Legal Disclaimer: *clears throat* I have officially given up on announcing the fact that I am not the good soul who created Jett Jackson. It does nothing for my self esteem. *bows and walks off*

The annual Wilsted fair was the biggest event in the small town. The fairgrounds were kept spotlessly clean year-round in anticipation of the crews and construction that began in August.

The big Ferris Wheel never left the ground, and a sunset viewed from the top of the immense ride was truly something spectacular. Kayla walked past the fairgrounds and stopped to watch the men and women setting up the midway and smaller rides. She smiled, thinking of Riley's claim to fame at air hockey. Her smile widened. She herself planned to defeat the mighty Silverstone at ping-pong.

The big sign on the front gates announced that the fair was to open later that morning. Kayla looked at her watch. It was seven o'clock exactly. She went further down the road towards town. Her father was already up and about and had sent her to Halliburton's to pick up some oil for the wheels of his tractor. Oh, to live on a farm, she thought wryly.

The little bell over the door chimed, and Joseph Halliburton looked up in surprise. "Hello Kayla," he greeted warmly. "What brings you here so early?"

Kayla plunked down the eight dollars for the can of Pennzoil and grinned. "My dad needs oil for the tractor. The usual Pennzoil, please."

Joseph grinned and slid the can across the counter. "Have fun."

Kayla rolled her eyes and smiled. "Sure."

JB came into the store through the back door, yawning and rubbing his eyes. "Hey, Kay," he said, and went behind the counter. "Today's the fair."

Kayla nodded. "Have you talked to her yet?"

JB sighed. "No," he said, looking wistfully out the window. "I haven't been able to catch her on set. Every time I try to talk to her I freeze up or she has to go somewhere or shoot some new scene. It's just not working."

Kayla touched his hand sympathetically. "Want me to talk to her for you?"

JB shook his head vehemently. "No way. If I don't do it, it never gets done. Thanks anyway, Kay."

Kayla nodded. "Okay, JB. Good luck. See you later. Jett's coming to pick me up at noon, and we'll meet you here, okay?"

"See you later," JB responded, and Kayla walked out. She sighed, thinking how innocent JB was... how innocent they all were. JB was so well-meaning and sweet, if only just a little clumsy. He was like a big teddy bear.

Like Jett. Jett was so sweet and loving and just wonderful. He was sexy, too. Sometimes when he kissed her, Kayla felt this rush of heat all throughout her body and she never wanted to let go of him. He made her feel so good.

But she also was afraid of these feelings. She and Jett were so young, but she was sure she was falling in love. The intensity of her feelings was still sharp, but had also mellowed out into something far deeper than anything she had ever experienced.

Oh, nonsense, who falls in love at seventeen? her mind berated her. And then she thought of her parents. They had met at fourteen and were engaged at nineteen. By twenty-one they were married. So it was possible.

Now the question of sex was drawing closer. The summer was coming to an end, and once Jett's production schedule picked up again, they would be spending more and more time on set. There would be less free time.

Was sex what they wanted? Were they ready? Several times one of them had had to stop the other before things got too intense, and then Kayla had felt her breath coming short and heavy, and aching for more. She could see plainly in Jett's eyes that the sentiment was mutual.

Her mother had warned her of being too quick when it came to boys, and Kayla had always been good, never having even one single boyfriend until Jett came along. Now the magnitude of their feelings was quickly getting overwhelming.

She decided they needed to talk.

* * * *

At noon on the dot, Jett rang the doorbell. Kayla grinned. Punctual as always.

She opened the door to a huge bouquet of flowers and Jett's disarming smile. "Hey, beautiful," he greeted, and drew her into a kiss. He handed her the dozen red roses mixed with delicate snow-white baby's breath and waited anxiously for her to say something.

"Jett," Kayla breathed, looking up at him. "What are these for?"

"Does there have to be a reason?" Jett asked, and Kayla shook her head. "Leave it at this: a beautiful girl deserves beautiful things."

Kayla melted. She filled a vase with water and put the flowers in. They were stunning, a deep crimson that spoke of the fullest bloom of summer and sun. Kayla turned to see Jett's smile. "I think we should talk," she said, and the smile dropped.

"Kayla...?"

"I'm not breaking up with you," Kayla amended hastily, and Jett looked visibly relieved. "It's more major than that." She sat down beside him on the sofa. "I'm talking about--"

"Sex." Jett knew what she was going to say. "Kayla, I'm not going to ask you--"

"I know that," Kayla said. "I'm saying this. I want you."

Jett laughed. "You don't even know how much I want you. But..."

"Are we ready?" Kayla voiced the unspoken question. "I don't know, Jett. I really don't know."

Jett took her hands. "Kay, I'd be terrified."

"Me too." She looked up into his eyes. "But maybe it'll be good for us."

"Maybe," Jett said. "It's what you want."

"What I want..." Kayla felt a surge of love at his consideration. "Jett, we need to think about this. But I know now that it's something that's possible."

"Yeah." Jett twined his fingers in hers. "Now. You feel like popcorn and a roller-coaster ride?"

"You bet." Kayla got to her feet. "I will massacre you at ping-pong." She shrieked as Jett chased her out the door.

"No, you won't!" Jett yelled, laughing. "No one defeats the mighty Silverstone!" Their laughter and rebel yells faded down the street as they ran off towards the fair.