I'm in love with Emily

TUESDAY

"Come on, come on. Let's go, let's go." Mr. Hanson egged on as more and more kids loaded the buses for the field trip. "We don't have all day."

"Actually, I heard that this was going to be all day." Christian whispered to me as he stood behind me waiting to get on the bus.

"What!" I yelled-whispered at him. We finally got into the bus and Christian was so kind as to shut down the many invites he got to sit with someone else as he picked a spot for us and held his hand out for me to sit by the window. He knows I like window seats. I smiled and was glad when he plopped down beside me.

"This is gonna so fun!" He sarcastically jumped up and down in the seat.

"This is going to be incredibly boring. Especially for those who already know what they want to do with their lives."

"Right?"

"Christian, have you decided if you're even gonna go to college? You have the money saved up. Why not?"

Christian shrugged. "I don't know yet. I got two years to decide. Actually, I just might buy—"

"You're own ranch?" Christian smiled at me.

"You know me so well."

"Well, I know very well how much you admire Patriarch Jones'. And I can't see you doing anything else but ranching."

"You got that right. I'm gonna buy land out by Austin or maybe even Silver Creek Valley or Ione Valley. Who knows. All I know, is that I'm getting buried in Austin." I smiled and thought of the rough romantic aspect of Christian's future plans.

Live in the middle of nowhere. No one to bother you. Do what you love. Be completely free with only dirt trails to ride and drive on and natural springs your only source of water. Only going into town twice a month.

"I know that look." Christian smirked. "If you want, I can build a second house on the property and you and I will never be separated."

"You're right. Now that I think about it. I'll have to drive hours to see you. But who knows, I might just marry a city guy."

"Please don't. He's gonna act all proper and act like he knows what it means to be a man. I don't want you gettin' in a relationship like that. Also, he would totally suck that country girl right out of ya." I shrugged.

"With the way I'm looking at the moment, I might as well settle for any guy."

"No, you should never lower your standards."

"Right, but you wouldn't seek after someone who is better than yourself."

"Are you saying you need a fat guy to like you? Because I don't think that's what that claim means. Also, usually your standards match who you are. Like me, I want a girl who's a total country girl. Someone who's not scared of—"

"Changing a tire and changing the oil? And has to look good on a loader?"

"There you go again, listening when I talk. But no, I was going to say: a girl who isn't scared of herself." I looked at Christian and felt something.

Something like affection. I blushed and smiled. No way could Christian ever like a girl like me. Now I was just fantasizing. Instead I switched my train of thought towards Chris not being scared of himself.

"Well, I hope you find that girl, Chris."

"I know I will." He smiled that charming smile of his and I pushed him away.

It was still early in the morning and I was still a little sleepy after going to bed fairly late.

In the beginning of the year I'm on top of getting up early for seminary and school. But as the year progresses, I find myself often getting dressed in a hurry and barely making it to seminary on time. Christian has the same problem, so it works out perfectly.