The next four months were like watching the sunrise; uplifting, breath taking, like seeing the world in a whole new way. Not the same way as Skittles, but similar.

Over the next four months, Victoria and I started going out together on serious dates. Yeah, the poodles and everyone else at school made fun of us, but we just ignored them. Even Tom stood up for us every so often. She came to our band practices and, unlike other girls I had previously dated, didn't complain about being bored. She was actually pretty into it. She'd even help adjust riffs and lyrics, making us sound a hundred times better. After a whole mess of persuading she played me some of the songs she'd written herself. They were so soulful and powerful they almost brought me to tears, even if I couldn't understand most of it. She became so involved with our band she was practically our fifth member. I even offered her a spot for back-up vocals when we recorded. To my delight, she accepted! Tom also let her do some guitar stuff we normally record a second track for.

But we still found time just for the two of us; whether it was at the Shadow Corner, or at the old park chasing each other around like five-year olds, we made time to be alone. We'd run up and down the playground playing tag until one of us tackled the other or lay on a blanket in the grass watching the stars come out. Having Victoria around just made everything more enjoyable, even Health. The only odd thing was that I only saw her dad once within those four months; other times he was either at work or sleeping. I worried about her being alone in that house, even if I was right across the street. I invited her to stay at my house several times and vice versa but of course my parents had many objections.

One day, I knew something was wrong when Victoria didn't meet Tom and me outside to go to school. I called her phone, but she didn't pick up. We went to school without her, and the entire day my mind was on her.

When we got home, my phone rang. It was Victoria. I immediately picked up.

"Victoria, where were you today? I called you but you-"

"Bill, please come to the park," she sounded like she was crying.

"What's wrong? Are you ok?"

"Please, just come here." She hung up before I could say anything else.

Dropping my backpack in the grass, I sprinted down the street to the park. I found Victoria sitting on the steps of the playground, head in her hands, her delicate shoulders shaking with sobs. I sat down next to her and pulled her into my lap. She buried her face in my chest, wrapping her arms around me as well. I stroked her hair and back, trying to calm her down enough to tell me what was wrong.

"Shh, it's ok. Just tell me what's the matter," I whispered in her ear.

"They're taking me away," she said softly. I almost didn't hear her.

"What?"

"They're taking me away," she repeated, louder this time.

"Who is?"

"Child services," she sobbed, looking up at me. Her eyes were puffy and red from crying so much. "They found out my dad's been leaving me alone so much and they're considering it neglect. So they're putting me in foster care."

I pulled her into me again and just held her as she cried her eyes out into my chest. When her sobs softened to silent tears, I wiped the falling tears from her face.

"I was at the social worker's office all day. They were evaluating my dad on how often he's home. They said he was leaving me alone too much, so he's not fit to take care of me anymore," she sniffled. "I have tonight to pack my stuff and then the social worker is taking me at noon tomorrow."

"Then we'll do whatever you want tonight," I said.

"Is Tom at your house?" she asked.

"No, he has a date with some girl tonight."

"Are your parents there?"

"They shouldn't be."

"Let's go to your house, then."

"Ok."

We stood up and walked back to my house in silence, our arms around each other's waist. We walked through the front door, straight back to my room. We lay on my bed for a while, just holding each other.

"What am I gonna do without you?" she whispered.

"You'll be alright. You have my number, and I'll give you my e-mail and address and everything else. I won't let us fall apart," I told her. "You're one of the best things that ever happened to me, I'm not gonna let myself let go of you just because you won't be across the street anymore."

"What about me? You'll still have Tom and Gustav and Georg. I'm not gonna have anybody. I won't know anyone at school, no one's gonna want to get to know me."

"Why would people not want to know you?" I asked.

"People thing I'm a freak." She sniffed

"Like who?"

"Those girls at school."

"Let me tell you something, in ten years no one's gonna remember them, because they don't do anything people actually care about. But you, if you just follow your heart, and let people see who you really are, they'll want to remember you. I know I defiantly won't, and the guys won't either."

"How do I know you're not lying?"

