The Way It Stared

I T WAS A RISK, TO BE SURE, but one I was more familiar with. In this day and age, we are more accustomed to a certain je ne sais quoi that comes with meeting someone before you actually meet someone. There is a sort of stipulation that surrounds online dating; something that is often amplified, but quickly forgotten once we become actively social. But, I digress. I was a 24 year old man and I felt independent enough to handle myself adequately. As I was preparing myself for a night that I wasn’t entirely sure of, I couldn’t help but catch myself in a course of daydream. I am not typically a man to fantasize in a romantic way. You know the kind of daydream where you think of what the future will hold with one individual person, but this time felt different. I could actually feel my heart get lighter; a sort of floating sensation. So, as it were, I shook off my nerves and made my way to my car.

The irony was all but lost on me and the situation did seem precarious. I was mildly fresh out of a long term relationship and already struggling with an underlying fear of commitment that made any kind of advance in a relationship difficult. That being said, in retrospect, I don’t know what made me continue my search for love, when I wasn’t even sure that I was ready for it. The previous dates I had been on were enough of a sign to tell me that my seemingly anhedonic nature would be a brick wall as far as my pursuit for happiness. But, I suppose I was clinging to the hope that I could find someone that could change that.

Ok, I’ll admit, I was nervous. Despite my attempts to assuage my anxious demeanor, I think it showed. She let me pick her up at her house, which caught me by a total surprise, not that it wasn’t a welcomed one. Nobody still respects the chivalrous character that a gentleman used to possess, nor the courteous action of chaperoning your date from her home to your destination. So, to say that this agreement was received with a breath of relief is an understatement. 

“Turn right ahead” the GPS droned out its mechanical whine and I followed its direction. I was right down the street from this amazing woman and all I could focus on was the hammering of my heart in my chest and the cold sweat forming along my brow. Every breath felt heavy and my mind was circulating through every possible introductory scenario, which only fed my nerves. But, time waits for no one, I thought as I pulled into the driveway. I took a deep breath and tried to exhale as much confidence as I could muster. 

I approached the door with heavy, uneasy feet and gave a few hard knocks to hide any anxiety I may have been feeling. The wait was painful and seemed to take forever, but the moment that door flung open, my heart jumped into my throat. Standing in front of me was this tall, beautiful woman. I can’t really explain how it struck me as words pale in comparison to the emotions. Her bright blonde hair falling softly over her remarkable blue eyes; it was a captivating sight. It was like seeing a golden sunset fall over a deep blue ocean; the kind of beauty that poets can only dream to capture. I fumbled for the words needed just to introduce myself. 

“Hey Melanie, I’m James. It’s really nice to finally meet you,” I was finally able to say, though my words may have come out a little shaky. At this point my body was feeding me so much adrenaline that nothing was being processed properly. My brain jumped into action trying to fight for survival it seemed. It's like my thoughts were no longer independent actions occurring over a background of secondary movements. 

"Walk normal, breathe normal; don't talk too fast, but don't talk too slow. Ask her about her day. Open the car door for her. Don't blink too fast, but make sure you blink; you don't want to look weird. Turn the music down. Don't drive too fast. Make eye contact. What are you doing? Focus on the road. She probably thinks you look crazy. What if she doesn't like the food?" 

My brain was on an all-out assault with the main objective being to sabotage my date. I was determined to make the night memorable, though. We had decided on a movie followed by dinner. I let her pick the movie and she let me pick where we would eat. Fortunately, the movie theatre wasn't far from her house so I didn't have much time to embarrass myself. 

The brakes creaked mildly as we pulled into the parking spot at the movie theatre. We both got out of the car and she began telling me about how she used to work at the movie theatre. She's gorgeous. I have to focus on not tripping over myself because I can't take my eyes off of her. As we arrived at the counter, I drastically played out the impressive feat of paying for her ticket, which is a custom that has gone from a pleasant surprise to more of an expectation. But, she seemed to light up at my dramatic performance, clearly realizing my overacting in order to make the action obvious. 

