Steamy Force:

Simone’s Notes:

The triangular theory of love by Robert Sternberg is based on intimacy, passion, and commitment. Consummate love being the strongest type of love which consists of three aspects: intimacy, passion, and commitment. The idea of this theory is that love can consist of one component alone or any combination of the three parts: intimacy, passion, and commitment. There are many factors taken into account when a relationship turns into love. One big factor is culture. This is a common issue among two people who come from very different cultural backgrounds. In a study done by Phillip Shavers and his colleagues, they interviewed participants from different parts of the world and found that love has "similar and different meanings cross-culturally. The Chinese participants had several different love concepts such as "sorrow-love", "tenderness-pity", and "sorrow-pity". These tie into another study done by Rothbaym and his partner Tsang in 1998, they researched popular love songs from American and Chinese artists. The difference was that the Chinese love songs "had significantly more references to suffering and to negative outcomes than the American love songs." This may be due to beliefs that interpersonal relationships are predestined, and thus no control over love lives.

Nately was driving late in the rainy night. This was how he dealt with his frustration of not having his crush. Kathleen just wouldn’t leave his head. She was an angel to him. The pair had become close friends. Lately, they had been talking to each other so many times. Kathleen was a perky soul. She never let riches and power go to her head. Kathleen loved the simple things in life. They didn’t have to spend tons of money to have a great time. They usually spend outdoors together and talked. Both wished more could happen, but sadly there was one thing that stood in the way between them. Kathleen was to be married to a duke that her family had known for years. She didn’t exactly know what she wanted. The lady only seemed to be agreeing to wed him just to keep her parents happy. But soon, tonight would change everything for them both.

Nately was driving around the city when the rain came pouring down hard. He clicked on the windshield wipes and kept driving. “How nice!” he thought sarcastically. “It’s always raining in my life! My love life in particular! Why can’t anything exciting happen to me?” That all changed when something caught his eye. Kathleen was standing on the sidewalk in the rain. She had her coat grabbed around her small body. The heiress held a newspaper over her head. Poor Kathleen looked to be in distress. Nately was confused as well as sympathetic towards her. “What is she doing out here so late in this weather?” he thought. Concerned, the major drove over to her. He slowly rolled down the window. Kathleen looked into the car desperately.

“Need a ride?” the major asked.

“Yes please!” she called out. Her friend reached over and unlocked the door. Kathleen opened the door and climbed inside quickly. She buckled up as she was trembling from the cold. Nately smiled at her warmly.

“Straight home?” he asked. Kathleen nodded quickly. The major kept smiling at her.

“Okay then,” he called. Then, they drove off into the night together.

“So what were you doing out there all alone in the rain?” Nately asked her causally. Kathleen shook her head. The major automatically put two and two together.

“Don’t want to talk about it, huh?” he asked. Kathleen shook her head again.

“Okay!” her friend called out. Then, they kept on driving.

Within minutes of a long drive, Kathleen began to open up.

“Lee is a complete jerk!” she called out. “I have realized that now tonight.” Nately looked at her out of the corner of his eye. His lady friend kept her eyes straight through to the windshield.

“Your fiancée?” he asked.

“Yeah!” Kathleen called.

“Why is that?” the major asked. His crush looked at him distressed.

“Don’t get me started!” she called out.

“Let me guess,” Nately said. “Arrogant, boring, and a dream crusher?” Kathleen was surprised at his statement.

“How did you know?” she asked aloud. Her friend kind chuckled.

“Lucky guess!” he replied. Kathleen began to smile at last.

“He’s nothing like you!” she called. Nately was slightly confused.

“How do you mean?” he asked. The lady kept smiling sweetly.

“He’s not…” she began. “Charming, nice, and a real person who sees under the skin!” Nately’s cheeks were getting bright red.

“Oh Kath!” he called out lightly. “You’re making blush!” Kathleen couldn’t help but to giggle.

“Really now?” she asked.

“Yeah!” the major called out. Kath giggled even more like a little schoolgirl. She happily felt free again.

But then, the car stopped in the middle of the country ride. Both froze from talking and looked around.

“What just happened?” Kathleen asked. Nately looked at the dashboard.

