Well actually, as I sometimes joke to myself, it's more like a March-May Romance.

As a senior in high school, I took a Spring Break job working for a family that traveled to the Caribbean for vacation. The mother and the father wanted to ensure some alone time for themselves. I was the regular sitter for their neighbors so they took me along. At four, seven, and ten, the three younger children were easy to entertain during the daytime outtings that they were ready for (parasailing, snorkling, etc.). There were two older kids, a thirteen year old girl and a fifteen year old boy that the parents planned to take with them on all the day time outtings. Unfortunately, the oldest boy "Sam" came down with a virus on the first day of the trip. He was feverish, pukey, and too weak to do any physical activity. The parents ended up hiring a local girl to care of the 3 youngest children and put me in charge of Sam.

When he wasn't puking, we played card games, video games, and talked a lot. We go to different high schools so we didn't know anyone in common. I actually had a lot of fun parodying the most popular girls and jocks at my school. While he slept, I tanned on the deck. It sounds awful, but I had more fun because Sam was sick than I would have had on the beach with his siblings.

After Spring Break, I didn't seem Sam much. I was busy writing my senior thesis and babysat for his neighbors less than I had before. However, whenever he saw my little VW bug, he came over and we would talk after I put the kids to bed. We started IMing each other over funny things that happened at school or at home.

In May, Sam was the first person I told that I had decided to give up my full scholarship to the local University to go to Art School in another state. He looked really upset and said that we wouldn't see each other again if I did that.

I guess that was the first sign that Sam had a crush on me. I probably should have told him then that I had a boyfriend who was a college freshman and would be coming home soon. I didn't. That same night, Sam asked me to go to the junior prom with him. I should have said no, but he looked so sad about me moving away the next fall that I said yes.

Since Sam and I went to different schools (he went to a local private school), no one except my mom, his parents, and of course the people at the dance knew I was his date. His dad just seemed grateful that I picked Sam up in my car so he didn't have to drive to the school and back.

At the dance I noticed a lot of girls from Sam's school giving me dirty looks. Later in the bathroom, I overheard two girls say that Sam had broken up with his girlfriend (a JV cheerleader) after he returned from spring break. No explanation, no gentle let down, just "I don't want to go out with you anymore." Now, they knew the reason why.

I came out of the bathroom to see Sam fending off a very angry crying girl. Her date stod by helplessly as she yelled at Sam. Just then some of the teachers came over and broke it up. Sam pulled me onto the dance floor. A slow number was just starting and I could feel the tension in his body ease as he put his arms around me. I stiffened up and said "Sam, this isn't right. I'm 18. You're 15." Before I could say anymore, he kissed me.

I've kissed a lot of guys. Including a few that were older. Sam wasn't the best kisser I've ever had. But it was a kiss that broke my heart. I broke away and blurted out that I had a boyfriend and watched his face crumple.

We left the dance early. As I drove him home, I told Sam that I still wanted him as a friend. He wouldn't look at me or speak to me and I thought I'm right, he's too immature for me.

That night, I sat up until sunrise thinking about Sam's feelings for me and wondering if I'd led him on. I was devastated at the thought that I would lose him as a friend. I realized that what really held me back from him was his age rather than my feelings for my long distance boyfriend Jeff.

Meanwhile, Sam had been doing some thinking of his own. I got an email for him in which he poured his heart out. I don't know of any other teenaged guy with such a clear grasp on his emotions. I cried as I read how he much he valued that I liked him for being Sam and didn't care that his dad was a lawyer or that he was such a great lacrosse player. He thought girls his own age were silly and shallow and he would have broken up with his girlfriend anyway because she only ever wanted to talk about how lame other couples at their school were. He said that I couldn't be but so happy with my boyfriend if I'd never mentioned him before

I drove over to see Sam the next morning and told him that I read his email and he'd given me a lot to think about. He asked me to take him for a drive. I told him that I didn't think it was a good idea, but he said we would bring his little sister along so he'd have to behave. So we drove for about an hour and just talked like old times. And I realized that I couldn't lose Sam completely.

Jeff, my college boyfriend, came home and I tried to make it work, but we could both tell that my heart wasn't in it. In June, I suggested that we see other people and he seemed relieved. But the only person I wanted to see was Sam, which was wrong. So I asked my parents if I could take a job working at a Christian camp in another state. The kids were horrible and I thought, I'd never want to see another 15 year old again. I started dating another counselor and wrote very cruelly to Sam to tell him about this great guy, Daniel.

Daniel and I were still dating long distance when college started for me in the fall. I was going to a small art school and having to work part time to pay for the difference between the tuition and what my mom could pay (since I had given up a full scholarship.) I saw Daniel most weekends and went to his parents' house for Thanksgiving and Christmas. We started talking about getting engaged. I stopped answering Sam's emails. But they kept coming. I confessed to Daniel about what had happened with Sam and he said that he's be glad to talk with him, but I said it wasn't necessary, that I was over Sam.

In the spring, I came home to see my family. I hadn't seen Sam in a year. My mother mentioned that Sam had been by doing odd jobs at the house. Now, Sam didn't need the money and in fact, he refused to take any. But he knew that my mom needed someone to mow the lawn, rake leaves, shovel snow, etc. While I was off with Daniel, Sam was spending all his free time helping my mom. He'd turned 16 in August and was now driving. He even ran errands for my mom, picking up my little sisters from soccer practice when she had to work late and delivering the hot meals that my mom makes for shut-ins from our church.

My mom showed me a picture of Sam that she took while he was cleaning out the gutters. He'd let his hair grow out and he'd grown a lot since I last saw him. He was taller and broader in the shoulders. He didn't look 16. He looked 19, 20 maybe. I looked at the picture and knew without a doubt that I loved him. I burst into tears and confessed everything to my mom.

To my surprise she said that she had known for months. She pointed out that I had stayed away from home since breaking up with Jeff and at first she thought it was because I was avoiding him. But then, Sam started coming around and he would be so hungry for any news of me. She said that he even brought his straight A report cards and articles from the school paper about his lacross games. She said that at first it was a little annoying. Then she saw what a great guy he was and while it was a shame about the age thing that in two years he would be 18 and the three year age difference couldn't matter.

I called Daniel that night and told him that I was sorry, but I was in love with someone else. He instantly guessed Sam and told me that I was sick. He even threatened to call Sam's parents and tell them that I was a pervert. I knew then that I couldn't be with Sam.

So I left home again the next day without even seeing Sam. I went back to the city where my college is and stayed with friends until I got a job and an apartment of my own. My mom meanwhile told Sam and Sam's parents what was going on. I didn't know this. Only that one day, my doorbell rang and I looked up to see Sam and his dad standing outside my door.

I started crying and didn't even hear what Sam's dad was saying at first. He had to repeat himself. He said that while he was bothered by the age difference that Sam had always been mature for his age and instead of letting love sickness ruin his life, he had turned all his energies into being a better student and person. He felt that if loving me did that for Sam, he couldn't stand in the way. He said that he expected us to behave ourselves and not do anything illegal or immoral, but Sam and I could date with their support.

I couldn't believe it. Sam was grinning ear to ear. He kissed me and I could tell he hadn't been practicing with anyone else. We've been together ever since. A lot of people thought that the relationship would end once the obstacles were removed. Other people react badly when they find out that I'm 20 and in love with a 17 year old guy. But when Sam turns 18 this August, we're getting married.