How I Won My Girlfriend

Around the tenth of February, I was still a naive years and years ago. An idiot fascinated by the idea of love and disgusted by the idea of loneliness. The only difference between me and those sappy romance movie characters was my terrible luck and my remarkably mashed face. Acne pockmarks ravaged my skin, arms, and hands. My stomach and face were blubbery, and I couldn't grow my hair past my thoughts if I tried. I wasn't physically strong, extraordinarily tall, or talented. Instead of everything being sappy and rainbow, I spent most of my free time dealing with a mix of feelings that stopped me from being happy. I was just like every other kid, of course. I went to school everyday, I made myself happy with games and food, and I never got myself into trouble. The only trouble I had trouble avoiding was the new girl that joined my class. She didn't look like much walking into the English class that day, but I knew better than to judge people based on that. I wasn't that much of an idiot, of course. I knew better than to try and talk to new people with the way I looked. This girl's middle name was trouble, and I didn't know it at the time. On the few days she was in my school for, I made sure to talk to her as much as I could. On the first day, I snuck glances at her 50 times in my English class. On the second day, I snuck 150. That previous statement I made about talking to her as much as I could was a lie. The third day was different, though. I noticed the visible eye bags on her face and the overall fatigued look she wore that day. I must have snuck 200 glances before I finally manned up. I turned to look at her and finally opened my mouth. It felt like she was hyperanalyzing every detail on my scary face. I felt sick to my stomach thinking about what kind of thoughts she could be having despite the large smile on her face. I asked her if she was okay and she responded telling me she was okay and that's she's grateful I asked. I felt like I had climbed a mountain that day. I thought I had finally made my big hit. The next day, Valentine's Day, she walked into the cafeteria with a bouquet of flowers and colorful gift bags in both hands. I never spoke to her or saw her again after that day. Until I did.