My Life Story With Emphasis On The Usual Love Stuff That's On This Blog

I admit that this blog post is hard, because my whole blog has felt like #realtalk.

But even though I've been super honest on this blog, you all still don't know a lot about me.  So here's an attempt to better understand my life and what's going on.

So I was born on June 14, 1997 in Tallahasee, Florida, to then John and Ileana Brailsford.  I only had two older brothers at the time, because my sister wasn't born yet; she wouldn't come until 2 years later.  I don't remember anything about Florida, because when I was one month old, my family moved to Las Vegas, Nevada.

I lived in Las Vegas for 9 years.  It was honestly some of the best 9 years of my life.  I did stupid stuff, like wet the bed and kissed my cousin once, but life was simple.  Homework was easy, I only ever had a crush on one girl, and I had two other class clowns on my side.

But then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

AKA I moved to Highland, Utah.

Where the first thing a kid at school ever said to me was, "You have a big head."

That kid was Carter Childs, who goes to AF now, and we don't talk much, but we ended up becoming good friends at the time.

That was 4th grade, and I didn't have a crush on anyone until 6th grade.  The closest I got to romance back then was in 4th grade when I accidentally put my arm around Kasidy Reynolds, and I promise that was an accident.

But things weren't always bad back then, in fact, they were rather nice.  My first day of church I met one of my best friends; John Stout.  We were two kids obsessed with Nintendo, night games, and dogs.  I also met another one of my best friends; Josh Zabriskie.  Prepare for a lot of Joshes, because there are a lot in my life.

Josh and I hung out everyday that summer, which basically just consisted of playing video games and eating junk food and walking around Highland.  Now, Josh Z and I don't talk much, sadly.

Then I got acquainted with other friends in that ward; Josh Stoddard and Josh Whitmer.  See, told you.  Josh Stoddard and I didn't really become friends until 5th grade, when he came to Mountainville Academy, and every Friday after school we'd walk to Highland Elementary to meet up with John, Josh, Josh, and Todd.  Todd Stout, John's cousin, is the person who got me interested in Japan.

But then, everything changed when the Fire Nation attacked.

AKA I was actually introduced to The Last Airbender, I moved from Mountainville to Highland Elementary, and I started getting back in the love game.  AKA the no-one-will-love-Stephen-back game.  This game goes all the way to present day.

My 6th grade crush was Megan Smoot, and she knew that I liked her.  This would become a pattern for the rest of my schooling career.

Because in 8th grade I liked Madeline McEwan.

9th grade I liked Nikole Zitting and Kelsea Kocherhans and Carlie Halls.

Sophomore year I liked Abby Newell and Maddie Wheadon.

Junior year I liked Katherine Bennett and Rylee Ollerton and Carlie Halls again.

Senior year I liked Kelsea Kocherhans again and Kayla Edgel and Em Pew and Ali Fisher.

All of these girls in one way or another found out I liked them, and it honestly sucked.  Because that's so many beautiful girls that just wanted me as a friend.

And that's alright, because now I have no romance regret stories, and I'm leaving on a mission soon, and I highly doubt all of these girls will be married by the time I get back, so I have some hope.

But enough about love for a sec, let's talk about some other stuff.  Like how I cracked my head open and got 8 staples in my head one time.  Like how I've been learning Japanese for basically 5 years now, and how I'm actually going to Japan on a mission like I've wanted to.  God must love me.

Or how my parents are divorced, and they told me they were getting one a few days after I got out of the hospital, which I was put in for lack of hydration, because I threw up like 4528 times.  That was a terrible week.

How when I was 14 I started losing my faith, because I started getting addicted to pornography.  But I've now vowed to always be a Latter-day Saint, because thinking back on that time where I didn't have my faith makes me realize that I didn't have myself.  Because I am a son of God, and to doubt that would mean doubting my ability.

I became weak and disgusting and confused.  But then I found my way back, with a little help from my bishop, Jesus, and Em Pew.  And I can't thank them enough.

So let me go back to love, because I've talked about loving Em recently on my blog, but she's not the only person I'm interested in right now.  Let's just say it's still Senior year.

