Thaddeus had never taken a girl to the movies, but he'd chosen for them to see "Unconquered". It was an adventure film set in colonial America. He wondered if she'd rather have gone to the mushy movie "Forever Amber" instead, but considering the girl on the movie poster was draped in the arms of a captain and wearing a risqué-looking dress, he had a feeling romance played at least a part of "Unconquered".

"I hope you don't mind the movie I picked," he told her out in front of the small movie theater.

"I don't mind at all. I've been wanting to see it. Gary Cooper's my favorite actor."

He eyed the poster more closely with a small twinge of jealousy. He realized it wasn't rational to feel that way about a movie star and one that was old enough to be their father, but he suddenly cooled considerably towards the actor.

He paid for their tickets and sprang for a small popcorn to share in hopes that their hands would accidentally touch.

Crystal felt his eyes on her periodically throughout the movie. She pretended not to notice, but the occasional twitch of her lips, no doubt gave her away.

He did the classic pretend to stretch, so he could have an excuse to put his arm behind her. That time she did smile, but she really didn't mind.

Crystal had liked him a long time too, not thought of him as boyfriend material per se, but she admired his carefree, spontaneous attitude. They were so different that she didn't know if anything could come from it, but she enjoyed his company, so she decided not to worry about it.

"He wasn't so great," Thaddeus said when the movie was over.

"He saved the girl from the Indians. That was pretty impressive." She gave an exaggerated lovesick sigh just to tease. "You got to love the way he strolled into their camp so stoically."

"Hmm," he grumbled, "if that'd been real life they would've thrown a tomahawk through his head."

She laughed. "You are too much."

They emerged from the darkened theater into the blinding sunlight. Crystal's father was already waiting in his truck to get her. No accident Thaddeus was sure.

"I had a good time," she admitted to him.

"Yeah? You want to go out again?" he asked.

"I don't see why not. You want to meet at Vioreen's café for a milkshake after school Monday?"

"Your father won't mind?" he asked, looking at Mr. Fentress as he impatiently tapped the steering wheel.

"As long as we're with a group, he won't mind. See you then."

And so began their dating.

It was weeks before he built up the nerve to kiss her. He'd kissed a few girls since Grace Higgens and felt confident about his technique because of it but none of those girls had made his palms sweat and his stomach fill with butterflies. She was the only one he knew who could make him feel shy, but for some reason, he liked it.

The lake became a special meeting place for them as it was a halfway point between their houses. However, she made sure she never met him after dark or even close to sunset, whether that her rule or her father's, he didn't know.

He skipped a rock while they sat talking about nothing in particular. It skimmed the surface about 5 times before it sank.

"I never have been able to do that though I've tried enough times," Crystal said.

"It's not so hard once you know how to do it." He looked for another smooth, flat rock and then placed it into her palm, elated at the chance for a valid reason to touch her so intimately. He put his hand over hers and bent back her wrist. "When we flick forward, let go of it quickly. It's all about having the right angle and it's got have a spin on it. Those are the two most important parts."

He physically guided her though the process of releasing the rock. It only skipped twice, but it did skip. "Well, look at that," she said. "You make a fine teacher."

"Crystal," he said, whispering her name while she was still so close.

She turned her head and their lips met softly. It wasn't a deep kiss just a short and sweet one, but it still gave him pleasurable tingles.

He kissed that way because he knew Crystal was the type who had to take things slow and he didn't want to risk doing anything to scare her off.

The sun was still far above the horizon, but she jumped up. "I got to get going. It's getting late and there's chores to do. Daddy'll be wondering where I'm at, but I'll see you tomorrow."

He grinned. She was flustered from the kiss, but he'd seen her expression before she turned. She'd enjoyed it as much as he had.