When I was 17 years old, I decided to become a foreign exchange student for one year, and moved from New York City, to Paris, France. There, I lived with my good friend Emma and her loving family. It took me a while to adapt to this new enviroment, but pretty soon I learned to love this exotic and different world. 3 months, and already, I spoke the French language fluently.

While all my classmates and friends would be at the pub drinking away, or be at the mall flirting with all the guys...
I spent most of my days in this local library studying and reading about the subject I loved most: History.

History was one of the reasons why I loved and appreciated England so much. Unlike New York City, the buildings were much more... classical, and old-fashioned, and everything represented history! Everything held a deep story and beneath, held an even deeper story, and... (being a geek!) that just fascinated me. I'd walk down the beautiful streets of London in the middle of the night, and just stare at the town and the stars, completely mesmerized by the enchantment of this mystikal place, of this town, and of this whole new world and fantasy... all of mine. "How come the stars weren't this clear in NYC?" I thought to myself.

Anyway, everyone at school had a little nickname for me. They called me Belle, as in the Belle from 'Beauty and the Beast'. Like Belle, I was always seen with my nose stuck in a book. I didn't mind, I was happy, and I thanked God everyday for giving me this amazing oppurtunity that not every New Yorker girl got.

If I wasn't at the library, I'd be at the "Absolute" cafe across the street of the library (how convenient, I know!). "Absolute" was where all the writers, readers, poets, artists, and studiers went. It was notorious for the BEST coffee and bagels, and I must add, I think it is the best in the WORLD. (yes, much better than STARBUCKS... haha)

One day, on my normal routine of going to the library and then to the cafe, I experienced something *different. As I was walking up the steps to the cafe, I tripped on one of my loose shoelaces, and I could feel myself about to plunge to the earth. I winced, and did whatever I could to protect myself because I *knew this was going to be a hard fall. But just as I was about to reach the ground, I fell into the arms of someone strong and sturdy. I looked up to see not only did the arms belong to a strong and sturdy person, but to a GORGEOUS and HANDSOME one too! I'm not usually into guys with blonde wavy hair, blue eyes, and spoke with a british accent, but... I was definitely willing to make an exception for this one. <
"Hello there," he said, while smiling, showing the cutest dimples in the world.
I was speechless and utterly embar*ssed, and yet, remained in his arms simply looking up at him.
"You should watch your step," still smiling, he said as he slowly brought me up to an upward position.
I fixed my hair and clothes and picked up my books from the ground, but still, haven't said a word.
"I'm uhh Edward, but you can call me Eddie." He stuck out his hand gesturing for me to shake it. (obviously)
Hesitantly, I reached forward, shook it, and said shakingly,"Hi, I'm Therese. It's nice meeting you Eddie."

I gave him a warm smile and walked away, still completlely humiliated. I mean, 'Wow, I just made a fool out of myself in front of the most handsome guy in the world'. I walked away in relief that that was over, and *ssuming I'd never have to see him again...

Everyday I'd be at the 'Absolute' cafe, reading a book and drinking coffee...And then I see him again... Eddie walks up to my table and hands out a book that, apparently, I dropped during my "incident" with my shoelace.
"Is this yours?"
"Oh yes, that's mine. I can't believe I dropped it like that, the library would've killed me. Thankyou."
"No problem," he says, looking around, I'm *ssuming, he's searching for an open table, but all the tables were full. so... putting all my nervousness aside...
"Would you like to join me?" I asked, as I cleared the books off of the other side of the table, preparing his seat.
"Sure, that would be great." he said smiling that same dimpled-smile I dream about when I first saw him.
"The Museum of London," Edward read the book I was reading aloud. "You're interested in Museums, Therese?" he asked curiously, with a smile about to form.
"Why yes, I'm quite in love with history, and museums represent history, so I am intending to visit The Museum of London, Edward." I said confidently, perfectly aware that I'm such a geek, but didn't care. I love learning about the past, and I'm proud of it.
Realizing my c*ckiness, he too, says rather smugly back at me, "Well, Therese, my father just so happens to be one of the executive managers of that museum, and I'd be more than happy to take you there FOR FREE! .......that is...if you'd like me to, someday."
I laughed and jumped for joy and became estatic!
"Oh my God, are you serious!?" Then, calming myself down, and clearing my throat, I said more maturely and sophisticatedly, "Yes I'd like that, thankyou... someday."
Then we laughed and blushed and smiled and laughed somemore. This was a beginning of a great friendship and a love.

