In Love

I have never been in love before.

But today was different.

My backpack felt heavy with homework and textbooks, but when I saw him it lightened me up.

He was laughing with his friends--why was his smile so perfect?

His brown hair almost touched his matching brown eyes.

He wore faded jeans and a shaggy T-shirt.

He turned to look at me, and my heart beat fast and I hoped he could not hear it.

His nose crinkles when he smiles, I noted.

"Hello."

My heart stopped beating for a second and then it gave a nervous flutter.

"Oh, um, hi," I mumbled.

His eyes met mine, and he tilted his head.

"I like your shirt."

That comment made my heart flutter again, and I looked down at my shirt.

It was just a plain blue T-shirt. Why did he like it?

"I--yours is nice too," I stammered.

The boy grinned. "I'm Carson."

"Oh," I said. "Nice name. I'm Lily."

"Nice name," Carson echoed. The bell rang, and he once again smiled at me. "See you."

I nodded, and stared into direction he went until my friend nudged me, looking amused. "C'mon. Let's go to my house."

I nodded again robotically. "Okay." But I could not stop thinking about Carson, with his laughing eyes and his smile.

For the first time, I was in love.