Almost there!!!!!

Picture!

Look everyone! I'm wearing makeup! Isn't it pretty?

Part 9: Conclusion

For those of you who have not heard the engagement story yet, it's absolutely wonderful. It all began on Christmas Eve night in the front room of a lovely North Dakota home.... I sat on the couch with Chris as we watched the Christmas tree lights blink on and off. It had been a splendid day full of unwrapping prezzie's, eating food, watching Chelsea, throwing pig skin and just overall enjoying the company of my family-in-law. I really wish I could remember the whole entire conversation Chris and I had sitting on the couch looking at the tree lights flicker on and off, but alas I was so excited that night and the next night etc. that I didn’t write down everything that we said in my journal. However, the important thing is that this event occurred. If Chris were telling this part of the story, it might go something like this:
Chris- “Hey, I think I love you. Want to get married?”
Amanda- "Ummmmm … Maybe. Oh I mean sure."

In reality I don’t really know what we started off talking about but whatever it was, it was beautiful, because it led Chris to tell me for the first time that he loved me. If you know anything about me, or paid attention to how long it took me admit Chris was my boyfriend, than perhaps it may surprise you that I did not have any hesitation in saying that I loved him too. In fact it was extremely easy to say. I don’t know if Chris was nervous about telling me, he probably was, but at this point, I was not nervous or scared at all, I was merely thrilled. Upon my answer to what he had just said, we both jumped up high into the air screaming and shrilling at the top of our lungs…. Or almost. Actually we just started talking more telling each other when the first time was that we realized we loved each other and other such important mushy details. We talked about what we thought about the future and by end of the chat we were un-officially engaged. Not to embarrass anyone in the story, but we were both so happy that we were crying and laughing at the same time as quietly as we could so we didn’t wake everyone up in the house.
The next day a package arrived from my mom, a particular package that was on high alert at the post office with wanted posters and sticky notes posted everywhere the eye could see reading “Have you seen Amanda’s package?” Yes! I was famous in the post office! Inside the box was a fake class ring with the promise that I would get my class ring soon… hmmm still doesn’t have that yet. The fake ring though served a purpose until it broke in half when we were putting a puzzle together. It magically made its way onto my left hand where it stayed awaiting someone to notice it. Well someone besides Chris and I that is.
I heard later that “The Parents” did notice it earlier but didn’t know what to think of it since they knew it was supposed to be a fake class ring, not a fake engagement ring. However, one afternoon when Rick was around and Chris had snuck out of sight to see how fast he could he could eat twenty five hundred chocolate chip cookies, Rick probed me about the ring, and yes I’ll admit here that I gave in and told him that we were “un-officially engaged.” Well as you can imagine the news spread from there. Michelle overheard me say that to Rick and congratulated the bewildered Chris. These congratulations as to our engagement where overheard by mom, and brought up that night at the dinner table.
We made the fateful phone call to share the news to my folk and guess what? Everyone was sleeping! How could I tell people when they were all asleep? I suppose I could have started out with “hey while you were sleeping I got engaged to Chris okay? Love ya bye!” and just hung up and waited to see if they woke up to call me back. But I didn’t. I did almost only tell my sister Amy though since no one else was on the phone, but Chris wouldn’t let me do that, so I told my mom and Amy. My dad was talking on the other phone to his parents at the time. Well that woke people up back home and there were some screaming and screeching noises. Both families knew.
Fast-forward….. eeeeeekkk. Stop. Back at college. Christmas vacation was over. “Anything interesting happen?” I was asked by my roommates. “Oh you know, I just played in the snow, went on a few walks, went to a water park, watched some movies, went ice skating forwards and backwards…” And that was that. Secretly all my roommates had conspired behind my back that I might possibly get engaged over Christmas break although the thought of when exactly I would get engaged had never exactly crossed my mind before until it happened. Okay, maybe I didn’t think about the exact day, but that doesn’t mean that I hadn’t prayed about it before going out to Minot over Christmas. (grin).
Now let’s fast-forward to another very important day. Michelle’s birthday. If you want to know the day, it was the 12th day of the month after December. Chris had asked me to dress up that night to go to a fancy restaurant. I got off of work only to discover that the dress I was going to borrow from my next door roommate was locked up since no one was home. So I waited around for a while hoping that someone would come home before it was time for me to leave. Well slightly before critical time, my roommate Shannon did the favor of calling the people next door who were out shopping and said they would come back. However, they didn’t have their key with them, so they called their other roommate Kim (who was out with a boy!!) and she came back to open the door. Hip Hip Hooray for roommates! I put the dress on and Kelsey helped fix my hair, then it was off to the fancy dinner.
Here I need to insert a flashback. After becoming engaged, I asked my mom to mail to me a can that I had made when I was in young women’s in eighth grade. Inside the can was a bunch of papers saying what I would like for my wedding, some color choices that I did not use and some random bubbles. There was also a letter written to my future fiancé. Without knowing what I had written at all, I passed the letter to Chris, who was with me when I opened the can, and watched him start laughing. As you can imagine that got me curious and I read the note which said basically “I’m only in eighth grade and think that boys are only trouble. However, if I do let you read this letter you must one day put a rose on the windshield of my car with a note saying ‘I love you.’” If you want to read the real letter word for word, you’ll have to petition Chris for it.
We walked out the apartment door together and down the snow covered icy stairs. Then Chris turned into a knight in shining armor right before my eyes! This shiny metal plating came out of nowhere, complete with sword and shield. He picked me up and carried me over the snow and ice to the car so I didn’t slip. How he managed to do that with the shield in the way, I don’t know. On the passenger side of the car was a red rose and a card. I opened the card which read “I love you -Chris.” Cutest thing ever or what? But that was only the start of the evening.
We drove to the fanciest of fancy restaurants ever! I’ll just recommend it to anyone- the apartment of Stephanie and Andy. (Side note Chris has an older brother named Jeff, who is married to Lois, who has a sister named Stephanie, which makes Stephanie my… um distant relative somehow.)The restaurant was set up like our first pizza making date. A bouquet of flowers first met my eyes situated on a side table. Off to my right was the front room with a table ornately set up with candles, table cloth and fancy plates. Classical music was playing the background; the same music as on our first date and my waiter was exceptional. (Remind me to tip him next time!) I had a wonderful meal of salad, chicken parmesan, punch, and peppermint bark. Although my waiter was also eating with me, he still managed to finish his food first. Then I was told the silliest thing of all time: to look under the table. Under the table? What was supposed to be there?
Well I looked. First I just tilted my head under and glanced at the floor but did not see anything. Then I got down on the floor and looked again at the floor and table legs and up at the underneath of the table, but still there was nothing there really! So finally after Chris assured me there was something there, I laid under the table and looked up and saw to my surprise, not the ring that we had picked out which Chris told me had not come in yet before the date started, but a yellow sticky note. The sticky note led to the duck pond where Chris and I had a picnic once and told me to feed the ducks. So we went to the duck pond and I was glad that it wasn’t very cold out since I was all dressed up. Using my superb give me a hint as to where to look methods that I use on my brothers all the time (just ask them) I got Chris to help me locate the next clue which was buried under a pile of snow next to the bench we had sat at. Glad I used my ninja skills of persuasion there or I may not have found that clue. The next clue led up the stairs to our “two minute spot” where we sat down once to talk for two minutes but talked for two hours instead. I followed footprints in the snow to find the next clue there which took me to the Indian statue on campus. From there I went to a bike rack, and then into the wilk to a picture, emergency exit, hosting cart, and my locker. The locker clue took me to the Provo temple.