Truth be told, I am happy that we chose to do the movie first. You can't talk during a movie, sure, but it is a great way to really break the ice. You both become so immersed in the experience; laughing together, crying together, both of you gripping the edge of your seat in concern or terror. It was the perfect start to this date and allowed me the opportunity to calm my nerves and collect myself. I was able to build a sort of composure that I would otherwise be lacking without this medium to ease into the conversation. It helped to soothe my nerves enough to wrap my arms around her. I always like to test the waters of a relationship to judge the fit and cuddling, oddly enough, was my forte.

Normally, when I put my date through this trial, there is always some discomfort. Whether, we just don't fit right together, or they sit too high, or too low. Or maybe their hair presses up in my face, or you lose feeling in your arm or develop some uncomfortable pinch. This time felt right, though. It was comfortable and almost soothing to me. Her head rested right over my heart and our sides seemed to lock together brilliantly. She curled her arms around mine and leaned in comfortably. That was a moment that made me feel at ease about the future of the relationship, even enough to attempt a first kiss following the movie. 

I remember the moment in vivid detail. Our lips met like a puzzle piece. Even though she wasn't quite expecting it, the embrace was still immaculate. My lips cradled hers in a perfect balance; a perfect fit. I was in ecstasy. I had been mentally preparing myself to kiss her for the last half hour, battling in my head how to ease into this moment, but when the movie ended, I knew I had to make a move. It was amazing; there truly are no other words to describe a first kiss other than absolute bliss. In this moment, I could play the movie of our lives together in my head clearly and it just felt right. 

I pulled away and much to my chagrin, her face was in total shock. How could I have done that? I was battling in my head, mentally preparing myself, but I didn't indicate or even ask if she was ready or okay with it. I remember thinking what a fool I must have seemed like. 

"Who is this guy that just kissed me?" She must be thinking, "I only met him a couple hours ago!" How could I have been so stupid? This amazing person and I jumped the gun. I needed a quick recovery, but my erratic heartbeat was back and the adrenaline was pumping again. 

"I-I'm sorry," I blurted out and quickly looked away. I'm sure she could see that my face was on fire from embarrassment. Fortunately, the agony didn't last long when I heard her laugh. It wasn't a humiliating laugh, but something softer, like her laughing at how cute that might have seemed. She placed her hands on my face and turned my head to look at her. I locked onto those entrancing blue eyes and I was lost again, found only by her lips that pulled me in for another kiss. If there is a heaven, this is mine. 

C'était beau. I was ripe with a sense of utter joy. Not to over amplify the sensation of a simple first kiss, but the connection that is formed in that single moment is unimaginable and indescribable; a feeling that has been numbed by a modern fear of commitment. However, if we allow ourselves to be lost, truly lost - to completely give ourselves to another – we would find a hidden sense of purpose. It develops a drive that inherently changes our character and prevails upon us this desire to perfect ourselves for this one person. Our code is restructured; rebuilt from the very foundation containing pieces of this one person and forming an invisible connection to them. I was swimming with this energy of pure elation; overtaken with a compound of emotional intrigue, something I hadn't felt before, but something that felt familiar in a way I could never describe. This was it, and the night changed drastically. 

"So, what did you think of the movie?" I asked, trying to ease into the conversation. The busy noises of the restaurant seemed difficult to talk around. The old pleasantries of conversation were already addressed by the fact that we knew each other in high school. This similarity made the whole evening more comfortable than the archetypal middling that a first encounter usually is – especially one that was prefaced with the conversation being initiated online. 

"It was really good!" She said through a smile. 

"I thought so. You made a great choice.”

"Hi, folks! Can I get you started off with something to drink?" The waiter came through breaking the uneasy start of conversation. 

