Newly Dating

I was a little nervous going with Brock to his brother Greg's reception. I had met Brock's parents and Greg only once (Greg ran in the door, excited and energized, complaining that he had been stung by a bee on his ring finger-it ended up swollen and he couldn't get his wedding ring on for a few days), but I didn't know anyone else. I was still a little shy about being Brock's girlfriend and it's a little difficult meeting a ton of new people at once anyway.

The reception was held in her family's back yard (I think) and it was very lovely. They had a tent and beautiful flowers. I had never seen Courtney before and I thought she was so pretty and tiny. Brock had to run and change in the house, so I found myself being escorted around by Brad (aka Daddy Lyle). He introduced me to dozens of people, including Matt and Buffy. Buffy gave me huge hug and informed me that she was glad I was dating Brock and that she liked me already.

Brad stayed with me until we found Ally and she welcomed me happily. The first thing she did was ask me if her dress had been tied in a bow in the back. She said she didn't care for bows and could I just make it a simpler knot? By this time I felt like one of the family, but I was very happy when Brock came out again and found me.

The rest of the evening is a bit of a blur. I remember a lot of things happening, but I don't remember the order in which they happened, so I'll just list them off as they come to mind.

We met a lot of people and most of them asked when Brock and I were going to get married. It should have been embarrassing, but it wasn't. I thought it was funny and very typical of a large group of friends at a wedding reception to have marriage on their minds. Later, when Brock and I were sitting quietly together by ourselves, he said, "I don't know why everyone keeps asking if we're getting married. If we were engaged, I'd be shouting it from the rooftops!" Without thinking about how it would sound, I said, "So would I!" We were both a little embarrassed at how blunt we'd been, but we meant it, so we weren't sorry we'd said it.

I remember dancing with Brock in the corner of the yard while Greg and Courtney danced to their song. Matt and Buffy danced too. It was very sweet.

When the photographer came around I was asked to be in the family pictures and, oddly enough, I didn't mind. Everyone was so insistent and sweet about it, that there was no awkwardness. It seemed the most natural thing in the world to be in the pictures. Besides, Brock told me beforehand that there had already been pictures taken without me in them.

The best part, though, was when Brad and Ally asked me to stay over for the night so I could see Brock a little more before he left for school the next morning. I was so happy I couldn't even try to say no. The chance to spend an extra evening and morning with Brock was too good to pass up. They said I could stay in the spare room and, after Brock was gone, they would take me home.

That night we (Brad, Ally, Brock and I) stayed up until nearly midnight getting to know each other. We talked until we remembered how early Brock had to leave and then went off to bed. The next morning Brock kissed me goodbye and I went back to bed for a few hours (he left VERY early) and felt a sickening emptiness inside when I thought how I wouldn't see him for another three weeks.