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"It's the first building on the left, Sam. Just be careful, because there's a pretty sharp turn coming up."
It has gotten noticeably darker since we left Washington, and damn my intuition, the NWS was right. The rain is coming down like cats and dogs, and the lightning strikes every twenty seconds or so. I pull into the visitor's space that is closest to the main door, and idle the engine. Jennifer looks at me with a curious face.
"Are you ready?"
"Yup. I'll see you in a few days."
"What are you talking about?"
"What are YOU talking about?"
"Well, aren't you coming in?"
"I didn't know I was invited."
She laughs at me, and puts her hand on my arm.
"Sam, you can't honestly believe that I'd let you drive all the way back to Washington in this weather, do you? Get serious."
"I didn't bring a change of…"
"Don't worry about that. I've got a neighbor about your height, and I'm sure he won't mind loaning me a pair of sweats. Ok?"
"Only if you're sure."
"I'm only sure that if you drive home in this weather, that I'll be sick with worry all night long. Now turn off the engine, and come inside, ok? I'll make some coffee for us."
I smile.
"Ok."

"This is really a beautiful place you have here."
"Thanks. Make yourself at home. I'm just gonna go next door and check on those sweats for you, ok?"
"Ok."
She leaves the apartment, and I begin looking around at my new surroundings. Everything is perfectly placed. The artwork hung on the walls reminds me of home. Well, when I lived in New York. She has a photo of the Statue of Liberty during a Fourth of July celebration hanging on her wall. I can't help but sigh, because deep down, I do miss the Big Apple. I walk slowly around the Living Room, taking in all the sights to see. The front door opens.
"Hey, Sam. I hope you don't have any objections to UCLA."
I smile.
"Absolutely not. I love UCLA."
"Good. Here you go. If you'd like to change, the spare room is just down the hall on the right. Coffee?"
"Sounds great. I'll be out in a minute."
I head down the hall and open the door to the spare room. I'm greeted by walls that have newspaper clippings mounted in frames. Hmm. I wonder what these are about? I walk over to them and am pleasantly surprised by what I see.
"Bartlet's America!"
Wow. She really is a staunch Democrat. What does this one say?
"Town Hall Meeting Goes Chaotic."
I know what that's from. I know what each of these articles are going to say, so I don't bother reading them. It's just gonna bring back memories for me that I'm not sure if I'm all that ready to face. I quickly change into the sweats that have been loaned to me, and head back out towards the Living Room. The music is playing, the same CD that was playing in her classroom when I visited her earlier this week.
"Hey. Coffee's almost ready."
"Ok. Whenever, I'm in no rush."
She smiles.
"Ok. I'm just gonna go change. Take a load off."
She returns a few minutes later, wearing her Notre Dame sweats.
"The President would be proud of that."
She smiles.
"Well, that's my main goal in life."
"Sarcasm?"
"In part. They were the most comfortable pair I could find. Let's get you some coffee."

