This is kind of a lengthy story but its a good one. And it ends well. ;) This is the story of how Matt and I met and became who we are today. *I must note that a couple names have been changed in the story because my memory is not the best and though I remember the correct names perfectly, I may not remember the exact words or details that took place so many years ago. So, to avoid misquoting or mis-telling the story, I changed the names. You know who you are if you are reading this. ; ) Enjoy...
It all began the summer of 2001. That's when Aaron, my boyfriend, introduced me to his best friend, Matt. Matt and I became fast friends. We spent more time laughing and talking with one another than anyone else that summer. In fact, people started to wonder whether I was dating Aaron or Matt. The chemistry between the two of us was unmistakable. However, I would never cheat and Matt would never betray Aaron's trust. There was no denying though the attraction was there.
Just a month into my sophmore year, I began to see a different side to Aaron. It seemed as though we were more brother and sister than boyfriend and girlfriend. We were fighting constantly. Aaron and I decided it would be best to break up and remain friends than to continue fighting the way we were. Aaron was going through a lot. His dad was ill with cancer and I wanted to be there for him. I thought of Aaron's family as part of my own. So, we remained friends.
With Aaron and I no longer dating, it was kind of expected for Matt to ask me out on a date. He never did though. We remained friends, but that was it. Matt had told me once that he didn't feel right dating his best friends girl. I was kind of disapointed but relieved at the same time. See, I thought that what Matt and I had was special. I didn't want to lose that. However, no matter how strong my feelings for Matt were, my fear of being alone was stronger. I began dating again not long after that. Matt was always happy for me. But inside everyone knew he was jealous. I thrived on the jealousy. I wanted Matt to want me. And he definitly wanted me.
Matt's senior prom was approaching and though I was already dating someone, he just couldn't see himself going to the prom with anyone but me. So, he asked me to be his date. I was hesitant. I didn't answer for several days. But one day as I was headed to 5th period I passed Matt in the hallway. Just seeing him reminded me of how much I longed to be with him. He wasn't asking me to break up with my boyfriend or anything. He wanted to go as friends, with a group of friends. I didn't see the harm in that. So, as they passed, I turned around and stood on my tiptoes. I hollered as loud as I could across the sea of teenagers to where Matt stood and simply said, "Yes, I will go with you." Matt turned and smiled his irrestible smile that he saved just for me. I knew that smile well.
April 2002 Prom had finally come. Though I kept telling myself that we were only going as friends, I couldn't seem to get rid of the butterflies flittering around in my heart. Little did I know that Matt was thinking of more too. He picked me up early so we could meet the rest of the group for pictures. He brought a pink rose and a beautiful pink rose corsage that matched my dress perfectly. And as he escorted me to the car, I saw that he had borrowed his dad's pick up for the evening. See, I was a country girl. I was crazy about trucks. Matt thought that I would much rather ride in a truck than any limo in the world. He was right. My heart melted. The evening went wonderfully. Though it seemed more like a real date than just two friends hanging out. Matt even fed me part of his dinner. It was as if the other three couples weren't even with us. That it was just Matt and I.
I knew after prom that it wasn't fair to anyone to continue dating when my heart so obviously belonged to Matt. So, I broke it off with my boyfriend. Wanting so badly for Matt to realize that we were more than just friends. Matt did finally get up the nerve to ask me out. After thinking about it a few days, I said yes. But it wasn't as great as we had thought. Suddenly shy around eachother and completely terrified of losing our friendship, we quickly broke things off. Neither of us, were happy about that, but the friendship continued.
Late that Summer, we both went to Tennessee to help our friend's sister move. It was a beautiful night with an abundance of shining stars in the Tennessee sky, when I said I Love You for the first time. Suddenly, things got quiet. Matt retreated inside the house where he spent the rest of the evening reading and not saying much to anyone. Meanwhile, I was freaking out. What had I done? Why did I tell him? The next morning we both wanted to talk. After, a long sleepless night, I went first. I told him that we should probably remain friends. It would be better that way. Right? Though, I really didn't believe it. All I wanted was for Matt to say I love you in return and swoop me into his arms. Instead he angrily packed his bags and drove home. Leaving me to catch a ride with our friend. Things were just never the same after that. We started going to differnt churches and hanging out with different people. Matt poured himself into God and I ran away from both of them.