It was almost as if God was taunting me this year, especially recently, because now most of the girls I like don't have boyfriends anymore, which means I could try and "swoop in", but I can't.  Because right now I'd be a terrible boyfriend.  Why?  Because I don't just like one girl.

I see myself marrying Em, but I can't help but like other girls as well.  And that kinda sucks, because I feel like that'll hurt her feelings, but I'm supposed be real and honest with this, aren't I?

I still have feelings for Kelsea.  I've done a lot better at keeping our friendship and not making things weird, because her and Oakley like each other now, but I still find her so beautiful.  And it sucks that I'll probably never get the chance to date her, because now we've become best friends, and we've been through so much to get to this point that I feel like it can't go down hill from here.  Unless, you know, I openly confess my feelings on a blog.

But Kelsea you shouldn't feel weird because you're not the only one.  Kayla is still super attractive to me, and she just broke up with Jackson, and I knew it would happen from the beginning, and not because of Kayla.  It was so sad to see my predictions come true, because I still cared about her and knew that he just wasn't right for her.  You're probably just finding out that I like you, Kayla, but I want you to find someone amazing, because you deserve it.  You're beautiful.

But then there's Ali, who just broke up with Jake, and it really sucks that that didn't work out, because I was actually starting to think that they were cute together.  But I think she's better without him.  Ali, do you remember what you said when you told me you didn't like me that way?  You said, "I just need to see if things will work out with Jake."  So now that things didn't work out, I'm not sure what's going to happen, because I don't want to date you now, because we'd only have two months, which is way worse than four.  But I still think you're beautiful.

And now there's Emily Paulson.  I'm with the Beach Boys on wishing they all could be California girls, because wow.  This girl has changed my life with who she is, and I just can't believe how beautiful she is.  She lights up the world like the California sun.  Emily, you're going to find someone amazing one day.  If that person happens to be me, that'd be legit, but you'll find someone, I promise.

And of course, there's Em.  Em is obviously my best friend, and who I said I've wanted to take things romantically with, but Em, I can't do that to you.  You read what I said about those other girls, it wouldn't be fair to you.  But I can't thank you enough for your friendship, and just how unbelievably beautiful you are.  Just because I find other girls attractive doesn't mean that your beauty is diminished or obsolete.  I know more about you than any of the other girls, which seems ridiculous that I would even like these other girls, because you're just such a beautiful human being, but I do, and I'm sorry.

And the reason I've been holding off on a relationship is because girls ruined my friend group.  I only hang out with drama kids now, because the relationships haven't ruined anything.

John started off with Arlee.

Then Brian started liking Geneva.

Then Todd started liking Laura.

Then Josh S started liking Karlee.

But then John and Arlee broke up, Brian started dating Karlee, Todd started dating Laura, and Josh started dating Geneva.  It wasn't cute.

Because Brian and Karlee broke up, and Brian started dating Arlee, but then they broke up.  Todd and Laura broke up and now Todd's dating Kayli.  Josh and Geneva broke up and now Geneva has Jason.

But John has Elisabeth now, and they're actually cute.

And I'm not too sure about Josh W's love life, but to the best of my knowledge,

I'm the only person in my friend group who's never been in a relationship, and who's still VL.

But now Josh S is in Argentina, Brian is in Texas, Todd is going to Japan, Arlee is going to California, Josh W is in Japan, Karlee is at BYU, Geneva is at BYU, Laura is going to the Phillipines, John is going to Japan, and I'm going to Japan.  Thank you, God, for giving us a break.

To top off that craziness, however, my parents broke up.

John now has Deb and Ileana went back to being a Valencia.

I think it's for the best, but I still wish my parents worked it out.

Because now that I've seen so many bad relationships, including my parents', I just want to be married to someone and do everything I can to make them feel special and do things right.  Because through my journey of life I've realized that love is selfless, and I've just been thinking about myself my whole life.  I've wanted to know what kissing and sex feels like, but now I just want to do things for someone, and have kids with someone.  And I want to be with someone forever, and mean it.

Because this Nintendo gaming, Ultimate playing, Japanese loving, film making, creative writing, risk taking, super hilarious theater kid needs somebody to love.

And he's gonna have 20 years of preparation for it once he comes home.