Chapter 1: The Facts 

 I've always been average. I've had my rebellious moments; my regrets. I've had my share of high school drama. I've been in the spotlight before, but it wasn't in front of anybody. It was more like something you would do at church. I've lived in a small town, but I've had a taste of the city. I've lived in the past most of my life. I'd done crazy things without a reason. I've had a few relationships. They were pointless, stupid, and I knew love didn't exist. It didn't. I didn't believe in it. Although I dated many times before and still do, I wasn't looking for love. My love life was the crap hole. I was a fair student. Sometimes I made D’s, but overall my grades weren't anything below C's.  As for sports, I was definitely below average there. It wasn't that I was overweight; it was because I was uncoordinated. In fact, I only weight 105lbs. I had played in the school band, but I wasn't a total outcast or loser. I wasn't popular, either. Some of my friends played sports and they were popular. My life was routine and I hated school. Mostly, I still do.  Over the last summer, I had grown up a lot. I had become more mature. My life has changed so much, it's hard to believe that there was only a grade difference between the old me and the new me. It's not my life that's changed, but it's me and the people who came into it. This is my story about the person who changed my life forever. 

Chapter 2: First Impressions 

When I first met him, the first thing I noticed was his green, green eyes. We were at church camp and summer was almost over. Since our schools were consolidating, we'd go to the same school in August. Although, our towns were small, I'd never met him or anyone like him, ever. I had never been to a camp before and church camp was quite an experience. I wasn't ready to leave! When we finally decided to meet each other, I panicked. I didn't know what to say or how to act or if he'd like me. So, I got a glance of him, and ran! I ran back into my cabin and stayed there. When I got the nerve to come back out; he was gone. I saw him at lunch and eventually my best friend, Veronica, talked me into trying to talk to him again. She, being confident and loud as usual, even began talking to him for me. I attempted to talk to him, but he was so shy. This was definitely the opposite of me and I wasn't too sure I liked it. By the end of the week, he had came around. We were talking normally and I was getting to know my new friend quickly.

That Friday church camp ended. We drove back home and laughed a lot on the bus. Sam and I talked all night. When he asked me out, I was a little shocked. I didn't expect him to ask me out. It took me a while to say anything back. He immediately assumed that my answer was no. I corrected him. From that day forward, my life changed each and every day. Quickly and gradually.

 Chapter 3: Defeating Time

Days turned into weeks. Weeks turned into months. Months changed and so did the seasons. Summer, fall, and now winter. Our friendship grew stronger and it didn't take long for love to take over. I kept a box filled of things, toys, notes, wrist bands, and all our memories. I don't want to forget anything. We've had our first kisses, fights, and a few crazy times. I was so judgmental on love before and people and relationships. None of it exisisted. My past relationships made me smart, though. I knew how guys worked because they all worked the same. This one was different. He taught me how to fall in love, find hope in the darkest moments, and the true meaning and dependence of friendship. When I cried, he wiped away my tears. If we were far away, he still made everything okay. We sneaked kisses, hugs, and hand holding. Our parents didn't agree. Most people didn't. We didn't care. We had each other and when we were together; there was nothing else in the world. We did as much as possible together. My mother got ever more strict than normal. And when it felt like the world was holding us apart, we always had a way to get to each other. Late nights on the phone, became routine. I usually fell asleep first and when I did, I would always pretend he was at my side. Some people would call it corny, and say that we weren't in love, but we knew better. Nobody's opinions mattered except ours. Our love was rare, we knew that. I gripped on to that with everything I had. He'd become the hero of my life and suddenly, I was his Cinderella.