The air seemed to get colder here at the Provo temple, but my heart didn't get cold. Chris took us on a walk around to the back of the Prove temple facing the temple and sign. We sat down on a previously cleared off bench where I noticed that written in the snow mound before me an angel had written in the snow with a finger "I love You." As we both sat on the bench, Chris spotted something else in the snow! He knelt down by the snow bank and pulled out of it something small and shiny. He turned around and showed me a clenched fist. Then he opened the fist somewhat slowly and inside was.... drum roll......... a Hershey's kiss! No idea what my facial expression was, but it was somewhat surprised let me tell you. I ate the chocolate and then Chris said that he saw something else in the snow. He knelt down and slipped out of his pocket a fuzzy box. On one knee he asked the most touching words in all of history, "Will you marry me?" And you know what I said? "Yes!!!!!!!!!" And I'll say it again and again and again....
Back in the apartment I snuck in with my roommates unannounced, and changed clothes. Then I wandered into the next room where everyone was and Shannon asked me to see my hand. I showed her my right one, but she insisted on seeing the left one, so I showed her that and there was a bunch of squealing sounds. I then had to go and tell my story to my roommates, to my roommates next door, to our friends from freshman year on the phone and to our guy friends. All in all, I told the story quite a few times that night. I do believe that with each telling I skipped details here and there, but that's what happens with retellings all in one night.