"Yes, I will have a Blue Hawaiian," she proclaimed, nodding at my indication that she should start the drink orders. This intrigued me; her uncommon taste in mixed drinks. I was never much of a drinker, so what could be a common beverage was unknown to me. I defaulted to my standard non-alcoholic drink order. 

"I will just have a Sprite, please,” I said. “Thank you." There was a momentary pause while the waiter walked away. 

"So, how has life been since you graduated?" I asked. Another awkward attempt to lead into deeper conversation, but one that was received successfully. She began telling me about her life, giving me a guided insight into what made her into the person she became. I patiently listened while I memorized the details of her face. Her words seemed to give more definition to her character. As she spoke, it's like I could she her story develop on the curves of her cheeks and within the depths of her eyes. 

She had told me how she had moved out into her own apartment and, after her victorious struggles in work, moved to Front Royal and bought her own house. A funny coincidence I thought as the realization struck me that she lived for a whole year only a few houses up the mountain from where my Grandparents live. It changed the pace of the conversation. At first glance, I saw just a girl I had missed an opportunity at getting to know in high school, au contraire; her whole life had been spent only a few miles away from me. It's funny, the small coincidences that tie everything together. 

"Did you know the house with the extravagant Christmas display?" I asked curiously. 

"Yes!” She replied. “I saw that house every time I went down the mountain. They had such beautiful Lucastmas lights and I fell in love with their garden." My Grandparents always sought to entertain the mountain with their Christmas lights and I know my Grandmother takes pride in her garden. 

"They do have a beautiful garden. That’s actually where my Grandparents live. I used to help them lay mulch and remove weeds from the garden every summer," I said rather matter-of-factly. 

"Are you serious?" She said followed by the cutest laugh. "That's really funny!" 

"I'm amazed how close we have been to each other our whole lives," I started, "yet it was online dating that finally brought us together. It's funny how the world works sometimes." 

"C'est la vie," she said with a smile, "but I'm glad it does. This has been a wonderful first date so far." My heart was shaking in my chest. I remember feeling like the rhythm between us was so in sync that it started to make me nervous again. It started to get more difficult for me to even look at her because every time I did my mind would go blank. All I could see out of the corner of my eyes were her eyes gazing at me, but I couldn't look back at them. My eyes began to shift nervously around the room for the sake of keeping the conversation going. Another momentary pause followed as the waiter dropped off our drinks. 

"Are you guys ready to order?" He asked. I gestured again to Melanie for her to start. A gentleman should always let a woman go first; that's how I was raised. 

"Yes, I will take the Bacon Cheeseburger, please," she said. I was impressed. Typically women play the calorie counting card, hiding in their health craze shell. Usually, they order the fat free salad with a side of diet water for good measure. But, this woman was not afraid to be her beautiful self and indulge on a first date. It helped design the façade she wore as less of something that she hid behind and more of the face of her actual character. It was refreshing to say the least. 

"Excellent order," I said - my intrigue in full effect - "and I will have the Brick Oven Chicken with a Caesar Salad on the side." Nothing but the sound of the busy restaurant was surrounding us as the waiter collected our menus and disappeared. There was a sort of silence that followed; her looking on adoringly at me and me too afraid to make eye contact with her. I was in the light of truth that she is vastly out of my league, but somehow to her I was the target she was aiming for.

Honestly, it tickled me quite fiercely how focused on me she was. I wanted to be that man that could gaze back lovingly into her eyes, but at the time, I still had my own trials and tribulations that made my situation more complicated than just a first date. So, I continued about myself, awkwardly shifting my focus around the room, making feeble attempts to press the conversation forward.

"What kind of TV shows and movies do you like?" I asked almost out of impulse.

"Well, I like quite a few," she replied. I could see the conversation becoming a bit too bland and forming into more of what a first date would be; too stiff and choreographed. I wasn't going to let that happen so I tried to bring the conversation around to things that truly ignite my interest.

"What would you say is one of your favorites?" I asked still trying to keep the conversation on her.

