The drive to Rexburg had never seemed longer, as I was anxiously waiting to see Brandon again. It felt as if the day had dragged on immeasurably, and that I was going to be stuck forever in the mid-afternoon of that Friday. When we reached Idaho Falls I felt even more anxious knowing that I was only a half-hour away from seeing Brandon again. But the words from Brandon's most recent phone call drifted back into my mind "If things go well this weekend I think I would like to date you." Was I really going to be in a relationship with the most amazing boy I had ever met within a matter of a few hours? I couldn't decide if those words were comforting, or just causing additional anxiety; for I felt a sense of pressure to live up to whoever he had decided he liked that Saturday almost two weeks previous.
The string of thoughts was broken as my mom announced that she and Keith would be going food shopping at WinCo instead of trying to brave the crowds at any of the Rexburg grocery stores. I knew it was a good idea that made sense for my mom and for Keith, but I groaned inwardly, knowing that this would surely add at least an hour to the expected arrival time. As the minutes passed I felt myself growing more and more anxious. After two long hours I could hardly take the waiting much longer. I gave in and called my mom, asking how much longer they might be. She said that they had just reached the checkout line and that they should be home soon. Almost thirty minutes later my mom and Keith walked in the door. I jumped up off of Angie's couch (my sister Angie this time) and asked if it was time to go to Rexburg. My mom acknowledged that we could now make our way to Rexburg. I texted Brandon to let him know that we were just now leaving Idaho Falls. It was just past 7:30pm and he mentioned that the New Student Talent show was starting at 8:00pm so we would have to meet up afterwards. I was nearly heartbroken.
"How long is the show going to last?" I asked him.
"Probably an hour. Hour and a half maybe."
"What?!" I thought. "This can't be. I can't stand waiting another 2 hours to see Brandon!"
"Okay" I replied to him, "see you after the show."
When I got off the phone I told my mom that the show was starting and that I would now have to wait even longer to see Brandon. I did't want to get upset, but I could feel my frustration rising to the surface of my emotions. I finally admitted to my mom that I was not too happy to have had to wait so long to see Brandon, and had not expected the extra delays. She was sympathetic to my frustrations and said that she would drop me off by the Hart Building so I could attend the talent show with Brandon. I was grateful of her understanding and agreed that would be a pleasant alternative. I called Brandon once again and he liked the idea as well and sent me a text of the seats he was sitting in. When my mom dropped my off near the curb of the Hart Building I felt a little off balance and self-conscious. It had been almost two weeks since I had seen him and we had mostly texted and only when neither of us were working, so I felt a little anxious, not knowing what to expect or if he would feel differently about me after spending more time with me. When I finally pulled open the door to the Hart Building my own heart was pounding once again. I felt that perhaps anyone walking by would even be able to hear it with how loud it seemed to my own ears. When I finally reached Brandon I thought my heart would pound right through my ribcage. As I approached him he embraced me, and I felt myself relax and a certain calm spread over me. I soon felt I was myself again and could enjoy the talent show, as well as enjoying the fact that I was once again seated by Brandon Carney. The talent show was actually quite impressive and Brandon and I talked a bit about some of our favorite numbers as we exited the gym. I then got a text that my mom was going to return to Idaho Falls soon with Angie and Ben, to stay the night at their house. I told Brandon I wanted to say goodbye and asked if he wanted to come. He said that he did. As we approached my sister and brother-in-laws car I heard Brandon call out "Hi mom!" as he greeted my mom with a hug. I was surprised and admittedly hopeful for our future when he called my own mother his mom. I felt that maybe he knew what was to come, and perhaps, eventually he could really call my mom his mom as well.
Saturday, October 12, 2013
Visiting Ryan Scott
My friend Ryan Scott, is the hardest person to describe in the whole world! Why? Because he is so unique, so different from anyone else I have ever known. He has a heart of gold, and yet some who do not know him well, might think otherwise. When I first met him I honestly wasn't too fond of him either, but after getting to know Ryan Scott over the course of a few semesters at BYU-Idaho I grew to respect and admire him. I learned that Ryan doesn't expect a lot in return for his friendship, all he cared about was having the friendship reciprocated. That, I suspect, is one of the reasons we became so close. He wasn't the type of guy who would only befriend those he thought he could marry (as many of his own age and circumstance did) but was a friend to anyone who would take the time to get to know him. Which is why Ryan and I were able to be close, we both enjoyed the simple pleasure of a mutual friendship.
A couple semesters previous to my own graduation he had graduated and moved away to Kentucky to work for a research company. After I had graduated I was of course at home and working in the cornfields. Occasionally we would call each other to keep in touch and sometimes talked about how fun it would be to get to see each other again. So, after a few conversations about it we decided I would come to Kentucky to visit him. He even bought my plane tickets to make up for the fact that I was traveling so far to see him.