Part 8: Confession of Love

Wow! Talk about a real shock factor! Those Photoshop skills on that last entry were pretty impressive! Anyways, now came the tough part. I had to bear one more month of school before Christmas came along. Meanwhile, my roommate had gotten engaged three weeks after his blind date at the Haunted House. Now the pressure was on me, the other roommate with a significant other. Day after day everybody I saw asked me when I was getting married. Well, the truth was I wasn't sure. While at the redwoods in California, I had convinced myself that I loved Amanda, but considering it had taken her ages just to accept me as her boyfriend, how many more ages would it take for her to decide she loved me back?

Nevertheless, I was determined to put the plan into motion. I had to tell her I loved her. I couldn't be indecisive. I had to be bold, but not overbearing. The night was all planned out. In fact, it had been written out several months before I had even met her in the Book Part XIII, as a matter of fact.

Let's take a look at that book (Part XI, to be precise) for a moment. It contained a character named Rick Heit, who got engaged to a girl by the name of Erin Kelly. Their real life counterparts weren't even dating when it was written. They're now married. This book also contained a character named Chris Heit, who professes his love to a girl at Temple Square in December of 2007. They then got engaged and were married in the first quarter of 2008.

Surely the plan would work. The Book was a fortune teller. It had never lied once. Okay, maybe I really did hope it would lie considering that very same character was scheduled to die at the age of 40 in April of 2025.

So the plan was this: we would go to Salt Lake, attend a music concert and then walk through Temple Square to observe all the lights. After leaving the Tabernacle we would sit on a bench. While sitting there and gazing up at the millions of lights, I would let her know I loved. Nothing could go wrong.

Things started out well. The Jon Schmidt Christmas concert was a hit even if a chrysanthenum caught fire in an explosion and almost burned down the entire building (It was at the U though, so it wouldn't have been much of a loss). Afterwards we walked through the freshly fallen snow to our car and flew with fire over to Temple Square. This is where the plan started falling apart. First of all, the Tabernacle was closed to the public due to a ticketed Spanish concert. Second of all, it was freezing cold, so sitting on a bench was suicide. Third of all, in the Book the characters were all alone in Temple Square. In reality, there were about 700 million people present. There was no romantic ambience, just teenagers throwing snowballs. The magic was not there. The Book had failed me.

(Whew! That's a relief! No more dreading 2025!)

I had to resort to a backup plan. Christmas was fast approaching. Soon only 12 days remained. For the last few days Amanda had been acting more distant than right after Thanksgiving, so I had to melt her heart again, but I would do it anonymously. Another plan (non-Book inspired) was hatched. This one came from the Moody's in Syracuse, Utah. Every morning I would give her a gift to represent the twelve days of Christmas. That meant getting up at 4 AM every morning and driving over to her house in the frigid cold in my pajamas, sneaking up the stairs and driving away with my lights off.

The plan couldn't be that simple, however. This was anonymous business. I had to pose as her home teachers and give presents to the entire apartment. That way I would never be suspected! Laughing like a delivery boy, I headed to Wal-Mart and pulled off 48 presents for under 20 bucks. Talk about wise spending! With the entire apartment getting presents, I would be her last guess! (Okay, let's face it. We all know the real reason. Doing things for her roommates is a sure-fire way to win over a girl.)

Still, some of the poems I attached to the presents made it painfully obvious who the culprit was. I mean, who else would include airplane food on a package of Twizzlers? Miraculously, I was never caught all the way up to December 24 when we were heading for the airport. It took me a long time just to convince her to open it since her roommates weren't around. What was this final anticipated gift? Well, colored pencils of course.

Finally the holidays had arrived. It was time to complete the plan. I was going to tell her I loved her by the end of Christmas vacation. There was no more delaying it. I knew it was time to either move on to eternal happiness or face eternal rejection. The question was when and where I would do it. January 3rd sounded good. That way if she turned me down it wouldn't make the rest of vacation awkward.