I sat up and reached over to the drawer of my night stand. After rummaging around for a few seconds, I found what I was looking for. Lying down again, I picked up Victoria's hand and slipped on the ring I had picked out a week ago. It was nothing too fancy, just a silver band with the words 'My Angel of Music' engraved into it. Since Phantom of the Opera was one of her favorite movies and she was so into music, those words seemed just right. She looked at the ring on her finger in wonder.

"This is my promise, Victoria, that I will never forget about you, that you will always be mine, no matter how far away you might be," I said, still holding her hand in mine. I kissed the back of it before placing it where it was before. Victoria looked into my eyes with a hunger.

"Kiss me, Bill," she whispered.

I leaned down and kissed her with everything I had. Our lips moved together with a passion they never had before. We relived the first night we knew each other, except this time there was no holding back. This time, our bodies moved as one in a dance only true soul mates could master. This time, we didn't stop until we were tired as hell and there was nothing between us but our bare skin. This time we made pure, beautiful, soul-to-soul love that could've turned winter into summer. When we were too tired to continue, we laid in each other's arms, our heavy breathing the only thing piercing the silence of my bed room. There was no need for communication between us as our breathing softened and we drifted to sleep under my blankets.

I was awakened by someone gently shaking me. At first I was afraid it was one of my parents, but was relieved when I saw Tom sitting on the edge of y bed. After handing me a pair of boxers, he signaled me to be quiet and follow him. I managed to pull on the underwear without waking Victoria, and followed Tom down to his room. He closed the door behind us before speaking.

"I heard that Victoria's leaving," he said calmly.

"Don't remind me," I said.

"So what are you gonna do?"

"What can I do? Tell them that they should let her stay because her boyfriend wants her here? Somehow, I don't think they'd buy it," I retorted.

"Well maybe we can convince Mom and Gordon to let her stay with us," he suggested.

"Let her stay with us? They won't let us get a dog and you're suggesting we ask them to let my girlfriend to stay with us? Yeah, I bet they'd let that one slide!"

"Hey, I'm trying to help you out here, but if you'd rather stand by and watch her be taken away, be my guest!" We were standing face to face now, talking loudly, but still not shouting. Knowing he was right, I turned and sat on the bed. My head dropped into my hands as I sighed in frustration.

"What am I gonna do, Tomi? I can't just let her go, but no one's gonna listen to me." I looked up to see Tom sitting next to me. "I love her, I can't lose her now."

He looked at me with sympathetic eyes. I knew he was trying to help, but I knew that there was nothing I could do about this.

"I know; I never thought you'd sleep with a girl until after you got married, but if you feel that strongly about her it can't be like the other girls you've dated."

"This does feel different than any other girl. She gets me, she understands why I do things, we can talk about anything in the world and I know she'll take me seriously. I know we're still young and haven't known each other that long, but she just feels like the right person for me," it was hard to explain how I felt about her, but Tom seemed to understand.

"It sounds like you can talk to her almost as easily as you can talk to me," he said.

"No, Tomi; you know that could never happen. But that's another thing about her, she knows that you're always gonna come first, and she's ok with that! Most girls get upset that I'd choose you over them, but Victoria just- it's so hard to explain."

We sat on Tom's bed without talking for a minute.

"If you really feel that deeply about her, why are you gonna step back and let this happen?" Tom asked me again.

"Because, deep down I know that no matter what I do, or what I say, or where I hide her, it's not gonna make a difference."

"We could try."

I nodded in agreement.

"Alright, I'll ask Mom if there's anything we can do."

He nodded in approval.

"Good. Now, you should probably go back to your girlfriend; it's only 1:30 in the morning so you've got about ten hours before you really have to worry."

"Thanks Tom." I pulled him into a hug before he could protest. He hugged me back before half shoving me out the door.

Victoria was still sleeping when I got back to my room. God, she was beautiful even when she was asleep. I pulled her slender body into me, brushed some stray hairs from her face and placed a soft kiss on her forehead. She seemed to wrap her arms around me in her sleep and snuggle even closer.

"Ich libe dich," I whispered in her ear. She sighed contently in her sleep.

As I was drifting back to sleep, I could've sworn I heard her mumble the same to me.