"It's a little childish," she said, "but I'm a big Disney fan. Beauty and the Beast is probably one of my favorite movies." That did it. Movies are something that truly captivate me and now we can drive the conversation without having to think so much about what we are saying next.

"I am a huge fan of Disney movies as well," I replied. "The classics are incredible and I think the newer movies they are coming out with are just as excellent."

“I agree!" She roared – her eyes began to light up. "Disney is amazing. In fact, I am a fan of almost any movie that is animated. How to Train Your Dragon 2 comes out soon and I am so excited to see it!"

"Oh no," I said, dialing myself back a bit, "I loved the first movie, but I am skeptical about the second. Usually, those kinds of movies don't have good follow ups."

"That's very true," she snorted behind her agreeing laughter. "But, I still really want to see this movie."

"Well, then I guess we will have to make some time to see it together," I said through a smile.

"I guess we will," she said beneath crimson cheeks. Another spur of silence followed as the conversation slowed down. We both snapped back into first date mode, realizing that we were a little too loose with our characters. We were afraid that we might have said or done something that would spoil the image we have worked so hard to create for ourselves – as is customary to do for a first impression.

"Have you ever watched the show How I Met Your Mother?" I asked in order to quell the uncomfortable silence.

"I have seen a few episodes," she responded, "but I never really got into the show."

"What!?" I said in absolute disbelief. "That is one of my favorite TV shows. It is incredible, but you have to watch it from the beginning." She looked a little taken aback by my intensity – probably the nerves that triggered my overly-emotional response. "Netflix has every episode -" I caught myself momentarily, thought for a moment and then continued in a more collected fashion. "If you want, after dinner we could go back to my place and start watching it." I was hesitant with this question. I didn't want to come off like I was intending for this night to become a one-night stand.

Naturally, there was a hush that followed and I could see the expression on her face; gently mulling over any subtleties that may have been hidden in my question suggesting a more unnerving agenda. It was too late now for me to interject without seeming like an attempt to cover a verbal slip on my part. All I had now was to sit and wait for her response, whatever that may be. But, the inevitable silence that ensued was torture nonetheless.

“Sure,” she finally said. “I am fine with that. I just don’t know if I am comfortable meeting your family yet. It is only a first date.”

She wasn’t wrong, though the momentum of the conversation had taken an obvious turn. She already knew that I was still living with my parents and her discomfort was justified. I had to make sure that moving forward I was more careful in what I said as to not give off the wrong impression.

“Don’t worry, my family isn’t home, it would be just the two of us,” I said in a suave sort of way.

I’m an idiot. I could blame the nerves for my total lack of allure, but sadly, I can’t say that this is out of character. Missing social queues and diving head first into a situation is my milieu. How can I be this socially inept and still be surviving a date with this amazing woman? This date totally shatters Einstein’s Theory of Relativity. Paraphrasing: he said that holding your hand on a hot stove for 1 second can feel like an hour, but talking with a beautiful woman for an hour can feel like 1 second. Somehow, this date is somewhere in between the two. It was a constant battle between my brain and her – that is to say, talking with a beautiful woman while holding my hand on a hot stove.

“Sure, that’s fine,” she laughed.

I’m pretty sure that this woman didn’t know what to make of me at this point and figured she would just enjoy the ride. Then again, I have a hard time discerning the difference between what is going on in my head and how I perceive it, versus how everyone else perceives my external actions. Either that or she has more issues hiding beneath the surface than I do - hmm.

“Perfect! We will head over there after dinner and enjoy a great television show.” I said as she laughed.

I suppose apathy and charisma go a long way, or it may just be how well I carried those attributes. All the same, the waiter brought our food out at the perfect time; right at the pinnacle of me butchering the conversation. As if I couldn’t destroy any reputable image of myself well-enough on my own, the waiter appeared to be in on my sabotage as well.

