Bring out Your Best

For the longest time I felt like a little girl chasing after a guy who was two years older her. For the longest time I didn’t even know if he knew that I existed. I thought I was the only one with a crush.

I remember I would find every reason possible to go see my mom in her fourth period Junior English class so I could just get a look at Andrew. Every time I walked into the class I would find Andrew turned in his chair talking to someone. He always had the biggest smile on his face. I remembered I always hoped one day that he would have that smile on his face as he talked to me.

I remember the day that I got to have a real conversation with him. It was the first day of my sophomore year. I walked into my third period photography class to find only two people sitting at desk. I walked over and chose a seat in the middle of the room. I opened my binder out and pulled my schedule for my teacher to sign it. As I looked up I remember seeing Andrew looking at his schedule as he walked in. “Is this Mrs. Rusden’s class?” He asked.

“Yes it’s is please take a seat anywhere.” Mrs. Rusden said giving him a smiled.

I watched as he slowly looked around the room at all the open seats. I thought he would for sure sit in the back of the room. He smiled as he walked down the row next to mine and sat down next to me. He looked over at me and smiled. “Hi.” He smirked.

I didn’t think would be able to speak. I was opened my mouth and was shocked when words actually came out. “Hi.” I couldn’t believe how awkward I sounded.

“I’m Andrew.”

“I’m Raveena.” I said as I awkwardly looked at my desk.

“I like your name it’s unique I don’t think I’ve ever heard it before.” He smiled. I was in shock I couldn’t believe that he was talking to me. I also couldn’t believe that he liked my name.

“Thanks my mom named me.” I couldn’t believe that I told him that my mom named me. It made me sound like I was a little kid. He probably thought I was a little kid. I mean I was two years younger then him, I was basically was a child to him.

“Well it seems like Mrs. Taylor picked a good name.”

“You know that my mom is Mrs. Taylor?”

“Yeah I kinda assumed so by the fact that you both look a like and you’re always dropping papers off in her class.” He smiled as he twisted in his chair to look at me more.

Through out the rest of the year Andrew and I talked everyday in third period Photography class and on day sixty-one of my sophomore year he asked me to go out to dinner with him. He did in a very clique way but I could care less. I told him I would love too. We went on dates for two weeks before he asked me to be his girlfriend.

During lunch time I would always eat lunch with Andrew and his friends. As soon as we would finish eating we would always walk around the school holding hands. I loved when he would randomly stop walking and quickly give me a kiss before he would start walking again.

People would always tell me how cute Andrew and I were. People thought we were the perfect couple. I personally thought we were too.

I remember the day I realized that Andrew would soon be graduating. Lunch that day was awkward. I kinda just sat at the table with all his friends quietly. I was usually pretty talkative and contributed to the conversation, but that day I was just quiet. I wanted to ask Andrew what was going to happen when he graduated, but I didn’t want to seem too clingy so I kinda just stayed quiet.

As soon as we finished eating Andrew and I started to walk around like we usually did. I stay quiet as we walked towards his locker so he could get his History book. “Raveena is there a reason you’re acting so quiet?” He asked as he opened his locker.

“Nope I’m just tired.” I lied.

“Raveena you know you can talk to me about anything.” He said making me feel better.

“Andrew what is going to happen you graduate?” I asked leaning against the lockers as I slowly slid down so that I was sitting on the ground. He gave me a strange look as he sat down next to me.

“Well I assumed that we would stay together.” He said as he sat his book in his lap. “I mean if you want to stay together.” He said nervously.

“Of course I want to stay together, but do you really want to be dating a high school senior?”

“Age is just a number.” He said lacing his fingers with mine.

“I’m glad you think that.”

I think one memory that sticks in my head the most was the first time Andrew left for tour. We stood in my front yard for at least ten minutes with him just holding me. It was only a month tour, but it sucked. I couldn’t help but couldn’t help but cry when the van pulled up. “Hey it’s going to be okay.” Andrew said putting his hand under my chin and light raising it up so that I was looking into his brown eyes.

“I know it’s going to be okay, it just sucks having to say goodbye.” I said pushing the tears away from my eyes.

“I know, but don’t worry I’ll be home before you know it.” He smiled as he slowly graced his thumb over my cheek. Even after being together for three years I still got butterflies as he touched me. “I love you.” He whispered.

“I love you too.” I said before leaning up and pressing my lips to his.

When Andrew proposed to me I was shock. I mean we had been together for six years, but never once had we talked about getting married. I never had a desire to bring it up. I was happy the way things were us. I was also scared that if we got married things would change, but when Andrew got down on one knee and asked me to marry him I didn’t hesitate at all to say yes.

Here I sat on my front porch in my wedding dress feeling unsure. I knew in my heart I wanted to marry Andrew and I was just scared. I didn’t have cold feet by any means I just need a second to catch my breath. I slipped my shoes off and looked down at the cool freshly cut grass. When I married Andrew this would no longer be my home. I would be moving into his apartment with him. I would miss this place. I thought to myself as I took a deep breath.

“Did you get cold feet?” I heard a very familiar

“No I just need to get some fresh air.” I said as he sat down next to me on the step.

“Okay good, because you had me scared.” He said looking down at my feet. I couldn’t help but think how handsome he looked in his dress pants and suspenders. He had on a white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up and a skinny black tie on. He also was clean shaved.

“You know you’re not suppose to see me in my dress right?” I said biting my bottom lip and looking into his brown eyes.

“I know, but when your mom called me and told me that you went outside to get some air and to calm down. I felt like I should probably talk to you.” He said.

“You don’t have to worry. I plan on marrying you today.” I smiled.

“That’s good because I would hate to have to chase after my runaway bride.” He said chuckling lightly.

“Did you ever think back in high school that we would get married?”

“I was a boy in high school; the last thing on my mind was who I was going to marry.”

“Well I knew I wanted to marry you before we were even dating.” I said as my cheeks turned red. I had never told him about how much I liked him when I was in ninth grade.

“Really? What made me so special?” He said lacing his fingers with mine.

“I thought you were the cutest guy in school. I also loved your smile.”

“Well I can’t lie I always liked when you would come into my English class and drop off papers and stuff. I thought you were so cute, but I felt like it would be wrong to like you because your mom was my English teacher and you were just fourteen.” He slowly flipped my hand over and laid it on top of his leg. He slowly started tracing circles in my palm as he looked at me. “There’s a reason I chose to sit next you in photography.”

“Andrew I love you.”

“I love you too Raveena.” He said continuing to trace circles on my palm. “I think we should go inside and then get married.” He said standing up.

“I think you’re right.” I said as he helped me up. “Let’s get married.” I said feeling like there was nothing else I would rather do.