James.Ryan

First Sight

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Nathan's thoughts: Campus was beginning to fill with incoming freshmen. The leaves crisp and the autumn air was cool. Then, she was there. It was like the sun's rays shifted to her. I'm not a social guy, but she clearly was. Preppy, but pretty. Hell, more than just pretty... Beautiful...

Kristen: "Would you want to hangout tonight? I've meant a few other people, we were all going to go out together."

Nathan: "Nah, I, um, have plans... maybe next time."

Kristen: "Okay, here's my number. See you around!"

Nathan's thoughts: And, with that, she just left. Like nothing happened. But, for me, my heart was beating out of my chest like crazy... What the hell was this? What is happening to me?

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...sometime later that same day...

Oh You're Here

...several weeks later...

Blind Date Night

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    Kristen's thoughts: I can't believe I let Paris and Stacy talk me into going on a blind date. It's so unlike me, normally guys are just straight-forward. When did dating get so complex and boring? Ugh, is he even going to show up? Jesus, it's been an hour and a half now... He stood me up? Really? I can't even get blind dating right. I should go...

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...later that night, after a text conversation with Nathan...

Stood Up

...spring break...

...at home and Kristen inviting Josh over...

Becoming Josh's

...passing of time...

End of University

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    Kristen's thoughts: School seemed to pass by in a blur, test after test I had to study more and more. But, I succeeded and achieved my communications degree. Would my parents even care? Probably not. Paris, Stacy, and Ashley and I are all as close as ever. We've bonded so much over college parties, study sessions, and hangovers. I have no clue what I'd do without them. Josh and I are still together. We just seem to hangout at my apartment, which I don't mind. But, sometimes I wish he'd plan a night out. Maybe, I'm just being a girl. Whatever. I'm happy, he's happy. Things are happy. Well, besides anything that has to do with my best friend, Nathan. Anytime I see him or make plans with him, he gets unusually angry and ends up giving me silent treatment for a while. I know it's jealously but we're just friends. I don't see what he sees. Nothing romantic could happen there, it would be too weird. It wouldn't work, we're both damaged goods. I love Josh. Why can't he just accept Nathan in my life?

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Too Comfortable

...things push forward...

...Josh moves in, and Kristen lands her journalism job at the Anne Arbor Daily Report...

...Josh also begins receiving training for the his future take over of his family businesses...

...in the meantime, he begins his athletic career...

...Nathan also moves into town, as well as several of Kristen's other friends...

Break

I'm A Mess

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    Kristen's thoughts: Why...Why do things seem like they're going to be okay and then they just aren't? Why do we even risk things like love? Why do we even decide to trust one person with our heart? It's not the smartest thing in the world. He had to make me choose, I can't. I can't pick between two people I love the most. That's not right... Right? God, I'm losing my fucking mind. I can't breathe. I can't think straight. I know we only dated for four years, all of our school together... Which in the long run, if you think about it, that's not much compared to how long we really live. But, I thought he was the one. The one I'd have kids with, marry, have a house, and everything. Now, what do I have? Just my job. I need change, I need to do something. I can't breathe, this pain in my chest it's too much. I need to numb the pain somehow.

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Changes

...after her makeover, the next day...

Damn...

...after some deep conversations...

Hate It

...a week later...

Move In

...sometime later...

...back at the apartment...

Bedtime Thoughts

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    Kristen's thoughts: My best friend just cuddled me in bed. God, what the ACTUAL HELL was I thinking?! That's it, drunk me is not allowed to make decisions anymore. Maybe, I'm just horny or something. How could I be so stupid?! Risking our friendship like that. I bet it's too awkward and weird now... I should just tell him it was a mistake.

Nathan's thoughts: She asked me to stay with her... She even smells beautiful, if that's even possible to say or explain. I know she doesn't want me, but God I want her so badly. I have never felt this way before. I'm fucking terrified. I can't try to win her over...Could I? I don't want to fuck things up. Should I just tell her? If I did, what if she said she wouldn't even want to be my friend anymore? I couldn't handle that, I'd... I should just act normal, like nothing happened. Nothing happened.

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