It started while I was on a cruise to the Bahamas with my family. At first, I wasn't too excited because no one my age came with us and I was afraid I wouldn't have much fun. My parents suggested I go to the meeting for people in my age group to meet some people. Most of the kids were younger than me and I didn't find any that I would like to hang out with. About 15 minute into the meeting, a girl came in and sat at a table about 20 feet from me. I glanced at her and then looked back again. A mixed parentage look. She was really beautiful and I thought to myself, if I could only find a girl that was that pretty and liked me.... For the rest of the meeting, most of my attention was on her. It was the end of the meeting and I decided I had to talk to her and I did. I introduced myself and said, "You must be Larissa." She had a nametag on from the group that she was with.Smiling she said, "Yes, I wonder how you figured that out." Right away I noticed her smile and wanted to talk to her even more. The whole group from the meeting went to a comedy show for something to do. We sat down and she ended up next to me, which made me very happy! We began talking about little things and then the comedian began to do a parody of a song I liked. She said that he shouldn't be making fun of that song because it was really good. I told her I agreed and that's where we really started to talk casually about other things. It was evening and I had been waiting to see the view of the outside at night on the ocean, so I suggested we all go out and walk around on the deck. We all went out and ended up on the back of the boat. One by one people began to leave and finally everyone left except her and I. I was so happy that we would finally get to talk alone. I asked if she would like to go to the lower deck to talk and get out of the wind and she said ok. We immediately clicked, it was the greatest time I've ever had. Later, she told me if I wasn't younger than her (oh yeah she was 17, 2 yrs. older than me at the time but, my birthday was in a couple days) and if she didn't have a boyfriend she would go out with me if we lived near each other. I thought that was great and I wasn't too discouraged by her having a boyfriend because she told me about how they were having problems. That night went very well and we finally decided to go in at about 4:20 am and also decided to meet up again the next day. The next day I woke up and went to breakfast. I went back to my room and sat there for a while and the phone rang. It was her, and she asked me to come to her room and get her. So I did and we went out around the boat. I don't really know what we did that whole day to pass the time but it was great. We mostly sat on the deck and enjoyed the view. That night, we decided to go out to the front of the boat on the very top deck. There were a few other people there. The view was beautiful. The moon was on the other side of the boat that night but there were storms in the distance that made it amazing added to the already beautiful girl that was spending time with me. I would look over to her and she would look me in the eyes and she would turn her head and take a deep breath. "Don't do that," She would say, "It gives me butterflies." I could sit and look at her eyes forever, I didn't tell her, but her eyes gave me the same feeling. We talked again for a while and I had the greatest urge just to put my arm around her. It was eating at me so I told her what I felt. She told me if I wanted, I could put my arm around her. I told her I thought it would be wrong even though I would only be holding her. I told her I respected her relationship and that I wouldn't want it to lead to other things that would ruin a relationship. The rest of that night all I could think about was holding her. The next day was pretty much the same except that night I gave in and put my arm around her, but that is as far as it went. I really felt like I was in heaven during that night. I wished it would never end. We again enjoyed the view together and I was very open to her about my feelings and thoughts. I had never been that comfortable with anyone else in my life and it seemed so right. We again stayed out until early morning. The last day was different. I was naive and didn't realize that time was moving fast and tonight would be our last together. I couldn't believe it was going to be over so I kind of pushed that thought aside and had another day with her. We were getting so close I felt as if I knew her so well and I did. We told each other so many personal things. We completely opened up to each other over this trip. It was getting late and we got some people to take some pictures for us. We talked about keeping in touch and agreed we would write and mail and maybe an occasional call. This evening no one was out. We took some lawn chairs to the back deck and enjoyed the view of the bright moon reflecting on the calm ocean. The view itself was breathtaking. The butterflies I felt every time I looked at her this evening were very intense. We ended up not using the other chair; she sat in front of me on mine and laid back on me. I knew eventually on this night I was going to have to give in and kiss her, but I felt it was both wrong and right at the same time. I asked her what she was thinking about and she told me to look at her and I did. She said "ok, I'm waiting for you to kiss me now." Holding back I told her it wouldn't be right. She told me that she really wanted me to. I wanted to so much and couldn't hold back any longer. I looked at her and said this is quite an awkward position to kiss. Then I kissed her. It was a great kiss, I think, under the moon and looking over the ocean. I took a deep breath and realized that this was a really great choice to kiss her. This was the perfect most romantic first kiss I have ever imagined and it involved me. We tried to stay out as long as we could considering it was the last night. She began to get cold and tired so we decided to go in. I walked her to her room and stood there and hugged her for a while. For some stupid reason we thought we would see each other the next morning so we didn't really hug long. I told her I didn't want to go and she said "I know, but I will see you tomorrow." I told her goodnight and turned away, immediately when I turned from her my eyes began to fill with tears. I was upset but I thought I would see her the next day.It turned out I wouldn't see her the next day after all. I was very upset and all I could think about was her! I was very quiet that whole day and listened to a song over and over again that we both liked during the cruise. I didn't realize she was really gone until that night. I lay in bed in the hotel room and cried for a long time thinking about her and how I would probably never see her again. This was absolutely depressing to me and was having a really hard time. Three days later I was home and I got a call from her at the airport before she left for home. Then I realized that she liked me as much as I liked her considering she called me even before she got home. She said she was having more problems with her boyfriend and eventually ended up breaking up with him. We ended up talking every day on the phone quite a bit. It's been 2-3 months and there's only been one day that we haven't talked. She will visit me soon and I will come to her graduation and she plans to go to my state college. I have known for a while now that I love her. I didn't know what love was until I met her. All the times I said I love you to others meant nothing compared to the feeling behind the words when I say them to her. I will never stop loving her, and I hope she never stops loving me. We both agree we will eventually get married. I know I'm young, but my love for her won't allow me to do anything else. I believe she has the same feelings for me and I now know that life is so much more beautiful when you have found real love. My feelings are deeper than love. She is more than my love she is my life.
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