Same Old Love

May 28th, 1952

As soon as Conrad laid eyes on her at the local malt shop, he took his shot. He couldn't chicken out anymore. He knew it was now or never.

Conrad talked to Caroline before. She knew him, but she never paid him a second glace, undoubtedly. Before, she was so wrapped up in her jerk of a boyfriend, Vince, but they broke up just recently and if he didn't hurry up and run at the opportunity to sweep her off her feet, he never would.

She was with two of her friends, Linda and Margaret, and they were sitting on the barstools by the front counter, drinking milkshakes.

He took a deep breath, then gained strength and walked over to the girls. Of course Caroline didn't even notice him standing right beside her at first. Her hair was in a high ponytail and she was wearing a pink ribbon in it. She wore a cardigan over her white blouse and a black skirt to match. He stood there gawking at her like a fool until one of Caroline's friends noticed me.

"Hey, I think that guy wants you," Linda whispered to Caroline with a small smile while glancing at Conrad.

Caroline's head quickly turned, the curls in her ponytail bouncing, and when she saw Conrad her eyes were filled with familiarity, yet confusion.

"Um, hi..." she seemed to try remembering Conrad's name, but eventually gave up. "Can I help you?"

"Hello, my name is Conrad Jordan, and I'd like to take you out on a date," Conrad said quite smugly.

He felt like an idiot. Why didn't he say something better!

Caroline just knit her eyebrows and then scoffed. "You're pretty direct, don't you think? Well, Conrad Jordan, my name is Caroline and I'd like to completely decline your offer. It was nice talking to you." She then quickly turned back around and said something to her two friends, and they soon stood up from the bar stools and headed for the door leading outside. She was fuming, while her two friends gave him tight-lipped smiles as they passed by me. Caroline's eyes only ever so slightly flicked towards him.

Conrad was quickly losing his chance. He knew he had to run after her. But he didn't want to look like a creep. After a silent, quick debate with himself, he chose to go after her.

"It's now or never," he reminded himself and finally he quickly began to run out the door. He looked left and right, trying to find the girls. Then when he looked straight, he saw them across the street and walking towards the record store. He began to sprint across the street, completely oblivious to any traffic that was coming. A couple of cars honked. One man in a red Bristol shouted at him, but he kept running.

Margaret, Caroline's other friend, turned around and pointed, grabbing the attention of the other two ladies. "Caroline, isn't that the same guy from the malt shop?"

Linda nodded. "Yeah. He's pretty persistent." She smiled.

Caroline just rolled her eyes and crossed her arms, not saying a word, only watching.

Conrad reached the three girls finally, breathing a bit heavily.

"What do you want?" Caroline quickly demanded, her arms still crossed tightly across her chest.

"I want to take you out on a date!" Conrad repeated.

"Look," Conrad began again, "I know you barely know me, but we could get to know each other if you give me a chance. I promise you won't regret it."

Caroline laughed. "Why would I go out on a date with you?"

Conrad honestly couldn't tell her why. He was nothing special. He didn't have anything over anyone else, making him the same as most of the other boys who chase after her. "Because you like to do new things?"