Our Love Part II, wherein the lovers kiss for the first time

Yesterday was the anniversary of our first kiss, so I am telling the long version of the story of our love. To read part I, keep scrolling, baby.

At some point, it was obvious to us both that we liked each other. Except here’s the thing. I am a weenie. And even though I liked him, it seemed like SUCH a big deal to actually DATE him. So we had like 3 talks where I would be like, “I like you, I’m just not sure I want to date you.” And he would be like, “Um, you’re such a jerk, I can’t believe I even like you. Why would you say that to someone?” Except really he would just say nice things like, “Well, whatever. I just know I really like you.” And then my heart would beat really fast and I would want to make out with him except I was too scared for that too, duh.

Then it just sort of happened. We just started dating. We went on a first date that was super awkward, because we went with all our friends, who all knew what was happening, and I felt like everyone just watched us the whole time. And the one girl who WASN’T one of our peeps with the inside scoop said, “So are you guys dating?” and we both got really embarrassed but then my quick thinking saved the day and I said, “No, we just match.” Because we were both wearing blue shirts. Way to go, Erin.

We held hands for the first time while watching Sleepless in Seattle at my apartment. We were sitting next to each other on the couch, and his hand was definitely available. And I KNEW if I put mine down by his, he would hold it. But I was too wussy. So for the entire movie I debated with myself about what to do. Finally I gave myself a pep talk and said, “Erin. It is NOT that big of a deal to hold a boy’s hand!” So I put my hand down there. I did it at the part when Sam and Jonah have left, and then they come back for Jonah’s backpack. (If you don’t know that movie, then, first of all, we’re not friends anymore. But second of all, you should know that there is like less than one minute left in the movie at this point.) I am SO brave, right? And then right as the movie ended my roommate Tay ran in the apartment to tell us she was engaged, so I let go and ran and hugged her, because remember? WUSS.

We also went on our REAL first date. Allie curled my hair and I wore my brown shoes, my khaki pants, and my green cable knit sweater. Chris showed up at my house wearing a fleece vest, and I wasn’t going to say anything, and then he was like, “Erin. Are you going to comment on my vest?” and then I was relieved it was a joke. We went to Bombay House, and then to Pudding on the Rice, and then somehow we drove past Provo High, and I remembered they were playing Timpview that night and said, “Hey, do you want to go watch the end of a football game?” So we drove up to Timpview and watched the end of a Provo High humiliation. Through all of this we held hands and were so enamored. When we got back to my apartment, there was a note on the counter that said, “We’re all at 210. Come over.” This was not unusual, remember, so we went over there and said hello. Everyone was sort of just staring at us awkwardly, and then Teenwhiz and Dale jumped up off the couch and announced they were engaged! And then I screamed and we took pictures and it was really great. So yeah, can you believe that? One roommate got engaged the day we held hands, and another got engaged the day of our first date.

Christoph and I had our first kiss on September 22, 2006. I was wearing my yellow pea coat and my green Italy scarf and my hair was in pigtails. (Why so many of my memories include my outfits, I’m not really sure.) We went walking around by Seven Peaks and Belmont and gave each other lots of hugs and kisses on the cheek, but I was too scared to let him kiss me for real. (That’s sort of the theme of our dating life, I think. I’m scared to move forward, and he is patient.) Anyway, then we went to Macey’s, the grocery store. It was really late, like 2 in the morning. I don’t remember what we even bought there. But I do remember that I spotted some toy cars, like models of vintage cars, at the end of the pet food aisle. So we went to check them out, then just stood there talking, then gave each other a hug, then pulled away and looked at each other. And I suddenly looked at him with no fear, and wanted it to happen. So he kissed me a good one. And then we kissed at all the red lights the whole way home. And then on my porch. And then I went in to bed, but I'm pretty sure I woke up my roommates and told them what happened.

(As an awesome side note, I have started reading old emails and chats of ours and they are AMAZING. And I was wondering if there was one from the time of our first kiss, and I found an amazing email. We were talking about a paper I got back, and how I got a 9 out of 10 on it. Chris said: “Sorry you didn’t get a 10 on your paper but a 9 is good too. If I was grading it I would have given you a 10 but that is only because I would want you to kiss me.” What a little sass, am I right? But apparently it worked because the day he wrote that was ALSO September 22, 2006.)

Tune in next time to read about us being in love. . . . .