Background Story

My name is Kristen. I'm twenty five years old. I'm a dance instructor, and I live in Vancouver. And I know absolutely nothing about men.

My ex-boyfriend James and I had just broken up. Seven years of my life. Gone. It was time. I had been miserable. In my mind it had been over for a while. Like over a year a while. I just hadn't had the emotional strength to do anything about it. Until finally, one October night, it happened. And it was over, just like that. A relief really. It was like pulling off a very stubborn band aid. You know it's going to hurt, but after it's over, the pain is gone. At least it was for me.

Ben was a guy I went to high school with. Actually the guy I was in love with pretty much all throughout high school (if I knew what love back then, which I didn't, but you know what I mean). Totally infactuated to say the least. I will never forget the first day of school. We all gathered into the gymnasium for some sort of 'first day' orientation. Ben walked in, late. The teacher directing the orientation clearly knew him, well, and made some crack about him always been late....or something. I couldn't tell you exactly what he said because I was completely enthralled in his presence for some odd reason. He made a joke back, and right away I liked him. I thought to myself, 'You're funny. I like you.' Makes no sense I know, but after that first day, I was screwed. For the next five years of high school, even when I liked other guys, dated other guys (for like two weeks, if that can even be called a relationship), he was always there, and I never got over that crush.

After high school we never spoke. He went off to University, and eventually moved to Victoria, and I went off to dance. Travelled Europe for a few months, dancing on a cruise ship, and eventually ended up in Edmonton with James, who I thought was the real love of my life. There was one time while living in cow town Ben and I talked on the phone for a good hour, maybe longer. I can't remember how or why it happened, but I was as giddy as I was back in high school. I guess some things never change.

This passed summer I knew my relationship with James was ending, but I was in complete denial on how to deal with it. I was in Vancouver visiting family (and select friends) when Ben called. In a world run by myspace and facebook, he actually made the effort to call. Impressed, I called him back immediately, and we met up for coffee.

As soon as he walked in I was speechless. I was completely distracted by his brilliant blue eyes. Were they always that blue? I couldn't remember ever being that weakened just by looking into his eyes. He looked lean, yet built, well groomed....and downright sexy. I sighed to myself. Fuck me.

"Hey!" he said, leaning in for a friendly hug. I happily accepted the embrace.
"How are you?" I said, a little too excited.
"Good, good!" he replied.

We talked for hours. It was so easy! We talked about everything, what we'd each been up to for the past few years, school, work. Then it got into deeper conversation. He mentioned how he just got out of a relationship, I shone a little light on how things with James weren't so great.
"What's going on there?" he asked casually.
"Well," I said sighing, "we're just not in the same place. I want to dance and travel and live my life, not be tied down to a nine to five mediocre job and a mortgage. All James wants to do is make money."
He nodded and seemed to understand.
"I know exactly what you mean," he said, and went on to tell me how he had just spent the last four months in Germany and the surrounding area, rowing for Canada's National Rowing team.
"There were days where I was literally living off Snickers bars for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, rowing for hours and hours on end, going to bed completely exhausted, and getting up and doing the exact same thing all over again. But I had the time of my life."
"That is amazing!" I exclaimed. "What a fantastic experience." I got so excited listening to him share his story of living out a dream, and it just reminded me of how much I wanted just that.

I went home totally ecstatic.
"Do you know how good it feels to talk to someone who sees life the way you do and wants the same things as you do?!" I said to my mother. "I could talk to him for hours." It just felt so good. It was just what I needed.
About a month later, back in Edmonton, I had finally gotten up the courage to break up with James. Weeks later, we let the rest of the world know by changing our facebook statuses. Text messages, postings, and emails poured in from both sides. 'Are you ok?', 'What happened!', and 'You'll get through this!' Yeah, thanks. Amongst those messages was a voicemail, from Ben. Once again he had risen above all odds and actually took the time to call. I could not have been more enthused.
"Hey," his message started, "I just wanted to make sure you weren't in a Motel Six off the Trans Canada Highway hanging from your shower curtain," he said laughing. "Give me a call when you're back in town."
I was going to be back in town in a few weeks, but of course I couldn't wait til then.

"Hey!" I said when he answered.
"How's it going?" he said, half chuckling.
"Oh I'm good," I said smiling. "I'm not ready to jump off the cliff just yet."
"Good to hear!" he replied back. "So when you back in town?"
"In two weeks," I said excited.
"Well give me a shout! We'll go for coffee again or something."
"Sounds good," I said. I couldn't wait.