Fourteen years later...

"Brenna. I don't think we should just go sneaking out of the house like this." I warned. My older sister laughed.

"You just got out of high school a year ago. We'll have fun. Trust me." She climbed out of the window and I climbed out after her. The other day when me and her were walking to the store, she met this blonde guy and he said to meet him at the bar.

"Don't you think that I'm a little young to be going to a bar sis?" I questioned.

"I don't think so. You're nineteen years old. Time to start living."

Once we reached the bar I saw the guy that invited her over. He had sandy-blonde hair, blue eyes, and glasses. He called his hair that was sticking up a 'cowlick'. I thought it was strange but Brenna thought it was cute. I just sighed and walked in while those two talked. I could be at home studying for an entrance exam to a college but instead I was in a bar, risking getting in trouble with Mom and Dad so Brenna could go out and have fun with some guy. Oh who was I kidding? There was no way I would get into a college. They only accepted the best of the best and I was just average- although Mom and Dad said I was a genius and Grandpa said I was going to do something that no one had ever done before. He said that up to the day he died.

That's when I noticed a man that looked like he was having as much 'fun' as me sitting at the bar. He was rather muscular and had slicked-back blonde hair with baby blue eyes. He sure was cute. I could feel my face heating up just looking at him. Maybe he needs some company... I thought. I sure do...

I walked over to the man. "Is this seat taken?" He looked up, slightly startled at first.

"N-Nein. It's not." I laughed at his accent that reminded me of my Grandpa's.

"You don't have to be so nervous. It's not like I'm interrogating you." His face just turned a bright shade of red and I laughed again.

"My names Catherine by the way. What's yours?"

"L-L-Ludvig."

"Ludwig. That's German isn't it?"

"J-J-Ja."

When the bartender came back I ordered a small glass of water then went back to looking at Ludwig. Something about him was just so, intriguing? No, it was something else, like it was destined that we both would meet in that bar on that night. "So are you just visiting here or something?"

"Ja," Ludwig answered. "I'm just here vith-"

That's when the blonde haired guy with the cowlick came back and interrupted. "Yo Ludwig!" He smirked and winked at Ludwig. "Sweet chick you got with you." I just turned away from him and faced the bar once again, trying to hide the blush on my face.

"Alfred!" Ludwig yelled at Alfred. When he yelled I actually jumped a little.

"Okay, I'll leave you two alone." With that, Alfred walked off to join my sister and the group of women that he 'invited'. I was surprised to get a actual conversation out of this guy. I told him how when I was a little girl I would run around Grandpa's farm and play with the animals. I was happy to see a smile on his face, something that looked to be rare for him.

I looked at my watch to see what time it was; 3:00 am. Quickly I got a piece of paper out of my pocket and wrote my adress on it. "I hope to see you again Ludwig." I smiled and kissed him on the cheek. "Bye." Walking out of the bar with my drunk sister on my back, I couldn't keep a smile off my face. I wondered if he could be the one? I mean, he seemed nice enough.

That night, I couldn't sleep. I just stared up at the ceiling, thinking about Ludwig. He was really amazing.

**********

A few days following that encounter with Ludwig, he showed up at the house one day. As soon as Gabe saw him, he made fun of me. "Cathy has a boyfriend! Cathy has a boyfriend!" He mocked, using a silly high-pitched voice that annoyed me.

Dad was a bit skeptical when he saw Ludwig. He glared at Ludwig but then softened up to him. Mom instantly liked him and asked him to stay for dinner. Ludwig tried to decline but Mom kept insisting he stay for dinner.

At dinner, Gabe kept making kissy faces at me when Dad's back was turned. I glared at him. "So Ludwig, how old are you?" Dad asked.

"I am 22 sir," Ludwig answered.

"And what do you do for a living?"

"I vork vith the government and military."

"I see," Dad wiped his face as he looked at Ludwig and then at me. He then left to go read the newspaper in the living room. He didn't press for anymore answers so that meant that Dad liked him.

Afterwards, Ludwig had to go. I walked him outside. "So, I guess I'll see you around," I said.

"Maybe," he replied. "I have to go back to Germany in a few veeks."

"W-Well I could, come and visit." My face was heating up. "I mean, my Grandfather's home is there and is my inheritance so I guess I can visit."

Ludwig smiled and then caressed my cheek. "That vould be great." Then he leaned in and kissed me on the lips. It felt like fireworks were going off inside me. When he pulled away, he waved goodbye and then walked off. My mind was running a million miles an hour.

"Ooh, I saw you kiss him!" Gabe said.

I glared at him. "Say anything to anyone and I swear you will get it Gabe!" I warned.

He smirked. "I'll stay quiet if you give me all your desserts for a month!"

Man, love is a costly thing.