Cheerleading practice was over and I couldn't have been more thrilled. I was exhausted! Ray always laughed whenever I said that. For the life of him he just couldn't understand how "clapping your hands and throwing pom poms in the air" could be so tiresome. Little did he know. For two hours straight I had been perched atop the world's shakiest pyramid thus resulting in my bottom meeting the grass a few times. It was only the third day of school but we were already swamped with homework so between that and being dropped on my ass a few times, I was ready for a nice long nap. A nap, however, would have to wait as I was meeting Ray on the field after his football practice. I had been invited to his house for dinner and afterwards we would work on our Algebra homework together. I made my way out of the gym, where we cheerleaders practiced inside, over to the field looking for my guy. It was already ten after six and the field looked mostly empty although there was no sign of Ray.

"I see it's finally happened."

I turned around behind me in the direction of the voice that had just spoken. A smile crept to my lips as I found myself face to face with the goofy but still adorable grin of Alan Bosley.

"What are you talking about?" I laughed.

"It's finally happened. You've finally come to your senses and ditched Budds for a real man. Come run away with me...I'll give you a ride on the back of my bicycle and buy you a root beer", Alan jokingly offered his hand to me.

"The root beer definitely sweetens the pot but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pass again, Alan."

"One day you'll see the error of your ways."

"One day...", I grinned. "Now where is my babe? Is he still in the shower?"

Alan shrugged and pointed out to the track that surrounded our football field. In the distance I could see a figure running but I couldn't make out the face.

"Sorry, Mary-Courtney. Ray has to run his John Brown hind parts around the track four times."

"His what?"

"John Brown hind parts. That's what Coach Boone says. John Brown is like his phrase to describe something when he's mad or trying to make a point. I think he says that instead of cussing. Anyway, the rule is, you drop Coach Boone's football in a practice, then your John Brown hind parts has to run a mile."

I looked over as the figure was making its way closer to Alan and me and sure enough it was Ray. Judging by the look on his face, he wasn't a very happy camper. He had two more laps to go so Alan waited with me while I waited for Ray to finish. After a quick shower, we hopped in his car and headed over to his house. His mouth was already fixated into a permanent pout so I had a feeling it wasn't going to be the most pleasant of evenings.

"Mary-Courtney, have you thought about the dress you're going to wear to the homecoming dance?" Mrs. Budds asked me. "I've seen some lovely semi- formals downtown if you and your mother get a chance to go shopping soon."

"Yes ma'am. There's a mighty pretty pink dress in this one shop on the corner about the Waterfront. I think I'm going to end up getting that one. I wanted Ray to see it first."

I shot him a smile that he did not return as he picked at the fried liver and green beans on his plate.

"There you girls go distracting my boy with all this nonsense about formals and pink dresses", Mr. Budds interjected. "Homecoming game is one of the most important of the season and Ray needs to concentrate on the plays."

I tried to smile as I fed myself a mouthful of potatoes. Although I'd been dating Ray for over a year and our families had been around one another our whole lives, I never quite felt comfortable around the Budds family, especially Ray's father. I dreaded eating supper there where the conversation went from uncomfortable silence to dialogue about any and everything football. Lately things had taken a turn for the worse as I got to spend an hour listening to father and son badmouth Coach Boone. It was fine by me if they didn't like the man but once again why did skin color have to come in to play? As I heard the "n" word for the fourth time I could no longer take it. I sprang from my seat and offered to help Mrs. Budds with the dishes. A few minutes later Ray grabbed my hand and led me off to his room so we could begin homework. His parents and little sister remained downstairs to watch television. I was allowed to study up in Ray's room just as long as the door remained open.

"Okay, we're starting on page 8, I think", I began as I opened our text books. "Tonight we have to do all the odd numbered problems on through page 9. Okay, dividing exponents..."

I was interrupted by the feel of Ray's lips on my neck.

"Ray, baby, what are you doing? We've got work to do, you know."

"Exponents can wait. I've got a little work here I'm aiming to do that's a lot more important and a lot more fun."

I jerked back as his hand touched my knee.

"What's the matter, sugar?"

"Nothing...it's just that it's getting late and I'll have to be getting home soon, that's all."

"Well we got a few minutes before you have to go..."

I wriggled away as Ray was practically pawing me. Obviously exasperated, he threw his hands in the air.

"Jesus, Mary-Courtney! What now, baby?"

"Your parents and your little sister...Ray, they're downstairs watching TV."

"So they won't be bothering us", he said, kissing me again.

I sighed as I frantically tried to keep both our minds on the books but that was rather difficult as I found myself having Dr. Octopus as a boyfriend/study partner. I loved Ray and I liked fooling around with him but we had work to do. Math was a strong point for neither of us and if we didn't maintain "C" averages, it would be adios to the football team, cheering squad and any other extra curricular activity for that matter. Besides I couldn't help but to be a little creeped out with Ray's family hanging out in practically the next room. What if they heard or saw us? It would simply be the most mortifying moment of my entire life. I'd have to leave the city...the state, the country for that matter. But Ray wasn't taking no for an answer. He'd read a page, help me do a problem and pretend to be studying the text and the next thing I knew, he'd be all over me again.

"Come on baby, please..."

"Ray...I already told you. We can't. Now come on and let's finish up these word problems before I have to go."

Ignoring me, he continued kissing my neck. It tickled a bit and I squealed.

"I love you, Mary-Courtney..."

"And I love you too but if you leave a hickey on my neck Ray Budds, I swear my daddy will skin you alive!"

"Oh come on sugar. Feel how worked up you got me over here."

Ray placed my hand on the hardened bulge of his crotch and I nearly jumped ten feet in the air. My cheeks turned a bright red and I was so embarrassed I couldn't look him in the eye. This whole sex thing was a brand new experience for me. It certainly wasn't something that was frequently discussed in the Davis household. I can still remember my mother's flushed face refusing to look me in the eye the day we shopped for my first bra. Sex was something that I giggled about with my girlfriend's during sleepovers. It wasn't even something Ray and I had discussed in detail prior to doing the deed. There was a never a conversation with specifics, only talking about whether or not it was time to go "all the way".

"Ray!"

"What baby? Don't be embarrassed. That's all for you. That is my love for you."

My face was so red my ears were burning.

"Yeah...but, I. I have a headache and besides I have to go soon and..."

"Come on, Mary-Courtney", Ray began to whine. "Baby, men are different from women. You got me all excited and rarin' to go and if we don't do it, then it's gonna hurt me something awful."

"What?"

"Honey, it's called blue balls."

"Oh Ray", I winced . What had I gotten myself into? My first time wasn't nearly as special, wonderful or romantic as I thought it would be and truth be told, I was actually dreading a second and God forbid, a third time. But as the saying goes, give someone an inch and they take a mile. We had done it once and I thought that would be the end of it but now it looked as if Ray would want it all the time.

"Come on sugar. I want you so bad. Mary-Courtney, I need you."

"I don't know Ray..."

"It'll be better for you the second time around, I promise. Besides baby, you don't want me to be in pain now, do you?"

I looked at his puppy dog eyes that were practically pleading with me.

"But your folks..."

"We'll be real quiet, they won't know a thing. Besides, it'll only take a minute."

Famous last words every girl is dying to hear.