Well, I think it'd be best to let Amanda tell you the rest of the story.

Part 7: The Plot Thickens

Arriving at the Salt Lake City International Airport, we were faced with the task of finding a way back to Provo. Luckily Allen found some random kid he knew, and we got a ride home with him. While in the car, Allen was joking to the kid about how Amanda was afraid to even call me her boyfriend, to which she responded "nah uh!" So then I turned to her questionly and asked why she'd never said it before. Before long everyone in the car was chanting, "Do it! Do it! Do it!" We were so busy prodding her on that we almost swerved into an oncoming semi.
Very timidly, so quietly that only I could hear it, she said it: "You're my boyfriend."

Yay! At long last some progress was made! Luckily over Thanksgiving everyone had worked hard to bring her to this point, since everyone but me knew she was secretly in love with me already. On Thanksgiving Day some people came to the Morse's and when they saw me and Amanda at the table, they exclaimed, "That's right! You're married now!"

We were eating tamales another day at someone's house and looked at Amanda and said, "You're in love, right?" She replied with a "maybe," which in Amanda-speak means yes 95% of the time unless it means no.

One night we were gathered around the fireplace taking turns at saying what we were thankful for. I of course said I was thankful for all of them and their hospitality and was anxious to hear what Amanda had to say. Her turn came up and the first thing she was thankful for was her cat. Then the next thing...............air! And then....................grass! And that was it! She was more thankful for air and grass than she was for me. Naturally this worried me, and that brings us back to the question everyone's been dying to know: Just what was it she wanted to tell me that final night?

I couldn't sleep at all that night. When sleep did overtake me, I was plagued with night terrors. "I never wanna see you again!" I could see her storm off in disgust as she drowned herself in the ocean.
"You're a freak! Get out of my life!"
"I can't believe I wasted a precious week of my life in your presence!"
"I'm sorry, Chris (or was it Curt? I can never remember), but I think we should just be friends."

Finally morning came and we were on that plane and then on that car, finally arriving back to where we started. My fears of that last quote were extinguished with the pronouncement that we were boyfriend and girlfriend, but the question still lingered. What did she have to tell me? Was it anything at all? No amount of prodding on the plane would help. She just wouldn't budge. She didn't have the courage to turn me away in public. I expected to get a Dear John any day.
Luckily, I didn't have to wait any more days to find out. We convened for lunch the very same day we came home. It was nice out, so we decided to take a walk and sit at a table outside. There, my secret plan would unfold.

"So, what were you going to tell me?"

"Your shoe's untied," she replied simply and started to walk away.

"Not so fast," I pulled her back onto the bench.

Finally, after almost twenty minutes of silence, she turned to me with a smile. "I want to come home with you for Christmas."

And then it happened. In that moment of joy, there on the bench in broad daylight, we had our first kiss.

Just kidding.

Part 6: Duck for Thanksgiving?

One weekend in the beginning of November, all of Amanda's roommates went to Las Vegas to party like it was 1999. She was home alone for the entire weekend, so I did the noble thing and kept her company. We spent the weekend doing wholesome non-Vegas activities such as watching An American in Paris, playing canasta, toilet papering Cecil Samuelson's house and cruising down Broadway listening to opera. Except Broadway in Provo is called University Ave. Anyways, on Sunday she got on ichat with her mom and started talking about Thanksgiving plans until I hijacked the computer and started pretending to be her. I suggested they have duck for Thanksgiving instead of Thanksgiving, and her mom was like, "Okay!" They then found out I was around and we got on the webcam. Talk about scary! I was talking with her parents face-to-face for the first time! And I had just gotten done telling her sister to eat cow tongues for lunch! I was dead meat!

Anyways, they talked about Thanksgiving for a while and somehow after getting on the subject of cranberry dessert they started joking about me coming over for Thanksgiving. Ha ha ha! Now that's a good one!

But wait? Was it really a joke? Amanda and I couldn't help but wonder after the conversation ended. She called them the next day to find out, and soon enough, I was actually invited to California for Thanksgiving! Holy Fremont, Batman!

Let's back up here. Not too many days before that, I had asked Amanda to be my girlfriend, figuring if things were made official, JKC would back off for good. I asked, and she flat out rejected me with a slap to the face. Now, less than a week later, I was going to her home for Thanksgiving. What was I to her? Just a friend, or more? The plot thickens. Ooooohhh...

