I have liked the same guy since fourth grade. That is a long time seeing as I’m now going into seventh. If your looking for a young love story with a lot of ups and downs, this one is for you. But I must warn you, its a story that takes place over the span of three, almost four years; it might take awhile.

It all started in fourth grade. I have never been into sports but imagine my surprise when a cute, funny, and outgoing BOY helped me figure the game out. Four-Square was the game of the year. He’d start to get me out when I got better, but before that, he got me to square two and helped me stay there, and I’d help him stay in square one. Then when four-square got banned for being too competitive, another boy in my class suggested we play a game he made up, soon after known as Wall Ball. He did the say thing for me there too. The first time it dawned on me that I might actually like this boy was when someone yelled something while we were playing the game. The boy and I were playing against each other and since we are a competitive class, we don’t like long games. Unlike him, I was actually trying, but no matter what I did I couldn’t get him out. I loved watching the faces of the boys when I beet the person who was the best at it, my best friend, that was a boy. He didn’t even have to try, he was winning. But the boys were getting antsy. The next one in line yelled,” Can someone please just get out already. Or are the lovebirds to in love to get each other out.” And even then, when I didn’t like him back, he was still protective of me. He quickly got me out while I was still processing the information. The boy who yelled that out took his turn to emidiatly find himself humiliated at how fast he got out. That was the last thing I saw before I ran off to tell my friends. It was that day when I realized that I liked him.

The nest year, of course, I had still liked him. Though now I wanted him to like me back. So naturally I took the teasing approach at first. And that’s the only approach I took for awhile. My crush plays guitar and loves the 80’s rock style. Mainly that being the hair. Even though he was the most popular boy in my class, he still got made fun of. So I made fun of his hair, a jacket that matched a girls, and boots that were bedazzled. I realize these were some pretty weird things but if you like someone enough it shouldn’t matter what they look like or their fashion choices, the only thing that should matter is their personality. And it shouldn’t be up to you to change someone’s style, it is theirs to change, if they want to. The worst one that I can think of was the boots. I made fun of them, said I was sorry then did it again. I never apologized to him for that. Why I’m talking about this, you will realize later. The major thing that happened to me that year was self-rejection. I had, for whatever reason, a drop of self-worth for the last trimester for fifth grade. Why would someone like him want me? What qualities do I have that this girl over her has? None. she is more pretty, and skinny than me. And so he must like he. Not me. Right? There are so many reasons this is wrong because I was, nd am, pretty. I don’t have to be perfectly skinny to get the guy. But, of course, I didn’t realize this. So I tried for weeks to figure out a way to make myself prettier. Skinnier. Then I tried just to not like him anymore. A new kid came and I thought maybe if I like him then I won’t like this guy who doesn’t like me because I’m ugly and fat. Yes, I was in fifth grade and thinking these things. But, just as you thought, that strategy didn’t work like I wanted to. And so another year passed of me not knowing weather or not he liked me.

The beginning of sixth grade was a blur. But then the annual week long camping trip came  up. I didn’t think anything would happen, but boy was I wrong. The first day passed like a blur with the only highlight of the day being I was in a group with him. We went to the beach that night. It was sunset and I was sitting next to him. Everyone else was playing tag and building sand castles. I don’t exactly remember why we were sitting there but I’m glad I was. I had been thinking about last year and teasing him about the boots. I’d meant earlier to tell him I was sorry for teasing him, but it kept slipping my mind. I chose then to tell him. ” You know how last year I made fun of your boots,” he looked at me and without waiting for an answer, I continued on,” Well I already apologized to you about that. But then I did it again, and well I realized I hadn’t apologized for it.  Well I guess what I’m trying to say is I’m sorry for that.” During my shaky, awkward speech, he looked down at the ground. But then I said sorry and he looked up. He smiled and looked me directly in the eyes and I smiled. We both blushed and looked down at the ground. I sat there for a minute awkwardly before I got up and ran to go tell my best friend. When I got back I talked to my older cousin and he said to tell him that I like him. So the next day I told him that. I didn’t wait for an answer. Life went by, slowly but surely. We both got invited to a boy- girl party. We played truth or dare. He and I were both asked the same question, name your crushes form kindergarten back. I did and so did he. We got to fourth grade and we both said that we have liked the same person since then. Neither of us said who. A week later I texted him and asked him who the mysterious girl was. He replied with, you never said who you liked so I’m not going to tell you. I told him that I’d liked him since fourth grade. He said he’d already known this but wanted to know for sure. He also said that he too had liked me from fourth grade.

If you made it this far then please comment 12345 and if you want a part two than also comment down below. Thank you for reading, hope it wasn’t too boring.

