Some great stories up there. Memories are great and better when somewhat rose-colored.
I always thought I was in love when I was in jr. high. I was one of those people that would get a boyfriend and be in love day 1.
My relationships were short-lived, the longest being 1 month.
I guess my first 'love' would be my first fiance. We were seniors and had been flirting for about 3 months and finally just decided to get together. He introduced me to pot and alcohol, which were really my first loves.
We were happy, mostly because we were stoned everyday. We worked minimum wage jobs, had keg parties every weekend, and tons of fun together. After about a year of that, I decided we had to 'grow up'. I started actually applying myself in college and he joined the service. That was the beginning of the end for us. We tried really hard, but his drinking and the long distance were too much. Only seeing each other a couple times a year did not make a good relationship and we were growing apart. I decided enough was enough and it wasn't fair for either of us to drag out the engagement...so I ended it.
I don't regret ending the relationship, but I do regret my last words to him. He would continue to call and actually told the army that his grandma died so he could have an emergency leave to try to mend the relationship. I told him to fuck off. He died about a week later in a car accident. He really was a great guy. But for someone other than me. I wanted nothing more than for him to be happy with a great woman and have the family he always wanted. It's been 8 years and I still think about him from time to time. He was a huge part of shaping who I am today and I have many happy memories of those times.