Dennis

I did well in high school. I didn't have much of a social life, so I had a lot of time to spend on my studies. One of the things I like to do was write stories. One day, Mrs. Stanson, my English teacher, saw one of my stories and suggested that I try for a writing scholarship. It took some convincing, but I got the scholarship and off to the University of Alabama I went.

Compared to Walker, UA was enormous. during my first two years, most of my classes were the auditorium style with more than 100 students in the class with me. I hated this part of college. Everyone, it seemed, had their own friends and no one knew me. I sank back into old habits of concentrating on my studies and writing.

During my second semester, I got to know Tonya Taylor. She became my best friend and roommate. Soon, I was one of the kids that had friends, too. After a year of college, I was thinking myself a pro and began to relax into my second year. It was then that Tonya and I began attending parties around campus. At first, I overdid it and my grades started slipping, but I adjusted and soon had them back up to A's, even with the parties a couple times a week. The rest of that semester was a blur of parties and studies.

We had plans for the biggest party day of the century. Tonya and I arrived back on campus early after Christmas break, as did most of the students. It was December 1999 and the New Years' parties were going to be epic. A lot of people had very memorable parties that evening, but my life changed forever - I met Dennis.

Dennis was skinny but with a strength under the surface that I could feel if not see. He was tall and confident. When I walked up behind him to get a drink in the ubiquitous red solo cup, he turned and as our eyes met, his widened and my heart stopped. We stood there for what seemed like hours as chills ran across my skin and I felt my cheeks begin to blush at the attention of this gorgeous boy, no, man in front of me.

After a few seconds, Tonya slid up beside me and began speaking. Most of what she said was lost to the crowd noise, but I caught that Dennis was in her Chemistry class and that she had been wanting to introduce us. I remember mumbling something about how Chemistry was a mystery to me and he smiled as he said, "I think you have a good handle on ... chemistry."

I felt my blush deepen and I accepted the cup pressed into my hand, drinking without thinking, just to have something to hide behind. In a moment, the crowd shifted and Tonya and I were swept in one direction. I lost sight of Dennis and thought he had left the party. I had given up looking for him and began moving to the edge of the house for some fresh air, or so I told myself at the time, Tonya in tow.

As we emerged onto the front porch, a voice tickled my ear. Dennis was sitting on the edge of the porch beckoning us, I thought at the time it had to be us. I dared not think, for a moment, that he felt what I did. After all, who really believes in love at first sight? I didn't. We sat next to Dennis, Tonya between us. Tonya looked at me funny when I sat us that way, but I just glared and pushed her down to sit between us.

Dennis began chatting with Tonya like they were old friends, which I suppose they were. Of course, they were. She was in his class, they had shared interests, at least in class. I was beginning to feel like the foolish third wheel, when I heard Tonya say, "Sure, I'll get them," before hopping up and tossing a wink my way then disappearing into the house.

Looking confused, I looked at Dennis, to find him scooting closer and draping his jacket around my shivering shoulders. I hadn't realized that I was cold. We sat in silence for a while. The cold quiet in front of us losing the battle with the party din at our backs. I was heady with his scent, my mind reeling from this man on my right, when the din coalesced into counting, "8.. 7.. 6.. 5..."

Turning toward Dennis, I saw him looking at me. The counting continued, "4.. 3.. 2..," and as the count reached a crescendo at "One!" I leaned forward and touched my lips to his. At the touch of our lips, my arms snaked around his neck and I slid closer, almost into his lap, as our kiss deepened, unacknowledged attraction pulling us together. I can remember a single thought, "...home."

The house rattled with the cheer of "Happy New Year!" but they could have all been frogs for as much sense as it made to me. I had not thought about it, had not planned it, I just acted. Later, he told me that he had been talking to me and thinking that I had no interest in him because I never responded. He had just asked if he could give me a New Year's kiss when I turned and kissed him.

As 2000 began, so did our lives together.

As the house continued to cheer and party, we separated from our long kiss. Stating into each other's eyes, we stood, linked fingers and began walking slowly down the sidewalk. As we reached the street and turned to continue walking into the night, I glanced back over my shoulder to see Tonya grinning from the porch, two red solo cups in her hands. Turning back to Dennis, I picked up our conversation and we walked away, hand in hand.

