Ennis had left the school and headed back home later that afternoon. He had expected that kiss with Jack to turn into something more, but Jack knew that Ennis had never been with anyone before. His first sexual experience with someone had been with Jack in the hotel and that had scared the shit out of Ennis. He didn't think he was ready for anything more and Jack respected those feelings. And then there was just the fact that Ennis didn't want to risk doing anything more than just kissing in the classroom at school no matter if no one but them had been there.

He arrived back at home in time to help his mom with cooking dinner. The Beers' would be over in about an hour, so she was grateful for the help. His dad was out in the field, checking on the crops. If he needed Ennis, he would let him know. For now, Ennis enjoyed himself in the kitchen.

It wasn't known by anyone, but Ennis actually liked to cook. He didn't think he was any good at it, but with practice he could cook up anything he set his mind to. But he didn't let it be known because his dad taught him that only women belonged in the kitchen. Ennis didn't believe that personally, but he wasn't about to say so to his dad. He didn't know his mom's thoughts on the matter and never thought to ask. The fact that she allowed him to help her in the kitchen might be answer enough. Nothing needed to be said between them.

Ennis was setting the table when his dad walked in some time later. He grabbed a beer from the fridge and sat down in the living room to wait for supper. Ennis finished what he was doing and his mom excused him from the kitchen. He headed upstairs to take a quick shower and tidy up before the Beers' arrived.

Once he was finished upstairs, as soon as he came back downstairs, there was a knock at the door. He prepared himself then walked over to the door and opened it, letting the Beers' family in. Alma walked in last, giving him a small smile.

Dinner wasn't a disaster and mostly because of the news Ennis brought to them in the middle of eating. He asked Alma's dad if he could start dating her. Alma was the only one who didn't seem excited about the news, which confused Ennis. He decided to get some answers from her after supper. He asked her if she would like to go out and sit on the fence with him and watch the sunset. She agreed and the two went outside. He made sure they chose a spot that was in full view of whoever might be watching inside.

He helped Alma up onto the fence, jumping up to sit beside her. They were silent for a few minutes before he got up enough courage to ask: "Everything all right?" He turned his head to look at her.

"Of course, Ennis," she assured him. "Why wouldn't it be?"

"I thought you'd be more excited about...y'know..."

"That I should be happy for finally gettin' what I've wanted for a long time now?" Alma asked. She didn't wait for him to answer. "I know I should be happy, but I keep getting mixed signals from you. You act like you don't want me. Ya even said that all you wanted right now was to be friends. And now you're tellin' my folks that you wanna start datin' me. Is this really what you want? Or did my daddy say something?"

Ennis should have expected that the horse might come up in conversation. He decided to be honest with her. "My dad said that your dad told him that if I don't start datin' you, he'll take back the horse," he said.

Alma didn't say anything for a moment. She didn't look upset with him. She glanced over her shoulder back toward the house and he could guess who she was upset with. "He shouldn't have done that," she said, turning back forward. "You shouldn't be forced into doin' somethin' ya don't wanna do." He didn't say anything about the fact that she had tried many times to get him to do something he didn't want to do. And the sudden look on her face told him that that was what she was thinking about now.

"Oh, Ennis," She hopped off the fence. "How did this happen? Everythang's just all..." She trailed off with a shake of her head as Ennis hopped off the fence beside her. She turned to him. "It's because of that new class, I bet. A new fella comes into town and teaches the young folk about sex? If anything, that just makes things worse. I would never have tried anything if I hadn't been taking that class." He wasn't entirely sure if what she was saying now was the truth, but she had obviously given some thought to what he had said to her last time. About not wanting to do anything like that with her.

"You didn't have to take the class," Ennis reminded her. "Maybe you wanted to try something all along and you needed that class to give you confidence."

Alma was silent for a moment, glancing at the house now in a way that said she was making sure no one else was coming out. She looked back at him. "I did want to know some things," she said. "You've probably learned some things as well."

"Yeah," Ennis said, but didn't elaborate. The things he learned from the class were things none of the other students had learned. Alma especially didn't need to know such things.

"And does it...make ya horny sometimes?" Alma asked. "The things he teaches? I'm just askin'. I'm not expectin' ya to tell me that I'm in your thoughts all the time."

Ennis didn't want to tell her that she was never in his thoughts, but was that even true? After all, the first time he masturbated had been right after she had guided his hand to touch her. He may have not wanted to think about it, but she had made him curious about those feelings first. He had explored it and then confessed all to Jack. And after everything that had happened between him and Jack, he dismissed the possibility that he thought of Alma in that way at any time.

"Ennis?"

"Talkin' like this don't make you uncomfortable?" Ennis asked, avoiding the question she wanted him to answer. "I get enough of it durin' the week in Mr. Twist's class. I'm honestly glad when the class is over." That was the truth. The only time he really enjoyed that classroom was on Saturdays now. When it was only him and Jack there.

"I'm comfortable around you," Alma said. "I'm sorry if I make you uncomfortable."

Ennis sighed and turned away, running his fingers through his hair. "I'm just...confused all the time when I'm around you," he admitted, turning back to her. "I've experienced feelin's that I was taught to ignore. I was taught that some things just weren't right. But then I'm told that I'm allowed to do some things as long as you keep shut about it."

"What does that mean?"

"Nothin'."

"It's a guy thing right?" Alma said. "I get it. I got the talk from my daddy. That some guys might take advantage of me. That I should be quiet about certain things so the boy's reputation ain't tarnished."

Ennis was surprised by this. Were all girls taught this? It made him more upset than anything else right now. If girls weren't taught that they deserved some respect, what kind of world did they live in? "It ain't right," he muttered.

"I'm glad for that," Alma said. "Which makes me hate everything I've put you through the last couple weeks."

"It's okay," Ennis said, surprising himself that he could forgive her so easily. Especially since he had complained about her so much to Jack. "Everybody's confused because of this class."

"I'll back off, I promise," Alma said. "Do you still wanna date me? I'll talk to my daddy if -"

"I'd be lyin' if I said I didn't feel something for you, Alma," Ennis said, knowing he could never tell Jack that he felt this way about Alma. He wasn't even sure what it was that he felt, but there was some sort of connection he had with her. He couldn't tell Jack because Jack just thought that Ennis only wanted whatever it was that was happening between him and Jack. Was it selfish for him to want both experiences? What he felt around Alma was different than what he felt around Jack.

"I've been waitin' so long to hear you say somethin' like that," Alma said. "We'll take things slow. I know everyone's expectin' us to get married as soon as school's out. Once you're graduated. They've probably told you to wait until after I've graduated as well, but that ain't what my mama's preparin' me for. I might have to talk to them about that. I ain't ready to get married so soon."

"That's actually good to hear," Ennis said. "I did actually expect to hear you say you'd wanna get married quickly just so you could have sex with me."

"That never even crossed my mind," Alma said. It was her way of saying that she was fine with having sex before marriage. That went against everything they were both taught, but apparently Jack's class overruled their parents' way of thinking. "The sun's down now. Let's go back inside. I heard that your mama made some chocolate cake." She smiled at him and headed back toward the house.

He watched her go, feeling like there was something that she hadn't said. Something she was keeping from him. He decided not to worry about it and followed her inside.

Author's Note: Sorry for the long wait. Again. I just haven't been motivated to write this story. I have gotten some more ideas, so stay tuned for more! :)