A Love Story {Part 3}

If you didn't get a chance to read parts 1 and 2, you can go back and do that now. {Part 1; Part 2}

We didn't begin dating right away.  In fact, under the leadership of my “special friend”, we took things very slowly at first.

After our first day of classes, we both headed toward the cafeteria for lunch.  I didn't know if we were going to sit together or not, but we had just gotten out of a class and had walked to the cafeteria together, so we were next to each other in line.  After we got our food, I didn't really know what I was supposed to do.  Was he expecting me to sit with him or not?

He was standing there looking for a place to sit, so I just stood next to him and waited.  He finally said, “I don't want to sit together until I've had a chance to talk to your dad.”

“Um.  Yeah.  Sure.  Okay.”  I mumbled awkwardly as I found a place to sit by myself.

Thankfully he didn't wait too long before he got around to asking my dad if it would be okay for us to eat meals together and spend a few minutes talking alone every day.

Over the next semester, most of our communication was spent over a quick meal and through tons and tons of little notes.  He was carrying  a full load of classes and working a full-time 3rd shift job.  He didn't have much time left for me, but somehow he made time to write me notes all the time and leave little prizes in my mailbox (chocolates, mostly – he was a smart fellow!)

In spite of the fact that we were “taking it slow”, there were a couple not-so-subtle hints that there was a whole lot more to it than that.

Like the time I wrote him a silly note for fun that said “I like you.  Do you like me?  Check yes or no.”  He checked “no”, handed it back, and said “Interpret that how you may.”  Hmm….

Or the time he checked my box before I did, found an informational survey in there and filled it out for me.  On the space marked “Anniversary”, he filled in Summer ?????.    Hmmm again…

I didn't remember this, but in looking through our box of notes and letters, it was pretty obvious that by Christmas break (about 4 months) we had some pet names for each other.  (None of your business what they were!)

Our box of notes and letters

When Christmas break came, it seemed like it would last forever, even though it was only a few weeks.  I bought a couple cards to send him, but my Dad saw them and nixed them.  I guess they were a little too mushy.  🙂

We did manage to fit in a few phone calls over the break.

One phone call in particular was extremely memorable…

To be continued…