Spring Love

On the first Saturday of vacation, I woke up at 5 AM sharp, I did not even hesitate to get up and take a shower, and dress as quick as possible. Kim was up & ready before me, and we were out of the house before 6 AM. I was so excited to get this vacation started, I could barely eat at the airport as we waited to board our flight. My 3 closest friends are with me, and the four of us have our hearts set on drinks, beach bars; night clubs and dancing; gorgeous men and a lot of excitement.
Our flight left at exactly 9 AM and the four of us sat in the same row. I chose to sit next to Kate-Lynn, I was concerned for her, she had not reached her goal to lose the weight she had been working so hard to loose.
“What do you suppose it is?” I asked her once we lifted off ground and were at our flight altitude.
“I can’t diet.” She admitted in a whisper. “All I do is eat bagels and pasta and it contradicts my work outs.” She bit her lip and smiled.
“Are you ok with that though?” I asked.
“Well, not really, but I don’t look bad, do I?”
“No, not at all.” I said honestly. She had a pretty face, straight white teeth, clear olive skin, and long brown hair. She would often curl her hair and tease it. Her weight was bigger then the three of us, but she pulled it off nicely.
“Has Derek said anything to you about it?” I asked about her boyfriend.
“Well, I think he stresses me out and it maybe why I can’t seem to diet as I should.”
I understood. This boyfriend of hers was quit the character. He did not go to college with us, he worked full time as a personal trainer at her gym and although admitted to being in love with Kate, he was often busy without her.
The rest of our flight was quiet. We wanted to rest up before landing, there was so much we wanted to do, and the last place we wanted to hang out in was in our hotel room. We promised each other that we wouldn’t even sleep in late, no matter how hung over we were.
We finally reached our hotel by 2 PM and although tired, we got outside and walked around the beach. We wanted to eat dinner and see if there had been any action started. Tonight was the official Spring Break Kick off, and we couldn’t wait to kick it off!
“I know I am on vacation,” Kate announced to us as she sat at the table looking at her menu, “but I will try to eat as healthy as possible.”
“Why start now?” Lindsey asked with crooked smile.
“I just feel more motivated when Derek isn’t around,” Kate answered softly. The three of us didn’t want continue that conversation with her, so we looked away. We ordered our food and talked about what we were wearing to the beach bon fire near our hotel.