Dear Friends,

me arpita. aj me apni real story ap sab ko batana chahati h. aj kal log sirf another reason k lie pyar mohabbat ki batein karte h. magar meri love kuchh aisi baise nehi h. me jise pyar karti h usk lie akeli rehne k lie decide karchuki h. dekhte h khuda ki kya marji. pls meri story sunk comments dena. kya hoga.

me ek jiddi type ki ladki h. meri behavior bahut buri thi orko lie. or me bahut short temper k ladki thi. me jyada logo k sath bat nehi karti thi ki yaha tak ki apne gharwalo k sath bhi jyada bat nehi karti. harwaqt mujhe akeli rehna bahut pasand thi. or meri jyada frnds nehi the.  jab me graduation pass k meri ek frnd thi best frnd to nehi best frnd se thodi niche waise. ek din me usk ghar gai to wo phone pe batein kar rahi thi usk bf k sath. me usk pass beth k sunti thi. dhire dhire mere man me bhi love karne k man kia. meri man bhi chahne lagi k koi meri bhi bf hota mere sath aise pyare pyare batein karta. ek din meri pass ek call ai. uswaqt meri person phone nehi thi ghar k phone ko. me receive ki ek ladka wrong number me phone lagaya tha. usk sath bat hui. dhire dhire use me pyar karne lagi. fist mohabbat achhi lagti thi. me Hyderabad k hu or wo Punjab k he. fir wo mujhe dekhne k lie bulaya. me usk milne gai. bahut baris ho rahi thi to humdono usk room me chale gaye. fir wo waha mere sath kuchh mis behave karne k lie kosis kia. me waha se ro ro k chali gai. fir sochi k wo to sirf kiss karne k bol raha tha ye to sab chal raha h aj kal itni udas hone k kya bat h. wo bhi syam k phone kark mafi maga. fir meri mood badal gai. sab kuchh bhul k bat ki usk sath. aise me 8 month ho gaya hum sirf ek hi bar mile the. ahiste ahiste mujhe uski bat kuchh ajib lagi usk batein jaise mere sath kuchh galat karne k lie tha. magar me use bahut pyar karti thi. islie ye sab ko avoid ki. 8 month k bad wo aya mujhe milne hum dono park me the uski ek phone ai to wo mere se kuchh dur jake 15 mint batein ki. mujhe thodi doubt hui to me puchhi kiski phone thi bola k office se aya tha. me us waqt kuchh na bol k waha se chali ai. magar meri dimag me usk lie doubt tha. ghar aa kar bahut roi sochi k me kuchh galat kar rahi h kya. koi frnds nehi thi islie kisise share bhi nehi kar pa rahi thi. isk bich mujhe job mil gai. me meri ek school k frnd k sath waha job karne gai. ek din meri dimag me ek idea aya april k mahine chal raha tha. me sochi k use april fool banau. to me  meri frnd k mob. se use phone lagai or meri frnd k boli k bat karo. wo wrong number laga aise bol k bat ki or loud speaker on ki me usk bat suni. fir me usi waqt phone lagai meri phone receive nehi kiya. magar meri frnd jab phone ki to receive kark bat kia. us waqt me bol nehi sakti yaar mujhe kitni takliff ho rahi thi. phir wo meri frnd k bulaya milne k lie. me or takliff she nehi pai boldi k me hu tumhari gf. wo bola k mujhe pata tha me bhi majag kar raha tha. magar me usk bato me nehi ai. wo bahut roya or bar bar phone kar k sorry maga. me use bahut pyar karti thi islie maf bhi kardi. magar doubt harwaqt rehti thi.

ek din achanak or ek wrong number me phone aya. to meri behen receive ki to pata chala k wo usk frnd h. undono me batein ho rahi thi or love bhi ho gaya. mujhe laga k ye bhi ek fraud h. islie use galat sabit karne k lie me meri behen ki frnd k sath bat k. or sare k sare batein meri behen ko sunati thi. magar wo achha ladka tha wo har bat meri behen k mere se pehele bata deta tha. wo mujhse irritate ho kar meri number usk or ek frnd ko de dia. wo bhi akela tha. uski mobile room se koi le gaya tha. use laga k koi rat me apni gf k sath bat karne k lie le gaya hoga. meri number usk pass tha to mujhe phone lagaya bola k meri mobile chori ho gai h ap k pass koi phone kia tha kya is number par. me so rahi thi thik usk bat samajhme nehi pai so mana kark rakhdi. jab me uthi usk pass phone kark puchhi k tum koun ho. wo bola wrong number me lag gai h. I don’t know mujhe uski awaj bahut achha laga. or dil tak aa pahaunchi. use bhi meri awaj bahut achha laga. to hum dono frnd ban gaye. magar me use sare bat bata di meri bf k bare m taki wo mujhe propose na kare ki usk manme koi feelings na aye. mujhe ek frnd ki jarurat thi. to mujhe lagi k yahi he wo.
ye sab hone k 4 days ho gaya. me is bare me matlab meri naye frnd k bare me meri bf k batane wali thi k wo achanak phone nehi uthaya.to me bahut upset ho gai. bahut rone lagi. ye bat ghar me bhi kisk sath share nehi kar sakti thi. ye sab batein meri frnd sonu. uske nam sonu tha. use share ki. or starting se ending tak sab batai to wo ek hi answer dia k kya wo tumse itna pyar karta h jitni tum use karte h. meri muh se kuchh nehi nikla. wo bola wo ek dhokewaj h. wo tumse nehi kuchh or k lie tumse pyar karta tha. use wo sab mila nehi to chhod dia. magar me use bahut pyar karti thi islie bhul nehi pa rahi thi khana bhi thik se nehi kha pa rahi thi. usi time sonu mujhe sambal lia. meri mind k divert kia. magar meri biswas tha k wo jarur phone karega. 1 month k bad usk phone aya. bola k sorry arpita meri accident ho gaya tha islie tumse contact nehi ho pai. mujhe uski bato par jara bhi yakin nehi thi. me use jhuth me bol di k me kisi or se pyar karti h. mujhe bhul jao. or in sab me sonu meri sath dia. use me ahiste ahiste bhulne lagi or sonu se pyar ho gaya.

