The late October night filled the orchard and whispered through the trees. Costumed figures hovered around the bonfire or picknick tables. The party was casual and fun, with many of my friends there. As I stood in the line for the potluck, I noticed someone I hadn't met.
     His dark, deep eyes struck me like a fist. As he introduced himself, I swallowed quickly several times to find my voice. My face betrayed none of what I felt, however, and I smiled graciously at him. We began talking about our lives and interests, as is custom when you first meet. The line slowly moved forward as we discovered we had much in common. We are both in school to be architects, possibly graduating with our masters' in the same year. The passion he showed for architecture, and life in general, left me ridiculously breathless. I felt self concous and wonderful at once. His smile was true and honest, and he cares so deeply for those around him I wondered if he were not an angel.
     We stayed near eachother the rest of the night. On the tractor-pulled hayride he kept putting his arm around me as we went over bumps. He seemed honestly dissapointed when I had to leave the party.
     We've been friends for nearly six months now. Just friends, though I could be imagining the extra attention he pays me. I'm not imagining the way my knees weaken or my face tries to flush at first sight of him. I believe I have truely fallen for him, though that was never my intention. Honestly I believe I fell for him at that party in October.
     I am now in agony. My heart wants to go with him, to him, but I know that I can never have him. When I first met him, I thought he was 19 or 20. I myself am 19 and a sophmore in college. Turns out he is a sophmore too... in highschool. I've learned since that October night that he is 17. That doesn't change who he is, or how I feel for him. He still seems like a man of my own age. But now I stand behind a glass wall, looking at him. To be friends and know that I can not rightly ask for his affections. To know that I have fallen for someone beyond my reach.