I sat down next to Chris at the table just as my mother walked in. Chris immediately straightened his posture and smiled. My mother smiled back at him "Hello Christopher, how are you?" He nodded "I'm good thank you, how are you?" She smiled "good"

We ate our dinner and everything went well, up until desert. We were eating our ice cream when my mother spoke up. "Chris, i'm really glad you came over tonight. You're a fine young man but I want to know one thing; what are your intentions with my daughter? I mean this in the most respectful way possible, but I know of your father and brother, and i'm a mother who worries"

My eyes popped out of my head "MOM!" Chris turned to me and gave me a small smile "No Andy it's okay, I get it" He turned to my mother "My intentions with your daughter are too make her happy. Nothing less. I love her. And i'd never, ever, make her do anything to make her feel uncomfortable or pressured in any way. And yes, my brother and my father are both poor excuses of human beings, but I will always do everything in my power to make sure I don't end up like either of them"

My mother nodded and smiled "Well good for you Chris. I'm proud to say my daughter picked a good boy. But what do you plan on doing when you graduate?" Chris smiled "I'm planning on going to Harvard University. I've already applied" My mother nodded "and if you don't get in? Not saying you wont, just being curious" "Well i've also applied to NYU" He shot me a smile. I smiled and held his hand under the table.

My mother sighed and looked at us "Well Andy, you got yourself a good boy here. Chris, i'm sorry I judged you so harshly, I hope you can forgive me?" Chris nodded and smiled "Absolutely" She smiled "Thank you. Now i'll leave you two love birds alone. I hope to see you more often" My mother began walking away before she turned around and caught my eye. Making sure Chris didn't see, she mouthed "so cute!" I rolled my eyes and laughed.

I shut my bedroom door and sat with Chris on my bed "Did you bring it?" He nodded and pulled out the envelope that held his school schedule. I got mine from my table and opened it. I looked over both of our schedules "OUUU WE HAVE ENGLISH AND SCIENCE TOGETHER!" Chris laughed "That should be interesting. But i've gotta go, you know, school night and all. I'll pick you up tomorrow morning around 8:30, that okay?" I nodded and kissed him goodbye.

The next morning I woke up overly excited. Most kids don't like school, but I don't mind it. I get to see my boys everyday! I threw on some short shorts and a yellow shirt that brought out my tan. I went downstairs and ate some breakfast. I hear Chris's horn outside and ran out.

"Hey!" He leaned over and gave me a small kiss "Hey" I held his hand as he drove towards the school. When we got out of the car we could already see the rest of the guys, I smiled and ran over. I jumped on Teddy's back "TEDDY!" He laughed "Hey Andy" I smiled and jumped off, grabbing Chris's hand.

We all stood around under the big tree in the front yard of the school. It had become our spot over the years. I watched as freshmen walked around lost and nervous. The bell rang and we started walking towards the front stairs. I stopped "Chris" he looked down at me "yea?" I smiled "Promise we'll make this year count?" He chuckled "Yea, I promise" I took a deep breath and dragged Chris up the stairs.

I found my locker right away, which happened to be right next to Chris's. I threw my stuff in and looked at my schedule "We have English!" He looked a little worried "Who's the teacher?" I read the teachers name and realized what he was talking about "Ms. Simons.." He sighed "Great, can't wait" I held his face in my hands "I'll be with you, okay?" He smiled "Yea, yea tough guy, come on" He gave me a kiss and dragged me to class.

The rest of the morning didn't go too bad, normal first day things. Classroom rules, course outlines, blah, blah, blah.

It was lunch time so I started walking to the Cafeteria with Molly, we had just gotten out of Math. We sat down at a table and waited for the boys. "So how are things with you and Vern?" She smiled "Amazing! It just kinda sucks knowing that i'm leaving at the end of the school year" I sighed "Yea I know, it's the same for me and Chris" As soon as I said that, the boys walked in and started towards us.

After we finished lunch we decided to go sit in the back of Chris's truck since it was such a nice day. We sat listening to the radio and smoking cigarettes. I looked around at my friends. Vern and Molly were making puppy dog eyes at each other. Teddy had Gordie in a headlock and was giving him a nuggie. And Chris was tapping his hand on the side of the truck along with the music. I smiled to myself. I had the best friends a girl could ask for. Suddenly, this year was looking pretty good.