First Love, For One.

He stumbled over his words when he asked her out the first time. She had just started working there, and he couldn't stop staring at her. She had the most gorgeous eyes he had ever seen. He wasn't exactly experienced in the dating game, in fact he had only gone out with one other girl, and was scared to death to ask her. But she didn't laugh. She smiled, and said sure, that sounds like fun. They went to a movie, but he could hardly pay attention. After the movie they went to a pizza shop. She was honest, she didn't like the movie. He liked that she didn't try to impress him. She said what was on her mind.

A few weeks later he graduated, and she was there, excited for him. They dated through the summer. She was gone part of the time, she always spent at least part of the summer down south. But when they were together they had a great time. At the end of August she was going back to school for her final year. He had already decided he was going to ask her to marry him. He couldn't imagine being without here. Not looking into those eyes every day.

They had plans for a concert. It was at a small restaurant nearby, and a well known jazz performer was going to play. He was so nervous. He bought a new suit, and planned to ask her at the end of the night. Dinner was fun, they went with another couple they had doubled with several times before. They laughed, and enjoyed the music. They shared dreams about the future.

He took her home, and as they sat outside, he tried to get the nerve. And then his world collapsed. She told him that she really cared for him, but she thought that it might be best if they split up, at least for awhile. She had a lot going on with work, and her final year of school. Trying to figure out what she was going to do with the rest of her life.

He had already done that. He knew what he wanted. It just hadn't ever occured to him that she didn't.