text: Short story, memoir. (My first one!) “HIM” Those 80s high school dances will forever be etched in my memory. Whenever I reminisce about those dances, my mind immediately wanders to a particular guy that I had an enormous crush on. Although HE didn't know me, I couldn't help but admire HIM and eagerly anticipate seeing HIM at every dance. HE was tall and athletic, with strikingly blond layered hair combed to the side that seemed to catch the lights in a way that made it shimmer and shine. HIS blue eyes were piercing, and I couldn't help but feel a flutter in my chest whenever I caught a glimpse of HIM. I was too intimidated to even approach HIM. After high school, I attended some classes at a local junior college, and one day, my heart skipped a beat when I saw HIM walk into one of my classes - we were both enrolled! HE exuded an effortless coolness as HE leaned back in HIS chair at the back of the room, HIS long and muscular legs stretched out in faded denim jeans. However, HE still remained oblivious to my existence. A year later, I transferred to a state college, and fate intervened when I ran into HIM at a bar with HIS friends while hanging out with my roommates. I couldn't believe it - we had met again! This time, I mustered the courage to introduce myself to HIM and strike up a conversation. It felt like we hit it off, bonding over our shared hometown and high school experiences. I felt breathless as I gazed into HIS icy blue round eyes, which seemed to pierce through me with their intensity. The contrast between HIS sharp, angular jawline and the softness of HIS eyes made HIM all the more striking. I couldn't help but marvel at how easy it was to talk to HIM. We laughed and joked, and talked for hours. It was a feeling of pure connection that I had never experienced before. And as the night wore on, I found myself growing more and more comfortable in HIS presence, grateful for another chance encounter that had brought us together. Later that night, HE and HIS friends came over to our apartment, and I was excited to spend more time with HIM and get to know HIM better. Maybe this was fate finally working in my favor, I thought. Unfortunately, their visit was cut short when one of HIS friends had to abruptly leave, and HE left after him into the parking lot. "I'm sure HE will be back," I told myself. Suddenly, I heard some commotion outside my kitchen window and discovered HE and HIS friends stealing our mini grill and other items off of our patio while laughing arrogantly. Minutes later, when I went to our bathroom, I discovered that HE had rifled through our vanity and taken my watch and other valuables. It was a bitter realization that someone I had longed for and dreamed of was nothing more than a callous jerk. MY memories of him surface from time to time, but I learned that sometimes the person we've been longing for turns out to be the last one we should have been chasing.