Phil Bowman

What can I say...

Breath Taking, Literally.

It started out in a elevator in 2007. The connection was there way before we even knew each other. The facts are apparent. Reece is his cousin. Everyone can assume the saying, "If you can't him, go for his brother" or cousin in this instance. What is amazes me, is that I didn't even know they were related when I was attracted to him. I just saw him across the baseball field in that Misfits t-shirt, and baseball pants. He was official. I just wore a tight shirt and very short shorts. Pigtails and a cute smile. Seemed to work so I'm never complaining. That was the summer where our eyes met and never left each other. Where we talked during and after dinner for hours. Where our youth group went bowling and we just talked in the lobby. Where I was too gazed to get his number and he left the next morning for Spokane. I thought I would never see him again. That is until Convention came nine months later....

My intentions were fully on Reece. He saw that, and didn't care. Reece was a someone. He was busy in meetings and practices. That left us nobodies (Phil and I) alone to talk. While I was set on Reece, Phil was right there by my side waiting with me for Reece to get out of these meetings. We spent three long days together. On the last night, sparks finally flew between us and we shared our first kiss in the elevator. It couldn't just be anywhere. The security was watching. The elevator was the only place where two people were alone for a few heavenly seconds. It was right before we both got ready for the grand banquet. It was all I needed to be giddy all night. I rushed and got in my formal and redid my makeup. I wanted to look gorgeous and I wanted to see him again. I remember walking down the stairs and at the bottom there he was watching me. He was so handsome. He smiled. I got to the bottom and he handed me a flower. If we weren't watched I know he would have kissed me like no tomorrow. He then escorted me to the grand banquet like the perfect gentleman. Our tables weren't even close to each other. The whole time I tried to look him, but through the millions of heads I couldn't spot his. I waited outside the doors after the banquet for him. On the tables there were Hotwheels for the theme of the Convention, and to make up for us not going to the ice cream social he handed me a ice cream truck hotwheel. It was perfect. We headed toward the grand ball. We sat at tables, both too nervous to dance. I saw Reece and he asked me to slow dance. I took his hand and Phil didn't mind. He knew he was better than Reece.

The dance with Reece was not magical. I tried so hard to pull him close for a kiss. Our first kiss. He pulled away. I pulled again. "Jen, no. They are watching." Always the excuse. I tried again. He broke away from the dance and left. I never saw him again that night.

Phil took my hand and we danced. We danced until we got bored. We left to the elevators... He told me to meet him at the spot after we change back into casual. Around 2am we were all alone in a huge hotel. What do two lonely teens do after everyone else goes to bed? Exactly. We didn't go too far. We were in a hallway. We stayed out til the sun came up. The morning we never got to say goodbye. Everyone was rushing to check out. His goodbye was through text. I never knew when I was going to see him again.

We both went on with our lives. Having each other in the back of our minds.

Two weeks ago, He texted me. Right when he went through my mind, his text came up. He told me that he was coming down in two weeks for his sister's soccer game and that he wants to hang out with me to do all the cutesy couple stuff.

About a few days before he comes down, he had to take his dad's Harley out for a spin and get grounded. He still came down and I still got to see him. If you think sneaking around a hotel while he leaves every few minutes to check on his family as seeing him. He was grounded, and couldn't do much. Sure we snuck a few kisses here and there, a few "I missed you so much", a few embraces, a few "You've grown so much"... It only felt like I held on to him for a second.

He says he'll come down next month to make it up to me.

Next year, he said that while I'm up there for college, he will visit me almost everyday. That he is going to be the best boyfriend I ever had. That he only wants me. That I'm the most beautiful girl he's ever seen...

If he only knew...

I've become a pessimist about love.

If it all comes true... Then... I guess...

I'll thank God.