It all started when I met him at a party. He asked to dance with me and of course i said yes, how could I not? He is a senior on the basketball team who is incredibly attractive. I'm a freshman whose still trying to figure myself out. He messaged me on facebook the next day and asked for my number. We hung out again the next night with a few friends in a hot tub and that was the night we kissed for the first time. It was the first time someone had kissed me that actually ment something in months.

I was instantly myself around him. I loved being around him. We hung out the next weekend too. The second night it was just us two, we drove around and talked for hours then we fell asleep untill the morning. 

People started to hear about us and warned me about him. I didn't know what to do about it. I'm usually pretty good at figuring people out and using my better judgement and I just did not see the wrong in him. People told me he has a history of lying, cheating, and being a major player, and that I should get out of the situation while I can. 

But the problem was, it was too late. I was falling for him.

The next time we hung out I brought up all the stuff I was warned about him. And I told him I didnt want to get attached since he was leaving and all.  We talked about him being a player and he sort of admitted to it. He said the conversation reminded him of that picture on facebook/tumblr or whatever, about players. He told me to look it up so I did. I found it and read it to him. 

"So I heard your a player? Then let's play a game. Let's sweet talk, play fight, and talk 24/7. Let's tell each other good morning and good night. Let's take walks together, give eachother nick names, lets go on dates. Let's skype all day long, lets hold hands, lets kiss and hug, and whoever falls in love first? Loses."

It was silent for awhile after I read it. Then he smiled, looked at me, then said "wanna play?" I laughed, and agreed. We shook hands on it, whoever fell in love first lost.

We spent the next month doing just that. No labels, no stress, just us. He brought out the best person in me and as time went on I almost forgot about "the game." Until one night, we went on a date, to a major league baseball game. After the game we walked around downtown and window shopped. We found our way back to his car and as I got in he leaned over, grabbed my face and kissed me out of no where. It wasnt just a regular kiss it was one that you can't even seem to put into words. One of those kisses that just takes your breath away. He pulled away, looked me in the eye and said,

"I think I just lost."

i think, after twenty-something years of waiting, THE UNIVERSE FINALLY WANTS ME TO HAVE MY FIRST BOYFRIEND. 

*fingers crossed*

You are my favorite person. Seeing you makes me feel a strange mix of excitement, nervousness, fear, and above all, happiness. I'm not sure what it is about you that i like so much, but whatever it is, no one else has it but you. Too bad you will never feel the same way.

I hate it when you take my socks because a) they're neon and b) they're for girls.

I hate the way you use paper towels to wrap everything instead of using a plate or a plastic bag. Especially when the paper towels get wet and stick to the counter..

I hate it when you ask me where your belt is, like I have any clue where the god damn fuck you took off your belt last.

I hate when you pin my arms down and make annoying noises in my hear. I especially hate when you get mad at me for clawing you afterward.

I hate when you eat all of the Luna bars. I bought 4 - that means 2 for you, 2 for me.

I hate when you show up to class without a pencil and paper and then ask me to use mine. What is your life if you can't scrounge a pencil?!

There are least 5 more things that I hate about you. You're probably sprawled out in my bed right now leaving me no room, practically sticky from warmth and sweat, halfway snoring but you are the love of my life and I'm going to marry you. 

Honestly, I enjoy that we wear matching socks and I look forward to lifting up your pants leg to prove that I've caught you in the act of sock stealing. I can't imagine how construction vest orange colored socks are really considered for girls anyways..

Today I found your belt under a pile of my clothes on the vanity in the bedroom. You were on the phone in a panic and I searched the apartment.

I like it when you pin me down because I find it sexy to see the magnitude of your strength against mine and even though the noise tickles my ear, I like having your face so close to mine. You smell good and I should never resort to violence.

Not going to lie, I think Luna bars suck and I'd rather have french fries, please.

Philosophy 111 is a joke anyways, today we discussed the different connotations of the word bitch in a Lupe Fiasco song. I didn't use my paper or pen and I'm glad that I'm the person you choose to ask to borrow from. I pack an extra pencil for you anyways.

Even though you're a splayed out starfish in my bed right now, I can't wait to see you sleep so peacefully and vulnerable. The sound of your breathing will guide me into sleep under your warm embrace. When you leave for class in the morning I will stretch my body just like yours is now and smile knowing you will be home in only a few short hours. 

Sometimes the things I hate are really a lot more like love. I want to hate you and love you all at the same time for every single day of the rest of my life. You complete me and if you promise to start using plates instead of paper towels, then I am forever yours. I love you always.

