Hey Miky(Mickey)

They were in a stripe mall building turned into a youth group meeting place. It was small and cramped. The walls were painted in black light and colorful paint, and video game consoles and TVs were attached to one room. They could play before the service started. Another room was a kitchen with a big island in the middle where pizzas were lined up and soda and cups for the kids to enjoy. The biggest room with the windows facing the parking lot was a sanctuary of sorts. It had a small stage and podium with a drum set, guitar, keyboard, and bass player. She was standing in the kitchen with her small group of friends. They had been chatting away about their lives in middle school. She was in 8th grade at the tiny school of Empire. Thomas, her best male friend, (who later came out as gay), went to Comanche a bit larger school but still close by. And Kenna her best friend since they were five also went to Empire but was in the 9th grade. At Empire, it didn't matter it was so small high school and middle school was in the same building.

"So will you tell him for me, Ken" Mikayla asked. She was too shy she told herself but the truth was it was her anxiety again. She wouldn't really understand it until she was an adult but it tormented her, her whole life.

The "him" she was referring to was a new guy who had started coming to youth group. He was so handsome. Light brown hair cut in the bowl style like Nick Carter from The Backstreet Boys. He had hazel eyes, was pretty tall, and could skate. Skateboarders were so cool during that time. It was the spring of 2001. Their only cares were school, boys, and music on MTV. TRL specifically. Mikayla was cute but not popular cute. She was a dark blonde with natural curls and a mouth full of braces. She wasn't the most fashionable but she got by. She couldn't skateboard but she could sing and act. She was on the praise team and the drama team for the church.

"I'll go but he may think I'm playing a prank," Kenna said.

"Please" Mikayla begged Kenna as she tugged on her arm and gave her, her best doe-eyed look.

Kenna walked away and delivered the message to the cute guy while Mikayla waited anxiously with Thomas who was rolling his eyes at them both.

"You know he will probably think it is her and not you," he told Mikayla.

But she shooed him off.

Kenna came back grinning and laughing "Um"

"Well," Mikayla asked excitedly.

"He thought I meant myself but I told him no it is my friend and I pointed into this room.

Just then the cute guy came in and walked right up to the girls.

"Hi I'm David"

"See," Kenna said as Mikayla shook his hand. "This is my friend Mikayla. She thinks you're cute" She winked at Mikayla and left her there with him.

He chuckled and gave a cocky smile "Well, if your name is Mikayla why does your nametag say "Miky" he asked as he pointed to the sticker on her shirt. All the students had to wear one but they were allowed to write the name themselves with a permanent marker in various colors. Usually, they gave nicknames. His read David though with a silly face drawn next to it.

"Oh uh that's my nickname," she said shyly as she grinned back at him.

"Oh Miky you're so fine, you're so fine you blow...my mind," he said with a wink.

To her 14-year-old brain, this was so cute and funny. She of course knew the song from the 1980's but she loved the way he said it with the little pause.

They talked for a while and even sat next to each other during the service time.

He smiled and clapped during worship and kept staring at her.

She felt so special.

No boy, at least not one she really thought was cute, had stared at her like that. She had butterflies the whole night.

David was a little younger than her by a few months but he was also 14 but in the 7th grade at Comanche.

Thomas had known who he was but wanted to let the girls have their fun. He liked David so he gave his blessing to his friend.

They exchanged numbers and she memorized his right away (They didn't have cellphones everywhere then).

They began dating, at least as much as 2 kids who go to different schools and have to rely on their parents can.

Mikayla's parents would drive them or David's dad would.

Their first date was at the movies of course. They went to see a film with Cuba Gooding Jr. about Snow Dogs. David was late arriving and Mikayla was worried he had bailed on her. She had this overwhelming feeling like she wasn't good enough for him because he was just so damn cute and the boys at her school had teased her and treated her so badly she felt less than.

David showed but about halfway through the movie. It was his dad's fault. He had, had to work late and it took a while to pick David up and drop him off. Then when he got to the theater he couldn't find her. Of course, no cell phones meant throughout the film they were walking up and down the aisles trying to find one another and they just kept missing each other. Mikayla's friend Ashley was with her and her date Kyle had come with David so when they finally found each other it was so sweet.

Mikayla ran up and hugged David. Yes, this was their first date but they had been chatting on the phone all week about it and really getting to know one another. She was falling in love and she hoped he felt the same.

After the movie was over they walked to her cousins house because it was close by and her mom had told her to meet her there. Ashley's mom had picked up her and Kyle from the theater and David and Mikayla were alone.

Mikayla knew her mom might not like it but she wanted to spend time with him and she trusted him.

"So" she began as they were walking, "Can I ask you something?"

"Anything," he said as he took her hand and laced their fingers.

"How many girlfriends have you had?" she asked him, scared to know the truth.

"Real girlfriends? Not many maybe 1 or 2 but never anything serious. What about you?"

"You're my first real date" she answered him honestly.

He saw and bench and pulled her over to it and they sat with their hands interlaced.

"I'm honored. Honestly, I really like hanging out with you and talking to you. You're really great and really pretty. "

In her mind, she was thinking: "Oh my god. he might be my first kiss. I hope he is. Oh my goodness. He is so dang fine."

He leaned towards her and looked into her big blue eyes. He waited for a half of a second and then he leaned down and kissed her lips. It was tender and sweet. They sat there and kissed for a little while. Then they continued their walk to Mikayla's cousin's house.

It was a sweet but short-lived relationship. They dated for about 3 months but with Mikayla's anxiety and going to different schools it couldn't last.

They grew up and even ended up at the same school in high school with classes together. She always remembered him fondly.

Now she's married with a son of her own and he is approaching that age.

She even makes jokes about her first love "He was a skater boy, he said see you later girl."

Her husband finds it hilarious.

First loves aren't always a Romeo and Juliet situation. In fact, most are simple adolescent learning moments. What David and Mikayla shared was, at the time, a huge all-encompassing thing but it wasn't forever and in the end, it is now simply a sweet memory.