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Some might think that teenage 'love' is over-rated, silly, or immature. While it may be all those things, doesn't it seem that every teen at one point or another experiences that 'ushy-gushy' feeling? Haven't we all had butterflies in our stomach and babbled our words when that special someone walked by? Or maybe for some of us it was different.
For me, first love didn't seem silly, in fact at some points it seemed to be the most serious and solid thing I had going on in my life. At thirteen, the last thing I wanted was to 'fall in love', I had interest in boys but I was never in it for the long haul. I was going through pretty difficult times, my parents had decided to call it quits in their twelve year marriage, and my mother and I were forced to leave town to find a home.

I was under a lot of stress and I found a guy that oddly had the same class schedule as me. We quickly became friends and would joke about all of our crazy teachers. Soon we were exchanging phone numbers and hanging out after school to do homework. What started as a friendship quickly became something more. Not for me, of course, but for him. He had no problems what-so-ever telling me that he 'liked' me. I had just watched my parents flush their marriage away and I was a firm believer in the famous saying, "You're too young."
He wouldn't take no for an answer and in the back of my heart I did want to try it out. All my other girl friends had boy friends, why couldn't I? One year and six months later we ended it, and I thought I was going to die. I made it through the break up and in the end, it wasn't as bad as I made it out to be.
Looking back now I see the good and the bad in teenage relationships. We were so young and I never wanted to experience new things that he didn't want to, I guess I felt silly telling him I was interested in something that he wasn't. I treated him like a safety net, he was my date to all the school dances and my best friend- I never had to step out of my world and meet someone new. He started making plans for 'our' future and I went right along with them, like he was all that mattered. I can't imagine how my life would be if we would have stayed together. But despite all these things, he gave me confidence in myself. It was nice having someone there to make you feel pretty, adorable, and loved. For almost two years, I had something solid. I knew I could go to him if I needed anything, and in a world that was spinning out of control, it was great to be able to count on him.
We are still friends because we didn't end our relationship on a sour note. I told him I loved him everyday and he did the same, and in some ways I will always remember him. A part of him will forever be with me and all the memories will stay with me.
At eighteen, I still use the lessons I learned in that relationship. It gave me major insight into the male mind and habits. I learned that petty arguments are silly and the love and friendship you have with someone is a lot more important.
So while some disagree with teenage love affairs, I believe that in the right doses, the right mind-set, and the right precautions, love-wether it be teenage or adult is a beautiful thing.

Learn more about this author, Joni Lolley.
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