Prologue

Her name was Molly Brown. You know that point in a man’s life when he knows with all his heart that “Yeah, this girls gonna be the one.” Well that was when I met Holly Carpton. And Noel Peterson. And Samantha Judd. And Kathryn Johnson.

Ugh. Kathryn…

Anyway, I had fallen hopelessly in love so many times, by the time I crossed paths with Eryn Rose Anderson, it wasn’t particularly life changing. We were in middle school, and on opposite sides of the social totem pole. She hung out with the notorious, cool kids of higher social class, whereas I was able to enjoy a permanent spot with the lovely outcasts of loserdom.

I hardly got to see Eryn, and when I did, it was only in between classes. Not to mention on the off chance I got the courage to say hello, the most I got in return was a smile, and weird looks from her friends.

And so it continued, on to high school, where the girls got prettier,(or not), and the kids got meaner. Pretty soon a strict social barrier was created, and I considered myself lucky if I caught the slightest glimpse of her. But, like every other high school student, I was a slave to the union; I had plenty of other things on my mind. Projects, homework; things of that sort.

So, life continued. I didn’t see her, and she didn’t see me. I made mistakes, and she continued to stay perfect; her many exploits rung in the halls as loudly as the bells. Dares, stunts, trips, everything was a rumor quietly whispered in class, and boisterously reenacted during lunch. And I was always stuck thinking that if I were just a bit cooler, that maybe, just maybe, I too would be mentioned in one of the many stories shared by Eryn’s cronies.

But in the end anime, video games and musical interests won my heart, always ensnaring me in a nerdastic paradise. So there I was, forced to walk eternally in the shadow of others. I could never be any cooler, nor could I things get any worse. Indeed I had reached my purpose in life, and I was convinced it couldn’t get any better.