Peter and I met in June 2009. I had just finished my second year at UCSB and was very eager for the upcoming summer break. I had a fantastic job working at a summer camp with kids and was determined to make this summer "my summer." My first Sunday back to the Westlake Singles Ward I decided I was going to attend every activity I could and be super active because the past summer home I had largely ignored the singles ward.
My first week back I remember being very excited to attend the first FHE with the ward. Unfortunately, the directions to the activity emailed to me were bad (like not even the right city bad). After trying desperately to call the two friends I had to in the ward I decided to give up. It wasn't that bad if I missed one FHE and it was already 7:15... and then one of my friends called me back with the correct address, which was all the way in Newbury Park. No way, I will be so late and its so far away...by the time I get there it will be over. I remember distinctly sitting in my car about to turn around when I felt the prompting to go anyways, and I suddenly changed my mind and went. I was of course incredibly late, walking in almost at the end of the lesson feeling awkward sitting at the back of the room. But I was determined to make this a good experience. After the lesson I ventured out into the backyard were their was a nice fire and people sitting around talking. Even though I really didn't know anyone I managed to join a conversation and feel included.
After about 15 minutes a boy with brown hair and polo shirt walked up, listening to our conversation. I looked up at him, and no joke, thought oh he is cute! I wonder how I can figure out what his name is... Luckily, I didn't have to plot long. At a break in the conversation he turned to me and said, "I don't know you. Who are you?" Not the greatest pick-up line, but I soon learned that was just how weird this kid was. It was Peter Hamilton.
We talked about Belgium, the ice hotel in Sweden, and my liberal political beliefs that first conversation. Later when I left I remember he ran back to give me a high-five before he left. Yep, I definitely decided to put that Peter on my radar though I wasn't completely sold yet.
The next month was full of FHE activities and the Langlois girls formed an alliance with Peter and Heather Hamilton at all the activities. I enjoyed hanging out with them, but still wasn't sure how I felt about Peter (although I did point out Heather for the first time to my sister as "cute boy's little sister" haha). Then Peter and Heather went to Europe for family vacation. I quickly realized I missed them; they were like the best buddies to hang out with at church. But before they left I did manage to secure cute boy's number.
One month later the Hamilton's returned to the US. While riding home on the camp bus with 45 screaming children Peter texted me about that night's FHE activity. (It was then I discovered that he lived at a Harry Potter address: 6144 1/2, which was extremely amusing to me.) That night at FHE as I hung out with him I had the sudden urge to get to know him better. When I got home from the activity I invited him and Heather to a Dodgers game I was going to the next night with my friends from SB. Unfortunately, he refused because he was going to institute and somehow thought that Brother Matthews was prettier than I am. But he did "claim" Thursday night to take me out. While sitting at the Dodger game the next night with my best buddy Kevin Carpenter, Peter called me saying he had forgotten he something else to do Thursday night, but would love to take me out on Friday. I agreed, and right before he hung up he awkwardly added, "oh yeah...this is a date. bye." Kevin can testify that I was ridiculously giddy the rest of the night...and to be honest I had no idea why.
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