For seven years of primary school, we were not inseparable but we remained incredibly close. At the time, she lived on the same street, so although our parents took us to school, we would walk home from school together, one or two other kids joining us most of the way, but we were the last two together every afternoon. We would always stay with each other until one parent was home. Sometimes we’d stay at hers. Sometimes we’d stay at mine.
After primary school, it was time for six years of high school, unless we chose to leave after four. Just like primary school, we were inseparable again, adding new friends on the way. Mark, Brett and Chris joined our group, with Victoria, Jane and Cindy being the three women that made up our little group. As we hit our teenage years and hormones started to take hold, Stephanie and I grew closer and closer until I just bit the bullet at age fifteen and asked if she wanted to date me.
She almost cried with relief that I finally did just that, expressing she’d been nursing feelings of her own for just as long. Mark started dating Victoria, Brett with Jane, Chris with Cindy, and our group of eight turned into four couples. Some weekends, we’d all do things together, but other weekends, we wanted privacy with our girlfriend.
By the time of our sixth and final year at high school, we were both eighteen and had been each other’s firsts regarding all of those little milestones in life. First kiss. First blowjob. First time eating pussy. And, finally, that first awkward time of sexual intercourse. We were careful but adventurous, open-minded and always willing to try something new together. It was certainly young love. We might have been what people loved to call ‘stupid teenagers’ when it came to such matters, but our relationship remained strong, no matter what life threw at us. We were each other’s confidant, supporter, cheerleader, shoulder to cry on, best friend and lover. There were no secrets, we knew everything about each other.
We discussed the future all the time, including things like marriage and children. She was keen for both, though wanted to attend and finish university before getting married, though being engaged during that time was something she would like. I took the hint. We knew we were young but both our sets of parents had married young and were still going strong. They were actually a good example, and mine were constantly giving me relationship advice to ensure mine remained healthy and strong.
By the time final exams arrived, I already knew what I was going to do. Head out into the workforce but continue studies too, primarily so I could start making money and, if possible, afford a place so we could live and start our life together. Stephanie loved the idea, and we started looking at apartments I could afford, both our parents pledging their support to keep us going during the early difficult times we’d no doubt face.
Stephanie aced her exams and was able to attend the university of her choice, the one that allowed her to remain at home if necessary, but we could always move in with other without a problem. Mine were good enough that I could go out to work and start my studies. Studying would be part-time and possibly take longer, but I was willing to work harder if it meant I could get the certificates I needed quicker.