“I have a Caesar Salad and Brick Oven Chicken for the lady,” he said as he attempted to hand the plates to her.

“Uh, actually, that is mine,” I interrupted as if I was determined to not let him steal my thunder.

His face contorted into that of one trying to hide his laughter and moved the plates to me. Though, I do suppose it made things seem a bit better, considering that this act alone was enough to crush any male bravado. I don’t suppose she still had the inkling in the back of her mind that I would attempt anything unsavory.

“And you must have the Bacon Cheeseburger, then,” he said with a chuckle as he set the plate in front of her.

She was desperately trying to keep herself together and not laugh at the shuffle that just took place. Truthfully, though, I couldn’t be mad. Even when she was trying to be congenial, though struggling, she was the cutest person I had ever seen. So, I gave her an out.

“I don’t know what he is talking about,” I said with a subtle air of sarcasm. “This meal is very manly.” We both got a good laugh at that, which helped massage the tension that had built up.

From that point on, dinner was quiet for the most part. We did continue the conversation, but we carried it forward almost as if we were ignoring my break in character. It was easy enough to achieve; the thought must have escaped her how difficult eating a bacon cheeseburger is while trying to maintain a conversation. To say that her attempts weren’t entertaining would be a lie. We shared a lot of laughs at her efforts to keep the burger together, but the damned thing was determined to fall apart.

I can’t recall a dinner before being quite as memorable as that one. I had been on a lot of first dates during my time in the online dating world and even more so prior to on my own. I can’t say that any one person had ever impressed me as much as she had. Not only to put up with my social ineptitudes, but to also be on the same level as me when it comes to my nerdy interests. Star Wars, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, video games, board games, movies, even obscure movie quotes thrown out at random; this woman was one after my own heart.

Despite my seemingly irreparable fear of commitment, I knew that this woman was someone that I wanted to explore on a mental level. I had the feeling, if even momentarily, that I could have a future with her. I fantasize about this feeling a lot, but when put to action I would traditionally duck and cover. But, this was the first time that the idea of something real didn’t frighten me. It was enough to make me want to venture into a relationship with her. And so that’s what I had decided to do.

After dinner, we went for a brief walk around the shopping center. It was a nice night out and it gave us the opportunity to really dig deep into the conversation. We talked about personal interests: sports, video games, movies, music. I had told her that I was in a band and that I had music recorded. We talked about each other’s pasts; what led us to online dating and what kind of past relationships we had. This is my favorite part of any relationship, the beginning. Everything is so rampant and exciting. It is like exploring a cave for the first time; the broad stroke of things becomes immediately apparent, but over time you begin to discover the new textures and nooks and crannies. It is a thrilling new experience, especially when you connect so fundamentally with this new person. You find what the waters of experience have carved out that make this person truly unique.

My nerves were on a rollercoaster ride the entire night, but after we had finished our walk and decided to go back to my house, I felt a bit more at ease. There is a unique comfort derived from being at home. I felt that this would, in a sense, change the feel of the evening. It’s easier for a person to relax and open up when they are in a familiar and contented place. I recognized the obvious stress that this might put on her since we were leaving neutral ground for a more biased territory, but something inside me said that it might be good for the blossoming relationship. I act a bit more brazen when I am not subject to such a public spotlight; I can thank my social anxiety for that little trick. I hoped that seeing a more relaxed side of me might improve whatever opinion she had formed so far.

The drive back to my house was interesting as I introduced her to the music that I write. Way outside the realm of what she enjoyed, I’m sure, but I still showed her my band’s music. Metal music isn’t too popular, but I was proud of my accomplishments all the same and much to my delight, she seemed to enjoy it herself. I cannot fathom what that night would have been like with any other person. Her personality was easily digested and she gave off such an enticing vibe, that it made it difficult not to enjoy her company. I sat there, like a fool, giving detailed breakdowns of the musical meaning and the different intricacies that went into each song and she ate it up like it was the most inimitable experience.

