[Monday, February 8]

Eric stole a kiss at the library between homework problems.

"You better go back to the other side of the table," Tami told him, "Or I'm not going to learn anything."

Reluctantly, he stood and crossed over to the other side.

Another tutor and student sat down at the table next to them. That should keep them somewhat focused, Tami thought. But she didn't get back on the topic of math right away herself. "Where do you want to go Saturday night?" she asked.

"Wherever you want."

"Movies?" she asked.

"Nah," he said. "Movies aren't good for first dates. You can't talk to each other."

Mo had taken her to the movies on their first date because, he said, "The movies are a great place to kiss in the dark." They hadn't talked much, now that she thought about it. Not just on their first date, but on all of their dates - there had been a lot of small talk, a lot about teachers and football and the next party, but nothing like the personal life conversations she'd already had with Eric - nothing about her interest in photography, or their past relationships, or their family lives. How had she not noticed before how shallow her conversations were with Mo?

"I thought dinner," Eric said. "I'd plan a picnic, but, uh...February."

She laughed. "I like Italian," she said.

"I hear Chili's has good Italian." She frowned at him. He laughed. "Nah, I know a good Italian place," he said. "I might even be able to get us ten percent off, because my dad helped the owner with some repairs. I mean...not that you aren't worth full price." He flushed and then hastened, "I mean, not that I'm suggesting you're for sale! That's not how I meant it. I - "

"- It's okay. Let's go to your Italian place." She tapped her book with her pencil. "But now let's get down to this."

[Tuesday, February 9]

Tami found herself behind Joey and Eric again, this time in the bleachers at the basketball pep rally. There was going to be a home game tonight, and so every class had been shortened nine minutes for the end-of-day rally. The stands were usually filled for the football pep rallies, but only about half the school turned out for the basketball ones. The rest had skipped home early.

There was a problem with the sound system, and they were just waiting for the rally to start now. There was no sitting with your class at a pep rally, so she could alert them to her presence and scoot down next to Eric at any time.

"Got my hot date with Sarah this Saturday," Joey said.

"I've got a hot date with Tami," Eric said.

"Yeah? You finally asked her out?"

"We might have been developing a relationship during our tutoring sessions."

"Developing?" Joey asked. "Like…developing how?" He laughed. "What were you really tutoring her in, huh?" Joey said in a mock, soulful voice, "Eric Taylor's school of love."

Eric laughed. "Something like that."

"Yeah. How far have you guys gotten? You past 1st base yet?"

Tami really couldn't admit she was behind them now. She was good and stuck. She'd just have to keep listening.

"A gentleman doesn't kiss and tell, Joey."

"I never mistook you for a gentleman."

"What base do you think you'll get to with Sarah on Saturday?" Eric asked.

Tami was relieved he'd switched the subject instead of sharing. Not that she hadn't shared a thing or two with Sarah...but she was pleased Eric had kept her confidence. Mo had bragged about things they'd never done. Eric didn't even brag about what they had done.

"I think I'm going to be stuck in the dug out all night," Joey said. "She wants the free tickets, and she'll suffer through a night with me for a chance to see Aerosmith, but I doubt I'm even getting a kiss at the end of the night."

"Aww…don't sell yourself short. That's an hour and a half drive to Dallas. You'll charm her all the way there with your scintillating conversation."

"Scintillating, huh? What did you get on the verbal portion of the S.A.T?"

"I don't remember, but I'm sure it wasn't commensurate with whatever Sarah got."

"Seriously, man, why isn't she into me? I've been trying to get her to go out with me for a year. I'm a smart guy. I'm a nice guy. Is it because I'm so big?"

"Probably," Eric said.

"Thanks, man. That's a real friend."

"Hey, what can I say? Girls are shallow."

"Yeah. But you're not, right?" Joey said. "Your interest in Tami has nothing to do with the fact that she's the second hottest girl in school."

"Second?"

"Well, Sarah's my number one. You know that."

"It's more than just that," Eric insisted. "Tami….I….I don't know."

"Damn, man! You're smiling! Look at that smile!"

The sound system crackled to life. Tami, feeling guilty for eavesdropping, got up quietly, shuffled down the bleachers a bit, and then stepped down so she could appear to be walking up their row. "Hey, boys," she called as she walked to them. "Saw you sitting up here. Mind if I join you?"

Joey scooted over so that she could sit between them. Eric smiled. He draped an arm around her shoulders as the rally geared up.

[Wednesday, February 10]

Tami giggled and pulled away from Eric's kiss. They were both leaned across the library table. "Eric, c'mon, I really do need you to tutor me. And you're getting volunteer credit for this."

He smiled. "I don't need any more community service hours. And I'd volunteer for this anytime."

She looked to her left. Another two people had just sat down at the tutoring table one over. "No more kissing," she insisted. "I need help with my homework."

"A'ight."

She smiled.

He smiled.

She laughed.

He laughed.

Tami hadn't felt like this in a long time. She wasn't sure she'd ever felt quite like this. "I need to do well on Monday's test."

"I know." He pointed to a problem in her book. "Work this one." He lowered his voice. "Work it slowly."

She laughed. "Stop it!"

He chuckled. "You're so pretty."

"Eric, I can't fail this test."

"Okay. I'll be good. If you give me just one more kiss first."

She looked to her left, where the other couple was working. She quickly leaned across the table and kissed him briefly. She looked back at the book. "Now tell me how to do this."

"I'll tell you," he said, his voice deep, the southern drawl stronger than usual, "I'll guide you step by step by step, until you come to a conclusion."

She balled up the untouched sheet of notebook paper she had planned to use for her homework and threw it in his face.

[Thursday, February 11]

When Tami got home from her shift at Chili's, she settled next to her mom on the couch. Shelley was in the rocking chair again. Tami wondered if that was her way of holding onto their dad, always sitting in his chair. She'd been barely nine when he died. Tami's little sister was reading yet another V.C. Andrews book. Shelley read a lot. It wasn't precisely Shakespeare, but it was book after book. At least one Hayes girl would make it to a four-year college, Tami thought.

She waited until the ten o'clock news was over to tell her Mom that Eric wanted to take her out Saturday night. She'd been putting off this fight, but it was time.

"Who is Eric?" her mom asked.

"The handyman's son," Shelley told her.

"Mr. Taylor?" Mom asked, and Tami nodded. "Well, Mr. Taylor was quite the gentleman. I suppose if his son is anything like him…well, I suppose that would be all right, but of course he has to pick you up here, and come in and talk to me, and bring you back by curfew."

"Mom, I'm 18. I'm legally an adult. Aren't I getting a little old for a curfew?"

"Tami, as long as you are living in my house, you live by my – "

"- Fine," Tami said. "He'll have me back by curfew." Mom wasn't resisting the idea of a date. Tami supposed she should let the curfew slide. Besides, Eric was picking her up in the early evening. They'd have hours together.

Tami smiled at the thought.