Okay, so apparently my childhood crushes were all secretly trying to tell me something about myself. I didn’t realise I was building a psychological profile every time I giggled at a TV screen, but looking back… yeah. There’s a definite pattern.
Basil Brush — The Safe Chaos
It started with a fox. Not just any fox — the fox. Basil was silly, quick-witted, and endlessly cheerful, and I adored him. I think what I really loved, though, was how safe he felt. He made the world lighter without making it loud. I could laugh, escape, and feel totally accepted. Looking back, that crush wasn’t weird — it was comfort dressed as comedy.
Shayne Ward — The Heart-On-Sleeve Era
Then came the X Factor phase: slow ballads, dramatic key changes, and Shayne Ward looking straight into the camera like he knew everyone’s secrets. I was completely gone. It wasn’t just about how he looked — it was that emotional sincerity. I’ve always loved people who feel things out loud, who wear their hearts where you can see them.
The Boy from 10B — The Real-World Crush
Somewhere between TV stages and school corridors came a real-life crush. He wasn’t famous or glittery; he was just there — human, awkward, reachable. That one taught me I wanted connection that existed off-screen, too. Something that didn’t need a spotlight to be real.
Aston Merrygold — The Joy Spark 💛
And then, of course, came Aston. The energy, the confidence, the gold-heart smile. He was pure joy in human form — and still is. There’s something about his vibe that feels like sunlight. When I think about it, every crush before him was leading here: someone fun, kind, grounded, and full of music. Someone who brings the colour back.
The Bigger Picture
Put them all together and they tell a story. I’ve always fallen for warmth, humour, kindness, and spark — people (or foxes) who made me feel safe and alive at the same time. I used to think my crushes were random; now I see they were tiny signposts, pointing me toward the kind of love I was really searching for.
And the best part? I found it. 💍
Tags: nostalgia, cosy reflections, pop culture, teenage crushes, JLS era
Asten Does Nostalgia 
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