James and I have been together since 2006, when I was a junior in high school and he was a senior. I had just moved back to Virginia from Florida and I was super depressed about it. Struggling to stay busy, I got a job as a cashier at a local Food Lion that was about to open up. I didn't really pay attention to my coworkers. I came to work, rung up people's groceries, took my break, cleaned the store, and went home. One day a friend of mine told me that a friend of hers named James worked at the store with me. She said that he had gone on and on about some little blonde cashier that he worked with, and that it was obvious he was head over heels for me. I thought "that James kid" was kind of cute, so I went to work the next day hopeful.
I walked in the store right behind him, taking in everything about me. His uniform was frumpy and he needed a haircut. He walked kind of slow, so I struggled not to pass him on the way to the time clock. He finished clocking in and I stepped up to the machine to follow suit. He started walking quickly to one of the registers, and my eyes followed him as he walked up to one of the cashiers... a cute little blonde girl.
I was devastated! How could I have been so stupid? She was so much thinner than I was and her hair fell down in perfect curls. How did she do her makeup like that? I caught myself staring before I shook my head and decided to forget about it. The day went on and I eventually got moved to the register beside James'. I thought for a while about just ignoring him... I never have been a quitter, though, so I turned around and smiled. I introduced myself and asked him how his day was going. He seemed super shy while I talked to him. "Ew," I thought, "he is totally not my type. I don't go for quiet guys."
Then it was time for our lunch break.
Because we had come in at the same time, we went on break at the same time. I didn't really feel like talking to him because it had been a really long day at work already. He kept striking up conversation about how bad my lunch smelled, and I was thinking, "Dude! Just let me eat my clam chowder in peace!" I left the lunchroom convinced that he was not the guy for me, and I was thankful for the skinny blonde cashier that wasn't me.
That night James got off an hour before I did. He clocked out and grabbed a Vault (remember those?!) out of the cooler before nonchalantly walking up to my register. That clever cat was going to make me ring him up, but not before he leaned up against the register like Rico Suave and looked into my eyes. He said, "So I was thinking we could hang out sometime, you should call me." and he handed me his number. My confidence had boosted after lunch with him. I was not the traumatized 17 year old at the time clock that I was that morning. I raised my eyebrow and replied, "Um, no. I don't call boys. They call me." I promptly pulled a piece of paper out of the receipt machine and scribbled my number on it. I was secretly hoping that he would not call.
But he definitely called.
Act II: The Chase
So James and I started seeing each other because he relentlessly called and texted my phone until it died every day. I had no intention of the relationship leading to anything serious and decided that having a boyfriend would be a great way to pass the time. (Sounds pretty bad now that I look back on it!) He did all the wrong things... he called me nonstop. He was pushy, clingy, needy. He would have jumped off of a cliff if he thought it would mean I'd be with him forever, but I didn't feel the same way.
Over time that changed though. I started seeing some of his better qualities. He was a sweetheart, and he bent over backwards to see that I was happy. We rarely ever fought, and when we did we made up for it with lots of tears and kisses. I had unknowingly fallen for him against my own will, and that was the beginning of an everlasting love. We dated for a few years, and we definitely had our ups and downs during that time. He was there for me when I got into college at VCU and I was there for him when he landed a collision technician position for a big company he had applied to. We have been there for each other through all of the major events of our young adult lives.
On October 25, 2009, when our gondola reached the very top of of the Americana Ferris Wheel, James got on one knee and asked me to marry him. I was overjoyed and we were married that next July. We have been married for over a year now and we could not be happier. I spend my days studying, working out, and watching Law and Order in my sweatpants while he spends his days doing auto body work, eating Lucky Charms cereal, and taking naps. We could not be happier. Marriage really is an adventure and we have developed a deeper love for each other than I ever thought possible.
Act III: Junior
Okay... this Act hasn't happened yet. But we are working on it! ;)
(To Be Continued...)
