The story of a ring... part I

To fully understand the whimsy of the m&b relationship and proposal, you'll need to know some back story. Rings have been a theme since the beginning. They have been an accidental metaphor for our relationship. It was spring of aught'1....

.... And Marc- a kid in my 1st period English class- stopped me randomly [it seemed to me- and it was trendy to say "random"] in the hall during our get-to-homeroom-or-die-trying power-walk from 2nd floor west to 3rd floor east [probably an exaggeration. I have no recollection where my junior year homeroom was. It was just a huge crowded school and we all (I) had this sense of urgency between each period]. He turned around and handed me a little gift bag illustrated with a red flower. I don't think it was a special occasion. This guy just gave me this gift. In the hall. Between first period and homeroom.

We quickly parted ways, as there was very little time for me to get an explanation from him. In the bag, there was a box. And in the box, there was a ring. Not just any ring- and not just one ring, really. It was a really cool silver ring with about 12 different interchangeable stones. Like this one:

One of the problems with giving a girl you don't know a ring is that she might have really small hands. Which I do. That's not the first time we'll learn that lesson, but it it helped me out in a big way with the other problem with giving a girl you don't know a ring: she might be weirded out. And well... I kinda was. I found Marc at lunch- outside playing wall-ball with a friend. A detail I enjoy because I didn't know we were allowed outside at lunchtime, and I'm certain no one ever played wall-ball since elementary school. I found it charming, but it wasn't enough. Not yet. I tried to give him the ring back, politely with a "thank you but I can't accept this." And he told me to keep it. It's a gift of friendship... Huh. I couldn't ague, really. So I kept it. Of course I couldn't wear it, but it was a cool ring. I admired this ring. It was quirky, independent, and it made me laugh.

What will become of this Marc err, ring? and I? Part II coming your way...