All good things must come to an end, because when we finally arrived at my house and walked through the front door, both of our bodies tensed up. Dumbstruck in the foyer, we found that not only were my parents home, but my brothers, my sister, my sister-in-law, and my one year old nephew were all there gathered in the living room like some nightmarish intervention.

“Well, there it is,” I thought to myself. “If she was having a good time, she isn’t now.”

The room went silent as we walked in the front door and there was a long, lapsing pause while we all weighted the situation. I’m sure my family was as unprepared to meet a new person as she was. I had to at least soothe the uncomfortable silence as best as I could, so I led in like someone recovering from a deep thought.

“Uh, hey, guys. This is Melanie.”

I was preparing for that awkward moment where she would be passed around the circle like a polite intruder before we escape the room and laugh about it later, but that’s not quite how the evening went. Fortunately for me, I am blessed with a very outgoing family, who, even if they are uncomfortable, will make their best attempts at a lively conversation. Again, fortunately for me, Melanie is much the same way.

“Hey everyone!” She said before jumping around the room shaking everyone’s hand and introducing herself.

The room lit up with excitement as everyone began talking and introducing themselves. My parents seemed thrilled to meet her and we even spent some time hanging out there. Melanie became flush with delight over my little nephew; she couldn’t get enough of him. Imagine my surprise to have seen that ghastly shock turn around to be a massive milestone in the relationship timeline.

My parents spent a good bit of time getting to know her and there seemed to be such strong chemistry between them. I was really at a loss for words. I was just a spectator in this animated room, observing the festivities as they took place and it really warmed my heart. It was as if the family was already formed and she was just another piece in the puzzle. This is the kind of chemistry that can’t be faked or fabricated.

She connected with my Mom due to her passion for country music. They swapped stories over the different concerts they had been to and the songs and artists they liked the most. And her interests in movies and her knowledge of older rock bands caught my Dad’s attention and gave them a good deal to talk about. It was a strange change of pace for me considering that I have natural proclivity to gravitate towards less desirable people. My prior relationships had been with more subjugated typecast people – someone that I wanted to “fix” – and that character type didn’t blend too well with my family. So, meeting such an outward and well-natured person like Melanie really helped me to broaden my perspective and welcome in a more constructive outlook.

I am a fan of the little things; things that others might think are superfluous. If a woman interacts well with my family or has a sort of genuineness to her character, it is something that I admire. While most guys are concerned with a woman’s figure or how much sex appeal she has, I am focused on her beautiful eyes or smile. I want a woman with an attractive mind and caring soul and the woman that I had in front of me that night encapsulated all of the attributes that appealed to me.

After a short while, we were able to break free from the entanglement that was Melanie’s first encounter with my family and we made our way to the basement. My room was in the basement, but I took special care to shy away from that door and head towards the TV – in my best attempts to keep the night respectable.

“I apologize about that,” I chimed in as humbly as I could. “I had no idea that my family was going to be here.”

“It’s ok,” she laughed, “it wasn’t so bad meeting them. Normally, I am very nervous about meeting someone else’s family, but your family was really friendly.”

“Yeah, my family is very outgoing. They really seemed to like you, too.”

She turned her face away to hide how flushed it became and made her way to the sofa. After situating herself she patted her hand on the sofa inviting me over.

“Come on. Let’s see that show that you’ve been bragging about.”

A smile split across my face. I sauntered over to her in a playful kind of way and landed hard on the sofa next to her. I looked over at her with a joking expression and we locked eyes momentarily. Her eyes were the things my dreams were made of. The deepest shade of blue that made me feel as if I was sailing over the ocean. I could have lived there, in that moment, forever. But my nerves kicked in again, as they do, and unglued my eyes from hers. I cleared my throat hastily and reached for the remote.

