Harley McDonald was the girl next door growing up. she secretly had a crush on the guy next door Jackson Marsden. They were friends at an early age but grew apart as the years went by and he became more popular. Fast forward 2 years, Jackson moved...
Have you ever thought,"what if the guy I crushed on in highschool would of noticed me?" Having grown up in a small southern town in Tennessee Harley McDonald wasn't exactly the popular girl in school, being that she was curvier than most girls her age. She was the girl next door that no one really noticed, with wavy blonde hair that graced her mid back and piercing hazel eyes.
Jackson Marsden lived four houses down the street, the two grew up playing together. They had been inseparable friends since he moved from Florida in the 4th grade, but in highschool he distanced himself from her. He was the star quarter back on the football team, he was tall roughly 6'4 and muscular. Dark hair and eyes that seemed to pierce your soul when he would gaze into yours.
Jackson became popular and I faded into the background a little more every year that passed. We eventually stopped hanging out outside of school also. I was quiet, awkward, and didn't really fit in with his popular, outgoing, jock friends. I always had the biggest crush on him. I had grown to love him, but was too afraid to tell him how I felt. I feared that I would lose him completely. He had a few girlfriends over the years and I never liked any of them. I don't know why or what he saw in them. Sure they were pretty and popular, but they had no personality going for them at all.
The last time Jackson and I spoke it was a month before our graduation. I had run into him at the mall with his mom and step father. "Hey Harley girl!" Exclaimed jackson. "How's it going jackson?" I asked as I approached him across the food court. It was then that he informed me, "im doing great, actually. Moving back to Florida to live with dad after graduation!" He exclaimed with excitement.
Jackson's dad owned a few nightclubs near miami. He had always expressed how much he missed his dad and wanted to follow in his father's footsteps. "Really?" I asked as my brows lifted slightly and my smile faded. "Im happy for you, you seem excited about it!" I quickly exclaimed as i forced a small smile. I was shocked but I shouldn't of been. I knew this day would come. "I plan to attend Vanderbilt in Nashville in the fall." I said as I looked down at the ground. I couldn't retain eye contact with him. He paused momentarily as if in thought and i met his gaze again. "What are you majoring in?" He asked. "Visual art, of course." I shrugged lightly. "Well best of luck to you, but I gotta go!" He exclaimed as he turned and walked away. That was the last conversation we had and I remember every last detail of it.
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
It was around this time I had also been hearing from some perspective modeling agencies. I had always wanted to model, but being a bigger girl I had sort of steered away from it. It wasn't until I was accepted into Vanderbilt that I realized it could help me pay the remainder of my tuition. I ended up modeling clothing for Lane Bryant and Torrid, it paid decent money and it has helped financially.
So here I am in my second year of college, listening to my art history professer ramble on and on, as i sit daydreaming of what could of been had Jackson and I been a "thing". God, I miss him like crazy! It's been over 2 years and i havent heard anything from him. I spoke to his mom a few times when I went home during holiday. She had told me this past fall that she hadn't heard from him in over six months. She looked sad and I could tell she missed him dearly. What I wouldn't give to run into him again. I'm not the same timid girl he knew in highschool. I'm much more outspoken and confidant. Would he notice me? Could we develop a relationship? One could only hope and dream!!
