A Real Love Story

Ella was hopeless. She missed Rusty with every cell in her body and then some. They met at school. It had been a blossoming friendship four years in the making. She had no idea that in the course of those four years she would fall undoubtedly in love with him. Maybe this short story should start at the beginning.

Rusty was a freshman and Ella, a sophomore. He stood out even though he was one of the most introverted people she'd met. He had dark curly hair that would make the girls jealous. He had glasses and they made him look intelligent and older. He was dressed in almost a semi-formal attire; button down shirt and khaki shorts. He had a particular swagger that Ella would soon recognize even in the night light.

They had classes together and slowly but surely they became friends. Rusty and Ella had many things in common. They loved to read and write. They often talked about books and favorite authors. They were so nerdy when they were around one another. They could sit and talk for hours. Sometimes Ella would go for a walk and ask Rusty if he wanted to go along, he almost always said yes.

After about two and a half years of movies, valentine's days, walks, classes and talks… Ella found herself liking Rusty as more than just a friend. For Valentine's Day she asked him to the school dance. They went to the dance and for a Valentine's gift he wrote he a poem. At the end of the poem he asked her out. Ella treated him to dinner and that weekend was the start of their relationship.

He started hanging out later and later in her room. She would pick longer movies so she had more time with him. Throughout the movies she would inch closer and closer into his arms. At night she would walk him to the door. Every night she asked for a kiss and every night he resisted. It absolutely took her breath away. She would go up the stairs and watch him walk away till he was out of sight. He heart would race and she would smile the brightest of smiles. Ella's friends even noticed. They declared that she had a glow about her.

But all was not as happy as it seemed on the surface. Both Rusty and Ella had issues deep within their hearts that would inevitably bring them to a painful halt. They both had haunting pasts and torments of their hearts and minds. After six happy months they had a brief but determined conversation. They came to a mutual decision that they couldn't be with each other until they cleared their hearts.

It has been nearly a year since they parted ways. They still talk and they still watch movies. They still go for walks and they still share writings and tails with each other. Every time Ella sees a picture, hears his voice, hears a song that reminds her, or god forbid… reads the poem, her heart breaks and she wishes she could take it all back.

Ella will forever love Rusty and this is the story of how her heart got stolen…