We've all experienced primary school crushes, but for some reason, my crush on a girl called Susan continued far beyond my school days. She had been a stunningly beautiful girl, even in Primary school, but it had been over ten years since I last saw her, having left my town soon after primary school, and I wondered whether my idea of her was just an image clouded with nostalgia. Surely now she would not be the same cutesy, dimpled blonde I had known and in a way loved.
I was wrong though. Since moving on and making a career for myself, I had deliberately neglected my home town. I knew only a handful of people there now, and returning home once every two years was enough to satisfy their fascination with how I was doing.
It was Christmas time when I last returned home. And along with all the Christmas traditions, I attended mass with my family on Christmas morn. It was there I bumped into Susan.
I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw her for the first time in over ten years. To my utter disbelief she looked even better than before. Her blonde hair had turned even blonder, and her dark skin indicated she had spent some time abroad, and best of all when she smiled, those amazing dimples appeared again.
I couldn't blame her for not recognising me when I said hello to her after mass. I had been heavier as a teenager than I was now. After spending my adolescence growing in all the wrong directions, it took a lot of hard work to get my body toned, but I had never doubted it was worth the effort, especially when I think of all the women who have gotten wet at the sight of my six pack.
I could tell Susan was impressed. She eyed me up and down when I reminded her who I was, and then she done the unthinkable and extended me an invitation to a get together with her and some of her friends from school. I accepted readily.
The party itself was at Susan's house. Surprisingly, while she was at home over Christmas, her Mother and father had decided to go away on Holidays, and celebrate the Christmas down under!
Susan didn't mind though, and organised a small dinner party at the house on Christmas night. She welcomed me with a big hug when I came to the door, bearing chocolates and Champagne (Moet & Chandon no less).
I recognised some of the old friends from school, who I had not seen since those days. I quickly noticed that two of the girls, Hillary and Margarita were eyeing me up, amazed at my transformation.
I also noticed that there were six women and only two men at the party, myself and Conor, another school mate and a cousin of Susan's. The other three girls were too engrossed in gossip to do much more than say hello to me, but then my school had always had it's fair share of snobby toffs.
I was seated next to Susan at the head of the table, and with so many single girls on the prowl she was keen to let them know that I was her focus of attention, and her guest.
We started with some light conversation during the meal but by the time the Coffee had arrived myself and Susan were sharing our experiences in life.
The party split up about 12, and everyone went home pretty much together. Margarita gave me her phone number and told me to call her to 'catch up on old times'. She said goodbye with a wink and a knowing smile.
I had earlier offered to help Susan clear everything away after the meal, and she accepted, so I set about clearing the table when she locked her arms around my waist.
"Thanks for tonight Rob" she said. "Hillary and Margarita are man eaters, I was afraid they might steal you away."
What I said next kind of caught the both of us by surprise "They couldn't have stolen me away from you ten years ago, and they certainly aren't going to do it now."
She turned to me. "What do you mean?" she asked. Well I had a huge crush on you in school Susan, and I think now it's something more serious.
