Chapter 2

A few years passed, and Devon and Marie became very good friends. So much so, that her parents let her start dating before she was sixteen years old. Devon was the perfect person for Marie; her parents were hoping that maybe one day, Devon would become Marie's husband.

"I can not wait for the Fall Dance. I have the perfect dress for the occasion." Marie explained to her fellow classmate, Jessica.

"Has Devon asked you yet?" Jessica questioned.

"Not yet. I'm wondering why he is taking so long! I hope that he hasn't met someone else, and he hasn't had enough courage to tell me." Marie answered, letting her imagination start to get the better of her.

"I doubt that very seriously Marie. Devon would never do that." Jessica consoled, doing her best to reassure her friend.

Just then, Marie's Head Mistress walked into her dorm room, "Ms. Jordan, you have a visitor."

"I bet I know who it is!" Marie exclaimed as she flew past the woman, out of the room, and down the mahogany hallway to the foyer. She saw Devon standing by the large bay window with his back turned to her. She regained her lady-like composure before she approached him. "Uh… hmmm…" Marie tried to get Devon's undivided attention.

He turned around to look at her. He was dressed in his cricket uniform. "Good afternoon Marie."

"Good afternoon, handsome," she replied coyly.

"Come over here for a moment," he said, then seeing her hesitate, he went on. "I'm not going to bite you Marie." She went to him, and he continued, "I really didn't want to talk to you from across the room."

"I know that you are not going to bite, silly. I have missed you so much. I hope that you are here because you are going to ask me something… and because you missed me, too." She was close enough to him now that she could kiss him.

"You know that you could give me a complex for your forwardness. I thought that I was supposed to ask the questions, and not you beating me to the punch." He looked as if he were disappointed with her.

Marie gazed into his azure eyes. "But it was you who promised me that we would go to all the dances together. I am sorry if I spoiled your ability to still ask me. Don't be upset, please. I can't stand it when I have upset you. I was just anxious for you to ask me." She pleaded with her emerald colored eyes.

"I am not upset, Marie. I love you too much to ever be upset with you even for a little bit. You should know that by now. At least, I would hope you would have. But yes, you are right. I still want to ask you to the dance, as a gentleman should ask a lady. Not the other way around." He pulled her even closer to him.

Marie rested her head on his shoulder, "Oh, Devon, I guess I am not as lady like as I would have hoped to be. And in answer to your question, yes, I would love to go to the dance with you." Marie kissed his cheek.

"You are everything that I need. Don't ever think that you are not. Do you understand?" Devon lifted Marie's head up to meet his loving gaze.

"I understand." She replied, almost teary eyed.