For the longest time, I overlooked the fact that I had a life before Jamey Russo. He became such an integral part of my world for so many years that I forgot what life was like before he existed...at least before he existed for me. I'd managed to survive pre-Jamey for thirteen years. When that thought initially occurred to me, I was astonished. It was equivalent to an unexpected slap across the face. It was startling because I let myself overlook this reality for an incredibly long and, in my opinion, inexcusable amount of time.
I met Jamey the summer before we both entered ninth grade. He was a running back for the junior varsity football team, and I had just made the cheerleading squad. The cheerleaders practiced across from the expansive, rectangular football field. Lomonco Creek took football very seriously. The stadium was larger than most and could hold up to 30,000 fans. A huge gold banner soared over the underpass that led from the gymnasium to the field with the team's logo spread across it: a black stallion with ivory paws and ears and a solid gold tail. The bleachers were painted royal blue with the words "Rosevalley Stallions" in gilded print.