University of Miami
Professor Pamela McCluney
Spring 2009
The next four days went by very quickly. When it came time for her to leave, I started to feel just as I had the month before. I began to question myself and wonder how life would have been if I had continued down the path that I was on. Looking back on that confusing desire that once drove me, I wondered if it is still deep within me, waiting to reemerge and cause more problems.
Frog Prince He was arrogant and self-centered, he was manipulative and suave and he ended up being everything I never thought I wanted. How did a once vague memory from my first day of high school become the boyfriend I would come to love three years later? My common sense told me to be wary of Nelson, the athlete who made a habit out of collecting girls. Like trophies he left them to collect dust on a shelf, conquered and forgotten. I never gave him the time of day and eventually, he no longer went looking to be center of attention. Months had passed since I had heard of any girls fall victim to his charm, which is why his first message to me, that March afternoon, caught me off guard. The message was in typical Nelson fashion, “Why has it been so long since I’ve spoken to you Beautiful?” his confidence oozed through the barrier of the computer screen. There it was- the assertiveness that annoyed me as much as it intrigued me. Eventually, after the compliments and flirtatious banter, he asked me out. There it was my chance to stop him in his tracks and let him know I was not interested, now or ever. So why did it prove so difficult to turn him down? Was it my intrigue getting the best of me or could I simply not pass up going out on a Saturday night? So I agreed and said, “Pick me up at eight.” He arrived early and I made him wait outside while I finished getting ready. When I walked out he looked just like I remembered him, but something was different. His chest wasn’t as thrust out, his smirk wasn’t pasted on his face and a witty remark wasn’t playing on his lips. He had let his guard down in front of me and I was determined to get to know this side of him. After we said our hellos and he complimented my attire we drove in silence for a few moments. Our official first date was somewhat awkward, we were both out of practice in the dating department and our preconceived notions of one another hindered the beginning of our night. He thought of me as the studious, no nonsense kind of girl and although I had seen a glimpse of Nelson’s softer side I was not keen to let my guard down just yet. The drive was short-lived and thankfully so was the awkward silence between us.
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