"Friends Forever"
It was Valentine's time and at Blue Bay Middle School that meant the annual Valentine's dance wasn't far away.
"So we're going to the dance together right?" 13 year old Tori Hanson asked her boyfriend, Dustin Brooks as they waited for their rides home.
"Of course." Dustin said.
The two had begun dating a year and a half before and before that had been best friends. Their relationship hadn't really changed since they started dating, except they kissed a lot more. Aside from that they were together all the time just like they always had been.
"So do you wanna come over for dinner tonight? Mom said you could." Tori said.
"Sounds great. I think my mom is working late anyway. Can Becky come with me?" Dustin asked.
"Of course. You know your sister is always welcome at my house." Tori said.
"Great." Dustin said.
"Oh, there's my sister. I gotta go." Tori said.
"Yeah, I don't wanna miss my bus so I should go too…I'll see you tonight." Dustin said.
"Ok…bye." Tori said kissing Dustin on the cheek before running over to her sister Emily's car and getting in.
"How was your day?" 16 year old Emily Hanson asked her sister.
"It was good. Dustin and I decided we're going to the dance together" Tori said.
"As if there was a doubt. You two do everything together. I'm starting to feel like I have a brother." Emily said.
Tori laughed. "Dustin is cool."
"Yeah, he's a cool guy. I'm glad you have him he's just there all the time." Emily said.
"Yeah, and he's coming over for dinner tonight with Becky." Tori said laughing.
"Does Mom know?" Emily asked.
"Of course! She invited him." Tori said.
"Oh, ok then. You know it really is a shame you guys are dating." Emily said
"Why?" Tori asked.
"Because when friends date they almost always break up and then they aren't friends anymore." Emily said.
Tori gave this some thought. "That will never happen to me and Dustin."
"Whatever you say" Emily said.
"Anyway…how was your day? Do you have a date to your dance yet?" Tori asked.
"Not yet. I've been asked but I haven't decided who I wanna go with yet." Emily said.
"Just pick who you like most." Tori said.
"It's not that easy. I'm a cheerleader. I have a rep to protect. If I don't pick the right guy my life is over." Emily said.
Tori laughed at her sister being so over dramatic. "You know it's not life or death."
"Maybe not to you." Emily said as they pulled into their driveway.
Tori went inside and greeted her mom. April Hanson hugged her daughter.
"So is Dustin coming over for dinner?" April asked.
"Yes, he's bringing Becky too, is that ok? Ms. Brooks is working late." Tori said.
"Of course. That's fine." April said.
"Ok" Tori said.
"Are you ok?" April asked.
"Fine, just bored. I hate winter. I want it to warm up so I can go surfing again." Tori said.
"I know, just a couple more months and you can go back to the beach." April said.
"Yeah…anyway I'm going to watch surfing on TV. Call me when Dustin and Becky get here." Tori said as she headed to her room.
A couple of hours later the doorbell rang then Tori heard her name. She ran downstairs.
"Dustin, Becky…hey guys." Tori said hugging them both.
"Hi Tori. Thank you for inviting us." 11 year old Becky Brooks said.
"No problem. Have a seat." Tori said as her mom set plates on the table.
They all sat down to eat.
"So how did the race go last weekend Dustin?" April asked.
"I got second place." Dustin said.
"That's great. You're on your way to a career in motocross if you keep that up." April said.
"What I'd like to try is freestyle" Dustin said.
"But that's so dangerous." April said.
"I know but my mom said I can start training for freestyle when I turn 15." Dustin said.
"Wow. You're really into this motocross thing." April said.
"Very much. I love it." Dustin said.
"What about you Becky? Do you like motocross?" April asked.
"Not really. I want to be a cheerleader." Becky said.
"You're at the right house kid. After dinner I'll show you some moves." Emily said.
"Really? Thank you Emily!" Becky said.
"No problem." She said.
After dinner Emily took Becky to work on some moves and Tori and Dustin went for a walk on the beach.
"I so wish I could get in that water." Tori said.
"I know but it's too cold. Your mom would kill you." Dustin said.
"Yeah, I know. But I still miss surfing." Tori said.
"I know you do." Dustin said.
"Dustin?" Tori asked.
"Yeah Tor?" Dustin replied.
"We'll always be friends right?" Tori asked.
"Of course. Why would you even need to ask that?" Dustin wanted to know.
"Because Emily said when friends date they break up and stop being friends." Tori said.
"That will never happen to us. Even if we break up we'll always be friends first." Dustin said.
"Ok…good." Tori said kissing him.
Later than night Dustin went home and got Becky settled into bed. He was about to go to bed himself when he heard his mom come in. He went downstairs.
"Hey Mom." He said.
"Dustin hey…how was your day?" Britney Brooks asked.
"It was ok…Mom can I ask you a question?" Dustin asked.
"Of course." Britney said.
"Ok…when two friends date do they eventually stop being friends?" Dustin asked.
"Well…if you want the truth yeah, that sometimes happens. Not always though." Britney said.
Dustin nodded. "Ok. Thanks Mom…goodnight."
The next night was the middle school dance. Dustin picked up Tori and they walked to the school gym together. They danced and enjoyed themselves a lot. Tori even talked Dustin into dancing to a couple of slow songs with her.
After the dance Dustin walked Tori home. On the way they talked.
"Tor?" Dustin said.
"Yeah Dustin?" Tori asked.
"You know what you were saying about what Emily told you?" Dustin asked.
"Yeah…"
"Well, I've been thinking a lot about it." Dustin said.
"So have I." Tori admitted.
"I don't want that to happen to us Tor. I want us to be friends forever." Dustin said.
"Yeah, and it would be stupid for something like dating to end our friendship." Tori said.
"Exactly. There's lots of other girls and guys we can date that it won't matter if we hurt but I couldn't forgive myself if I hurt you." Dustin said.
"I agree totally. You're more like a brother to me anyway. So let's not date anymore." Tori said.
"And someday we'll both find the right person for us." Dustin said.
"Yeah, and we'll just be friends." Tori said.
"Forever." Dustin said.
"Forever." Tori said.