It all started in junior year at Annandale High School. We were both taking the mandatory course United States and Virginia history. I was the dabbling artist taking things easy, doodling during lecture and giving the correct answers when the teacher attempted to catch me off guard by calling on me. She sat behind me, attentive to the lecture and diligently taking notes. Although when it came to exam time, she struggled with the pressure and material that the test presented. That led her to ask for help, from none other than me. My reaction: “A beautiful young woman coming to me asking for my help; of course I’ll tutor you!” We started staying after school and studying, talking and getting to know each other in the process. As time went on, lunches were spent together and study hall became a rendezvous in the library to play Left 4 Dead on my laptop together. After a few months, she invited me out with a few of her friends to go bowling alley. We had a lot of fun and towards the end I asked her to come out to the front of the alley. I had decided that I was going to ask her to be my girlfriend, but I hadn’t really worked out a smooth way to go about it. I’ll admit I muddled through it a bit, but our feelings toward each other were mutual so it all worked out in the end and we sealed our relationship with our first kiss. The rest, as they say, is history.

An assigned seat, behind me Love bloomed like a mushroom cloud A history class Balls rolling down lanes The bowling alley with friends Confession of love