A couple days later Ephram went to visit Madison at her place for the day. When he got there she was laying on the porch swing covered in a blanket, reading one of her school books. "Hey you" he said as he walked up the stairs towards her. She turned her head then smiled, "Hey you! This is a nice surprise" She made room on the swing so Ephram could sit close to her. He sat down then leaned down to kiss her. "Why are you sitting outside? It's a bit cold"
"I'm locked out"
"are you kidding?"
"yeah" Madison replied with a smile as Ephram brushed some of her hair out of her face.
She went on, "I'm just thinking."
"About?"

Madison tilted her head and closed her book, then simply said, "us." Ephram wasn't sure what she meant so she continued, "I've been thinking about us, and I think I'm ready to take the next step."
Ephram wasn't ready for this response so he sort of choked, then coughed.
"Ephram, to me sex is a huge deal and a couple should do it when they are able to connect with each other, are in love and are ready to take that next step. We connect on so many different levels that sometimes it scares me."
"You know I haven't-um, right?"
Madison sat up, nodding her head and squeezing his hand, "I just want you to know that, I'm ready whenever you are. I was 17 for my first time and it wasn't that great, not that special either. I was sort of naïve and had my first real boyfriend. We did it in his car of all places. He said he loved me and a few days after we did it, he broke up with me. I didn't know what to think, it just hurt knowing that I had been used."
Ephram wrapped his arms around her, she placed her head on his shoulder, all Ephram could say was, "I could never hurt you."
The next day at school Ephram was talking to Bright about his thoughts. Bright could be a goofball but sometimes had some really good advice. "Well, dude.What'cha wanna do, when you two decide to actually go through with it, is make your first time, her first time, got it?"
What do you mean, like, make it special? I was told that planning something like this normally ends in disaster"
"Dude! What planet are you from?? Romantic dinner, romantic night, normally leads to a little sumthin sumthin. But, don't exactly plan everything, know what I mean? If it happens, it happens, if not, tough shit for you." Bright smiled as he hit Ephram on the shoulder. "I got math, see you later" then he left for class as Ephram went to his class. He wasn't exactly paying too much attention because he was more focused on trying to figure out what to do to make this night special. He wanted to be with Madison in every sense of the word, but planning a romantic night with the potential of him losing his virginity was something that overwhelmed him. He wanted to make it special for her, he hated it when she wasn't happy. Suddenly he thought of flowers, 'pink roses are her absolute favorite', a smile came over him as he thought of what to do and when to plan it on a night his father and sister weren't going to be home.
Walking to his next class, he saw Amy and ran to catch up to her even though they were going to the same class. "Amy, what's up!"
"Hey Ephram, ready for this test?"
"Am I ever ready for tests? So how are you and Tommy?"
"Well.We're sort of taking a break" she said as they sat down in their chairs. "I caught him lying and I can't be with somebody I don't trust. We still hang out, and he's trying to clean up his act. I'm here for him but.Well.Who knows, we'll see what happens."
The bell rang and class began. Ephram was still smiling, thinking of Madison.