wo bhi mujhe pyar karne laga. june 13 k hum dono bat kar rahe the to wo mujhe propose kia. meri anko me ansu aa gai uski bat sunk. ha maru ya na. qki pehele kisise dhoka kha chuki h. or ye bhi agar aisa karega to. soch me pad gai. magar andar hi andar me use bepanah chahane lagi thi. islie yes kardi. fir wo jo bat mujhe bataya. meri dil tut k bikhar gai. bola k sayad future me hum dono kabhi saadi kar nehi payege. me boli q? q ki hum dono other caste k the. me thi karan family k or wo barber family k. usk family mujhe accept nehi karege. magar me try karugi unlogo k manane k lie. me bahut roi. mujhe lagi ki meri pao k niche jamin khisak gai. bahut takliff hui. us rat humdono bahut roye qki wo bhi mujhe utni pyar karta tha. aise me subah ho gai. fir me puchhi agar gharwale agree nehi hoge to kya hum bhag sakte h. wo mana kia bola k me aise kuchh nehi karugi magar dekhege god k kya marji. fir hum dono batein kia. mujhe laga k usko pa k me puri ho gai. or kuchh nehi chahiye meri life me.

ek din uski behen mere sath bat ki. boli k tum meri bhai k kya lagti h. mujhe pehele se malum thi k sonu meri bare me sab kuchh bata dia h apne ghar me. islie me boli sonu tum kuchh nehi bataye apni behen k. isi bat se wo naraj ho gaye. ph kat dia. mujhe pata nehi tha yahi ek answer meri jindagi ko dukh se bhar degi.

aise humdono bahut khusi khusi se life bityae. wo mujhe bahut pyar karta h. wo Jharkhand me rehta tha. mujhe dekne k lie train me khade khade bhi ajata tha. meri bahut kheyal rakhta tha. me usk lie bahut change ho gai. dhire dhire sab k sath behavour v change ho gaya. akela rehna bhi achhi nehi lagi. sab kuchh badal dia wo. hum dono ek ek din aise na soke kata dete the. jab me naraj hoti h barish me bhi wo wahase ajata tha mujhse milne k lie. aise me humdono k love k ho gaya 5 year. isi june k hoga 6 year. 1 year me kya hua h. ye padhne k lie wait kijiye 5 days. or comments dijiye

Dear Friends,

me arpita. aj me apni real story ap sab ko batana chahati h. aj kal log sirf another reason k lie pyar mohabbat ki batein karte h. magar meri love kuchh aisi baise nehi h. me jise pyar karti h usk lie akeli rehne k lie decide karchuki h. dekhte h khuda ki kya marji. pls meri story sunk comments dena. kya hoga.

me ek jiddi type ki ladki h. meri behavior bahut buri thi orko lie. or me bahut short temper k ladki thi. me jyada logo k sath bat nehi karti thi ki yaha tak ki apne gharwalo k sath bhi jyada bat nehi karti. harwaqt mujhe akeli rehna bahut pasand thi. or meri jyada frnds nehi the.  jab me graduation pass k meri ek frnd thi best frnd to nehi best frnd se thodi niche waise. ek din me usk ghar gai to wo phone pe batein kar rahi thi usk bf k sath. me usk pass beth k sunti thi. dhire dhire mere man me bhi love karne k man kia. meri man bhi chahne lagi k koi meri bhi bf hota mere sath aise pyare pyare batein karta. ek din meri pass ek call ai. uswaqt meri person phone nehi thi ghar k phone ko. me receive ki ek ladka wrong number me phone lagaya tha. usk sath bat hui. dhire dhire use me pyar karne lagi. fist mohabbat achhi lagti thi. me Hyderabad k hu or wo Punjab k he. fir wo mujhe dekhne k lie bulaya. me usk milne gai. bahut baris ho rahi thi to humdono usk room me chale gaye. fir wo waha mere sath kuchh mis behave karne k lie kosis kia. me waha se ro ro k chali gai. fir sochi k wo to sirf kiss karne k bol raha tha ye to sab chal raha h aj kal itni udas hone k kya bat h. wo bhi syam k phone kark mafi maga. fir meri mood badal gai. sab kuchh bhul k bat ki usk sath. aise me 8 month ho gaya hum sirf ek hi bar mile the. ahiste ahiste mujhe uski bat kuchh ajib lagi usk batein jaise mere sath kuchh galat karne k lie tha. magar me use bahut pyar karti thi. islie ye sab ko avoid ki. 8 month k bad wo aya mujhe milne hum dono park me the uski ek phone ai to wo mere se kuchh dur jake 15 mint batein ki. mujhe thodi doubt hui to me puchhi kiski phone thi bola k office se aya tha. me us waqt kuchh na bol k waha se chali ai. magar meri dimag me usk lie doubt tha. ghar aa kar bahut roi sochi k me kuchh galat kar rahi h kya. koi frnds nehi thi islie kisise share bhi nehi kar pa rahi thi. isk bich mujhe job mil gai. me meri ek school k frnd k sath waha job karne gai. ek din meri dimag me ek idea aya april k mahine chal raha tha. me sochi k use april fool banau. to me  meri frnd k mob. se use phone lagai or meri frnd k boli k bat karo. wo wrong number laga aise bol k bat ki or loud speaker on ki me usk bat suni. fir me usi waqt phone lagai meri phone receive nehi kiya. magar meri frnd jab phone ki to receive kark bat kia. us waqt me bol nehi sakti yaar mujhe kitni takliff ho rahi thi. phir wo meri frnd k bulaya milne k lie. me or takliff she nehi pai boldi k me hu tumhari gf. wo bola k mujhe pata tha me bhi majag kar raha tha. magar me usk bato me nehi ai. wo bahut roya or bar bar phone kar k sorry maga. me use bahut pyar karti thi islie maf bhi kardi. magar doubt harwaqt rehti thi.