About forty minutes later, we're sitting side by side on the couch in the Living Room, drinking our coffee and watching the rain come down.
"You know, Sam. This is probably going to sound quite silly, but I don't think I've ever enjoyed myself more than I am right now."
"How so?"
"This is all so peaceful and serene. Just sitting here watching the rain falling down, making that special sound as it hits the windows; seeing the flashes of lightning go through the sky, lighting it up brighter than a Fourth of July celebration. It's just really something."
"Yeah. I agree with you. With my job, I don't really get to sit down and relax all that much. This is a really nice thing to…"
I can't finish that sentence, because the sound of her scream had terrified me. It's probably because the power went off so suddenly; at the exact moment that huge clap of thunder ripped through the streets of downtown Baltimore. She puts a hand to her chest, trying to regain her composure.
"I'm sorry about that, Sam. I just wasn't really expecting that to happen."
I smile, but I'm sure she can't see that.
"It's ok. I wasn't really expecting it either."
"Well, I'd better get out the candles. I'll be right back."
She heads down the hall and returns a moment later; a large storage box in her hands.
"I know it's big, but it's my emergency kit. Everything you'd ever need is in here. From blankets, to bottles of water, to candles, crackers and juice boxes."
"You sound totally prepared."
"Hey. It's the way to be."
She puts the very large box down on the floor and opens the lid, taking out a couple of packages of candles that were on the top, as well as the long stick matches. I get off the couch, and help her place the candles around the apartment, lighting them as we both go. Before we know it, her place is lit up spectacularly, and there is a beautiful glow surrounding us.
"Wow. It looks beautiful in here."
She looks around for a few moments.
"Yes, it does, doesn't it?"
I hold out my hand to her and she takes it, walking towards me.
"Hi."
"Hi."
"How you doin'?"
"Good, good. You?"
"Good."
We look at each other for an awkward moment, and I bring my hand up to her face, running my finger along her jaw line. She smiles and lowers her head.
"Sam…"
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing. It's just that…"
"Jennifer, don't finish that thought, ok?"
I lift her chin up and bring my lips to hers, kissing her very gently. She lets out a sigh, and I open my eyes as I pull away from her.
"What's the matter?"
"Nothing."
She smiles at me, and I lean towards her for another kiss. This is a gentle one, but just as I start to give her a deeper kiss, she puts her hands on my chest and pushes me away.
"Jennifer, what's wrong?"
"If this is going where I think it might be going, I can't…I can't…"
"You can't what?"
She shakes her head and looks away from me, my arm still wrapped around her waist.
"I can't tell you that. You'll laugh at me."
"I guarantee you I won't. You can trust me."
"I know I can trust you, but I just don't think you'll believe me."
"I won't believe what?"
She lowers her head and takes a deep breath.
"I've had boyfriends before, Sam."
"I kinda figured that, you know."
"Sam, this is hard enough for me to talk about right now. Please don't joke."
I can tell this is something that is hard for her to talk about, so I nod my head.
"Ok. I'm sorry. Please go on."
I take her hand and lead her to the couch, where we sit facing each other, my arm wrapped around her shoulder in a comforting manner.
"I was a bookworm in school. I would read anything and everything I could get my hands on, and for that matter, I'm still the same way. I studied so hard, because I knew that I wanted to be the best; to have the best grades, the best job, the best salary. I didn't date anyone seriously until I was 22. He was a nice guy, as far as
college frat boys go, I suppose. Well, one night he wanted to, you know, fool around, and I told him that I wasn't ready. The next day the rumor went around that he had dumped me, so I knew that was the end of that. It was a good thing, anyway, because I found out from a couple of girlfriends that he had done some pretty serious drugs, using needles, that kind of thing."
"Oh my god. I'm so sorry about that."
She smiles.
"Well, I didn't sleep with him, so I'm fine in that respect. It's just that…"
She stops, trying to find the words to say.
"It's ok, you can tell me."
She looks up at me, and I smile at her. She smiles back.
"I graduated in the top one percent of my class from every school that I went to. I didn't have time to date because I was so caught up in my studies. Then when I graduated from Teacher's College, I was so focused on my kids, that I think I actually repelled people from me. I just got so involved with my work that I totally was lacking in any form of a social life. I get up, go to work, stay there until 5 or 6 at night, come home, prepare my lesson plans for the next day. I cook or usually order something to eat at about 8, then I go to bed and start all over again. I haven't been on a date in years, and to be quite honest, I forget what it's like to be around a decent man in a social situation."
I smile. I think I know what's coming.
"So what is it that's so bad about that? I don't even think I can remember what dating is supposed to be about, either."
"Sam, it's more than that. I haven't…"
She looks at me with pleading eyes.
"You haven't what?"
"I haven't… you know."
I think I know, but I want to hear her say it.
"I don't. You haven't what?"
"I've never…you know. Been with a man."
"Oh. So what's the big terrible secret that you needed to tell me?"
She looks mortified by my last statement. Oh god, I did bad.
"Sam! That IS my big secret. How many women do you know that are almost 34 years old and can swear on the Bible that they've never had sex?"
"Truthfully, not many."
"See? That makes me a freak; a frigid monster that no one would ever want to be with. But it's not the case. I'm just not ready for, you know. THAT."
I smile at her, and run my fingers along the side of her face.
"Jennifer. I don't want you to think that I would pressure you into something that you weren't ready for. I should hope you could tell that about me."
She lowers her head a little.
"Yeah. I just thought that…"
I smile and bring on the sarcastic voice.
"See? There you go thinking again. Stop doing that, ok?"
She smiles.
"Sam "
"Seriously. I think that's a very special thing, and I don't think you should be ashamed of it at all. The man that you are with for the first time should see it as an honor, and know that you chose him for that purpose. I would never force you to do something that you didn't feel comfortable doing, I seriously hope you believe that."
She smiles, and closes her eyes; her head leaning towards my touch.
"I do, Sam. I'm not saying that I wouldn't ever want to, and I don't even necessarily want to wait until, if ever, I get married. I just want it to be with the right person; someone that I know will treat me right. I don't want to rush into something without assessing the situation completely. I always tell that to my kids, and I don't
want to be a hypocrite."
I can't help but smile with a little chuckle.
"Jennifer, there are things that go on between adults that your kids don't have to know about, you know."
"I know, Sam. But I WOULD know about it, and I would have to live with myself; knowing that I was teaching my kids one thing while living something completely different. It's a morality issue for me."
I lean forward and kiss her on the forehead.
"And I totally respect that. If and when you're ready, and if I'm lucky enough for it to be me, all you have to do is tell me. I won't ever pressure you into something you aren't ready for. Ok?"
She smiles.
"I think I can pretty much guarantee that it will be you, and I'll let you know. You can bank on that one."
"Good."
We sit there for a few moments, just looking at each other and enjoying each other's company.
"What time is it, Sam?"
I look at my watch.
"It's about 1:30. Why?"
"We should go to bed. You have a long drive in the morning."
"Ok. Where will I be?"
"Well, you could stay in the spare room if you like, or you could stay in my room. Whichever you prefer."
"Where will you be?"
"In either scenario, in my room."
I waggle my eyebrows.
"Oh really? Then I'm taking the second option."
I laugh as she swats me across the shoulder.
"You are welcome to stay in my room, as long as you know that…"
"Jennifer, I know. It would be great just to hold you as we fall
asleep. We don't have to do anything."
"So you mean we can sleep together?"
"Yes, as in actual sleeping. Rapid Eye Movement."
"Ok. That sounds like a good idea to me."
We stand up from the couch, blow the candles out in the joining rooms, then head to her bedroom. I blow out the candles in the room, and she heads to the bed; turning down the blankets for us. I slowly walk over to the bed, and climb in. I lay down on my side, facing her, and hold my arm out for her.
"You don't have to be so far away, you know."
I can see a smile in the darkness, and she inches her way towards me, resting her head on my shoulder. I take her hand and place a gentle kiss on it, before resting it on my chest. I speak quietly to her.
"Good night, Jennifer."
"Good night, Sam. Thanks for, you know. Understanding."
"No thanks are needed, and I completely understand. Sweet dreams."
I kiss her on the forehead, and she snuggles up to me even more.
"You too, Sam. You too."

TBC...