Golden

When something is enjoyable, people typically say that it's neat or cool or even amazeballs. But not Casey. He would always say "golden."

How'd you do on the chem test? Golden.
What'd you think of the new Tom Cruise movie? Golden.
Did you get caught coming in past curfew last night?  Nah, man. Golden.

So we were all a little confused when he used the word to describe the new sophomore girl who had just moved in next door. She most definitely was not golden. From her stringy hair to her pasty skin to the way she always had her head down looking at her shoes, she was dull and gloomy, not golden.

But Casey, he must have seen something more. "She's so golden, and she doesn't even know it."

So he started treating her like the golden girl he knew she was. He walked her to class. He drove her to school every day. He spent his weekends mowing her lawn, showing her around town, and walking her dog.

At first, she was as confused as the rest of us. Even a brand new sophomore could tell right away that Casey was top dog in the senior class. He was smart and popular and just an all around cool guy. We all knew it, and she knew it, too. So why was Casey bothering with her? But he kept at it, showering her with attention. And then something kind of amazing happened.

She started to glow.

No, not at first, and not all at once. But we started to notice little things. Her skin had more color. Her hair was suddenly full and bouncy. But we stopped and stared when we saw them walking hand in hand two months after she had moved in.

Her head was held high.
Her rosy red lips were curved into a smile.
And her eyes.

Oh, her eyes.

Her golden amber eyes were the most beautiful things I had ever seen.

She looked up at Casey, and he looked back down at her, and the love that transpired between them was undeniable. It was real and pure and I knew, even then, that they would still be sharing that love twenty years from now.

And that's when I saw what he saw.

She was so golden, I had to look away.