A moment of uncomfortable shifting followed as I turned on the TV and booted up Netflix. I knew we were in the heat of a passionate moment that was broken by me. That thought was swimming through my head despite my attempts to distract myself from it. I didn’t know what was wrong with me; it was demoralizing how bad I was at being romantic.

I was hunting through the rows of Netflix titles for How I Met Your Mother, though I knew I could have just searched for it. I needed the extra time to settle myself. I hoped the extra time procrastinating might allow me the time I needed to chastise myself and move on. I took a deep breath and collected myself.

“You know, it’s ok,” she said suddenly with an empathetic tone.

“What is?” I tried to pretend like I didn’t know what she was talking about.

“Being nervous.”

“What do you mean?” I chuckled. I really wasn’t fooling anyone, but I would be damned to say I didn’t try.

“It’s a first date,” she said as she placed her hand gently on the small of my back. “I’m nervous too.”

“You don’t even look it,” I scoffed. I may have let my ego go unchecked a bit. I looked away almost shamefully.

“James, I am having a wonderful time with you,” she said compassionately. I could hear the sincerity in her voice. Her resplendence and composure helped calm me down.

“Melanie?” I paused and choked on the words slightly. “I-I was wondering if you would want to be my significant other.”

What the hell was that? Significant other? Oh man, I must have sounded some sort or pretentious or diluted or something. Her laughter was humiliating, but well earned.

“Significant other?” she heckled. It was like a boisterous chorus of mortification. “Are you trying to ask me to be your girlfriend?”

“Yes,” I said almost woefully. Her face was still alight with laughter but trying to show as much pity as she could.

“Significant other, though?” she continued. “Why?”

“I don’t know,” I scrambled for an excuse for my gauche demeanor. “I guess I was trying to show more etiquette since we aren’t in high school anymore. Asking you to be my girlfriend just seemed sort of childish.”

She was still beaming, showing zero attempts to try and control herself. So, I just sat and paid penance for my awkward self. The ridicule seemed to be infinite, but I was still trying to show a smile even though my heart weighted heavy in my chest. After a while, she began to calm herself down, but I was reluctant to say anything to further embarrass myself. Her face was still flushed from all of the excitement.

“Yes,” she said, beaming. “Yes, I will be your girlfriend.”

She leaned in and we embraced in a powerful way. My emotions were soaring and I was carried away in the breeze. I could feel my stomach floating around and I was sure that I had been lost in some day dream. Somewhere in that wood-paneled, 70’s throwback basement with football paraphernalia on the walls, I found a muse and her name was Melanie. I was weightless with elation. The feelings from the movie theatre were re-kindled and amplified and a fire started burning that day. We pulled apart and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Wow,” I said, still in shock. “Wow, this is incredible.”

“It’s pretty great, right?” She said in an oh-so-modest kind of way. But, I use sarcasm enough to know that she was being satirical.

There was love; unbridled, unhindered love. I can’t explain the feeling; it’s ineffable. I could feel the emotions teeming inside like fireworks on the fourth of July – explosive, bright, and beautiful – and it felt incredible. I was never an advocate of love at first sight, but if there was such a thing, this was as close to it as I had ever been.

We sank into the sofa, draped in each other’s arms and started watching How I Met Your Mother. To be honest, I barely remember the few episodes we did watch or even us leaving the house. If we had said goodbye to my family or even chatted for a while more with them, I can’t recall. I do remember driving her back to her house and dropping her off at the door. I do remember our kiss goodnight and daydreaming on the ride home. I even remember getting back home in a trance and snapping back to reality when my Dad started talking to me.

“Well, at least I know you guys didn’t have sex,” he said. “If you did, then you were doing it wrong – judging by how much she was laughing.”

My Dad fits the stereotype. Making lame dad jokes and laughing harder than anyone else at them. But, all the same he is the best man I know and he always knew exactly what to say to make you the most uncomfortable. It didn’t bother me though; I was ecstatic.

“So, are you dating that girl?” he asked.

“Yeah, I am.”