I attended grade and high school, PK-12, with a girl, Mary. We had nearly every class together. Mary was smart, cute, athletic, and talented in the arts. However, despite her gifts, she was cold and distant, with calculated passive aggression. She ran with the popular crowd yet never seemed to have many close friends. From 1st grade onward, I never felt attracted to her--she was, after all, an Ice Queen. Our relationship was limited to class projects and student council, with minimal conversation.

This continued through high school until junior year. We continued to share a near-identical schedule, plus we worked together on council and other clubs, so we wound up spending a lot of the day with each other. I was cautious--this was the Ice Queen! I told myself I could be friendly, but I wouldn't fall for her.

Projects and homework would lead to jokes and hanging out, which in turn led to flirting and more. I was beginning to let my guard down, but not until a random spring day. She drove me home from a History project and pulled in front of my house. We said our goodbyes, hugs as usual, but as I reached for my seat belt, she pulled me closer once more and kissed me. My first kiss! I didn't know what to think. That car ride signaled a pure 180 for me--I had fallen for her. I did exactly what I promised not to, but there was something exciting, something different, about falling for the girl you shouldn't.

I kept up my usual conversation with her, but the next week, she began to ignore me, as if nothing at all took place. Damnit, I thought to myself, the Ice Queen struck again. Why would I think junior year would be different than the 12 prior years? I know Mary wasn't the only high school girl to work her way into a guy's heart and then leave abruptly. But whatever, what happened, happened. Until senior year.

Mary picked up her flirting during a late summer camp, but this time harder than before, on into senior year. The flirting took place more often, seductive glances and close contact in and out of class. She bought me gifts and once went so far as to prop her leg on a table, skirt and all, to show off her ankle tattoo. The flirting and hanging out continued through the year.

Senior year was winding down; I was a creative and resourceful high schooler and went through a rather elaborate way of asking Mary to prom. And just like the past, Mary moved in for her strike when I was my most vulnerable--she told me no and the Ice Queen put me back on her ignore pile for the remainder of the year.

It was incredibly frustrating, but I got over it soon enough. I would be leaving for college in a few months and would likely never see her again. And sure enough, I didn't, until a Christmas reunion. But I was more than happy to ignore her senseless flirting and overhugging that night. I was free.

I don't know if Mary found her heart, but that's fine. I found mine and life's been great ever since. And I'd love to top it off with 500 Days of Summer!