The Sister That Always Said No

Giselle and I are polar opposites. She's the athletic, driven, analytical planner while I'm the artistic, go with the flow, let's live in the moment baby sister. Giselle never had to be asked to do things twice when we were growing up, and as I watched her hit teenagedom, I also became acutely aware that I had a lot to live up to. Valedictorian, President of National Honor Society, Co-Captain of the volleyball team, and a 32 on her ACT were only a few accomplishments that Giselle had racked up. At 4 years younger, I was entering high school with some measly trophies for things like Best Reader and Best Speller, all made up consolation prizes for 3rd graders, while her name was being immortalized in school trophy cases.   

College went the same way for her. She was the Queen of Balancing- joining a sorority and acquiring positions, majoring in business with a minor in marketing. She was unstoppable. But despite all of these perfect resume submissions, I also noticed that she never had a boyfriend. I wondered if it was because guys were too intimidated to ask her out, or if it was because she could sometimes come off as cold. Maybe it was even because she isn't the kind that would just hook up with someone random. Finally, after a conversation with my all-knowing mother, I discovered it was because she was too choosy for her own good. 

I went and visited Giselle the year before last at college, when I was still in the hellish process of applying for colleges, and she took me out with her sorority sisters to a bar. When we were there just having a good time dancing, a handsome boy in a blue button down approached us. The first thing that I remember about him was his confidence- it wasn't cocky or feigned. He was absolutely genuine. 

"How are you girls doing?" he asked with a pure, white smile. He was a poster child for a Colgate commercial. 

"We're great!" I responded, watching my sister's friends bat their pageant queen lashes. Giselle didn't even blink. 

"Does anyone need a drink?" he asked. 

"No," Giselle spoke, darting serious eyes at me. I knew she was worried about me being date raped or something absurd like that. 

"She's kind of straight-laced," I announced over the music.

Giselle looked mortified. Her friends laughed in agreement. "No, I am not."

"Prove it to me," he said with a daring flick of his head. "Dance with me, party girl."

Giselle weighed her options. She had never run from a challenge in her life, acing every test handed to her. "Fine," she said, positioning his hands around her waist. 

They danced together the rest of the night, and it was the first time I'd ever seen Giselle blush. I later found out his name was Huck Ralgon, and that in another moment of spontaneity, she'd given him her number and a yes to a date the following Saturday night. It would be a tad presumptuous to imply that I knew that night that he'd be at the following two Christmases or that he would sit down with my father one day and list the reasons why he would take care of my sister for the rest of his life, but I saw potential. It was the first time Giselle had ever let someone in, and I'd been lucky enough to witness it. 

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