Janae

You can count on the T (our public transportation for my out-of-towners) for many things, the typical public display of tomfoolery, an altercation here or there, and most definitely an uncomfortable ride sitting next to the person with the coughing-fit, but I never would have imagined stumbling on the love of my life... but that's kind of what happened to me. Our very first (non) interactions were pretty hilarious looking back. He got on the packed train and we were standing dangerously close to one another which for some reason didn't bother me because my peripheral told me this guy was just gorgeous... That was the very FIRST time I seen Mr. Fenton... Then, for a while, we would see each other in moments at Ruggles Station. He would get there first and I would catch a glimpse of his lanky pigeon-toed walk heading down the stairs. Then, there would be times when I thought I missed him and just as I was ready to hop on the 28 bus, he would come running down the stairs and hop on too. That's where the magic initially happened. As we sat next to and across from each other, I would try to be coy at being mesmerized by him and he would be laughing hysterically on the phone, checking his watch, or buried in his tablet. I would just plug in my music and fight the butterflies induced by my "crush." Until one-day, I was overcome by the tingly feeling. I told my sisters and Donia about my crush who urged me to tell him, so I decided I was going to go for it. If you know me, you know I am the most socially awkward introvert probably of all time so I wrote my number down at work that week in preparation to give it to him. I was afraid I would get choked up for this impending encounter. That Monday ride home came, but there was no Mr. Fenton… same thing on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. I was feeling defeated and had decided I was going to give up on the nerve come Friday if I did not see him. I was dressed for success, my pretty was on fleek, and my Friday departure came. As the 28 rolled up with no Kad in sight, I had let it go and was ready to hop on and just as I diverted my attention to the top of the stairs, here he comes running down and directly on to the 19. Hilarious! In true Janae-fashion, I make a slow-jog to that 19 taking my cue from what felt like fate in that moment. I stood towards the front, but of course he was waaaay in the back and through the trip began to slowly and awkwardly make my way to the back. I was about two stops from the Roxbury YMCA when I finally made it to a seat parallel to him. I stood up over him and said, with onlookers might I add, "hi, I think you're really cute and I hope you can take my number (retrieving it pre-written from my pocket) if you don't have a girlfriend, and if you do, you can disregard because I wouldn't want to get beat up" and he said okay with a look that could only be described as this poor, nervous wreck of a girl. I walked off feeling the big sigh of relief and within minutes got a text that said "you didn't tell me your name." He called me and we literally talked on the phone all through a play I was really excited about being able to see, FELA! That's how we met.