Jimmy Johns On A Cold Bench

That night, Oliver picked me up and suggested I bring a coat because it was cold. He drove me to the duck pond, and we sat on a bench and talked. He was right; it was cold! Oliver pulled the “Are your hands cold?” line, and he held my hand again. We had a really good discussion, and then he told me that he had ordered Jimmy Johns sandwiches to be delivered to us. We waited, and we waited. No one came. Finally, Jordan called to ask where we were. The delivery lady could not find us and was asking where we were. Jordan told her as Oliver, I am on the other side of the duck pond, sitting on a bench. We finally got our dinner and began to eat. I had never had Jimmy Johns before; their sandwiches are pretty good. I was surprised at this creative date idea.

Rocky Road Shake

Oliver said he thought that we could go get some ice cream. I told him that I had never been to the Malt Shoppe, but I had heard that it was pretty good. We decided to go. The food was kind of expensive so we decided to share a shake. Later we learned that we had both chosen the rocky road shake to please the other person, and neither of us liked the shake. However, we still had a great time talking.

Two Dates, One Phone Call

He called me that night asking me out on two dates that week. The first date was for the next day, and the other date was claiming me for Friday.

Haunted Forest

Oliver came to pick me up, and he looked really handsome. That was the first time I had seen him out of a t-shirt and gym shorts. First, we went to his apartment to meet up with the rest of the group. The first thing out of his mouth there (after a larger girl had threatened that she could take him, long story), he said, “I can lift 300 pounds.” After which, there was relative silence. Oliver drove me, Jordan, and another of his roommates, Nate, to the Haunted Forest. While on the way there, we asked him why in the world he had said that to the girl. We explained what it had sounded like (That he could lift 300 pounds; therefore, he could handle lifting her), and Oliver said that was not how he had meant it. In class earlier that day, the teacher had asked if anyone could lift 300 pounds, which Oliver answered he could. The teacher asked him for his help with a demonstration; he had simply been proud that he could help out earlier that day. Everyone in the car had a good laugh over the misunderstanding.

We got to the Haunted Forest, which was not as bad as I thought it would be. Alone, many things would have frightened me (I hate knowing something is going to jump out at me and having it happen, also one of the worst parts of movies), but with Oliver, everything was just funny and a lot of fun to me. Since he had asked me to this “scary event” I knew he was probably going to try to hold my hand, and I was right. Partway through the house, the beginning of the event, he reached out for my hand, which to my surprise, was a perfect fit, not only because his hand was still warm while mine was freezing. We laughed as everyone was being scared by the people working there, and did not laugh so much as a guy with a horn annoyingly honked it right in my ear about 20 times in a row. We learned more about each other, including that we both had three siblings, one sister and two brothers. Oliver also told me a bit about his mission to the Philippines, which with the passion he talked with about it, I could tell that he had been a really good missionary and that he loved the gospel.

After we had made it through the Haunted Forest, everyone was hungry so we stopped at Burger King on the way home, Oliver’s idea. I grew up with a dad that does not like Burger King, so the prejudice had carried on, even though I had only been there once or twice myself. The food was not that bad, but the prejudice carried on. Oliver took me home, and we both said that we had a good time, and we would like to do something again sometime.

And the Telephone Rang...

I told him that I needed help with the translation, and he said he would call me, which he did that night. He told me that a group from his ward was going to the Haunted Forest attraction, and he asked if I would go with him. I said that I would, even though I was freaked out; I do not like scary things.

Woodland

I received a message on Facebook in another language, Tagalog. I tried to translate it, but I could not figure out two of the words. Finally, I figured out that one of them meant woodland, which left me with the idea of him asking to take me to the woods on Friday, strange, right?

Facebook

Once upon a time, there was boy who asked a girl for her number, on Facebook. Yes, this is how the story really gets started. Oliver messaged me, really excited to hear from me. He asked me for my number, which I gave him.

Green Light

Elise was going to be leaving soon, and I decided to start getting a group together to play volleyball during fall semester until school got too crazy to continue playing. I remembered Oliver and Jordan, so I thought I would add them as Facebook friends to see if they were interested. This was apparently the “green light” to one of these guys.