A rock goddess. That's what she was. Dancing up there with her band, singing her heart out and making everyone fall in love with her. Including me. In fact that's where I met her. Backstage after a show, when Paramore was just a little Tennesee band that I happened to see while visiting my cousin. I was up front, the way I always have been at shows, getting beaten by a crowd of moshing punks. She caught my eye and smiled. That's when the show went black for me. I crashed headfirst into the stage. Blacked out. My cousin pulled me out of the pit, insisting we went home before the show was over. I looked at her once and told her she was insane for even thinking I could leave without meeting that girl. I marched back in and missed the end of their show. Determined as I was, I went around back and snuck in. The sneaking part never really happened though, it was such a small town that the bands enjoyed meeting people. When I finally found her, she was buttoning up the plaid shirt she'd swapped for her sweaty t-shirt from the show.

"Hey, you ok? That was a pretty nasty dive you did into the stage." She flashed a worried grin. God, her voice was even amazing offstage. It was raspy, worn from years of singing, and in a small town I assumed pot.

"Uh, yeah, thanks. Hey... I know you probably have a party or something to go to, but I'm staying in the city twenty minutes from here and I was wondering if you wanted to go grab a slice of pizza or a cup of coffee? I understand if you don't, I mean... we don't even know each other on a first name basis but-"

"I'd love to, but... I don't drive, and I can't ask you to drive me home after." She looked downat her shoes.

"You could stay with me overnight. I have to come back tomorrow anyways. My cousin lives here."

"Dude, serious? This is the coolest thing anyone's ever done. Coffee's on me." She grinned.

"Awesome. Well, I'll go grab my car. Meet me out front?" She nodded.

When I pulled around from Charlie's place, I was the last car in the lot. She was waiting under alamp post waiting. "I thought you forgot about me." She joked.

"Naw, that'd be impossible. You're way too pretty." I flirted gently.

"You really think so?"

"Absolutely. I'm Selena, and just going to guess based on your keychain... you must be Hayley?"

"Yep. Haha we have a winner. Selena, pick a prize behind either door 1, 2, or 3! What will she choose folks." She held upan invisible microphone to my mouth.

"Well Hayley, I'm going to have to go with... Door number 2!"

"Selena, let's see what you've won." She clapped her hands around her face. "It's the door, you have to open it!" She yelled through her fingers.

I pried the first hand off, and she let me gently ease the second one away. As I did, she popped her face out and kissed me.

I reacted to the kiss as though it was the hundred and first time, not the first. It felt so comfortable, so natural to be kissing her. When she finally pulled away to breathe she went bright red and looked out thewindow.

"Hayley, that was... amazing. I know we barely know each other, but I've liked you from the moment I saw you walk out on stage." I reached out and placed my hand on hers. She opened her palm, letting my hand lay flat on hers for a moment.

"They're perfect."She announced softly.

"For what?" I asked her. In response, she moved her hand apart so that my fingers fell between hers. She kissed the top of my hand.

"This." She siged contentedly.

By the time we got to an open coffee shop, which was about a half an hour drive from the show, I'd learned three very important things about Hayley.

First thing I learned: Her full name. Hayley Nichole Williams. Future rock goddess. The second thing I learned: She had no home. Not really. She lived in the studio that the brothers in her band had built in their attic. But that was just where she laid her head at night. The third: I was her first kiss and, in her mind, I would be the last.

"Selena, I have a question." She squeezed my hand. "I know this is sudden, and that you barely know me, but I've never felt this way about another person. Move here, let's get a place in the city. I promise you, everything will be ok. I'm not going to let anyone hurt you."

I looked her over. This tough as nails punk rock girl, just softened up for me. If she could show me that side, maybe I could let her in. Take a chance on her. "Yeah, I'd like that."

"You mean that? You really mean that?" she brightened up.

"Yeah, I do. But there's a catch. You have to go on 16 dates with me first. And on these16 dates, you have to answer any question I ask. Deal?" she grinned.

"Deal. But does this count as date 1?" I nodded. "Well then, ask away."

"Where are your parents? And how old are you?" I questioned.

"I'm 19, and my parents have been gone for about 6 years now. My mom and poppa hated the idea of me dedicating or "wasting" my time on music. They would yell at me, call me a loser, say I was going to end up living on their couch and getting him beer all day. Finally one day, they got in a huge fight. They split up, and instead of going through court decided to sell the house and split the money. A few days after my house wenton the market, I woke up with a letter taped to the empty fridge that my backpack, along with everything I'd worked to pay for inside, were on the curb and they were gone. That was the last I heard from or saw them. Right after that I moved in with the Farro's."

"Hayley, are you ok?" I grabbed her hand

"I am when I'm with you." She said, and leaned in and kissed me again.