It was 9:00 a.m. on a thick, hot August day. I was seventeen and on my way home from the grocery store when suddenly I hear a “thoomp, thoomp, thoomp” and realized that my tire popped. I didn’t drive over any glass or rocks, and there were no punctures in my tires… it just deflated completely. I hurriedly steered my goofy white ’96 Geo Metro, with the license plate “tic tac”, across traffic onto the side of the road that actually had a shoulder and started crying because I had no cell phone and no idea what to do. I opened my trunk to retrieve the spare tire and car jack but realized that to reach my spare, I would have to move the two tons of clothes, shoes, makeup, school books and painting supplies that piled on top. As I finally threw the last pile of stuff from my trunk into the back seat of the car, I realized I didn’t have a car jack- nor did I know where to even begin to take a tire off of a car. Frustrated, sweaty and crying I started to contemplate walking 10 miles to the nearest inhabited area to call my parents.
Suddenly a sleek black car pulls up behind me and out steps a handsome sort of scruffy guy in a bright green t-shirt with short, black hair and the most beautiful, warm, chocolate- brown eyes. I immediately forgot about my tire and tried to fix my frizzy, sweat-drenched hair and eye makeup that had, somehow, ended up on my chin and navy blue t-shirt. He walked up to me and asked if I was alright to which I replied… “I am so sorry I look horrible”. He began to laugh and told me that I pull off the “damsel in distress” look quite well. Needless to say, I got butterflies like never before.
He proceeded to grab his car jack and grab the spare tire out of my trunk. I asked him if there was anything I could do to help, and he said “don’t think you’re getting off that easy! I’m going to teach you!”. He showed me how to take the tire off and put the little baby tire back on, tightening the bolts in a star pattern… etc. I have never had any desire to learn about cars, but at this point I was hoping something else would go wrong with my “tic tac” before he left.
Unfortunately, nothing else was wrong with my vehicle- but he and I stood out in the sweltering heat chatting for an hour. I found out his name was Daniel and not only was he super attractive, he was smart, hilarious and humble- which made me even more intrigued. He asked for my phone number “just in case the spare pops too” and I, of course, gave it to him (which I rarely did). I gave him a bear hug and thanked him about a hundred times. He laughed his deep, sincere chuckle and we drove our separate ways.
Around 1:00 that afternoon I received a text asking about my tire. It was him! After texting for quite some time, he invited me out that night. We went to his grandfathers house and chatted for hours and I met a few of his family members. We all got along so well that I, somehow, ended up falling asleep on the couch. It was a weekend, so I assumed my parents would not be AS mad that I had been out all night… I was wrong. They told me to leave, the only home I had ever known, and live somewhere else since I could not inform them of my whereabouts.
That was the day Dan and I began living together. How it happened? I have no idea. I moved in with him at his grandfathers house, where two weeks later Dan asked me to be his girlfriend- which I obviously said a big Y-E-S to! Two months later, when we turned eighteen, we decided to leave his grandfathers house and ended up renting a room from a man in town for a few months then upgraded to getting our very own apartment.
Things were moving unusually quick in our relationship, but neither of us had any hesitations. This story would never end if I told you all of the fun and crazy things that happened the following three years we spent together, not taking a “break” even once, so I will cut to the chase.
After three years of fun, maturing and lots of love, Dan brought me out to a beautiful dinner that was picture perfect- with candles and lobster, in the heart of the city. After we left the restaurant he brought me on a walk along the river just outside of the loud busy streets. He stood behind me, wrapped his warm arms around me and started to talk about how much I meant to him and how glad he was that I had such horrible tires. He turned me around, looked into my eyes, got down on one knee and asked me to marry him. I cried like a baby as he slipped the ring on my finger. Between my tears and giggles I managed to get out the word “Yes” and I fell into his arms.
We are currently engaged and planning our September 10, 2011 wedding. Our parents are both so excited that we have found one another and can not wait for us to say our “I do’s”. Our budget is tight (my parents are not able to help pay, due to the fact that I have three other siblings and my mother is a homemaker) and all of our funds are going towards the reception , since we are younger than the average American newlyweds… so finding a honeymoon has been a major issue. Ultimately, I do not care what happens on the day of our wedding as long as I get to marry my Daniel.
Thank you for taking the time to read our love story! Please keep your fingers crossed for us, so maybe we can find a honeymoon!
Are you bored with you partner? Stimulate your relationship.