Visiting Ryan was so much fun. I got to meet some of his family members, and see what his own "post graduate life" was like. It also felt great to get to catch up with such a dear friend. In describing to Ryan the previous events that had transpired between Brandon and myself, Ryan was supportive and happy. Though I had seen Ryan become like a protective older brother seeing me with other guys I had dated, he immediately expressed his approval of Brandon (having had the opportunity to room with Brandon during his last semester) and knowing well that Brandon was a good person.
I'm sure Ryan probably thought it was funny to see how giddy I was every time I got a text from Brandon--although one particular text that I got from him made me more nervous than anything else! When I saw a text from him that said something to the effect of "So, I heard you talked to Spencer the other day? Is there anything you wanted to tell me?" I blushed, and decided I didn't want to be the first to share my feelings. So instead I turned the question around and asked him the same thing. He confirmed that he had talked to Spencer and said we should talk sometime soon. I told him I was actually in Kentucky visiting Ryan Scott and that we were busy that evening, but he could call the following evening because we didn't have anything specific planned.
The next evening I felt on edge, with the hope and anticipation of the phone call soon to come. When my phone finally did ring I practically ran to the spare bedroom of Ryan's apartment to talk to Brandon. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a phone conversation so much as the one in which Brandon and I admitted our feelings for one another. He mentioned that he had wanted to tell me he liked me by the camp fire at Savannah's party, but that the teenage boys had ruined his opportunity. He admitted he also really wanted to hold my hand and that is why he offered to drive my car at the end of our date. I then admitted that I liked him and had hoped he would bring it up as we talked by the fire at Savannah's party, and even suspected that he might have wanted to hold my hand that night. I also told him that I felt very comfortable with him; more comfortable than I had ever been with any other guy I had ever met. During the end of our conversation I told him I was probably going to be visiting Rexburg the next weekend to help Keith and my mom unpack all of Keith's belongings into his apartment. Brandon really liked the idea of my coming to Rexburg and asked me to keep in touch until then. Finally Brandon admitted that his friend Shane had been at his house for the last 20 minutes and that he should probably get off the phone so he could visit with him. I smiled as we said goodbye, knowing that for once the feelings for each other were mutual.
When I got off the phone I ran to tell Ryan all the good news, and that Brandon had now told me himself how much he liked me. Ryan seemed pleased, and I could see it in his eyes, that he was happy for me.
A couple semesters previous to my own graduation he had graduated and moved away to Kentucky to work for a research company. After I had graduated I was of course at home and working in the cornfields. Occasionally we would call each other to keep in touch and sometimes talked about how fun it would be to get to see each other again. So, after a few conversations about it we decided I would come to Kentucky to visit him. He even bought my plane tickets to make up for the fact that I was traveling so far to see him.
Visiting Ryan was so much fun. I got to meet some of his family members, and see what his own "post graduate life" was like. It also felt great to get to catch up with such a dear friend. In describing to Ryan the previous events that had transpired between Brandon and myself, Ryan was supportive and happy. Though I had seen Ryan become like a protective older brother seeing me with other guys I had dated, he immediately expressed his approval of Brandon (having had the opportunity to room with Brandon during his last semester) and knowing well that Brandon was a good person.
I'm sure Ryan probably thought it was funny to see how giddy I was every time I got a text from Brandon--although one particular text that I got from him made me more nervous than anything else! When I saw a text from him that said something to the effect of "So, I heard you talked to Spencer the other day? Is there anything you wanted to tell me?" I blushed, and decided I didn't want to be the first to share my feelings. So instead I turned the question around and asked him the same thing. He confirmed that he had talked to Spencer and said we should talk sometime soon. I told him I was actually in Kentucky visiting Ryan Scott and that we were busy that evening, but he could call the following evening because we didn't have anything specific planned.
The next evening I felt on edge, with the hope and anticipation of the phone call soon to come. When my phone finally did ring I practically ran to the spare bedroom of Ryan's apartment to talk to Brandon. I don't think I have ever enjoyed a phone conversation so much as the one in which Brandon and I admitted our feelings for one another. He mentioned that he had wanted to tell me he liked me by the camp fire at Savannah's party, but that the teenage boys had ruined his opportunity. He admitted he also really wanted to hold my hand and that is why he offered to drive my car at the end of our date. I then admitted that I liked him and had hoped he would bring it up as we talked by the fire at Savannah's party, and even suspected that he might have wanted to hold my hand that night. I also told him that I felt very comfortable with him; more comfortable than I had ever been with any other guy I had ever met. During the end of our conversation I told him I was probably going to be visiting Rexburg the next weekend to help Keith and my mom unpack all of Keith's belongings into his apartment. Brandon really liked the idea of my coming to Rexburg and asked me to keep in touch until then. Finally Brandon admitted that his friend Shane had been at his house for the last 20 minutes and that he should probably get off the phone so he could visit with him. I smiled as we said goodbye, knowing that for once the feelings for each other were mutual.
When I got off the phone I ran to tell Ryan all the good news, and that Brandon had now told me himself how much he liked me. Ryan seemed pleased, and I could see it in his eyes, that he was happy for me.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)