Later that night, I put on my short black cotton dress and wore black flat sandals. I looked good for a beach party and I was ready for the best night out. The girls looked just as fabulous in their summer dresses. We finally left our room by 9pm.
“Aren’t we a bit early?” asked Kim. She was dressed in a knee length pale blue dress. Her long blond hair was braided tonight because she gave up on it for she had been frustrated with her hair all day.
“We are,” Lindsay replied. She was the prettiest of us. Tall and blond, she wore the most expensive outfits, even the ones that looked casual as the one she wore tonight, a denim skirt with a light green tank top.
“So,” Kate said, “we’ll get to eat the food first!” She weighed 140 pounds and was about 5’4 tall. She was not to fat, and she didn’t look it with her ankle length black dress. She was pretty and would usually attract nice men. Too bad she decided to date the creep she had chosen from her work.
We joked some more about being the first ones at the bon fire as we hopped on the elevator.
There were a few people there already. I saw there were kegs and a beach bar; there was also a food line with chips, buffalo wings, finger sandwiches and much more. The fire was started and there were signs up that read “Spring Break 2007! Let the Fun Begin!”
It was a warm night and there was also a lot of excitement in the air. There was loud music playing and I was hoping they would continue to play rock music all night.
We got our cocktails and walked around to see if there were attractive guys here. As time the passed slowly, more and more people coming in and soon, the beach area was packed with several men and scantily clad girls.
I was taking in the sights and trying to avoid the nerdy guy talking to me, that’s when I noticed someone that looked familiar. It couldn’t be someone I know. But there was something about the tall man in the distance. He was dressed nice in khaki’s and a white long sleeved button down. His hair was dark and he had it cut high and tight. I couldn’t stop starring at him.
The nerdy boy that was talking to me soon realized I had not heard a word he had said in the last five minutes, he excused his self, and left me standing all alone. I didn’t mind anymore, I was hoping to attract the guy in the distance.
“Shannon!” Lindsey said to me and caught me by surprise. “Stop starring at who ever he is, he’s going think your psycho!”
“Oh gosh, am I being that obvious?”
“Yes.” Lindsey said. “Come on, let’s go chat with him.” She took my arm and led me over to him.
He was so much better looking close up. He took one look at me and we both stopped, I think I stopped breathing for a second. Our eyes met and I knew it was him, the very first love of my life.
“Shannon Crawford!” He said quietly.
“You two know each other?” Lindsey said looking at both of us.
I was speechless. I couldn’t believe that Michael Winters was standing in front of me.
“Wow Shannon, you look beautiful.” He said.
“You look good yourself.” I said softly.
“Wow, I can’t believe we are meeting here, on spring break!” He said with excitement.
“I know, what are the odds?” I said just as excited.
“Ok,” Lindsey said interrupting us, “how do you two know each other?”
I smiled, “Well Lindsey, this is Michael Winters; we dated for three years in high school. Then my dad was stationed in Germany and well, we were separated.”
“Oh my gosh! High school lovers reunited at Spring Break!” Lindsey squealed.
I laughed to myself and I noticed that Michael laughed as well.
“I have to get the girls.” Lindsey ran off to see Kate and Kim and I stayed to chat with Michael.
“So, what school do you go to?” I asked him.
“I am at University of Vermont,” he said, “and where are you at?”
“Suffolk University in Boston, I am an education major like I always wanted to be.”
He smiled, “Good for you. I’m a Finance major, like planned.”
We stood there speechless for a moment, unsure of what to say next. My friends joined us and I introduced everyone. His friends then came over to talk and the group grew to 9, he was with 4 other guys.
We spent the night talking catching up and getting to know each others friends. I was so lost in heaven, the moment felt surreal. At 2 AM, Michael asked what hotel we were staying at.
“The Holiday Inn,” I said.
“Really? That’s my hotel!” He laughed, “Wow, what are the odds?”
I couldn’t believe this. I was finally going to be alone with Michael. He walked back to the hotel with me. He happened to be two floors below us, but he walked me upstairs to my room. I was very nervous as he stood at my door way. I didn’t want to invite him in, but I did want to see him again.
“So maybe we can get breakfast tomorrow.” I said.
“Ahh yeah, want to meet at noon?” he asked.
I laughed, “No silly, breakfast is at 9 or something.”
He laughed too, “Oh, I was going to sleep in.”
“Ok, you want to meet for lunch then?”
He put his hand on my arm, “I’d love to,” he whispered.
I remembered Michael as a romantic man, and all I could think about at this moment was how much I have missed him.
“We have so much catching up to do,” he said.
“Yeah, I can’t wait to hear all about Vermont.”
My friends got off the elevators and walked toward the room. I had to say goodnight to Michael. He kissed my cheek and he walked away. I joined the girls a moment later. I jumped on my bed and bit my lip.
The girls had so many questions to ask and we talked for at least a half hour before we all passed out for the night.

