"You know, it looks like you went to the wrong costume window." He said as he filled the empty seat across from her. Her heart skipped its beat.
"Why does my heart respond to him this way? I don't even know him."
"What are you talking about?" She knew he was playing, but she didn't yet understand the joke.
"Your socks. The stripes...the rolled up jeans...you look like you work at Pirates." He thought the punch line was funnier than it was. Although it was midly annoying, seeing him laugh, watching his face come alive made her heart sing.
"You are very funny." She said in a flat voice with a straight face. And then she looked away. He thought she was hurt.
"Awww, c'mon-I was just kidding! I love your socks. They let me know you are a little....zany! You know, different from all the other CP's."
She liked that she was a part of a group-a group that had an abbreviated name: "CP" which was short for "College Program". What she liked even more was that she stood out of the group, and that he noticed.
This time, when she looked away, it was because she was blushing.
They were joined then by the the others-just let out from their shifts, all drained from a long day of smiles and sunshine. Everyone piled around- some squished into the booth-and all were laughing, making jokes, and planning their next stop. He was the center of attention, and she couldn't figure out why on earth he liked her.
"So are we going to Perkins first or are we going to PI first?" someone asked him.
Without missing a beat he found her green eyes through the sea of browns and blues and said, "The only thing I know is that I'm going to make her my girl this semester."
Questions...so many questions ran through her head...
"Did he really say that out loud?" But the people staring at her told her yes.
"Should I say something?" His unwavering gaze gave her the answer.
"Am I allowed to feel this excited about his interest?" Her heart still does not know.
Unable to hide her smile she sarcastically replied, "I don't think my boyfriend would like that very much" and walked away as he pretended to clutch his heart and he slid to the floor, not knowing that years later, this is how their love would end.
