How we became "Jen & Ken" - Part 2

So, to continue the story...

I continued to slowly move into Apartment #318 at Carriage Cove. The first week of May (I think) I went to Disneyland with Jeanine's family where I talked on the phone a bit to my childhood friend (and sort of childhood boyfriend, I was 3) J.R. Now the previous summer J.R. and I had met up again and shared a far more adult kiss. Not TOO adult, geeze people. Ha Ha, anyways, he had disappeared and was coming back into my life asking to take me to Lagoon sometime this summer.

J.R & I

I should also mention that in March I had a big breakup (although we were never technically dating) with my Jr. High crush J.J. (What is it with the two letter J names?) He told me he loved me in January and basically took it back on Valentines Day. Nice. So I was in a pretty good place now, but still getting over him a little bit. In March I had taken the money I had paid for his plane ticket to visit me and ran off to San Francisco and had a great trip with my Aunt Wendy & Uncle Matt. I was also still listening to my awesome "Breakup" play list on itunes. Favorite songs "Shut Up," (Black Eyed Peas) "Ain't that Funny," (Jennifer Lopez) and "Someday my Prince Will Come." (Snow White) Just to point out how drastically your life can change within 1 year. By the end of the year my favorite play lists would be called "Kenneth" & "Wedding." Favorite songs "Everything," (Michael Buble) "Wouldn't It Be Nice," (Beach Boys) & "Bucket Seat." (Cake) I am a huge sap and I like to use music to heighten my moods.

J.J & I (and Cookie)

 Me in San Francisco

Anyways, after my trip I left Jeanine's house and moved back to Carriage Cove. That was hard for both of us, but I was excited to start up my social life again. I was active about looking for available men in the ward and having fun. I had a good friend named Nolan in the building next door. We were friends prior to my move to Jeanine's and I used to stop by his apartment unannounced to watch "Titus" and "Scrubs." I resumed this behavior and while watching Scrubs met Nolan's roommate Ken. Ken was on his way to the hot tub, but I invited him to watch Scrubs with us. Ken liked Scrubs and stayed for a few minutes, but then left us to go to the hot tub as planned. I figured he must not be very interested with me and quickly moved on in my mind. Apparently after this meeting Ken asked Nolan if he was planning on asking me out. Nolan said he wasn't sure and Ken told him "If you don't ask her out someone else will." So apparently he noticed me more than I thought.

I went on a kind of, but not really date with a group to see a movie and Nolan came so I stopped by his apartment before we left and saw Ken. Again, Ken did not bite so I shrugged and went to the movie.

One bight and sunny day I stopped by to watch Scrubs, and the door was wide open, but Nolan was not there. Ken and his friend Brian were there playing Guitar Hero 2. I decided to walk in anyways and watched them play. Then as we were talking I told them about my awesome modded X-Box (Which I was borrowing from Jace while he was on his mission). The fact that I not only knew what a modded X-Box was, but actually had one went farther with Ken than I ever would have guessed. My husband is quite the video game fan. So, I ran over and got the X-box and some Popsicles and we played. I remember playing a game of family feud and naming our family "The Hecks." After a while he and Brian were hungry and decided to go to Taco Bell. To this day Ken teases me mercilessly saying "You wanted to go to Taco Bell soooo bad." It's true. I did want to go. Even though it was written all over my face I also gave obvious hints and Ken says he took pity on me and finally invited me to go with them. This still makes me mad. Oh well.

We went to Taco Bell and continued talking and when we got back and were about to part ways we talked about going to the hot tub later. Ken then asked me for my number so that we would be able to meet up later. Smooth. I got back to my apartment and told my roommates "Well he got my number so I guess that's not a bad sign." I was trying to very cautious this year and not assume that every flirtation was going to become a relationship. I was going to take everything slow. I had been burnt a lot. I felt like dated guys who went on to find the girl they wouldn't treat like crap after they had been with me. I never got to be that girl. I was never the exception.

That night at the hot tub there were always a bunch of people. I talked and flirted and had fun. I would slowly follow Ken as he moved back and forth between pool and hot tub. Not always though. I was trying not to be obvious. Heaven's knows I didn't succeed because someone I hardly even knew told Ken I had a crush on him. Which still makes me mad because I had never said that to anyone and had hardly even met him. I hadn't decided anything about him other than interest and had not stopped looking. Just catty girls. Grrr. Anyways, I told Ken about all the fun things I wanted to do with my friends that summer (I had made a list, which I still have) and told him he was welcome to join us in our adventures. One of the first things he liked about me was that I was fun, oh, and had a beautiful smile.
So, something had kind of started, but I didn't think much of it yet. I went off to my Kanab with my Hunt family for my grandparent's 50th Wedding Anniversary to play.

 Julie & I (I think this was the actual night I went to the movie)

Karen & I

Oh, and all this time my roomate Karen had started dating Andrew McNabb. I like to take credit for helping them out. I didn't help them get together or anything, but I did convince them that they didn't need to be embarrased about their relationship. You're welcome. :-) At first I was suprised Karen was dating Andrew because I thought he was nerdy, and Andrew was suprised Karen was friends with me because he thought I was ditzy. We were both happliy wrong and Karen was right. I LOVE Karen and Andrew.

Karen & Andrew take a nap