My First Love

His name was Micheal, he was my fist love. I can remember when we first met. 1

It was on a cool springs day, my mum took my big sister and I shopping in the mall. I remember not wanting to go but I went anyway, albeit reluctantly. My sister Jean, was always the center of attention wherever we went. At ten years of age, she already possessed a shapely figure, had full red hair, piercing green eyes and a fair skin that complemented it all. She was hard to miss in a crowd and was already begin stared at as we entered the mall.2

I on the other hand had always seen myself as plain. It was hard to keep up with my sister when i was the direct opposite of her we were like black and white, darkness and light, sun and moon. I was as dark as she was fair, my eyes when jet black, my hair was auburn and i was as thin as a rail. My mum always told me i was beautiful but i didn't believe her my sister was the sun for Chrissakes! I sighed as a teenager smiled at my sister. It was just as usual. If my mum wasn't there, I'm sure he would have approached her.3

I couldn't take it anymore, so i told my mum and Jean that i was going to look for a bike, my mum looked at me questioningly, 4

'A bike?' 5

'Mum remember, you promised me a bike.' 6

My mum didn't promise me a bike but then she always liked to make me happy considering the fact that she knew i was mostly intimidated by Jeans looks. She sighed7

'Okay sweety, be safe okay and don't leave the shop, Jean and I would just be across from you in the jewelry section.' 8

I nodded and went to the bike shop, looked around for a few minutes9

then just sat down dejectedly on a bench and stared dolefully into space. After a few moments a boy joined me on the bench, I stole a glance and was impressed at what i saw, lean tall for his age which was about twelve i supposed, but then i was certain he wouldn't talk to me, he looked like one the guys that always fawned over Jean so i was sure that he'd never talk to me. Then he said;10

'Why are you sitting here alone?'11

I can remember thinking is he talking to me? I looked around me to see if there was anybody else on the bench; no one, then i looked at him and saw him looking at me with all seriousness, like he was really concerned about me, I was flustered. I looked at all the shiny new bikes in the shop and desperately sought for an answer that wouldn't make me sound like the whiny kid I was.12

'Um, I'm trying to choose a good bike for myself.' He smiled 13

'I can understand that' he said 'That's what I've been trying to do for the past 20 minutes' He shook his head and looked at the bikes adjacent to us. Then with a start, 14

'Hey! you would look cool on that bike.' I looked at the bike in question, a soft pink bike with a deep pink scarf attached to its handle, 15

'Me?' He stood up excitedly 16

'Yeah.' He took my hand and my heart lurched uncomfortably, we went to the bike and he motioned for me to get on the bike. I hesitated, he smiled,17

'Go on, its okay.' I smiled back at him and got on the bike. I was a little shakey at first but then he steadied me. After some tryouts in a small corner of the shop, I agreed with him that the bike was okay then we hit it off. We talked about everything form school to family to friends, time flew by but i didn't notice until my mum and Jean found us.18

'Sweety! we've been looking all over for you!' My mum said. Suddenly jittery i looked from my mum to my sister19

'I....I.. told you guys that i would be here.' Jean looked at my new friend and smiled knowingly, my mum folded her arms and looked down at me20

'Did you find a bike you wanted?' I nodded and looked at my friend who was now sitting on the bench comfortably and realized that i didn't know his name. I guessed he could see the question in my eyes because he smiled stood up and said to my mum21

'My name is Micheal ma'am and i helped her pick this one out.' he showed my mum the bike and she looked it over and smiled,22

'Thank you young man.' He shrugged and looked at me23

'Its my pleasure ma'am.' I blushed. It was the first time a boy showed interest in me, that was Jeans call. This boy, Micheal intrigued me, Jean was standing in front of him, all smiles and glitter and yet he hadn't even noticed her! My mum moved to the counter to pay for the bike and i was left with Micheal and Jean. 24

'Hi,' Jean said, 'I'm Jean.' She extended her hand and he politely shook it and said;25

'Micheal,'26

'I know.' She replied with a sultry voice. I rolled my eyed and Micheal smiled at me, my blush deepened.27

'I didn't get your name.' he said to me automatically ignoring my sister.28

'Jewel.' I said with a small voice my eyes lowered, he smiled again29

'Beautiful name.'30

Then i looked up and our gazes held, then i knew that somehow in a small corner of my heart that something had started to grow, something that a little girl of 8 could not explain but now i know it was love.31