While attending undergrad at UTEP, Willie and I had eachother for Pre-Calculus. On this particular Friday, I was running late to class and was informed by my classmates that they were getting in groups and some guy had taken my seat. So as I rushed to class, my only concern was getting this guy out of my seat and out of my group. I smiled at the teacher assistants as I walked in and looked at the chair thief, my smile fading. There he sat, arm crossed with a pen to his cheek, hat on backwards, and a nervous smile. The way his eyes seemed to follow my every move gave me butterflies. He watched me as I walked towards him and quickly dropped his gaze when I was mere inches from him. I informed him he took my spot and he merely shrugged, beginning to work on the assignment. As I took another seat and joined my—our group, I introduced myself to this stranger. Willie didn’t speak much, just focused on the assignment we had. This intrigued me because he was like a mystery I wanted to figure out. In hopes of starting conversation with him, I began to ask if anyone had plans for the weekend. Luckily it worked. During our conversation I found him to be funny, smart, and kind. I also found myself wanting to make him laugh just so I could see him smile. Halfway through our group conversation, Willie asked if any of us had plans for Valentine’s Day. When each of us said no, he quickly changed the subject and questioned my outfit, more so my shirt. ( I was wearing an NMSU shirt) Willie said it was weird that I attended UTEP but was wearing our rival schools shirt. I told him to mind his business and he laughed, in turn showing me a genuine smile. The butterflies were back. At the end of class, Willie walked me down the hall, across campus, and we were halfway to my car when I nervously asked where he was going and he said, “to get something to eat” as he pointed to the Whataburger. We were waiting to cross Mesa street when he asked me for my number. I gave it to him, we hugged and went our separate ways. Before even making it to my car, Willie messaged me and asked if I wanted to go out with him on Valentine’s Day. I said yes.

I was in my Pre-calculus class when the TA announced that we had to pair up in groups of four. Me, being socially awkward, did not bat an eye to the people around me, instead I glanced down at my phone. Suddenly a random person asked me if I would like to join their group because one of their members was running late. I accepted, unaware of how unprepared I was in meeting said late group member. When suddenly, out of the corner of my eye I saw a girl walking in at a hasty pace. First I noticed her horrendous NMSU shirt, and I quickly snapped my gaze upward to find the sorry face who would ever willingly put that shirt on. My world completely stopped. My gaze fell on a beautiful nervous smile that she directed at the TA and then her eyes swept the room until they met mine. Chocolate brown. I gazed at her beautiful brown eyes with each step she took towards my desk. I could not revert my gaze from her beauty. Once in front of me she exclaimed, “who the hell is this sitting at my desk?” At that point, I snapped back to reality and was befuddled by what she had just asked. I proceeded to ask for her name and she replied, “Eternity”. The rest of our group had to explain why I was with them, as she rolled her eyes and preceded to sit with us. As time progressed and I watched her interact with the rest of our group, I was drawn to her sarcastic sense of humor and her smile. With the math assignment done, I asked what they were all doing for Valentine’s day, interested in only hearing her plans. “I’ll probably take my mom to McDonald’s to the one dollar menu,” I said jokingly. Eternity laughed, rolled her eyes, and said sarcastically, “what a great son”. She then replied that she had no plans for that day. I was ecstatic with her answer. At the end of class, I walked alongside her and we continued down University street. When we were near Whataburger she asked me where I was going and I nervously lied saying, “ I’m going to go get food at Whataburger”. In that moment I knew I needed to take my shot, and so I asked her for her number because I wanted to keep talking to her. She gave me her number, we hugged, and said our goodbyes. I waited as she crossed the road, and then I walked right past the Whataburger and straight back to my dorm. As I walked to my dorm, knowing I succeeded in getting her number, I tried my luck and asked Eternity if she wanted to go on a date with me on Valentine’s Day. She said yes.