundry room and ran around screaming like babies. So outside my sister and I ran to figure out what we were going to do next... she left for College Park to her bugfree apartment, and I went to go pick up my long lost friend from high school because he only lives about 5 minutes from my house.

To my surprise, there was party where Chris was. So I showed up still all decked out in beach gear from the drive home and had a few beers with people I hadn't seen since high school. Needless to say, the attraction was still there. But now, something felt different between him and me. Maybe it was the liquor, but when we went back to my house to kill that bug... something happened. It's all kind of blurry, but I think in the romance movies or in this case, a romantic comedy, they have a tendency to montage anyway. Maybe it was the liquor. All I really remember about that night was Chris laughing at the fact that it was "just a cricket". Bullsh, Chris. Bullsh. It was definitely the biggest effing cricket I have ever seen. Maybe it was a cricket who ate all the rest of the crickets in the world? Who knows. But it was a fun and good night, and one that I will remember parts of forever..

Then off to college I went... taking these memories to my new life in North Carolina. We have stayed in really good touch in my opinion, we have always been there for when we needed each other the most. Which is what brings me to the point of my blog. He has been going through some major relationship woes and I know how bad that feels. He is my best friend from high school without a doubt. Without him, I never would have made it through those stupid, weird, braces-infested, with a side of acne years. It breaks my heart that you are hurting right now and I can't be there to watch Sweet Home Alabama with you and rewind all the funny parts that made us spit up and cry for hours on end, or play board games because there is not a board game in the world that you can beat me at and I know that you enjoy the challenge. Especially cranium, because you never beat me and CC at that.

Final thoughts now that I am laughing about every memory we ever had:

Hang in there. You are the best person I have ever known- so incredibly capable of showing and receiving love and kindness. If this relationship doesn't work out for you, there is not a doubt in my mind that you will find someone who truly appreciates just how wonderful you are. Maybe they will even know how to deal with the fact that you could beat their ass in everything physically motivated (mini golf, bowling, baseball... i hate you). Also, I really do wish for the best with this relationship. Any girl who can keep your attention for over two years has got to be really something. She is lucky to have you.

Oh, and if we aren't already married by 30... you are marrying me. Ok thanks bye.