Everyday, I'd meet up with Eddie at the cafe, and we'd joke around, have coffee and eat lunch. We'd talk for hours about ourselves. From our families, to our schoolwork, the conversations lasted forever. Then I'd go home and dream about him, replaying those conversations over and over in my head. Whenever I was with him, my heart would just flutter and all of a sudden, beat faster. He made me tremendously nervous, and I could feel my palms start to sweat. But in the end, I loved it. I loved this feeling and this great effect Eddie had on me. It was as if once I saw his face and his oh so charming smile with that cute dimple, I'd just melt inside. It was as if he had me under a spell but I wanted to be captivated by him, and noone else. He had me at, "Hello." Eddie had my heart, he took it the moment I saw him. But I knew deep inside that it was best and "safe" if nothing happened between us. I had to leave after my one year administration. It was part of my requirement. I didn't come here expecting to fall in love, I came here to learn, and to study.

One day while waiting for Eddie at the cafe, a short but buff man went up to me and started flirting with me.. quite pathetically, might I add.
"So I'm guessin' you're wonderin why such a gorgeous man, like myself, would be talking to a woman, like yourself," he said in a scruffy, I-smoke-too-much voice.
I sat there in disbelief. 'Does this guy think his c*cky bullsh*t is attractive? Does he actually pick women up with this nonsense?' I found myself in the same situation as before: I was speechless, except this time, in disgust, rather than in captivation.
"It's ok, I'm used to women being speechless. But that's usually AFTER I show them my..."
Before this man could finish his horrible sentence, Eddie (*sigh, MY EDDIE) walked in and came for the rescue. BUT he did something that put me in an even deeper state of shock: he kissed me. It was a brief, but fulfilling kiss. His lips felt as if they belonged on mine, as if they were made to be on mine. Again, I just sat there, as Eddie covered my face with his. Moments later, I realized what was happening here and I blushed, and that blush turned into a smile, and that smile turned into a laugh. I looked down embar*ssed, with Eddie's lips resting on my forehead. Eddie smile with me, his cheeks a little more rosy than mine. Then he held my chin up with his hand, KISSED ME A SECOND TIME, and finally, said, "Hi darlin, sorry I'm late. What kind of boyfriend am I?"

Fortunately, Eddie's plan worked: that over confident man walked away shaking his head at us muttering something in French. Eddie and I just looked up at each other and laughed. I swear, I smile so much with him...

We never talked about that kiss. I *ssume it was just, "part of the plan." So we went our merry ways, continuing to be our playful selves, Eddie drinking his coffee, as I read a book about Napoleon Bonaparte.

I decided to invite Eddie over for dinner one night, and introduce him to Emma and her family. Being the crazy people they are, they didn't hesitate in making it as embarassing and uncomfortable for me and Eddie. They'd ask questions like, "So, he a good kisser?" and, "He rich? You're gonna want a rich guy, Therese." We just laughed the whole night through. After dinner, I took Eddie's hand and brought him outside for a walk and some fresh air. The stars and moon were shining bright that night. The temperature was perfect too! I could feel the cool breeze of air blow through my hair, and it felt good. I always went on midnight walks, but this night was different: I was with Eddie. The scene was beautiful, we walked in a pathway filled with flowers and trees, it was only me and Eddie... in our little garden. We stopped walking to face this lake. The moon reflected off of the clear-blue waters. I could see a family of Swans swimming along happily.
I took Eddie aside, looked up at him and said smilingly, "Apparently, everyone has the wrong idea of me and you..."
Understanding me clearly, he playfully asks, aslo smiling, "What idea?"
Tugging on his shirt, I lean closer and say somewhat scoldingly but lovingly, "Eddd-iiee."
We smile and have our first REAL kiss under the stars that night, not caring about anyone in the world but ourselves.

Eddie took me everywhere around London. He took me to his father's Museum and to the park and to the movies, and even to the club! More and more each day, I fell even deeper in love with him, not realizing my time here in London was coming to an end.

