I was sitting at home, watching my sisters while my parents were at a meeting, when I got a call from one of my dear friends, Melanie. She asked me if I would like to accompany her on a skiing trip to Paoli Peaks. It was January 18, 2001. The trip was set for January 26-27th. I was thrilled because I hadn't been skiing for almost three years. What I didn't know was that this trip would change my life forever.

I left school early on Friday, January 26th, and with my five layers of extra clothing stuffed into a backpack, my mom drove me to Melanie's home. I stayed there until it was time to leave for the church, where we would catch a ride with the rest of the youth group. It was about ten o'clock at night, and it was freezing! I had on an ugly, oversized coat that my mom let me borrow. It was the only water proof coat we owned that fit me, so I had to make do. We gave Melanie's youth minister, Jason Bradshaw, our money, permission slips, and my medical release form, and retreated to the rental van, where it was warm. Inside, in the second row, sat a boy whom I had never seen before. He was trying to beat the weather too, but was huddled in his coat like Melanie and I were. He recognized Melanie, and immediately greeted her, showing off his learner's permit he just got. She looked at it and congratulated him. Then, she introduced us. "Brandon, this is my friend, Desiree. Desiree, this is Brandon." I managed a small hello, and then turned around in my seat. I couldn't believe how hot he was! I tried so hard not to keep turning around to get a better look at him, but at times my instincts got the better of me. The rest of the youth group piled in, and we settled in for the long trip to Paoli Peaks.

Our job, as the passengers, was to keep the driver, Jason, awake. So, accompanied by a van half full of rednecks, we screamed, whooped and hollered until we were exhausted. Never once did I hear any rowdy noises come from Brandon, though.

We got to the ski resort and had to wait for Jason to get the tickets. I was whispering to Melanie, asking her about Brandon, telling her I thought he was cute, and ignoring her respond to my feelings. I tried so hard to get a look at him without being caught by him, but eventually he turned around and looked at me! He must have felt my stare. He said hello, and introduced himself again. I said hi, and we started up a conversation. It went very well, and I monitored every word that came out of my mouth, so I wouldn=t scare him off.

Jason came back with the tickets, and we were free to get dressed, get our skis, and hit the slopes. Melanie and I disappeared in the restroom for what seemed a long time, waiting in line, getting dressed, and me grilling her for more details about Brandon. I could already tell that there was something about him. I had never felt this tingling before, never for someone I had a crush on.

We finished in the restroom and was putting our stuff away, when Jason, his wife, and Brandon walked out of the rental room, informing us they were hitting the slopes. Brandon and I locked eyes and said hello again. They went out and Melanie teased me about my crush on Brandon while we got our ski shoes, skis, and poles.

As soon as we figured out my skis and found a nice place to begin the descend, I heard his voice. "Hey! You're that Desiree girl!" I immediately turned to find him. I was thrilled that he wanted to hang out with me! I showed him how to put on the skis and told him the basics to skiing. Melanie wasn't going to ski, so she went up to the lodge and sat. Brandon and I spent the next several hours talking, laughing, falling, and skiing. He spent most of the time on his butt in the snow. When we finally got back up the hill after the first run, we went and ate in the lodge. It was packed! We had to practically steal a couple of chairs, just to sit. We got food, and really connected with one another. We talked for a long while. The more I learned about him, the bigger my crush got.

Back out on the slopes, we skied down two more times before leaving. In that time, Brandon flipped over a fence backwards and got his legs hung up. I thought he had broken something! He wasn't hurt though.

All through the night, I kept thinking, I need to give him my number or get his so we can stay in touch. But I never did. I was having so much fun on the slopes and by the time I got back in the van, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep before we even left. When I woke up, I remembered that I wanted him to have my number, but just as the thought crossed my mind, we pulled into Melanie's driveway and I had to leave. I let this wonderful guy slip between my fingers, and I didn't even make an effort to change that.

I told my family all about Brandon and the trip. How I taught him to ski and how we bonded. I told my friends that there something about him that made him stand above the rest. He so incredible, yet I let him get away. I felt that it was a one-night-stand, so to speak, and that I may never see him again. After several months of begging Melanie to talk to him and give him my number, I gave up and became depressed. Nothing anyone said helped. I let myself go and felt that I would never find this guy again. I went on for six months without so much as a word from him. I finally figured out his last name, which Metts was Brandon in the phone book, his address, and number, all with the help of Melanie. My mom suggested that I call, just to say hi. She even said I could call once a week, using the cell phone. I chickened out, though. I kept thinking, "as hot as he is, he's gotta have a girlfriend, and she's probably a cheerleader or something. He would never want me." The months past, and I eventually gave up on him.

