I tried so hard not to stare. I would always try to just walk through the halls at school without looking at him, but somehow my eyes always drifted his way. The boy was a dream. He was on the football team and I was no one. Don’t get me wrong I was smart, funny, I enjoyed life, but he would never notice me.
My best friend Lacie Page tugged my arm pulling my thoughts from my staring, thankfully.
“Hey Abs, I heard there is going to be a pep rally tonight. Maybe we should go? See if anyone notices you.”
Lacie was always trying to encourage me to just go talk to him. But how? It made me mad because I wasn’t this scared girl. I was strong and brave. I didn’t bow down to anyone.
“Yea, we can go. But not because I want to be noticed, okay?”
Lacie laughed. But before I could say something I felt like I’d walked into a wall and my books went flying, somehow though, I stayed standing, pressed against the wall. Only the wall had arms and they were wrapped around me, holding me so I wouldn’t fall.
I tipped my head back and looked up.
“Shawn,” my voice a breathy whisper.
He smiled down at me and I felt my knees give. He just pulled me tighter.
“You alright Abs? I’m sorry I truly didn’t mean to almost plow you over. I obviously wasn’t watching where I was going.”
“You know my name?”
Shawn smiled at me, “Of course. How could I not know the name of the most beautiful girl in school? I mean I’ve been dying to talk to you but you never seem to stay near me long enough that I can get your attention. I guess I should have tried to tackle you before?”
My knees felt weaker then I came to my senses. I shifted to get back on my feet and moved slowly out of his arms. I mean I’m Abigail. I don’t fall at the feet of anyone, do I? Hell no!
I moved to pick up my books and Shawn was helping me.
“You don’t have to help me, I can manage.”
“Please Abs, let me. It was my fault you dropped them.”
Lacie was standing back watching, not saying a word, but she was smiling at me. Damn it, now I was going to need to find a new best friend. How could she just stand back and let him help me? I mean she should be helping me, right?
Shawn stood up and held two of my books while I had only managed to grab one other one and my notebook. I reached out to take them and he said, “Can I walk you to class?”
I looked at Lacie and she gave me a thumbs up and I stared at her like she was nuts. I bugged my eyes out at her before she turned and walked away leaving me with this God who I never thought even knew my name. Shit, now I was really going to need to find a new best friend. How could she leave me like that?
“Shawn, you don’t have to. It’s fine. I mean I’m fine, I can walk myself to class.”
“Abs, I know you can walk yourself there, but I’d really like to talk to you more.”
“Me? Why?”
Shawn smiled at me and I thought I would stop breathing.
“You really don’t see it do you?”
I shook my head at him and said, “See what?”
Shawn chuckled then said to me, “That I really want to get to know you. I’ve been trying for weeks to get the nerve to talk to you, but you’re never alone. You’re always with your friends and Lacie. I mean, you might as well be the president with secret service guarding you. It’s next too impossible to get you alone.”
I giggled. Me. Giggled. What the hell was he doing to me?
I cleared my throat and laughed, “Exaggerate much? I mean you’re always surrounded by the football team, not to mention some cheerleader always hanging off your arm.”
Shawn quirked his brow then shot me a half grin.
“So you have noticed me?”
I harrumphed at him.
“Don’t count it as a compliment, I mean always surrounded by a bunch of barbarians and then the girls who just want to date you because you’re a football player, please. I could care less about you being a football player. I’d want to date you for you.”
Shawn smiled large and I realized my mistake.
“You want to date me?”
“No.” I shrieked. “I didn’t mean that, I just meant that those girls are just so shallow and you deserve someone who wants to be with you for you. Not for some silly status at school.”
Shawn put his arm over my shoulder, kissed the side of my head and said, “Well, I want to date you Abigail. So, will you go to the pep rally with me tonight as my girlfriend?”
I was stunned.
“You want to date me? Are you sure? I mean, what about….”
“Abigail. I bumped into you on purpose today. I wanted your attention and now that I have it, I don’t want to let it end with me just walking you to class. I want to date you. I want to be seen with you and I want every guy in school to know that you are with me. As far as those girls, well you’re right, they only want to date me for the status. I don’t want that, I want you.”
So, that was how I landed myself a football player in high school. Yep, me. Abigail Pearson. The girl who lived by her own rules and always got her friend in trouble. I would drag Lacie everywhere and we would do everything together. I do have to admit, I was a little bit of a bad influence, but you only live once, so live. That’s my motto.
After that day, my fate was sealed. Shawn and I dated all through my sophomore, junior and senior year. After senior year we got engaged and married. I can’t say that I was ever unhappy with him. He was my world, my everything and I couldn’t believe how incredible my life was with this boy, who grew up into an incredible man.
We didn’t live a fairytale but we had one another and that was enough. Shawn was hard working, dedicated to me and I felt so blessed that I gave up some of my independence, became complacent and just let Shawn be everything to me.
Until one day……..we fell.