My Love Story: A short story by Cara.
Every year since I was about 5 my family went (and still goes) to Ocean City, MD on vacation. My best friend Holly went with me every year and since she and I haven't been since we were 17 (25 going on 26 at the time) we thought we would join in the fun for the summer. So we did. I flew direct to Baltimore and Holly picked me up a the airport and we drove another 3 hours, over the Bay Bridge and rolled the windows down so we could smell the salt in the air, even though it was about 3am.
This is the first year we've been to OC and have actually been old enough to drive on our own, go have a drink at a bar, and go to bed at wee hours in the morning without getting in trouble by Mom Radar.
On a Tuesday night Mom asked if Holly and I wanted to join the 'adults' (as they are still called because, technically we are still children since the last experience at the beach, we really were just kids) to a place called Fagers Island. Mom said "Oh come on it's fun, just come for a little while, there's a DJ and we can all dance!" Yeah, that's what I wanted to do. Dance with my Mom and her friends at some old folks beach bar in Maryland. My Mom is fun, and it's all in good fun, she doesn't really drink she just likes to dance and obviously the rest of the crew did too.
Holly and I said no and decided to head down to the boardwalk instead. We wanted to kill some of those Thrashers Fries and Vinegar, you can't find them anywhere else ya know? As we are on our way, I looked to my right and saw Fagers Island.....for some reason I felt a little hurt in my stomach because I told my Mom no and owed it to her since it was vacation. I needed to be with her and everyone else on the trip. I looked at Holly and asked her if she wouldn't mind turning around so we can just stop in and say hi.
The place was kinda cool. It was an indoor/outdoor deal. Palm trees, sand for a dance floor, a DJ that was clearly Mom's age playing oldies like "She's a Brick-House" and "Boogie Shoes" and before we knew it Holly and I had a beer in our hands and we were enjoying everyone and everything.
A bit later we finally made it to the dance floor with Mom and her 'girlfriends' because I just HAD to go out there and dance to this David Bowie song and that's when it all started.
Were all dancing around in a circle and I notice a group of guys kinda making their way towards ours. To be honest, I wasn't thinking twice, there were a ton of people dancing. But the guys confused Holly and I, they were dancing with Mom, Mindy, and JoAnn. "Holly that is HILARIOUS who are these guys they look like fun!" -were the exact words out of my big mouth while the music was blowing.
One guy started dancing with me, but I didn't get a good look at him I just remember he had "two left feet" and if he's going to dance with me then he needs to follow my flow.
I turn around: Oh, he's kinda cute? Oh, hes REALLY cute, Wow. I looked back at Mom and Holly and my Mom does this thing with her eyebrows that kinda shouts "get it, or go for it"....So I turned around and without small talk kept dancing with this really handsome guy. He was fun, I was at the beach, I'm single and having a great time. Nothing more.
The music got horrible and we decided to quit dancing so he walked me to the bar and bought me a drink. Holly, everyone else, is out of site for a while and Mr. Handsome opens his mouth. Tells me his name is "Jonathan". My eyes squinted and his voice sounded so familiar, this "Southern drawl" that I've been reacquainting myself with for the past 3 months makes me immediately ask him (and melt to the floor, by the way) "WHERE are you FROM!?" "Well, I'm originally from Texas, but I am here for the summer flying banner planes." Wow. He's a pilot. For some reason that just made me even more into this stranger that I just met. "I'm from Texas, well I live there now, in Addison near Dallas!" ........ Let's keep talking.
So he lives here for the summer, to fly these planes. He's done in September. Going back to Arkansas where he went to school and is on leave from a job as the pilot for the University's president. He said he had applied for jobs in Addison (the SAME town I live in) a few times. Ok, reality hits me. I'm talking to this pilot, who is from Texas, where I just happen to 'end up recently' in the travels of my life. Coincidence? Cara, don't be stupid.
Jonathan and I talked all night on the beach, Holly left, Mom left everyone is gone and it's just us two. Attempting to get to know each other for what reason, I still don't know. Something about this guy is making me feel like a 16 year old girl before prom. I haven't felt like this well, in forever. We talk that whole week, we text message each other all day while he's flying the plane over the beach and I'm laying in the sun watching him fly over. We spend the chilly evenings looking at the stars in the back of his truck. And we talk about more than I have ever released to any human being and I couldn't figure out why. I realized I really like him.
My trip lasted a week and I had to leave. I was sick to my stomach to say goodbye to Jonathan, my perfect stranger but I knew his life had to go on, and so did mine. Thousands of miles I fly back to Texas, yet Jonathan is still keeping me company by his phone calls and text messages in the Baltimore airport.....These phone calls and text messages didn't stop. I tried to play hard to get because I was taught the boy needs to come to you, but my "hard to get" turned to "I'll be here anytime you need me". And that was my word.
Months went by and Jonathan and I talked almost everyday. It was actually kind of weird when I didn't talk to him for a day and I remember every time my phone rang and I saw his name on the ID, I felt like that 16yr old-girl again. Every. Time. I liked Jonathan. A lot. He is an amazing person with an heart the size of Texas, a handsome face, a country boy, and one of the first 'real men' I can say that I have ever had a relationship with.
Time went on and I realized that I wasn't lonely in Texas, I had Jonathan. Even though he was in Arkansas 5 hours away. He invited me to visit a few times so we could at least see each other. I think both of us knew we needed this because it would keep our 'friendship' alive.
My friends all thought I was crazy. I wouldn't look at another guy. I refused to go out on dates with other people. I wouldn't even give any other man an opportunity and I didn't care. I had Jonathan, unofficially....we had 'each other'.
Something kept telling me that I need to stick with Jonathan no matter what happens and what he goes through and where he moves. Just stick with this person. So I said a lot of prayers for him and his path of doing what's best for him. Honestly and truly not for selfish reasons for me as hard as that was.
Jonathan gave up his job graciously for his friend in Arkansas so that he would have an opportunity and Jonathan gave me news that he was accepting a job in Addison. In Addison. Where I live. I didn't ask the Lord for this but I did ask that whatever He did for Jonathan, be if for benefit. I think He was seeing my side a little since He sent him closer to me. At this point, I'm ecstatic.
So here we are today. Claiming the title of "boyfriend and girlfriend" for over 10 months now, not counting the 10 months he lived in Arkansas. I could not be happier. Having him around has been the best, most refreshing feeling. I love him. He supports my thoughts, he makes me laugh, and even though neither of us are perfect, we have a great relationship that has grown because we've found out how to make it that way. I love his family and his friends, and I love the fact that he is mine, he eats my food, he deals with my imperfections and everything else.
Who would have thought that 2nd drive by to go see my Mom in a place in Ocean City, MD, thousands of miles away from Texas, I would end up with someone so wonderful.
-Cara, 2009
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