Chapter One - Time
"So, you're going away for the next two weeks?" Alison asked in between kisses.
"Yeah, I want you to come along, but the guys just want to bond for awhile," was Cody's response.
Alison pulled from her sixteen-year-old boyfriend's arms and pouted.
"I swear your friends hate me."
"No way, baby. They could never hate you. They're just jealous because I got their dream girl and she's the most amazing girl on the face of this planet," Cody reassured her.
Alison smiled and kissed him again, this time running her hands through his medium length blonde hair.
"I love you, Ali," Cody stated, gazing passionately into her eyes.
She smiled again and kissed him as her hands now roamed all over his body. He'd told her he loved her, but she never said it back. He pulled from her and they exchanged looks.
"You can say it too, you know."
She smiled and nodded.
"I know," she replied.
Alison proceeded to kiss Cody, but he once again stopped her.
"Then why don't you ever say it? I've been saying it for the past year, but not once have you said it."
"Sweetie, you need to give me time."
"We've been together for the past two and a half years. How is that not enough time?" he questioned, his voice raising a level.
Groaning in irritation, Alison rolled her eyes.
"Can we just drop the subject, please?"
"No. I want to know why you won't tell me you love me."
Then he took a moment to think about it.
"Wait a minute. You don't love me, do you?"
"I never said that."
"But it's true, isn't it?"
"No."
"Admit it. You're just with me for my money."
Before he knew it, she had slapped him across the face. He rubbed the burning spot on his left cheek and turned to her.
"Do that again and we're over," he threatened.
"Then don't call me a gold-digger. You know damn well I haven't taken a single dime from your pockets."
"Then if you're not with me for the money, you just want your fifteen minutes of fame."
"Cody!" she exclaimed, slapping him again. "Snap out of it! You're blowing this whole love phrase thing way out of proportion."
He looked at her again and sighed, realizing she was right.
"You're right. I'm, I'm sorry," he apologized.
"It's okay. You really do have to give me time, though."
Cody just smiled, gazing into her big, captivating brown eyes again. He knew damn well she wasn't with him for his fame or his money. He also knew that she cared a lot for him, but he realized she was probably just afraid to use the term love. She was three years older than him and he knew she'd been through a lot more than him when it came to relationships. He nodded in understanding, choosing to give her the one thing she needed more than anything - time.
