My 100-Word Love Story: On how the brainiac fell for the jock

It was the stuff of teenage dreams. The jock and the brain were forced to sit together for the whole semester, far from their respective groups. Julian and I were that odd pair. I was so close-minded that when he first sat with me, I started counting the future tragedies. But as time went by, people started wondering why laughter and endless chattering often came from that particular spot. Yes, I had a crush on him. Him. I don’t know. However, he was the first person to say “You’re beautiful” and the first to offer friendship. I’m grateful for knowing him.

–By Aisa from LoveSand

My 100-Word Love Story: On surviving the friend zone

JJ and I met during my first week in college. He eventually became one of my best friends — my constant moral support. Slowly but surely, I began to see him as more. We became a couple on October 18, 2011. Right now, he’s in London studying abroad. Times are tough, and while he’s not perfect, I love him and miss him dearly. I can’t wait for him to come home. I’ve been through rocky relationships, but he tells me I’m worth being loved. Everyone is. He gives me hope and shows me every day what love really means.

–By Jennifer Ramos from Life, Love and Why

My 100-Word Love Story: On marrying my best friend

I realized that I loved him late one night. March 2008. Watching a movie. Sipping a red way past its prime. We had just attempted our second first date — sushi.

I sat there nervously, hoping he wouldn’t notice the ferocious pounding in my chest. And after four years of friendship, I didn’t just want him to kiss me, I wanted him to want me. And he did.

This August, he asked me to share my life with him. I, of course, agreed! After knowing him eight years, I’m still surprised when I must remind my heart to be still.

–By Ryan from This Must Be The Place

My 100-Word Love Story: On discovering your own happiness

My love story starts with my first school. It was the perfect college — the best one around. I was ecstatic that they wanted me and they were giving me a huge scholarship. I should have been having the time of my life my freshman year, but I was miserable and scared to admit I had “failed.” Eventually, I realized I have to do what’s right for me to take a chance at being happy. So I left home and started school in the big city! I have fallen in love with my beautiful school. The lesson: Risks can pay off.

–By Hayley from Classy In KC

Letters To My Future Husband: Letter #150.

Dear Mr. Melissa Blake:
Well, Sweetpea, today marks my 30th Valentine’s Day eating from my small box of assorted chocolates as a singleton. It’s sort of weird to fathom. As I sat in the waiting room this morning waiting to get my blood drawn (ironic, on Valentine’s Day, I know…), I watched as several beautifully decorated bouquets arrived for doctors, nurses and lab technicians. You’d think it would have made my heart ache just a teeny tiny bit.

Surprisingly, it didn’t. At all. A few years ago, I may have ended up a puddle of tears right there on that linoleum floor, scared that love would never find me, that I’d be left to live the rest of my days as a spunky spinster and waxing poetic about how I was just generally unlovable.
But not this year. I’ve vowed to embrace my singlehood. And you know what, Sweetpea? It all feels very liberating. It makes me want to burst into song a la a Broadway musical. Now, it doesn’t mean I’m not looking forward to meeting you, or that I don’t need you in my life because I am — and I do. I suppose it’s just that right now, in 2012, I’m realizing that my world isn’t going to end if I’m unattached for awhile. I’m probably the one making a big deal of it, not everyone else. Maybe I just need to live and let things fall place naturally.

But I do wonder: At what age do you qualify for spinsterhood? I can’t help but laugh at the thought of that. After all, if you don’t laugh, you cry, right, Sweetpea? Until we meet…

P.S. Oh shoot, Crimson and Clover just came on the radio on the way home. Is that a message from you? What? You don’t know about my secret wish to have that as our wedding song? Well, more on that later?… 🙂

[Photos via We Heart It]