The time arrived and I was so nervous I almost lost my lunch. Luckily it was evening as we touched down at the Oakland airport and I doubt my lunch was still around anyway. However, I was sick and the changing pressures practically exploded my head. Still deaf in one ear, I walked down the terminal to the baggage claim area to where her family was and promptly was ignored for the next few hours as they happily greeted Amanda and Allen. Oh well, I was half-dead anyway so it didn't matter to me. Just to not seem so awkward I stood around with the guys pretending to be part of the crowd. I was good at that in high school.

We drove to Fremont where I received my room. Actually it was Allen's room. Because of me, he got his brother's bed, who got the floor. I'm such a jerk. I'll never forgive myself for that. Luckily, that won't be a problem next time I'm there, heh heh :-0

After a rowdy game of Bang! (a cheap ripoff of Pow! I mean, there weren't even characters based off of the Heits in it), it was off to bed and hopes of getting better. Things improved the next day and by the end of the week, I was enjoying myself tremendously, so much that the prospect of returning to my roommates didn't seem particularly appealing. One day when we were visiting the redwoods, it suddenly occurred to me that I loved Amanda, something I had wondered about for a few weeks. It just kind of came as a gradual revelation. Perhaps it was prodded on by Amanda's mom, who dropped several not-so-subtle hints (not nearly as hardcore as when Christmas rolled along). By the end of the visit, her parents had already bet on how quickly we would get married.

The night before we were to fly back, a rather interesting experience took place. Amanda had a long talk with her parents for what seemed like two hours. I still don't know what all went on in this discussion, but I can guess it was along the lines of, "Just who is this bum we let in our house?" Luckily, I was never interviewed since I'm not an Eagle Scout and would've failed right then and there. Things wouldn't be like they are now.

Well, they all came downstairs to where Allen and I had been discussing computer science. Everyone just kind of stood around as if waiting for something, so I just announced that I would go to bed. I went upstairs to brush my teeth and could hear them downstairs, discussing, "Why didn't you tell him?" Well, that peeked my curiosity. A moment later Amanda's mom came up to the bathroom and told me, "Amanda has something she wants to tell you." With a wink and a playful nudge to the ribs, she added. "You should go down to 'get a drink,' heh heh."

Everyone was now in bed, and I decided to get an actual drink since I was thirsty. Amanda was in her room. The light was on, but I wasn't about to open the door. I knew the moment I did so, alarms would go off and a SWAT team would burst in, shooting me down before I could do something "inappropriate." So I took my sweet time getting a drink, trying to get her attention that I was downstairs as inconspicuously as I could. After knocking over the trash can and tripping over the counter, she still didn't come out so I just went back to bed, concerned about my wellbeing.

What did she want to tell me? Did she want to say things were over between us? At best, I imagined that she would finally admit to be my girlfriend. Dejected, I turned on my laptop and started to write in my journal.

Meanwhile, in dark clothing and a face mask, Amanda crept up the stairs to my room, determined not to hold off any longer. Allen and Adam's door was open and Adam was sleeping on the floor right in front of the doorway, so knowing if she stepped past them to open my door, alarms would go off and a SWAT team would burst in, shooting her down before she could do something "inappropriate," she went back to bed.

Thanksgiving was over. The following day we flew back to Provo, and the secret still hadn't been told. Just what did she want to tell me? Was it good? Bad? Anything at all? I could hardly stand the anticipation.

Part 5: Fly-With-Fire-Guy

One night I was walking Amanda home from work and this kid rushed past us, giving Amanda a playful slap on the arm as he went by. I soon learned I wasn't the only one competing for her affection. I had just crossed paths with the infamous published rock star, suave conversationalist, starting quarterback from high school, 3rd degree black belt whom we will refer to only as JKC. Me, I was just some dorky computer science major with glasses. JKC was in direct competition with me.

What was I to do? Luckily, it seemed I was gaining the upper hand after being preferred for Preference, but how long would that last? Rumors surfaced that JKC had written a song for Amanda that would debut in the approaching ward talent show. What could I do to top that?

I soon realized that I would have to pull out the big guns. It was time for me to fulfill the reason I had even gotten a job which led me to meet her in the first place: buying a car. It was my trump car. With a vehicle, the world would become our playground.