ek din achanak or ek wrong number me phone aya. to meri behen receive ki to pata chala k wo usk frnd h. undono me batein ho rahi thi or love bhi ho gaya. mujhe laga k ye bhi ek fraud h. islie use galat sabit karne k lie me meri behen ki frnd k sath bat k. or sare k sare batein meri behen ko sunati thi. magar wo achha ladka tha wo har bat meri behen k mere se pehele bata deta tha. wo mujhse irritate ho kar meri number usk or ek frnd ko de dia. wo bhi akela tha. uski mobile room se koi le gaya tha. use laga k koi rat me apni gf k sath bat karne k lie le gaya hoga. meri number usk pass tha to mujhe phone lagaya bola k meri mobile chori ho gai h ap k pass koi phone kia tha kya is number par. me so rahi thi thik usk bat samajhme nehi pai so mana kark rakhdi. jab me uthi usk pass phone kark puchhi k tum koun ho. wo bola wrong number me lag gai h. I don’t know mujhe uski awaj bahut achha laga. or dil tak aa pahaunchi. use bhi meri awaj bahut achha laga. to hum dono frnd ban gaye. magar me use sare bat bata di meri bf k bare m taki wo mujhe propose na kare ki usk manme koi feelings na aye. mujhe ek frnd ki jarurat thi. to mujhe lagi k yahi he wo.
ye sab hone k 4 days ho gaya. me is bare me matlab meri naye frnd k bare me meri bf k batane wali thi k wo achanak phone nehi uthaya.to me bahut upset ho gai. bahut rone lagi. ye bat ghar me bhi kisk sath share nehi kar sakti thi. ye sab batein meri frnd sonu. uske nam sonu tha. use share ki. or starting se ending tak sab batai to wo ek hi answer dia k kya wo tumse itna pyar karta h jitni tum use karte h. meri muh se kuchh nehi nikla. wo bola wo ek dhokewaj h. wo tumse nehi kuchh or k lie tumse pyar karta tha. use wo sab mila nehi to chhod dia. magar me use bahut pyar karti thi islie bhul nehi pa rahi thi khana bhi thik se nehi kha pa rahi thi. usi time sonu mujhe sambal lia. meri mind k divert kia. magar meri biswas tha k wo jarur phone karega. 1 month k bad usk phone aya. bola k sorry arpita meri accident ho gaya tha islie tumse contact nehi ho pai. mujhe uski bato par jara bhi yakin nehi thi. me use jhuth me bol di k me kisi or se pyar karti h. mujhe bhul jao. or in sab me sonu meri sath dia. use me ahiste ahiste bhulne lagi or sonu se pyar ho gaya.

wo bhi mujhe pyar karne laga. june 13 k hum dono bat kar rahe the to wo mujhe propose kia. meri anko me ansu aa gai uski bat sunk. ha maru ya na. qki pehele kisise dhoka kha chuki h. or ye bhi agar aisa karega to. soch me pad gai. magar andar hi andar me use bepanah chahane lagi thi. islie yes kardi. fir wo jo bat mujhe bataya. meri dil tut k bikhar gai. bola k sayad future me hum dono kabhi saadi kar nehi payege. me boli q? q ki hum dono other caste k the. me thi karan family k or wo barber family k. usk family mujhe accept nehi karege. magar me try karugi unlogo k manane k lie. me bahut roi. mujhe lagi ki meri pao k niche jamin khisak gai. bahut takliff hui. us rat humdono bahut roye qki wo bhi mujhe utni pyar karta tha. aise me subah ho gai. fir me puchhi agar gharwale agree nehi hoge to kya hum bhag sakte h. wo mana kia bola k me aise kuchh nehi karugi magar dekhege god k kya marji. fir hum dono batein kia. mujhe laga k usko pa k me puri ho gai. or kuchh nehi chahiye meri life me.

