At Long Last!

Okay, I couldn't let it go tonight without relaying this happiness to you all.

So today managed to be wonderful in many small ways. For one, I got hugged by nearly a handful of adorable boys. Okay, so maybe they're not that adorable-looking =P, but they're adorable to me. Well, Caleb is rather a dear. But, anyway, the point is [drumroll, please] . . . .

I HUGGED THE BOY I WANT[ed! xD] TO HUG TODAY!!!!!!!

Gah!! Is that not ecstatic? And guess what? I got a picture of it! Haha!! So I shall be able to remember it always. He is so shy, it was quite darling.

He probably thinks I'm a total nut now. =P

Anyway, long background-story short [which isn't actually very short] is: The Boy I Hugged, sophomore, less sad now then he used to be last year, his freshman year, my junior, when I first noticed him shuffling through the hallways hanging his head, nearly always alone, and always so sad! My automatic thought every time I saw him was, "Ohh, that poor boy, he looks so sad! I just want to hug him, poor, sad, emo boy!" So he became The Boy I Want To Hug. [Or to everyone else, The Boy You Want To Hug.] It became a growing legend, everyone knowing about him and sharing stories about him doing adorable and sad, lonely things. Well this year, even though he is much less sad-looking, it was too late, the legend was already attached. So he continued to be The Boy I Want To Hug [shush, we totally don't stalk underclassmen], and he was even in my sculpture class earlier this year, but to no avail. It became such a huge thing that I could never actually work up enough nerve to actually go and hug him, for fear of rejection, or something. Opportunities came and went....

Well, today at lunch, we were both looking cute, Sara had her camera with her, I was feeling confident and encouraged, so I fixed my hair, we both took deep breaths and marched over there [he is in our lunch]. It went something like this.

Me: ::taps Boy on shoulder::

Curly-Haired Friend: ::is talking::

Me: "Oh, sorry, finish your conversation."

Curly-Haired Friend: "No, that's okay. I was done."

The Boy I Want To Hug: ::still hasn't turned around::

Boy I Want To Hug: ::finally turns around::

Me: "Okay, I know this is going to sound really, really, really strange, but, if you're up for something random, would it be at all possible if we could get a picture of me hugging you?"

Boy: ::looks slightly bewildered:: ::gives small smile:: "Uhh. . . sure."

Me: "Okay, sweet, thanks."

Boy: ::small laugh:: "When? Right now?"

Me: ::shrugs casually:: "Yeah, sure, right here is fine." ::motioning to surrounding cafeteria area::

Boy: "Okay." ::stands up::

Me: ::motioning to Boy's sweet, black-with-red-pin-stripes-suit-jacket:: "This is a great jacket, by the way."

Boy: ::laughs::

Me and Boy and Sara: ::get into picture-taking position::

::click::

Sara: ::laughing:: "Oops! I accidentally took a picture!"

Me: ::also laughing:: Of mah stomach? ::=P::

Boy: ::laughing nervously, completely lost::

Sara: "Should I put the flash on?"

Me: ::surveys cafeteria lighting:: "Yeah, you better. Just in case."

Sara: "Yeah, okay."

Me (to Sara): "Okay. Ready?" ::puts both arms around Boy's waist [Boy is wonderfully taller than Me] and squeezes::

Boy: ::puts one arm around my shoulders::

Me: ::totally aware of how awkward this is::

Sara: "Oh! Wait! I'm not ready!" ::messes with camera::

Me: ::very aware of how skinny and great the Boy feels in my arms, but wisely decides to mention neither of these thoughts:: ::and unable to wipe a silly-huge smile off face::

Boy:: ::still letting out those nervous little laughs:: ::still just one arm around my shoulders::

Sara: "Okay."

Me: "Okay."

Sara: ::takes picture::

Flash: ::goes off::

Me: ::still hugging Boy, still grinning stupidly from the fun ridiculosity of it all::

Boy: ::still laughing::

Sara: ::puts camera down::

Me and The Boy I Hugged: ::stop touching::

Me: "Okay, sweet, thanks."

All: ::turn to leave::

Me: ::turns back, sticks out hand:: "Oh, by the way, I'm Angela." ::looks up at Boy, smiles::

Boy: ::shakes my hand, smiles back:: "Anthony."

::much eye contact::

Me: [thinks] "He has a name!!!" ::notices eye contact and how endearingly clammy and warm Boy's hand is::

All: ::turn to go again::

Me: "Okay, thanks, see ya."

We return to the table and there is much rejoicing among us all. I only wish Jill had been there to see it! [She has been there since the beginning.] It was great. =P I can't wait to get the picture back. XD That thing better come out!

Okay, that was really long. But now you can all appreciate what it must have been like to actually be there. XP

This is when the poor kid accidentally stumbles across my blog and reads this. Ahh! Scary.

Anthony: Sorry. . . . . . . . . . inside joke?. . . . . . . . . . . . yeah. . . . . . . I got nothin' to say. . . . . . . . . . sorry. . . . .