J

To my Marine,

I spent my whole life drooling over you. Family friends spend too much time together when kids are little, and I knew that I wanted to be with you when I was five. I told my mom. It was serious. When we got to high school, you had the ropes figured out as a junior, I was just a freshman. But in your typical good natured way, you helped me from the start. By December we were dating, and I couldn't have been happier. Everyone loved you because you were so down to earth and kind. When you graduated as Valedictorian, I cried. You were an All-American soccer player, head of the class, and voted Nicest. How did I deserve you? But you loved me so much. 

To make you even more perfect, you went into the Marines instead of accepting a full-ride to the school of your dreams. Everyday my friends told me how jealous they were, you were the dream guy. You were everything. 

When you got on the plane to go to training, I was so proud. I wasn't upset that I wouldn't see you, because you were so happy. I was excited for you. You were fufilling a dream, and you had helped me with so many of mine. But Lord did I miss you in those months.

I'll never forget getting a call from you Dad on January 24th. I just knew. I don't know how I knew. But I did. Answering the phone was the hardest moment in my life at that point. He just cried. No words were needed. I didn't sleep that night. I didn't cry. I just laid there. You had told me before you left that you weren't scared. I knew that was the truth. You were so brave.

Your funeral was surreal. I remember parts too well, and others not at all. Your brothers couldn't calm down. I remember holding J's hand trying to be strong for him. I wish you could have seen the love that everyone had for you. The church was packed. Standing room only. I knew that you were probably cracking up thinking how dumb it was that people came to say goodbye. You never understood how much people respected you.

It's been over three years now. I think about you every single day. You were my soul-mate. You were my world. You were my Marine. 

I love you Soldier,

Tigger 

when im looking around the room, searching for you, and i catch you doing the same. then we just pretend that moment of eye contact never happened

I loved her, and I let her go. She loved me too, but she needed to explore. So I let her go.

We were eighteen.

Five years, and not a word from her in her journeys. Oh, I saw- on Facebook, on twitter when we both got it- I saw the places she went. Rome. Paris. Mumbai. Some random place in Tibet. Tokyo. Ayres Rock. LA. New York. Rio de Janeiro. Cape Town. Egypt. 

The last update on her Facebook and her twitter was a year and a half ago. She was in Egypt. The photo is of her standing in front of the pyramids. I remember clicking 'like'. She looked radiant, blonde hair hanging loose around her face and the most brilliant grin. 

Then a week ago, there came a knock at my door. I'm in a tiny flat in the city- impossible to find for most people. I was curious to see who'd come visiting.

She was stood there with that grin on her face and two engagement rings in a green box in her left hand. "Marry me," she said, before I pulled her to me and kissed away five years of missing her. 

"Yes," I said when we broke apart, breathless.

Now she wears her wonderful band of silver with beautiful shell in the middle, picked up from goodness-knows-where, on her wedding ring finger. And I wear a matching band on mine. In six months' time, we share the best day of our lives- our wedding day. We both know we're the only one for each other. It just took her slightly longer to realise it than me.

And then we leave. Together. I want to have stories to share with our children just like hers.

The teacher had us grade eachothers quizzes.

He got mine.

He left his number...

I'm still in shock

He threw a piece of dark chocolate at me from across the room, and I caught it. I never catch anything, so I was proud of myself and feeling a little cocky.

"What'd you do that for?" I shouted back at him, when usually I probably just would have put it in the waste basket and taken my seat.

"Well, I just read this study about how chocolate helps your long term memory," he replied.

"Yeah?" I said.

"I just thought you'd want to remember this moment." Then he got this big, goofy smile that shot across his face. "My name is Dan, and this is the moment you met your future husband."

I know I should have felt thrown for a loop. I should have been thinking, "Oh my gosh! That is the cutest thing that has ever, ever happened in the world!"

But I said, "How long have you been hanging on to that piece of chocolate waiting for some susceptible girl to walk by so that you could say that? You seem like a smoothie to me. I bet at least two hours."

He smirked at me, and said, "You'll be glad I did some day. Promise."

Then he picked up his books and walked away. 

The "some day" in that sentence was unnecessary.

have you ever walked past a stranger and felt like you could totally fall in love with them given the chance? like they might not even be that good looking, but something about them just sticks in your mind? i had one of these recently. i bumped into this guy in a shop and something about the way he smiled and laughed and said sorry was just nice. it's hard to explain.