ek din uski behen mere sath bat ki. boli k tum meri bhai k kya lagti h. mujhe pehele se malum thi k sonu meri bare me sab kuchh bata dia h apne ghar me. islie me boli sonu tum kuchh nehi bataye apni behen k. isi bat se wo naraj ho gaye. ph kat dia. mujhe pata nehi tha yahi ek answer meri jindagi ko dukh se bhar degi.

aise humdono bahut khusi khusi se life bityae. wo mujhe bahut pyar karta h. wo Jharkhand me rehta tha. mujhe dekne k lie train me khade khade bhi ajata tha. meri bahut kheyal rakhta tha. me usk lie bahut change ho gai. dhire dhire sab k sath behavour v change ho gaya. akela rehna bhi achhi nehi lagi. sab kuchh badal dia wo. hum dono ek ek din aise na soke kata dete the. jab me naraj hoti h barish me bhi wo wahase ajata tha mujhse milne k lie. aise me humdono k love k ho gaya 5 year. isi june k hoga 6 year. 1 year me kya hua h. ye padhne k lie wait kijiye 5 days. or comments dijiye

When I was 12, I didn’t have any friends. I sat by myself and everyone thought I was weird or different. Every day I would go home, do homework and plop down on the computer. One day I found this site. It was one of those meet-people virtual-world websites. I went on it everyday. It was a place of comfort and smiles that made me feel good.

One day in a chatroom I met David.

David’s avatar looked simple and simplistic. I said hi to David and he returned the greeting.

David was older. He was very friendly and I would talk to him everyday. Everyday I would come home from school excited,, do my important agendas and plop down on the computer chair. Since I was 12 going on 13 it was difficult to see what times he would be on. David lived in Ohio and I lived in California.

Everyday I would tell David about my day and he would tell me about his. We would listen to music together and live in our own little world of happiness. He never once probed me any inappropiate questions. David told me all about his life and I told him all about mine.

Days turned into months. By 6-7 months, I was used to talking to David. It was never ‘weird’ or ‘abnormal’ to me. David and the internet world was all I knew as my social outlet (at the time).

One day I realized something while I was with David. Our conversations got deeper than normal and he never stopped the conversation from going flirty/romantic. I was falling in love with David.

Around November, a few days before my birthday of turning 13, I was in the chatroom with David. It was different now. I told David I loved him. I was so scared. I THEN knew it wasn’t normal to love someone this way. David told me that he too was falling in love with me.

Okay, David isn’t some closet freak that is a pedophile. He is more normal than I was at the time. He had a job and social life and I mostly talked to him at night. We would stay up for hours just talking to eachother.

We finally agreed to being a long-distance couple less than a few days from my birthday. I was so happy and niave. David and I loved eachother, but at the time, David was much more mature and I was extremely niave. I was a little girl falling in love with a person that knew better.

The beginning of Summer.

One day, out of nowhere, David didn’t log on. I took no offense and thought he was super tired or busy. Our time zone differences put a strain on our relationship. The next day, nothing. After a few days, I got scared. I sent him bunches and bunches of messages. No reply. This went on for while.

This went on for weeks. I would cry myself to sleep every night. I would send him desperation messages begging him to reply. No such luck.
I went into a severe depression.

2 months passed…I had to get over it. I moved on. I started talking to other guys in real life and actually experienced flirting and my first kiss. It was nice.

David came back. One day it said he was online and my heart dropped. I mustered up all my bravery and said hi. The conversation was very friendly and short. He told me he was extremely busy and had no internet. I didn’t probe questions.

Eventually we were talking agian and David knew I was with other guys in real life. He didn’t like that. He begged me to come back to him and that he was so sorry for leaving me here. Like an idiot I took him back.

A process of break-up and make-up went on. We fought about alot of things as our relationship progressed. There was tears and heartache and betrayal.

There was LOVE and promises made.

When I got into high school, things changed. I made ALOT of friends and became the pretty girl. I never told anyone of my love with David. People would always wonder why I was ‘single’ or they never saw me with guys.

4 years have passed…It will be 5 pretty soon. Im really excited. It has been a hard and rocky road. It was never easy, but I made it father than most real couples did.

16 going on 17… I can’t wait to see him. I’m excited but scared. I’m scared to death. Soon I will meet the person I have dedicated my entire young adulthood to. I’m so scared and anxious. It’s a beautiful dream I’m waiting to fullfill. I’m so happy.

There is no moral point to my story. True love is real. Maybe for me, it didn’t come in the form of some tool trying to breathe down my shirt on the way to prom, but I STRONGLY believe I have found true love. It hurts and it feels beautiful at the same time. You cry and your heart throbs for this person, but you make it through thick and thin. I love this person with all my heart and soul. I’m literally shaking as I’m writing this. I’m still going through it with him, and it gets hard, but we love eachother enough to make it. We are going to make it. Love is real. Don’t ever give up!

