It was Friday afternoon and I was walking home from school with my best friend Alyson.
"So, Are you doing anything with Benny tonight?" she asks.
"Yeah," I say. "It's our three month anniversary."
Aly shakes her head. "How you can keep a long-distance relationship that long, I have no idea."
"Whitechapel is only an hour away," I say.
"That's still long distance," she argues.
"Whatever," I shrug.
Today also happened to be Halloween. Aly and I had made a tradition of hanging out on Halloween every year, but tonight would be different.
"So, what're you gonna do tonight, since I'll be out with Benny?" I ask.
"I don't know…I still hate you for ditching me tonight," Aly teases.
"You could scare the little kids that are trick-or-treating in the neighborhood," I suggest.
"We did that last year, remember?" Aly reminds me.
"Oh, right," I laugh. "We got into so much trouble."
"It's not funny," she protests. "I got grounded for two weeks!"
"At least we didn't get arrested," I point out.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, whatever," Aly says, shrugging it off. "What time does your train leave?"
"Five-thirty," I reply. "Which means, I have to go home, pack, because I'm spending the night at my cousin's, take a shower, and get ready for my date, all in less than two hours."
"Have fun with that, girly."
"I thought you were going to help me pick out an outfit."
"I am," she says. "I just think it's going to be funny watching you rush to get ready."
"Maybe I should've gotten a ticket for the six-thirty train…" I trail off, walking up the steps to my door and unlocking it.
"Don't worry," Aly says. "I'll have you ready before five."
For the next hour, me and Aly fussed over what I was going to wear, what I was going to pack overnight, and what gum to chew so my breath wouldn't stink if he kissed me goodnight.
Aly left after my mom got home. Probably to go home and sulk. She'd find something to do before the night was over, she always did.
I walk into the kitchen, where my mom is at the sink, washing dishes.
"Hey, mom" I greet her.
"Hey, Sweetheart," she turns around. "Don't you look beautiful!"
"Thank you," I smile.
"Benny's a lucky guy."
"Yeah, he is."
My mom absolutely loved Benny. My dad however, was another story. He wasn't too keen on me having a boyfriend who was a geek. My dad was a jock in high school and he expected me to date a jock. Much to his dismay, I was dating out of my league.
My parents gave me a ride to the train station to see me off.
"Have fun tonight," my mom says.
"Not too much fun," my dad says gruffly.
"Dad, aunt Samantha and uncle Ross aren't gonna let anything happen to me," I rolled my eyes. "Ethan is staying at Benny's tonight after the date, and I'll probably get my butt kicked by Jane at Dance Dance Revolution."
"The five-thirty train to Whitechapel is now boarding. Please make your way over to the gate. It will leave in ten minutes," the intercom squawks.
"That's my cue," I say, hugging my parents goodbye. "I'll see you tomorrow."
I walk over to the gate and board the train. I turn around and wave to my parents.
I find a seat and pull out my iPod. I had an hour ride to Whitechapel, might as well pass it by listening to music. I pick out a song, and settle in for the ride.
I'm almost too zoned out to realize that my phone had gone off. I pull it out of my bag. One new message. Benny.
The text read: Hey, Katie. I can't wait to see you. I have a surprise for you tonight :)
I smiled to myself. Katie was his nickname for me. I reply to Benny: Hi, Bennyboo :). I can't wait to see what you have planned. I'll be in Whitechapel in about 45 mins. See you then!"
Bennyboo was my pet name for him. He didn't really like it, and I only called him that when we were texting or when no one else was around.
It felt like forever until the train finally pulled into the station. I was sore from sitting so long, that I got up and stretched.
I got off of the train and spotted Benny waiting for me. He smiles when he sees me. His smile gets bigger as I get closer to him.
"Hey Katie," he says and gives me a bouquet of a dozen red roses.
"They're so beautiful!" I exclaim. "Wait…did you just conjure them?"
"Maybe…" Benny smiles sheepishly. "Happy three month!"
I smile. He was so cheesy sometimes. "Aw…thank you." I give him a kiss on the cheek.
We walk out to the parking lot, where Benny's grandma is waiting for us in her car.
"I hope you like what I have planned tonight," he smiles at me.
"I'm sure I'll like whatever we do tonight," I promise.
We climb into the backseat. "Hi, Grandma Weir," I say when I get settled in.
"Hi, Sweetheart," Grandma says.
She pulls out of the parking lot, and soon we're cruising down the streets of Whitechapel, on the way to Ethan's.