Since I had Eddie over for dinner, Eddie decided to invite me over dinner. I've never met his parents before, so I was very nervous. But Eddie just made fun of me for being too paranoid.

The moment I stepped into the house of Eddie, I wondered how he managed to LIVE in his life! His house was unusually huge for a family of three: his mother, father, and himself. His house was a mansion, literally! Servants and maids occupied most of the rooms. Everything was so antiquish and... boring? It wasn't homey at all, and everything was so dull. At the dinner table, his mother and father sat with each other, while Eddie and I sat next to each other on the far end. It was so quiet and awkward for me. Noone talked, while I was used to my GRANDMA screaming all the way from the other side of the table to pass the potatoes! Seeing my unfortable and awkwardness, Eddie suprises me again, by taking my hand from under the table and rests it on his thigh. I looked at him curiously, and struggled to pull away, only for him to hold on to my hand gesturing for me to relax, as he m*ssaged it. Being the sourpuss that I am, I looked at Eddie wth unease, afraid his parents might see our......... peculiar behaviour. From time to time, when his parents weren't looking (which was often), Eddie would take my hand, bring it close to his lips, and kiss it tenderly, then place it back to his thigh, rubbing it up and down. All in all, that dinner was great and fun, and I loved every moment of it.

I don't know what it was about Eddie that made me feel the way I did. It was as if we created a world of our own, where noone else but us existed, and we could spend all our time just holding each other forever under the stars and moon, not caring for a thing but each other.

One night I was sleeping in my room, when I heard a tap on my window. I decided to ignore it, but again, went that 'Tap.' Grudgingly I came by the window only to see Eddie down whispering for me to come out. I shook my head at him in fear. But it wasn't long before I was climbing the vine ladder down my window into Eddie's arms. I was in my nightgown: a tanktop dress and boyshorts in beneath. Perhaps I should have changed into different clothes, for the cool breeze was making cold shivers run down my spine.
"What are you doing Eddie?" I asked him, rubbing my eyes, still tired, as he held my hand leading me somewhere eagerly.
With a smile on his face, he says, "You'll see. It's a suprise."
I chuckled to myself. 'Here's another one of Eddie's Surprises'. Should I be scared?
"Ok, close your eyes." Eddie whispered into my ears, holding both of my hands for assurance.
"What? Eddie? This is crazy."
"Just do it, love, it'll be worth it... I promise." Eddie said.
Reluctantly, I closed my eyes, as Eddie lead me forward.
"OKAY, open your eyes."
I opened my eyes to see that Eddie had set up a little picnic in the middle of a clearing in the woods. It was so beautiful and sweet! We didn't need any light from candles, or lamps... the light from the moon and the stars shone perfectly and lit the path unto our feets. There was a big blanket on the ground with a telescope in the middle, so we could look at the stars together. We made love that night, unaware that in two days, I was leaving back to America.

The next day, I decided to talk to Eddie about my moving back to New York. Well, Eddie didn't take it very well. It was then, when we experienced our first big fight. Eddie asked me why had to make things more complicated and why I couldn't just let things be. I tried to explain to him that we can keep dreaming and pretending as if we lved in a world where things like this don't happen, all we can do is face it together. For the first time, Eddie turned around and walked out on me. The next day I was to be on my way back to America, and we were going to leave like this. I came home only to cry myself to sleep. The agony and pain felt can't even be expressed in words, so why should even bother in trying to explain? I think you can understand the feelings I'm going through.

Finally, it was the day when I had to leave for the airport. I spent the whole morning searching for Eddie. I wanted to tell him that I love him and that I was sorry, but it was no use, I couldn't find him anywhere! The thought of not seeing Eddie before I leave was too excruciating for me to even think! My heart felt like t was about to be shattered in a million pieces that only Eddie could fix.

I stepped into the car that was going to bring me to the airport. Jus then, I see Eddie running down the street towards me screaming my name! My heart beat so fast, I was having a panic attack! EDDIE, I'M SO GLAD YOU came to me before I left!

Eddie reached to me, he didn't say a word, all he did was hold me tight and close.
"Eddie, I-" But I was interrupted by the engine of the car, motioning that I was already running late, and it was time that go.
As the car moved forward and Eddie's hand was broken away from mine, I heard his last words to me: "I'M GOIN TO MARRY YOU THERESE!!!!!"

To be continued...