(Screen) Name: mscherrycool1

Liza always kept a pen on her.

She was always jotting down notes, quotes and potential story ideas. Her phone was always ringing, a mixture of calls from debt collectors and well-to-do government officials. She had a pretty stable relationship with the local newspaper covering Queens’s government stories. Always in town meetings and in the city hall office, Liza was making a decent living as a freelance journalist. It had been her dream for many years— since she used to chase the chickens on her family’s South Carolina farm.

Liza was naïve, but she always knew that Charleston never had much for her, since she moved there at the age of 8, she developed an extreme disgust for the town.

When Bertha, a category 5 hurricane came through and wiped roofs clean off, knocked out power lines, uprooted trees and dissected her high school, she wished Bertha would have took it all. Charleston was a figment of her imagination – nothing ever seemed real there. Her friends didn’t seem that way, they’d always make jealous remarks about her family’s wealth or the nerds she had classes with. And those who mattered died. Senior year was particularly hard, as she had to attend three of her friend’s funerals; Kevin’s head was rolled over by a trailer after he fell out the bed of a speeding truck. Felicia was stabbed in a fight, and died of complications resulting from her asthma. Kemal committed suicide after he received his SAT results. His note said, “I’ll never amount to anything.”

Charleston was a beautiful residential area with great schools, but it always represented sad memories to Liza. She had become numb to the world living there. She would walk down the streets and see nothing but snakes and lizards, and realize that she forgot how to connect with real people. She longed for the big buildings and lights that she saw on the television screen. To her, New York was where all dreams came true. She envisioned that at the sound of her southern accent, a man would sweep her off her feet as soon as she landed at John F. Kennedy airport. He’d propose and they’d get married and have cornbread instead of cake, and go on a honeymoon to Maui. Then they would get a beautiful apartment on 74th street across from Central Park and play tennis and eat at the Boatyard restaurant in the summers and hold hands while ice-skating in the winter.

The polyphonic ring of her phone brought Liza back from dream world. She tended to doze off while she was riding the train, she didn’t like eye contact with any of the creeps. One time she made eye contact with a guy who referred to himself as Michael the Prophet. He looked into her eyes and saw her future. He saw an alcoholic husband, three kids, lots of credit card debt and a miss America crown. It was sad, and one part frightfully accurate. She vowed to never make eye contact again.

She answered.

“Hello,” she said, with a hint of southern charm.

“Heeeeyyyy,” a man on the other end of the line excitedly said. “I didn’t think you’d pick up.”

She was used to two voices on that line, the bureaucratic monotone voice of government officials or the spritely voice of her fiancé, James. She had memorized all the debt collectors’ numbers and purposely did not answer.

Liza played along.

“How are you?,” she asked.

“It’s so good to hear your voice. It’s been forever, how have you been?”

Liza was beginning to feel a familiar tingle in her heart. She pulled the phone away from her ear and looked at the number in an attempt to see if she mistakenly answered a bill collector’s call. She replayed the numbers in her head, six-one-seven; she didn’t recognize the area code.

“I’m really well, working a lot, but not getting paid enough. You know the deal.” It was a generically safe answer, she thought even if it was a bill collector.

“I’ll give you a hint. I used to have a big crush on you back in the day.”

Liza blushed at the thought of some age-old crush stalking her. She was very private and almost untraceable on Facebook and other social networks. The only unsolicited form of communication she received was spam, and bill collectors – but they were human spam anyways.

His voice was starting to sound really familiar. She paused for a few seconds, looked up at the top of the train and grabbed her bottom lip firmly. Who could it be? Her and James had been together for the past seven years, so it would have to be someone from her past. She’d only been in New York ten years.

All of sudden she put a face to the mystery voice.

“Tony!” She screams, before he even confirmed. “Oh my gosh! How are you??! Where are you? Tell me everything.”

She was just as dramatic as he had left her 15 years ago, when he almost made love to her as a young kid. He lived down the street from her farm and they’d always spent their nights together to make Charleston seem less dull. When he was 9, him, his brother and their mother moved to Charleston from Boston. Fifteen years ago, when she was 16, he told her he loved her. Liza would never forgive herself for backing down and not being brave enough to give her heart to him. He was planning to leave on plane back to Boston and never come back; he hated Charleston like they all did. She couldn’t blame him, although she was hurt that he wouldn’t stay for her. Still they fell deeply in teenage love, sneaking out to smoke weed underneath the banana tree or spending the days on islands only accessible by jet-skis. Although Tony was recently married, he always thought of Liza as the one who got away, telling all his old girlfriends about her and reminiscing on his teenage years in sunny, desolate Charleston.

“I’m in town for the weekend, your brother gave me your number. I just wanted to know how you were, maybe we could get a coffee or a bite to eat,” he said.

From the conversation, Liza gathered that Tony still lives in Boston and works for a political office, they have a conference in New York once a year. He just found out that Liza lived in New York when he went down to Charleston to see his mother for Thanksgiving. Liza had spent Thanksgiving with James.