“Here’s the problem!” he called out. “We’re out of gas!” Kathleen looked with him. The needle was right on empty.

“Are you serious?” she asked.

“Yep!” the major answered. They sat there in silence. The rain poured on outside. There was nothing to do so far. Kathleen and Nately sat in silence for a while. Being alone in a stationary car does magic on playful emotions. Both were thinking like a teenage couple on a date that was going great. Both wanted to do naughty things to each other. Nately slowly moved his hand closer to her to touch his crush. Kathleen was wishing that he would. The heat between them slowly became warm. But yet, there was that wall…

“Uh…” the heiress spoke up. “I’ll car for a repair man or something!” The major quickly returned to Earth.

“Uh… right!” he called.

“Yeah!” the heiress replied. Then, she drew out her cell phone from her purse and dialed up a mechanic. Nately watched in excitedly. Kathleen fascinated him in so many ways. Not just with her beauty. Kathleen was smart, funny, loved life to the fullest, knew where she was going in life, and very generous to all. It was so wrong of her to marry someone whom she didn’t love and obvious he the same to her. This angel should be with someone she loved. Some one that would be great to her. Someone like… him! Right then, Nately realized something! The major was falling madly in love with her. Nately just didn’t care about the circumstances anymore! He just had to be with her no matter what!

The major kept watching his crush on her cell phone calling for help. Oh, there were so many things he wanted to do with her and her sweet little body. He wanted to play with her hair. He wanted to hold her hand as long as he could. He wanted to touch her in anyway. He was tempted to kiss on her. The major was about to do so on her neck. Then, Kathleen hung up the phone. She turned to her crush smiling.

“A mechanic will be on his way in a few minutes!” the heiress called out. Nately tried to look happy for that bit of news.

“Oh,” he said. “That’s good!”

“Yeah,” Kathleen replied. Then, all became silent again. Those feelings started back up again. Both wanted to say or so something to act on them, but didn’t know how to say or do it or how the other would react. But the silence and inactivity was killing them. Somebody had to do something quick.

“Uh…” Nately spoke up. Kathleen looked up at him with those lovely doll eyes of hers.

“Hm?” she asked like a sweet little dove. The major went quiet. How could he even say it? What if she didn’t feel the same for him? That would make things go from bad to worse with him. “Aw, screw it!” the major thought in contradiction to himself. “Madeline already blabbed it while she was drunk! I might as well say it now while we are stuck here!”

“Kathleen,” he started again. “There’s something I have to tell you.” The heiress looked at him waiting.

“What is it?” she asked. The major swallowed hard and took in a deep breath afterwards. He took her hand as well. Kathleen quickly began to blush. Nately looked deep into her lovely eyes.

“I love you, Kathleen!” the major confessed at last. “I have always loved you. I have loved you since the first time I laid eyes on you!” The heiress was really blushing now. That pushed Nately to speak again.

“I really do love you,” he went on. “I don’t care if you’re marrying someone else; I love you to the fullest. I love you for who you are! I can’t be away from you any longer. I love you! I love you! I love you!” Kathleen lightly put his finger to his lips. He was blushing now.

“Shhh,” she whispered. “I know. You don’t have to tell me. I love you too. Just don’t work yourself up or try too hard to impress me. I love you jus the way you are.” Nately kept blushing as he nodded lightly. Kathleen smiled at him sweetly. Then, they both got their wish. The heiress leaned over to him and lightly kissed him on the lips. The major became overjoyed with love. He kissed back happily. Kathleen unbuckled her seatbelt so that she could be closer to her new love. Nately just held her tightly in his strong arms. He found himself away in heaven. Despite it raining outside, his world had just brightened up tremendously.

The repairman with a tow truck came for them hours later. Nately and Kathleen sat up waiting. Once the car was all hooked-up and ready to go, the couple rode in the car on the way home to the nearest gas station. They held each other’s hand the entire ride. It was official: Nately Reed and Kathleen Gates were in love. But alas, they still had that pesky fiancée in the way. Plus her parents would need some talking to afterwards to accept Nately. That was going to take plenty of work to get him out of the way and convince her parents that the major was a good man. But, they were up for it. After all, with love on one’s side, anything is possible!