Dating History Part 2

At my high school, the marching band had two weeks of intensive practice right before school started, where the group met for 8 hours a day, 5 days a week. This was our “band camp.” The camp before my senior year, a new drill instructor came to work with the group, we’ll call him B. He was just out of college, incredibly musically talented, and a little more than seven years older than I was (don’t judge, please, ladies!). Within a month of meeting, we were dating exclusively. He seemed wonderful – bought me presents, took me placed. We dated happily for about eight months. And then his mom, who had been battling cancer, died, and I went away to college. Our relationship was more than strained. In his mind, the best way to save things was to get engaged, not too uncommon for girls my age in our part of the world, but a bad idea for a troubled relationship. We took a few breaks, a met a few other boys, and we drifted apart. A break-up seemed inevitable, and I could basically tell that he was cheating on me

However, I think the exact relationship ending conversation could win an award. Ladies, if you beat this one, you have my upmost condolences.
B: I think we should take an extending break. I don’t want to cheat on you, but I have feelings for someone else.
Me: I figured. Can I ask who?
B: His name is Josh.

Yup. His name. To say it was a shock is an understatement. To say I didn’t cry, eat too much ice cream, and kiss a few too boys to make sure there wasn’t something wrong with me, would be a lie. And there you have it, the story of B.

After all that, we are still pretty good friends, and talk at least a few times a month. He and Josh are very happy.

First there was a boy . .

I didn't have junior high boyfriends, like many of my friends. Being a slightly overweight, conservative, nerdy girl who some how managed to be besties with all the cheerleaders didn't get me a whole lot of guy attention. When I entered high school, I became very active in the music department (Random fact: I have studied oboe classically from age 9 to 18, and got accepted into a prestigious music conservatory high school, that I choose not to go to). I met #1 there. He was a sensitive, artistic musician, extremely tall - 6'6" - and extremely possesive. He was my first boyfriend, and we "dated" from the time I was 14 until right before the start of my senior in high school, when he started college. Dated meaning walked to classes together, passed notes, and talked on the phone - no "car dating" until I turned 17. It was as tumulutous, as young romances can be. He became very jealous, and very controlling - not good. He also bagn talking about wanting to get married, while I was in high school. Then right before school started that last year of high school I met someone else . . .