We walked the rest of the night. We walked up and down sidewalks, having no destination in mind, we just talked. He found out that, though my Daddy loved to look at the stars, I could only pick out a few constellations: the dippers, Pegasus (because it was really just a square), Cassiopeia, and Orion. I learned that he was allergic to almonds, had a little sister, Christina, who still lived with his parents in Texas. He had always been fascinated with flying, wanted to be a pilot, had joined the Air Force ROTC, and his middle name was Orion.

A bit of an oddball among his friends, Dennis didn't care much for football, which was fine by me as I didn't either. I loved it when Alabama won, but aside from dressing in houndstooth or wearing the crimson, I just didn't into all the football hype, and didn't like going to the games.

After that first Spring spending weekends together on dates and with Tonya and Jack, Summer came and we parted. I was returning home to Georgia and he back to Texas. We emailed and managed a few video chats. I remember Lisa catching me right after one of the video chats, intending to warn me about college guys, I think. We talked for hours, like we did sometimes, but all this was about Dennis. At the end, I remember her asking me, "I heard you tell him and he told you. If it's this serious, what are you going to do?"

I grinned and said, "I'm going to say 'Yes' silly."

She got really serious and asked, "Has he asked you?"

I laughed, "No. We are young and not in any hurry. We have each other and we have time. When the time is right, for both of us, it will happen."

Pressing on she asked, "But you've talked about it?"

"Yes. We have had long conversations and even made some ... daydream plans. You know, the kind of wish list you make, just for fun."

Intrigued, she asked, "So, what plans have you talked about?"

"Nothing serious. An outdoor ceremony at dusk would be nice. Maybe in the fall when the weather is just starting to get cool. He's from Texas and says he's had enough of heat to last a lifetime, so a chill in the air would be perfect."

"That does sound lovely. Koosh, I am so happy for you."

When we returned to campus in the fall, it was like we were never apart. Emotionally, we never were, even though physically we both had better tans, and he was more muscular than when last I felt his arms around me.

We started spending football weekends, when he didn't have ROTC exercises, walking, and later hiking. It rained when we finally went out to camp together. Everything got drenched, the tent fell in, and we spent the wonderful night huddled together in a sleeping bag holding each other, kissing and shivering. I would give anything to have that night back.

He graduated in May 2002, a year ahead of me. We spent most of the next month together, before he shipped out. He had met my family and they all loved him. I made a trip, right after graduation, to Texas to meet his family. Though we were asked several times if we had set a date, we just smiled, looked at each other and said in unison, "No, not yet," which invariably got a disappointed reaction.

One evening in mid June, we were laying on the grassy hill behind his parents house. It was so hot and dry.

Staring up at the star-filled sky, Dennis said, "Are we going to do this, or what?"

Unsure what he meant, I kept my voice steady and innocently asked, "Do what, hunny?"

Flatly, he said, "Get married."

I sat up from laying beside him in a rush and glared at him, not noticing the twinkle in his eyes or the smirk on his face until after the words had rushed out, "Dennis Orion Early! Are you proposing to me like this? Out here, no ring, no ...."

I stopped and we laughed. He gathered me into his arms and we hugged.

"I love you, Erin."

"I adore you, Dennis."

"We have the rest of our lives. You need to finish college. I need to get my wings. Then, we can move on to our next chapter, agreed?"

"Yes. That sounds perfect."

Dennis had always been the planner. I found out after that night, that he had found out about me from Tonya in class and had planned to meet me, and then planned to kiss me at midnight. He just didn't plan on me kissing him first.

I would have married him that night, with or without a ring. If he had said, "Let's not wait. Let's drive to Las Vegas and get married, tonight," I'd have laughed and married him. I knew he was the one. I knew I would marry him. Time was the only variable, not the outcome.

I tried to stay strong, but I felt slip big tears down my cheeks when, two weeks later, I said goodbye to Dennis. He was shipping out for active duty and I had to return home. I was not looking forward to my last year at college.