Now, let's fast forward to the year 2005. Matt and I have only talked to eachother a couple of times over the years. Though the feelings were always there. Neither of us were brave enough to try again. But something happens in my life that has me suddenly thinking of Matt more than ever.
I had been dating, Clay for two years. It was our anniversary. I knew that tonight he was going to propose. It was what I wanted, what we had talked about. But when the time came the first word I thought of was not yes, or no...it was Matt. I said yes anyway, wondering why I thought of someone I hadn't seen or spoken to out of the blue and at a time like that? But what made matters more confusing is the lack of joy coming from Clay as well. What were we doing? Did either of us want to get married?
Clay disappeared a couple weeks later. Said he just needed some time. Aaron shows up to take me to lunch to cheer me up. He asks if Matt knows about Clay. Suddenly, I can't hide my feelings anymore. I beg Aaron not to say anything to Matt. Embarrassed I ask Aaron to take me home. He simply looks at me and says, "One day I hope someone will love me like you love him." I couldn't believe what I heard. Did I really love him that much? After all these years? Does he even think about me anymore?
A few months pass and Clay shows back up. Wants to try to work things out. Since I have convinced myself that Matt is too good for me and he will never come back. I decide to give Clay another chance. But quickly discover that he is lying to me and living a completely different life than I want to lead. Now, I am faced again with deciding whether we should break up.
A few days before my 20th birthday, I get an unexpected phone call. It was Matt. He wanted to ask me to lunch. Said he thought we could catch up. I was almost certain that Aaron must have told him about Clay. Why else would he have called? I haven't heard from him in so long. Why now? But I would never turn him down. So, we plan to meet the next day.
Both of us are a bundle of nerves. It doesn't take long to know that all the old feelings are still there and stronger than ever. Matt was more talkative than he had been in the past. I couldn't believe all the things I was hearing. He said that he had been thinking about me. Then Aaron called and said that he should call me. So, he did. I told him about Clay. How we had gotten engaged and broke it off but are now trying to make it work. He told me he was happy for me. He talked to me about how I deserved happiness. I deserved a man that would cherish me and love me unconditionally. He described the type of man that I saw in him. It was not long into the conversation that I realized that he was talking about himself. He was fighting for me. Just like I had always hoped he would. However, this time I was already taken.
We left the lunch not knowing what would happen. Not knowing if we would be friends again or if there was a chance for something more. But I knew I owed it to myself and to Clay to try to work things out. So I prayed. A lot.
Another month passes, more lies are revealed and it is evident that the relationship between Clay and I is not going to make it. I am a bundle of nerves the morning I prepare to say goodbye to Clay. While praying and asking God if I am doing the right thing I get a text from Matt. Not having talked to him since my birthday I can only assume that the timing was a God thing. The text simply said, "Good Morning, beautiful. Hope you have a wonderful day. I love you!"
Wait...What?? Was that really from Matt? Did he mean to send it to me? Maybe he had a girlfriend and just hit my number by mistake. My coworkers convince me to call Matt and simply ask him if he sent the text. He says yes he did send the message. I say, "ok, thanks. Talk to you later," and hang up on him! Seriously in shock from the content of the message, the timing of the message, the anxiety over the break up that is due to take place in just a couple hours, I can't even think straight.
To shorten this sweet story...Clay and I broke up that afternoon. Matt continued to text me. Letting me know that he was praying for me and sometimes stopping by to say hey. After a couple weeks, I finally asked him if we would ever be more than friends. He simply replied, "I don't want to be your rebound." This caused me to laugh,because what he didn't realize is that Clay was the rebound. Matt was the one I had always wanted. But I simply say, "I'll wait."
November 4th, 2005, Matt finally told me that he loved me and he wanted to be more than friends but that he couldn't date me. God had already told him that I was the one he was meant to marry. So if I wanted to be with him, I had to be ready for forever. I obviously said yes. Matt kissed me for the first time that night and the friendship that we had cherished for so long was finally a love story.
One month later, Matt proposed to me. And that is the beginning of our happily ever after....
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