A few hours later, Liza and Tony met up at this little place in Greenwich Village where you could get wings the size of chicken legs. They laughed, talked about their relationships, their families, etc. It was a good time.

The sun was still up, all her deadlines were in the past and James was out of town, so she respectfully accepted when Tony invited her to go bowling, like the good old days.

James job requires him to travel a lot, he’s a retail salesman for Giorgio Armani and he has to go to fashion shows all over the country for their respective fashion weeks. That’s why James is always dressed in the nicest suits and knows the exact purses to get Liza.

Tony won, as usual. He was always surprisingly good with a bowling ball. The way he tippy-toed up to the line and precisely laid the ball down to slow but steady pace. Twenty seconds later all that could be seen was the dark abyss of the mystery behind the lane and the resonating crack of a strike. At this point, Liza was debating why she even came to the alley; she was loosing so miserably 63 points to 214. Tony would slightly rub it in her face and ask if she wanted to put the kiddy gutters up. “No,” she said with a pouted face, which Tony noticed hadn’t changed in 15 years.

The polyphonic ring again. “Hello,” she said.

“Hey honey, I landed. I’m in Milan. I went straight to the set, they changed the fashion show time… and I’m still waiting on luggage with the remaining suits, we’ve only got two here.”

Liza listened until he took a breath to ask how she was doing. “I’m well,” she said. “I’m out bowling with an old friend. I’m loosing pretty badly,” she giggled. He wished her a good time and good luck on the game.

Liza and Tony had got tired of bowling and Tony decided to give Liza a tour of his suite at the Gansevoort hotel. The Gansevoort was particularly special hotel, and Tony believed Liza would enjoy the twists and turns of the staircases and the modern decor. They toured the pool, Jacuzzi, fitness room, spa area before going up to see the view from his Penthouse.

Liza lived in New York, but Queens didn’t have views like this. She ran to the window as soon as he opened the hotel door. The glass encompassed the whole back wall, and the city lights were as potent as ever—like lifelike fireflies. She lost her breath for a second at the sight of it all. The sun was setting and the sky was a special tinge of orange, pink and purple.

Tony came behind her, admiring her small frame, long black hair with red streaks that glistened in the sun and round buttocks from a far. He came behind her and whispered “Beautiful.” Liza startled at the warmth of his breath on her neck, and clumsily turned around so they were face to face. “Yes, I’m not used to this,” she said. Tony took one step closer to her, staring into her big hazel eyes. She hadn’t blinked for some time, and her eyes were beginning to water. Liza turned back around to admire the scenery, scared what she might do if their eyes remained locked for a second longer.

She put her head down. She wasn’t sure which body part to operate with, her head or her heart, She felt one thing, but knew she should do another. “Thank you for showing me this,” she said coldly.

When she looked up, two hands were pressed firmly against the glass on either side of her ears. She was a little frightened, but the experience felt so familiar. She missed the smell, she ran her hands through his curly tuft of hair, closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her heart racing yet calm at the same time.

Tony kissed her softly on the neck.

He said, “Please stop me.”

But she couldn’t bear to. His hands felt like they belonged on her hips, which they were now resting. She grabbed his large hand and gave it a firm tug, to let him know that she wanted more.

He moved her hair to the side and he rhythmically began kissing her neck watching the sun set over the city before them. Tony turned Liza around and their lips met. Both felt like they had traveled into a time machine where they were two 16 year old sneaking out of their parent’s house to kiss by the lake.

Tony kissed her like he had dreamed. He picked her up and forced her back against the glass window. She winced, and felt her body grow warm inside. The kisses transformed from slow and endearing to fast and sloppy. Soon Liza was gripping his toned biceps for support against the window, her nails feeling his flesh. He pinned her to the window with his chest and groin and proceeded to take off her dress and then his shirt. His body warmth felt so good, and the smell… she took another deep breath of his essence.

She threw her head back in pleasure. She was enjoying it he thought, as he felt her wetness on his chest. He wanted to give her what she had been missed as a teenager, but a knock came at the door. It was his Democrat buddy seeing if he wanted to watch the US Open with him. Tony not-so-respectfully declined with a loud yell through the door. With that he twirled Liza around off the window and put her bare body down on the bleach white sheets. He crawled on top of her, kissing her face, neck and collarbone, his surly back the only thing to be seen from above.

The phone rang. The ring was familiar— it was James. She reached over Tony’s toned body with her left hand, the six-carat ring caught a twinkle from the sun’s final descent and she immediately began to think with her brain.