I met Michael by the pool in time for lunch that Sunday. He was as handsome as ever in khaki shorts and UVM t-shirt. His skin was dark and he looked healthy. His body was toned; I couldn’t stop starring at him. He walked me over to the pool bar and we sat on the stools.
“How are you feeling?” he asked.
“Good! The girls and I went rollerblading earlier this morning.”
He raised his eyebrows. “Really? I am surprised you are waking up so early in the morning.
“Yeah,” I said, we just want to enjoy every minute of vacation.”
He laughed. The waitress brought over two glasses of water, and took our lunch order.
I looked around, “It is so beautiful here in Miami!”
“It is,” Michael said. “So Shannon, you never told me if you liked living in Germany.’
I stopped and thought about it. “Yeah, it was wonderful.” I didn’t sound convincing.
Michael laughed and asked a lot of questions. The lunch hour went buy so fast, I was too busy enjoying myself.
“Well, you want to go to the beach with us?” He asked after we finished our meal.
“Let’s see if the girls want to go.” I pulled my cell out of my bag and called Kim

* * * * * * *

The rest of the week’s plans had changed because Michael and I spent a lot of time together. We spent time alone and we also spent time with our friends, together. I didn't drink as much as I had thought, but I was making memories that would last a lifetime; I took a lot of pictures of just about everything we did, even a few of them of us sleeping; getting ready; in the cabs; on the jet skies; I took pictures of all people making fools of themselves.
Before I knew it Friday night was upon us and Michael told me he had something he needed to tell me so he planned on a dinner for the two of us alone. I spent the day with the girls gossiping about what he could possibly say to me.
"Maybe he is in love with you again," Lindsay said.
"Yeah,” Kim continued, "he might want to transfer to Suffolk."
"Or maybe he wants you to transfer to UVM." Kate had said.
I thought about their comments, but I wasn't so sure. I did not know how I felt about him myself. I didn't think I was falling in love again, but I didn't think I wasn't interested either. I was busy having fun and the thought of my future with him again had not crossed my mind.
I dressed up nice for our dinner. I wanted to look special just incase he brought me to an expensive restaurant. He picked me up at 7 as planned and much to my surprise; he took me to a Chinese Restaurant not far from our hotel.
"Wow, how did you find this place?" I asked when we walked in.
It was fancy and looked like it could pass for a five star restaurant.
He smiled, "Don't worry." He spoke to the hostess for a minute and she then took us to our table.
It was tucked in the corner and a little bit secluded. I felt goose bumps all over my body. I was anxious to hear what he wanted to tell me.
It took him awhile though; we ordered drinks, appetizers. By the time we got our entree's he still had not mentioned anything important. I waited patiently. Maybe he had no particular conversation planned out; he just wanted to talk to me about random nothings just for our last night together.
After we finished our meal we ordered more drinks and he took my hands and smiled.
"Shannon," he said in a serious tone of voice.
"Yes Michael," I whispered. I was nervous to hear what he was about to say.
"I had fun this week."
"Me too," I said with a laugh.
"I was wondering if you want to give us another chance."
I was speechless. I had not thought about this and butterflies swam through my body.
"It's just that," he continued, "I just broke up with a girl I was serious with for three years and I thought that I never wanted to be in a relationship again. Then I saw you and all of that has changed."
"Oh," was all I could say. I was not bothered by the fact that he had another girlfriend that he was getting over; I just didn't know how I felt about being the rebound girl. The in-between girlfriend. I started to express these feelings to him and he listened.
"Well," he said, "we don't have to jump into anything right now. We could keep in touch and visit each other on the weekends and see how we feel once we are back in our own states."
Once again he made sense, he said the right words and I agreed. I didn't know what the future held and neither did he. With Burlington, VT being approximately 2 hours north of Boston, I am sure we could plan weekends together.
We made no promises about a relationship but we did exchange phone numbers and email addresses. We ended the night with our friends at a club we had become familiar with and at the end of the night; we stayed together in my room.
I sat on my plane on our flight home that Saturday evening daydreaming about our future. We had another year of college and then we could go to the same grad school and maybe we could live together and maybe get married by the time we were 28 and we could then have children in our 30's. I dreamed of all the beautiful things that could happen.
It wasn't until my plane reached Boston that I realized that none of it could happen. I didn't know. I wasn't sure. The future is unknown, but I do know one thing, I had the best Spring Break Vacation a girl could ask for.