The Popcorn Man
By Briana, age 17, New York
Though I was sick and it was a rainy night, mom insisted I go to the open house for my new vocational school. "It will be fun!! You can meet so many new people tonight!" What she meant was, Oh, I get to meet all your new friends and embarrass you!Soon after we arrived I ditched her to view the classes and to find one of my friends. Kristen was a new friend, but we had bonded quickly.
After an hour or so, the night was winding down. Not long after, Kristen and I became tired and hungry from walking around viewing all the new classes. The culinary class had made all the food for the open house that night. "C'mon," Kristen whined. "Let's go get some food! Besides, I want to see David!" He was my best friend, and he and Kristen had dated before I met her. Though she didn't like to admit it, she still liked him ... a lot. Even though I was trying to suck weight for wrestling that month, I could never object to food.
As we entered the room Kristen soon found David and ran over to talk to him, leaving me alone. Everyone looked so preoccupied, talking to teachers and parents, serving food, cleaning up, and just talking amongst one another. I felt alone in the middle of the room, and realized that everyone had something to do except for me ... and the boy in the corner. He was not talking to anyone, nor was he trying to clean anything. He was standing behind a popcorn machine, and I could tell he was not doing a great job at getting rid of that popcorn, as he was obviously supposed to be doing.
Now there's something you need to know about popcorn and me ... we don't mix. Ever since I was little I hated popcorn. It's a known fact throughout my family that I am the oddball out when it comes to popcorn lovers. Unless there's caramel or cheese on it from one of those big Christmas bins, I don't do popcorn.
Anyway, about that cute boy ... Did I mention he was cute? Well, he was still standing over there. I thought of what I should do, as just three weeks earlier I had made a bond with myself that I would never give another boy a chance as long as I lived.
I could walk over to pretend I wanted the popcorn just so that I wouldn't have to look so out of place, or I could walk away and meet the boy months later, maybe through friends. Unfortunately, I was not the one to make that decision. He happened to notice that I, like himself, happened to be the only other person in the room looking bored.
"Hey!" I pretended not to notice. Maybe he would give up. After all, he was really cute, and I wasn't exactly the "It Girl" in my school who went out with "really cute" boys. I mean, I went out with okay boys who played football and were on the wrestling team, but they were never the best looking or even the nicest ones.
Maybe I should just go over. It couldn't be that bad. I mean, after all, my hair is just a little messy because I didn't think I was coming and mom woke me up out of the blue ... but I didn't have any time to get ready, and I really hate this outfit ... Gee, maybe he'll hate it too ... Maybe he'll think I don't care about what I look like, or think I'm gross ... or ... too late!
He started walking over. Oh-em-gee! I hadn't really felt like that since I was little and Patrick McMan had kissed me behind a tree in Kindergarten.
"Hey, my name's Josh."
"Hi," I said quietly.
"So do you have a name?" He laughed, and I realized he had the most amazing smile I had ever seen. I decided to run away as soon as possible, and made a mental note to yell at Kristen for leaving me.
"Uhm, yeah ... I'm Bre, but I have to go!" I said over my back as I walked away.
"Wait! You have to like popcorn ... Everyone likes popcorn! Just have some and then I'll leave you alone!" Then I took the popcorn.
Needless to say, taking that popcorn was the best thing I have ever done in my entire life. Less than a week later we were dating and I felt like I had known him forever.
Now, a year and three months later, we are still together and extremely happy. He later admitted that the second I had walked through that door he had fallen in love. He too had actually given up on dating just a few weeks before.
We may have met through something I hated, but it is now our favorite thing to laugh about. Never be afraid to do something, because it may end up being your favorite thing in the world. It could even change your life.