Now, where would a poor kid like me get a car? I had my contacts. In April of 2007 I was the best man at an old mission buddy's wedding. Now, in November, I came back to him with a deal. In exchange for the great service I had done for him months ago, he would now sell me his car. The deal was struck, the car was repainted, and I had my wheels: a sweet 1994 Chevy Cavalier codenamed Fly-With-Fire-Guy.

There was only one problem. I only had one month of experience driving a stick, and that was three years ago. Determinately I hit the parking lot, stopping and going like the best of them. Within a week I was comfortable driving it on even the eight-lane interstate amidst a raging blizzard.

The effort was well worth it. It turned out that Amanda couldn't resist a guy who could drive a stick. Unbeknownst to be at the time, she fell madly in love with me the moment she first set foot in the car.

A certain someone was going to admit defeat that easily. Though I held her hand freely in public now, JKC continued his pursuit when I wasn't around. Finally he appeared to give up, and for a month I didn't hear from him.

One cool night I was walking to my car after work. It was almost 9:30 PM and the parking lot was mostly deserted. I heard footsteps and stopped cold. Someone was following me. Glancing back, I saw a shadow duck behind a tree. Somewhat disturbed, I continued for my car. There was another noise and I spun around, finding myself face-to-face with JKC all alone in the vast parking lot.

"Listen, buddy," he hissed. "Last night I had a revelation that Amanda is the only girl for me. I don't want to see you anywhere near her from now on."

What was I supposed to do? He had a black belt. Sure, my brother might be the mighty Rikkon, but in real life, I had nothing on this kid. Backing up towards my car, I stuttered, "H-have you talked with her about this yet?"

"That's not important," JKC took a step for me. "What matters is that you get out of my way before I'm forced to hurt you."

Frantically looking around, I sought a way to escape. Alas, there was none. My car was locked; there was no way I could escape in it either. The only choice was to fight. Instinctively I rushed at him. In surprise he jumped out of the way and I ran with all my might towards the Wilk, having to dodge traffic as I rushed across the intersection. Luckily the traffic held him up and I was able to duck inside.

Now what? I needed to get to my car and get out of this place, but he was sure to hang out right next to my car until I came back. I had to outsmart him. Luckily, I had won an award in high school for being Mr. Smarty Pants. As luck would have it, I was wearing those smart pants that very night. Quickly I punched in the code to the Cougareat locker area where he couldn't follow me and pulled out my phone.

"Brandon, I need your car right away," I muttered so JKC couldn't hear through the door. The plan was quickly set up and I glanced back into the basement hallway. JKC was nowhere in sight. He must've returned to the parking lot. I slowly made my way back to the parking lot hoping my plan would work. As far as I could recall, JKC had never seen my car, but he would assume the Chevy Cavalier was mine after our run-in a few minutes ago. I walked across the street, holding my breath. If things didn't go exactly as planned, I would soon be laying on the ground in pain. Scanning the parking lot, I located the white Dodge Intrepid exactly where we had planned. I hurried straight past my car just as JKC appeared from the shadows. Kicking on the high jets I made way for Brandon's car. The door was unlocked and I leapt inside. The keys were in the ignition waiting for me. Locking the door again, I turned the car on and backed away. What a classic look on JKC's face as I left that parking lot!

After driving home, I walked back to the lot to get my own car. Thankfully, I never had another run-in like that.

Part 4: Cranking Things Up a Notch

Right around this time it was beginning to occur to me that Amanda was the most amazing girl on the planet and that she deserved my full attention. Unfortunately she did an excellent job at hiding her thoughts and feelings so I had no idea what she thought of me. We went to Divine Comedy the following week for the follow-up date and then ate out at Red Robin. The waiter stole my debit card behind my back and I didn't realize it until several hours later. My roommates and I had to perform a midnight rescue operation involving throwing a brick through their window in order to catch the man before he made his escape with my card. Unfortunately, he had already spent over $6000 with it. I'm never eating at Red Robin again.

But regardless of that incident, Amanda seemed indifferent towards me and I decided to call it quits. I stood no chance. There was no hope for progress. I therefore kept my eyes open for other prospects more on my level. Meanwhile, Halloween was approaching and my roommate Jason wanted to do a double date at a haunted house. We decided that I had by the end of the night to find a date for the very next weekend after Red Robin incident. Well, there was only one person I could think of that I could take: Amanda.

