The Catch(Jacqueline H.) The Catch

It was the beginning of summer, school had just let out and I couldn’t wait for the late nights with friends and sun kissed hair. I have only one year left in high school until my parents send me off to college. I’m not sure where I want to go, or even what I want to do with the rest of my life. My mom wants me to be a nurse and my dad; he just wants me out of the house.

My name is Stella Wilson and I was 16. I went to Riverside High School in Southport, North Carolina. Southport is a quaint little town. Some call it a city, but I don’t think it deserves a title like that. The biggest attraction we have is our local fair, but I like it because of the Cape Fear River.

I don’t have many friends, just a best friend. Her name is Christine. We’ve been friends for eleven years, ever since kindergarten. She has long brown hair, bright green eyes, and only comes up to my chin. She was always more outgoing than I was and always had a boyfriend. I was never great with guys. I usually kept to myself and focused on school. I guess I was the nerd. I have red hair, from the box. I am naturally a brunette, but I like to change it up. My eyes are hazel, changing from brown to green to gold. It seems to depend on my mood.

I didn’t have many plans for the summer, just to hang out with Christine. She was usually busy with her boyfriend which left me with nothing to do. I had made the decision to get a summer job to pass the time, rather than sitting home. I mean, at least I’d be making money! I got a job at our local restaurant, The Catch. It paid decent money; $7.55 an hour. I usually worked in the evenings, when it was the busiest. I was hired as the hostess, not a waitress, Thank God! I’m not very good with memorizing things, so I know I would suck at waitressing! Being a hostess, you meet a lot of people, whether they’re just passing through and stopping for a bite to eat, or residents of Southport.

It was Friday, the sun was setting over the water, and it was a cool 80 degrees. I stood at the railing of our outdoor bar and had a moment like in “Titanic”. The wind was blowing my hair back, my arms were slightly outstretched, and I thought for a minute I was flying. I was interrupted by my coworker David yelling my name because rushes of customers were coming in. David had a feminine voice, it made you chuckle when he uttered a word. It made you question his sexuality, but he was married with a child; not that it would’ve mattered either way.

The first time I saw him was that Friday night, the man of my dreams. He was wearing an aqua colored shirt, and jean shorts. His flat bill hat was covering his hair, but from what I could see, it was almost jet black. Let’s just say, he was pure perfection. I wanted to say something to him other than, “Hey, welcome to The Catch. How many”? I was just way too nervous to even speak. About twenty minutes into their evening, he and his friends were sitting at the bar. I knew he had to be at least 21 to sit there. I cannot believe I was eyeing down an older man! “I am such a pig”, I thought.

The night got busier and I couldn’t keep stalking him anymore, nor did I want to after figuring his age. After cleaning up the tables, it was time to close. I was the only one left at the restaurant and I had the duty to lock up. Walking to my car, I see a guy leaning against the back hatch. It was dark outside, so I couldn’t make out the face; it was just a tall dark figure. As I got closer, my nerves worsened. I was reaching in my purse for the pepper spray that my mom had purchased for me before starting my job. I am 5 feet from the figure, pepper spray in hand, and it occurs to me, this “dark figure” is the guy I had my eye on from earlier.
“Hi.”, he says.
“Hey.” I respond.
“I saw you working earlier. I wanted to introduce myself, but you looked busy. My name is Christian Rogue.” He said.
I felt a huge relief lift off of my shoulders. I put the pepper spray back into my purse and smiled.
“Yeah, I saw you! My name is Stella, Stella Wilson.” I said.
“I’m sorry if I scared you, but I wanted to wait for you. Well, I know this is sudden, but would you like to go to dinner with me”?
I was so excited to hear a guy ask me to out to dinner; I didn’t even bother thinking about his and my age. I said yes!

We went to dinner the next night about 30 minutes outside of Southport at this fancy restaurant. Of course I told my parents I was going to dinner, but with Christine, not Christian. Yes, I lied! I need to do things that make me happy, and if I told them the truth, they wouldn’t have let me go. Sitting at dinner, I was nervous about him knowing I was only 16.
“I have to tell you something”, I said. “I am only 16”. I almost started to cry as the words came out of my mouth. It seems like the first time I meet a decent guy, and I am too young for him.
His response stunned me. My stomach dropped.
“I know. I’m 21. I realize you’re younger but that doesn’t matter to me”. He said.

Those words were all it took to make me feel like a million bucks! We had a great time and his charm was spot on. He held the doors, pulled out my chair, and even ordered for me. Wow! He gave me butterflies in my stomach, and made the hair on the back of my neck stand up. When leaving he grabbed my hand and pulled me into him. His touch made my pulse rise. Before getting out of his car, he looked at me with his beautiful blue eyes, and kissed me. This is a guy I could see myself with!

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2 Months Later:
Christian and I were dating. I had recently turned 17. My parents knew about us by now, and they hate it. My mom is just disappointed and worried that I would get hurt. As for my dad, he wants it over. He hates Christian. We are only four years apart, what is the big deal? Well, my father thinks he is a pervert! My father does everything in his power to break us up. He tries to convince me that he’s cheating. My father has even tried staging different scenario’s using other girls to make Christian cheat on me. My father and I did not talk much after that.

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2 Years Later, Present:
Are Christian and I still together? Yes, and we have a stronger relationship than we have ever had. I love him and he loves me. My father and I have rebuilt our relationship and it is great, as well as my mom. Christine and I are going on our 13th anniversary for being best friends. I am currently going to college for nursing. Turns out, my mom was right in that department. My new life is perfect; great family, friends, and mostly Christian.

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