My Girl-O-Phobia

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jonathan_Degler]Jonathan Degler
I had been dating this girl for a few months. I didn't know where things were going, but I was only 18 so I didn't really know what to expect. I had graduated high school the spring before, and my family was considering a move across the country to Colorado. It was a big point of transition in my life and I wasn't sure a girlfriend was what I needed. I would either have to break things off or suffer through the 1200 miles between Indianapolis and Denver.
During those first months, she had already beaten me at bowling and putt-putt, visited me at work only to vomit all over the dinner she had just ordered, and even come dressed as a prostitute to a Halloween party - at church. Of course I didn't mind any of these things, and the hooker costume was actually a good conversation starter, but she was unlike any girl I had ever dated. In all honesty, it wasn't hard to be unlike the other girls when there were really only two before her. I wasn't exactly a "player," so to speak.
We were taking things easy which seemed to work out for both of us. I was working two jobs and volunteering quite a bit of my time to the church youth group, and she was still in high school. Yes, I was "robbing the cradle." So we would only hang out a few times a week, just doing random stuff like watching movies or going to the mall. Nothing spectacularly creative on my end, but we still enjoyed each other's company to the point where we didn't really care what we were doing. We just liked to hang out together.
It wasn't until February 14th rolled around that our relationship catapulted to a whole new level. It was actually a level that I hadn't been to in any other relationship, and I had no idea what I was getting myself into.
As always we didn't really have a plan for the evening, and hadn't really thought ahead. I had no idea that restaurants everywhere were going to be absurdly packed or that I needed to dress up a little more fancy than I normally did. I kind of just "showed up."
I lucked out. She did the same. Although the simple difference was that her "normal" was still gorgeous. She wore dark jeans that hugged her perfectly, a gray spaghetti strapped tank top, and a black sweater. Very rarely did I see her wear makeup, but that night she had on a hint of eyeliner and mascara. It was just enough to make her draw my attention directly into her eyes only, much like Aladdin's girlfriend, Jasmine.
Driving around town, we quickly realized that every restaurant, even the Perkins and Bob Evans, were packed full of people. I thought I had blown it. The craziest ideas began popping into my head, "I could make dinner for her back at home" or "I could even go buy a dozen donuts for dinner." I was getting desperate. I wanted to impress this girl, but I was caught totally unprepared. I pulled in front the TGI Friday's and just sat there. I could see the entryway loaded shoulder to shoulder with people.
Was she the type of girl who would want to wait an hour and a half for food or was she one of those girls who grew crabby and irritable with any sort of wait. As I later found out, she would have turned crabby, but luckily she suggested we just go to Subway. At first I was hesitant, not wanting to reveal my unpreparedness. I stopped worrying though when I learned that Subway was one of her favorite restaurants. I certainly didn't care where we ate, as long as I was with her and out of trouble.
It was around then that the night started going from our normal casual atmosphere to something else. We stayed and talked in the dining room of Subway for at least a couple hours. Throughout the dinner she would sneak her hand over and rest it on mine, and if she wasn't doing that, she was looking very deeply into my eyes. Nearly every time I would get chills or a heavy knot in my gut. I don't remember exactly how long we were there, but I knew that her curfew was approaching quickly and I needed to get her back home.
We didn't talk much on the drive back to Noblesville from Carmel. Although at stoplights I would look over and she would be softly looking in my direction. Like she was admiring something. I was beginning to feel uneasy, but not necessarily in an uncomfortable way. What could be going through her mind? Up until this point our relationship had been based mostly on friendship. I hadn't even kissed her yet. Now though it seemed like she had been snuck a love potion. She was certainly dropping other hints like asking if I wanted to watch a movie back at her place, she even mentioned that her parents weren't home and that we had the house to ourselves.
I was taken back. I hadn't planned on staying or even getting out of the car for that matter. I never had before. A panic was rising up into my throat. I knew she was a churchgoer like me, but that could mean anything nowadays. Was she expecting something at her house that I wasn't prepared to give? I didn't really know her, so a thousand different scenarios were rushing through my brain.
All too quickly we approached her driveway. I weakly agreed to go into the house with her, and I hoped that I could just get away with watching a movie on her couch then breaking for the door. I had been in her house a few times before, so I lead the way into her living room; a relatively safe place. She followed closely behind and snatched the remote out of my hand only to throw it onto the other adjacent couch.
"I have something for you. Just wait right here." She spread a mischievous smile across her face and I knew deep that I was in for some trouble. The familiar voice of my father kept repeating one of his catch phrases, "watch out for the ladies, they are vile temptresses." I was learning firsthand what he was referring to.
I cold only respond with a barely audible, "okay."
"Just close your eyes when I tell you and don't open them until I say so."
I didn't respond with anything but a thin layer of sweat that had begun to form on my face, like a mask of fear that was taking over.
After a few moments she came back from the upstairs and told me to close my eyes. The heavy knot in my gut from dinner had immediately turned into nausea. What was I getting myself into? Was I going to be able to resist this "vile temptress?" What was she going to think of me if I bolted out the door in fear? These questions, and a few others, flowed in and out of my mind, but were cut short with the next question interrupting and bringing all new concerns.
My hands were nearly dripping with nervous sweat as she led me over to a different couch and sat me down abruptly. I could hear her sit down on the coffee table in front of me.
"Don't open your eyes yet, but I wanted give you an introduction to this surprise," she said, giving particular emphasis to the word, "surprise."
Again, I responded with a less-than-confident, "okay."
"I just wanted to show you how much you mean to me in a way that you probably aren't used to."
Oh dear Lord. Be with me.
There was a brief moment of silence, or in my case, crippling anxiety. "Open your eyes."
It took a moment or so for my eyes to adjust, but then a fully dressed Amanda appeared in front of me sitting casually with her legs crossed. Thank the heavens. I was so relieved that I didn't notice the object next to her until she nodded her head towards it.
I looked at it confusion for a moment, and she must have noticed because that knee-weakening smile spread across her face.
"So what do you think?" she asked excitedly.
"Um...its cool." I tilted my head and stared at it some more in confusion.
"Sweet!"
I was about to ask her a question clarifying when she began again.
"So I'm pretty tired, and I want to go to sleep. So you have to go home now." She abruptly stood and began walking to the kitchen to get a glass of water. I was still too shocked to say anything more than my normal "okay." So I picked up my heavy and awkward Valentine's Day present and began to head for the door. I turned around and told her thank you and that I would call her the next day.
On my way to the car I finally regained my senses. They were even clearer than they were before. A new vigor and excitement was actually coursing through my body. From that point, and for reasons I didn't understand, I knew that I wanted to marry this girl.
I even wanted to skip back to my car, but then that would have hurt my new pet lobster.
Jonathan Degler is the author of the novel "Gone Astray," and more information can be found at http://www.jonathandeglerbooks.com
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