Day 11 - Brandon W

There are some people who will never exist on a first name basis in your memory. Brandon W*** is one of those people for me.

He was verifiable gorgeous; I can't think of a girl in my school who didn't think so. In fourth grade, a friend dared me to kiss him. I'm not sure why I thought it was a good idea, but I don't like to back down from a challenge. Plus, in the very back corner of my mind (hidden from every other person in the world), I'm afraid to say, I hoped he might kiss me back. (O! That's an awfully embarrassing thing to admit, even if it is 15 years later.) I remember not eating much lunch because I was supposed to do it afterward, during recess . I must have put chapstick on once a minute instead. I just kept running it over my lips, as if it would build my courage and magically make everything work out.

It seemed Brandon was always playing some sport with all the other boys during recess. Sometimes, the really popular girls would tease him or cheer him on. I stood at the edge of this crowd that day. I can't remember if it was soccer or football, but does it matter? There was a brief break in the action, and I ran forward and grabbed Brandon. I think I landed the kiss just to the right of his lips, so I may have even tried again. In front of everyone. He pushed me to the ground, running back to the game and wiping off his mouth.

Ugh, I'm still embarrassed.

Despite his unwelcoming reaction to my attempts, I still had a crush on Brandon. It was an affliction I didn't shake until 6th or 7th grade when he seemed to finally realize the effect he had on his female peers and became cocky.