"I…don't want to see you around her again, Jones." Freddy looks angrily at him, then me. He storms back into the house. "Well…that went as well as I had anticipated." I collapse back into Zack's arms and cry. He wraps his arms around me lovingly and he leans against the side of the car.

"Why did he have to be so stubborn?"

"That's just how he is, Lynn. You know that." I nod against his shirt. I sniffle and he pulls me up to hand me a tissue. I blow my nose and he doesn't cringe or anything as he pulls me back into his loving embrace. I forgot how at home I feel here. I look at his lips. I'm so tempted. I momentarily distract myself by looking into his steely-blue eyes. Zack Mooneyham. Why didn't I see it before? That little glint of love –Real love- when I look into his eyes. I feel the corners of my mouth twitch into a wide smile. Being seventeen can sometimes leave you more experienced and more prone to epiphanies than others. "Why're you smiling?"

"I forgot how good you feel when I hug you. I'm glad you got into Worthing's with me, Zack." I wrap my arms around him and he does the same to me. He opens the car door for me and I get in. Right after, he closes it and the clean interior sinks in as I buckle my seat belt. It smells brand new, but with a hint of Zack. He starts the car and we drive away from Freddy's house.

I look out at the road ahead and the setting sun casts a pinkish-orange across the clouds and sky. "So…I feel good, huh?" I smile and nod.

"Like that first morning stretch in the spring when you've gotten plenty of sleep and it's Saturday." He chuckles.

"That's very specific, Lynn." I look out the window and say, "It has to be." I then look over at him. "With no details you can't possibly expect someone to understand."

"That's true." Then I get to thinking about Freddy. We both had extreme reactions, but that's how we roll when we get mad. "Thinking about Freddy?" I nod at the window.

"He's the first guy I loved. Of course I'm going to think of him."

"I see. I can understand why that was so hard for you then." He pauses. "We're all making sacrifices it seems."

"You've gotta make them in order to get somewhere in your life. Am I right?" He nods.

"Of course." We stop at a stop sign and it's so tempting to kiss his lips, but I kiss his cheek instead. He lightly touches the spot I kissed and looks at me. "What was that for?"

"A thanks for the brave knight that rescued me from the evil dictating war lord of death." He chuckles as he eases onto the gas.

"Why isn't it a dragon?"

"Too cliché." He chuckles again and I smile.

"You've never been one to go for the norm."

"Of course not. The norm is too boring." I pause. "How is it that I should be devastated, but when I look at you…I just feel so…happy…instead?" He shrugs as he shifts into fourth. He looks at me with a playful look in his eye.

"I'm not sure, Lynn. I just "rescued" you, we're best friends, we're going to the same overseas college. You decide." He pulls over in front of my house and I shake my head. "Then where?" I shrug in response and look out the windshield.

"Anywhere. Everywhere, I don't care!" He smirks as he shifts back into first and drives off. He puts in what looks to be a mixed CD. "I couldn't stop listening to this song once you left." Once the song plays he says, " 'What Hurts the Most' by Rascal Flatts." I nod as I listen to the lyrics.

"I'm…sorry, Zack. I didn't know I hurt you so bad when I left you. I'm so sorry." He shakes his head.

"Don't worry about it. Now that you know it doesn't hurt too bad. Oh, Lynn…I know the perfect place we can go."

-----

We come to a stop at the most romantically corny spot I could imagine: A cliff overlooking the city as the sun's setting. "Wow, Zack. It's so romantic, yet so corny and cliché." He chuckles as he gets out of the car. I follow and he meets me around the front of the car. Zack grabs one of my hands and pulls me onto the hood. We get comfortable and feeling him breathe is making me more comfortable. "Geez, with how we're positioned you'd think we were going out."

"That's not fair!" He says jokingly.

"Aw, why not?" I say mockingly as I turn myself so I'm facing him comfortably.

"Because…I don't know!" He gives a chuckle and I look at him with admiration. I can feel a kiss coming on. Well…I hope… I pull myself up so I can reach better. Our lips come within less than 7 millimeters from each other and I can feel his hot breath on mine. I slightly hesitate and I think he knows why, so he isn't rushing. He's truly a gentleman. I lightly touch our lips together. It's a light and caring kiss as if he wants me to make the progression in it, which is a new concept to me. I quickly straddle him and he puts his hands on my hips as mine occupy his jaw line. I lean down to kiss him again but with a little bit more passion.

I pull away and kiss his cheek and forehead and we end up in an embrace. I realize he's crying a little bit and my theory is confirmed when he says, "What took you so long?" because his voice quivers. I sit up and wipe away his tears with my thumbs and kiss his cheek. I look him in the eyes. "I really don't know, but I'm glad I got here." He sniffles a little.

"Me too."