And so it was. I marched onto campus that night determined to complete my mission. I was almost done typing up Part X of The Book. I had to complete it. But that wasn't my main mission. My main mission involved the Cougareat. At that time I had nice fifty percent discounts, so I decided to take advantage and have dinner there. Guess who was working as a host that night? Some kid named Daniel. Oh yes, and someone named Amanda as well. I sat there eating my food thinking of Jason's challenge. Yes, I had to ask her. I had to give myself one more chance. There she was, changing trashes all by her lonesome. I approached her and after a little hesitation, I extended the invitation. Despite my fears that I was taking away all her weekends from my friends, she accepted for a third week in a row.

Things were even better. The very next day I was sitting in the library studying for my D&C test, when the phone rang. It was Amanda. She had never called me before, but I had stuck her number in my phone for convenience. I answered, expecting something work-related. It was not. She invited me to the Halloween Preference dance! Wow! Maybe she did see something in lowly old me after all!

Two dates with Amanda on one weekend! Could life get any better? Probably, like in 23 days from today, but back then it was pure bliss. Even though most songs were of the unknown jump in the air like monkeys variety, we still managed to enjoy ourselves. The night was memorable in that we took our first pictures together then:

As you can see, I snuck my arm around her. Chris, you sly dog, you! Afraid she would think I was nothing but a player, I've never done it again since.

The following night was the big one. I had a feeling it would be the deciding night. If things went well, I would keep pursuing the relationship. If not, I would run away and hide in a cave for the remainder of my days. It was time for the scary haunted house, the Nightmare on 13th. The double date dare had now become a triple date: Jason and Holly, me and Amanda, and my roommate Brandon on a blind date with Kerri. Now, since I still consider this to be the defining moment in the progression of our relationship, you all get a special treat. I'm taking the following directly out of my journal!

"After Brandon got back home, we were supposed to prepare for tonight’s date, but instead hooked his laptop up to the big screen TV we got yesterday and played Bomberman until an hour beforehand. Finally Jason came back from the library and we vacuumed out Brandon’s car and filled the tank before picking up the girls: first Holly, Jason’s date; then Kerri, Brandon’s date, and finally Amanda. We drove up to Salt Lake and basically held three separate conversations. I needed to pee really badly. We went to Rumbi’s Island Grill to eat, and Amanda and I decided to get two things and share them for more variety, so I got a sandwich and her a rice bowl. It even had Jamaica Jerk sauce! Talk about gross. We ended up eating my fries and most of her rice, but the sandwich still hasn’t even been touched.

Then we headed over to Nightmare on 13th, supposedly the scariest haunted house in Utah. There were a bunch of guys in costumes who stuck their noses in your date’s face while we were in line. One of them got uncomfortably close to Amanda, so I knocked his stilts out from under him. He didn't bother anyone else that night.

After getting inside the building while winding through the dark lines, the lights went out. Axes fell from the ceiling and screams of pain arose around us. Realizing this haunted house was for real, I threw Amanda to the ground just as a razor blade flew overhead. The six of us crawled out of the room as people collapsed around us. Finally we made it into the dimly lit hallway where a zombie admitted us into the main building. His eyes rolled up and a ghost flew out of his mouth just as a tarantula dropped from the ceiling and landed on Amanda's head. She screamed, flung it off and grabbed my hand. For the remainder of the night, she held me in a death grip. We continued on threw different planes of the surreal, traveling across dimensions and dodging ghouls and demons. At one point a suit of armor swung a sword at Amanda and I valiantly took the blow in my stomach. It was a rough night, but we made it out alive.

After the haunted house we drove back to Provo and rented 1408, which was supposed to be a scary movie about a haunted hotel room. Well, in actuality I wasn’t the slightest bit scared at any point in the movie, and nobody else really seemed to be either. Except Amanda, she clutched me tightly throughout the entire thing. Suffice it to say I had no difficulty getting to sleep."

We held hands for the first time! Great, I thought. Now everyone's gonna want M&Ms. Luckily, at this point few people even knew about Amanda. For the most part, the night was great. It was the closest I'd ever felt to Amanda before. However, I went to bed feeling discouraged. What if she had just held my hand from fright and not because she liked me?

It was a feeling that I quickly had to overcome in the weeks to follow. Things were about to get complicated.