(Screen) Name: Atti Thony

After my first heart break i thought i would never fall in love again, but that all changed when i met Joe. I was 15. We were once strangers, not even knowing each other’s names as we passed corridors. Later (a few months back) we were in the same class and he was sitting right next to me. We started slowly as friends and as soon as you know we started liking each other a hell lot. I honestly just liked him (plain and simple) but i was not in love with him nor did i feel what should i say ready to say that i was in love with him.
He was the first one to tell me that he loved me but at that time i thought he was saying it for the sake of saying it but then he told me that he said it from his heart. I still hadn’t fallen in love with him but i really really liked him. He paid a lot of attention to me. He would always be there if i was sad or upset. He wouldn’t leave my sight. It was really nice………….. but that all changed later. A few months passed and i began to notice that i was falling in love with him too. We would call each other everyday and pass chits…it was the best time of my life. He made me feel safe and loved, something that i was yearning for for a long time. We were like the high school sweethearts. Everyone knew about us and we were like the cutest couple. Anytime you see we would always be with each other…never letting go.
A few months later we broke up and i totally broke down (in the sense that i cried a lot!) It was then that i realized that i completely fallen head over heels for this guy. I was in love with him, and he broke my heart. I told myself that if by any chance (kinda like one in a million chances) if he was gonna ask me to get back together with him i would say yes then and there. About a few days past and he called and asked if we wanted to get back. I don’t know what happened i told him that i needed to think it over. I guess i was afraid he was doing this only to make me happy/ he would break my heart again.
I finally said yes. And now we’re not the same couple we were. I honestly don’t know what happened. We don’t talk much, seldom pass chits. Its as if that spark had been blown off into eternity. we call each other ‘honey’ and you know what all, but i’m not sure if he’s faking it. But when we’re alone/talk (mobile) he sounds like the same Joe i once fell in love with. We talk about all kinds of things even about our kids (for fun i guess) but to me to be honest its him i want to marry and him that i picture my future kids with. He tells the same but we both like talking abt stuff like that for fun, sometimes even if its real, but how do i know if he really wants to? Deep down i want to accept the fact that he feels the same way as he did before but the fear/thought of the worst frightens me. One thing i realized about him was that if he truly loves you he will give you his heart, his everything. He’ll be by your side every minute and second. He’ll truly love you and when he says it you can see it in his eyes that he means it..a lot. He’ll be the best thing that’s ever happened to you. He’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. I love his voice, his touch, his eyes, his hands, his everything. I just wish he would be the same…or if he is changed i guess i’m just afraid to accept the truth. Honestly i don’t know. I love him with all my heart, to me thats real and thats the truth. I will love him now, and forever. That’s a promise i will never break. I wouldn’t even think of doing anything that would hurt him in any way. I wouldn’t mind him hurting me again (ok maybe a little bit) but i don’t want to be the one who hurts him. Just trust your heart I guess….

(Screen) Name: X

At first I shrugged it off until i noticed. Those passing comments and stares where him actually tryna get my attention, Lord knows how long it went on for but when I noticed…it was a different story.

It started with a wave and then a hi, a short conversation that got me thinking- who is this guy and why has he decided that of all people in this city, it would be me he pays the most attention to. Out of curiosity I wanted to find out more.

After a few more encounters I found myself hoping we’d bump into each other more often (which is funny cos at the time I was completely infatuated with a guy i would/could never have!!). As we spoke and acknowleged each other more – I decided to push it further….I asked him for his number.

The wait to see if he would text back, and the brush of excitement when he did. I proceeded with caution and it became apparent the caution was needed. It seemed like he only wanted me- to get intimate with – but by this point I was falling for him and found it hard – yet I knew I had to back off and make my opinions clear.

We started talkin less, and funnily enough I saw him less, til the point there was no contact whatsoever. I convinced myself to let go…I just didnt understand how the guy who, noticed me first, chased me, would make my body shiver when he touched just my arm, made me stutter, my hands went sweaty, mouth dry, butterflies and evern just seeing him made me smile. He made me feel like that then drop me- why put in the effort (I seemed to make him happy too).

Guess he just didnt like me the way I wished, but he hurt me and til this day 2yrs since I last saw him, every other day he crosses my mind. May sound trivial to you guy reading this, but this always plagues my mind and glad I got to share..maybe someone out there can relate!

(Screen) Name: Jasmine

Hey i am 14 now,lebanese and i met this guy last year at school.His name is Elie Sarrouf and he’s bigger than me(his b’day is in February and mine is in April).He is so cute,tall and very funny.I had i crush on him months ago but i didnt say a word.I met him at class but the few first months we didnt really talk but my bestfriend introduce me 2 him.I guess it was LOVE AT FIRST SIGHT!I told my bestfriend that i might like him(i was lying,i knew that i LOVE him)but she told him:(.I was so angry and jealous cz ma bestf and him always sat next 2 eachother(the principal indicates where we should sit).I used to see them laughing all the time and i was really jealous!
One day we went 2 the library and we had to do a project so he came and sate next to me and all that time his hand didnt leave my leg and when we watched a movie the same day he sate next to me and put hia arm around my back.My heart was beating so fast and i felt his hand on my leg for the next two days.I asked a BOYfriend that i knew for 10 years and he told me that i should ask Elie why he did so.So when we were leaving i asked him why you touched me?He said that it was just for fun!I didnt believe him(i dont know why).
After like a month,we sate next to each other in class and everytime he touched me i hit him.
Last week the same thing happened in the library when we had a research about Hitler.
I had a dream about us kissing at his house and having sex but when i told my bestfriend about it she said OMG!!!!!!
I really really love him but im just hiding it now.What should i do next?
PLEASE HELP!

(Screen) Name: Tamara