In May 2001, Melanie called me, asking if I was going to church camp in the summer. "Of course!" I said, and I told her that I was going whichever week she chose. We went to Senior 1 the past year, and we enjoyed it. So, we were going back to Senior 1 again this year. We talked some more, and then out of nowhere, she asks, "You remember Brandon Metts?"

Do I remember Brandon Metts?! How could I forget him? "Yes..." I replied. She then informed me that she was going to wilderness that summer as well, and Brandon had expressed interest in going the same week as Melanie! I immediately jumped up and checked the calendar... but to my despair, wilderness was during one of the crucial weeks of band camp! That ruled out going the same week. Using my brain, I began composing a plan for how I was going to reconnect with my crush.

I finally decided that I would write him a letter. Everyone receives letters at camp, so why not write him one? Then Melanie told me that it wasn't for sure if he was going or not. I decided that I would write him a letter and slip it in with one of Melanie's. I told her of this plan, and she agreed to give it to him. This way, if he wasn't there, she could give it to him at church.

It took me at least 30 minutes to write the letter. When it was satisfactory, I slipped it in the envelope and prayed he wouldn't reject me.

The Saturday after their week at camp, I received a phone call. From Brandon. I recognized his voice immediately (how could I forget the sweet tones of his voice?) I was so happy he had called! We talked for an hour and ten minutes, reacquainting ourselves. His call made my day. I got his number, and we stayed in touch. We continued to call about once a week, then three or four times a week.

I was so happy that we were in touch! I began thinking about if he was boyfriend material. All signs pointed towards yes, but I needed a second opinion.... I asked friends whether it was okay or not for the girl to ask out the guy. One friend said that she asked her boyfriend out and they had been going out for about a year and a half. I was worried that he wouldn't accept me. I thought he wasn't as attracted to me as I was to him.

Another trip came up. This time it was Newsong and just like before, I was going with Melanie and her youth group, except this time, Brandon and I already knew each other and had decided before hand to hang out together. We reacquainted ourselves on the trip, and became better friends. By the end of the trip, I would say we knew each other rather well. My biggest challenges on this trip were to keep my hands to myself, not be clingly, and not to annoy Brandon. One highlight of the trip was when a big rainstorm came and trapped the whole youth group under a very small shelter, which Brandon and I huddled underneath until the storm passed. During this time, I made two or three trips back and forth to my tent that was at least ten feet away to retrieve snacks and such for my hungry friend. :)

The trip ended all too soon, and Melanie had to almost drag me away when it was time to leave. I watched until I couldn't see him anymore as we drove away from the church parking lot. Then I was like, "Melanie, he is so hot. He's wonderful!" She ignored me. My dad and uncle were waiting in the truck at Melanie's house when we got back. I gushed all day about Brandon and how I liked him. My aunt, Christy, asked if we were going out, and I said "no, no..........not yet...." later that night, I sat in my room and cried because I missed him and I realized that I can't seem to live without him. So, I consulted my friends about whether I should ask him out, or wait on him. All of them said that I shouldn't worry about his feelings for me. If I felt that I wanted to go out with him, I should take the risk.

On August 14th, I got up the nerve to ask him out. I decided to do it over the phone that night. I called, we talked for a little while, then, I surprised him by asking, "would you be my boyfriend?" I held my breath so not to miss a word.

He replied, "Whoa! That came outta left field. Um, I'll have to think about that one. Ok... I'll call you tomorrow." We talked for a little longer, then got off.

I was so nervous, and anxious to know his answer. Finally, the evening of August 15, 2001 came, and by nine he hadn't called (because Daddy was on the Internet) so I used the cell phone and called him. He said, "I've thought about this all day, and, well.... yes." I was so happy! I was floating for the next several days.

Now, it has been almost 8 months, and we have grown closer than ever before, and we both want this to last forever. We are so perfect for each other, at least he is for me. I'll always have Brandon by my side, and when things get rough, I know he'll always be there for me.

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