We were known as a cute couple. We were the typical middle school couple. Playing chase, walking around holding hands, sneaking off to hide for quick kisses. That moment in time could've lasted for years if we had the choice.
Only if I knew it then. In fact, the choice was entirely mine. The weeks following would definitely depict what my life with Bertina would consist of.
Rushing ahead a little. It is now the night of our 8th grade dance. In two days we will graduate and move onto become high school students. Okay, hold on, I'm getting too far ahead of myself. It's the night of the dance. I stroll in reasonably late just to make an entrance. There she is, beautiful and not because she is wearing a floor-length burgandy gown. She definitely stood out! It didn't matter to me. That is what I liked about her. The evening was perfect. The music, the setting (school gym), me, her, good times.
After the dance, I would meet her parents. They were present because they picked her up. It apparently became time for the introduction.
"Hi mom. Hi dad," she says. She then introduces me as Allen. Their assumption, I was a friend. For some reason I understood. Now as I think back, I'm not so sure as to why I did.
Two days later was our graduation. Concluding the ceremony friends and family would meet the graduates in the back parking lot of the school. I met with Bertina and introduced her to my parents as my girlfriend. My dad then breaks out the video camera and begins recording us reciting messages of what we will miss most of middle school. I kissed Bertina on her cheek, wished her a happy summer and watched as she walked over to the direction of her parents. In my mind, I was prepared to wait out the summer once again. In the fall we were going to attend the same school, Central Falls High. So, I wasn't worried about not seeing her again.
Didn't really happen this way though. As Bertina was walking over to her family, her father says loud enough for me to hear, "hey, isn't that your friend? Call him over for a photo." Yeah, that wasn't awkward at all. I walk over, we pose for the photo and all I'm thinking is, she never corrected him.
It's really true, you don't know until you know.
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