A canopy of stars covered the dark spring sky. Her body leisurely reclined in the passenger seat of Jason's car, Chloe stared with enchantment through his sunroof at the beauty that hovered above the world.

"I almost wish that I wasn't on my way home. The stars just look so amazing tonight."

Continuing to carefully navigate his car through the residential streets, Jason pondered how to respond. In the back of his mind, he could practically hear a voice screaming for him to follow his feelings. Deciding to listen to the advice his heart offered, Jason replied, "It's still fairly early. If you want, we can drive around for a while before I take you home. I mean, if you're not too tired or whatever."

"No, actually, that sounds great," Chloe eagerly responded with a rather shy smile. There was something about the combination of Jason's husky voice and the seductive sparkle of the stars that made her feel as though she was floating worlds above all her troubles.

When he reached the next intersection, Jason took a left in the opposite direction of Chloe's home. He wasn't completely sure where he was going yet, but he did realize that it didn't truly matter where he went as long as it gave him a few more minutes with Chloe.

As the distance between houses increased, the silence became almost overwhelming. Both Jason and Chloe were drowning in a sea of confusing thoughts and mixed emotions. Neither seemed completely sure how to express the feelings that were quickly becoming prevalent.

Driving out of the city limits, Jason continued to hear his brother's words echo through his mind. "Quit wasting time, Jason. You've screwed around long enough. If you want the girl, just ask her out. Otherwise, I think you need to let her go, because it's pretty damn obvious that you're really starting to fall for her."

Jason fully realized that he only six more actual days to have Chloe to himself before the rest of their senior class returned late Sunday night. Though he often allowed himself to goof off, Jason understood that there just wasn't any time left to play games. He had to decide if he really wanted Chloe, and he had to decide soon.

Finally returning her seat to its normal position, Chloe stared curiously out the window before turning to Jason and asking, "Where exactly are we going?"

"Well, at first I was just going to drive around town, but then I decided on the perfect place to go."

"And, where exactly would this perfect place be located?"

"My aunt and uncle own some land a few miles from here. And, there's this awesome place out behind their house where you can get a great view of the valley. I used to go there all the time when I was little."

"I can't wait to see it," responded Chloe, a gentle smile on her lips.

With great care, Jason slowly maneuvered his vehicle over the private road that led to the cliffs. Silence continued to plague the two teens as they drove to their destination. Deciding that he definitely needed some music to distract himself from Chloe and her alluring presence, Jason gently brought his car to stop and put it in park.

"What are you doing?" Chloe questioned as she glanced outside the vehicle and found nothing but woods surrounding her.

"I thought we should listen to some tunes. I'm just gonna grab my C.D. case from the back seat."

"Oh, I can get it . . ."

As both Jason and Chloe each turned to reach into the backseat, they found their faces close . . . temptingly close. And, each remembered a moment from their very recent past . . .

(FLASHBACK)

"Oh, yeah, you're a regular humanitarian," snidely commented Chloe as she continued to keep her face turned away from Jason. When Jason did not give his expected scornful response, Chloe turned to look at him - only to find his face mere inches from hers.

For a moment, neither teen could do anything but stare into the eyes of someone who they had, more than two years ago, declared as an enemy. As Chloe's eyes locked with Jason's, the storm raged on, but the world seemed to come to a complete stop.

Breaking the intense lock of eyes, Jason cleared his throat and nodded toward the backseat, saying, "I was just reaching back to get my coat. It won't do much to keep you from getting wet, but it'll help a little."

(END FLASHBACK)

Their eyes connected by a feeling both were trying to fight, Jason and Chloe stared at each other with a slew of mixed emotions. Unable to force herself to back away from the attractive young man near her, Chloe instinctively darted her tongue out of her mouth to moisten her lips that suddenly seemed so very dry.

Continuing to gaze into the endless depths of Chloe's enchantingly blue eyes, Jason fully realized just how hard he had fallen. It truly killed his ego to admit it, but somehow he had begun to fall in love with Ghoul Girl, Vampira, Chloe Lame-O, . . . the most beautiful and captivating person he had ever known and ever hoped to know.

Almost thirty seconds passed as each teen anxiously searched the other's eyes for some sign of how to react. However, the pure oddity of practically having a staring contest with Jason Masters proved too much for Chloe, and a smile broke out on her face. Immediately, Jason began to softly chuckle.

Finally turning away from Chloe, Jason grinned and suggested, "Maybe we should just listen to the radio."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea."

Reaching to his stereo system, Jason casually turned on the radio. He practically grimaced when the song playing on the radio floated through his car.

Thank you for loving me
For being my eyes
When I couldn't see
For parting my lips
When I couldn't breathe
Thank you for loving me
Thank you for loving me

Hurriedly punching the seek button, Jason switched the station in hopes of music just a little less romantic. Of course, Jason should have known better.

When the night falls on you
You don't know what to do
Nothing you confess
could make me love you less

"Damn," Jason cursed before simply turning the volume all the way down. Turning to Chloe, he questioned, "How about we don't worry about the music after all?"

Chloe's soft laughter filled Jason's ears as he put the car in drive and continued on the dirt road. "How about we just listen to some oldies? Sound safe enough?"

Giving a laugh of his own, Jason replied, "Sure, why not?"

He practically sighed with relief when Chloe found the local oldies station and some cheesy song about summer blared out his speakers. The happy tune helped to slightly ease Jason's frazzled nerves. On some level, he knew that he had already made his decision concerning Chloe. However, that didn't mean he wanted romantic ballads rushing him into taking action.

Reaching the clearing near the cliff, Jason put his sleek black car in park once more. Her eyes focused on the moon that hung above them, Chloe quietly stated, "What a beautiful night. Even the moon looks romantic."

As if on cue, the cheerful golden hit faded away and the next song began to fill the airwaves. And, that song caused Jason's uncharacteristic nervousness to emerge once more . . . along with his secret longing for Chloe Lane.

Ooh, now let's get down tonight
Baby I'm hot just like an oven
I need some lovin'
And baby, I can't hold it much longer
It's getting stronger and stronger
And when I get that feeling
I want Sexual Healing
Sexual Healing, oh baby
Makes me feel so fine
Helps to relieve my mind
Sexual Healing baby, is good for me
Sexual Healing is something that's good for me

Her eyes automatically drifting to stare at Jason, Chloe felt her heartbeat increase and the dryness of her lips become overwhelming once again.

With movements that seemed incredibly torpid, Jason began to lean close to his companion, his eyes never roaming away from her exquisite face. Her lips slowly became nearer and nearer. And, then, just as the most minute distance separated the lips of the two teens, Jason quickly jerked his head to the left and gripped his steering with both hands.

Struggling with the realization that he just couldn't resist "Ghoul Girl's" lips, Jason had turned away. And, he was already beginning to regret it. Then again, he wasn't sure if his ego could handle it if he did kiss Chloe and she rejected him.

Staring straight ahead, Jason suggested, "Um, why don't we get out of the car, huh? I mean, we did come here so I could show you the valley, right?"

"Right," agreed Chloe, hoping Jason couldn't tell how out of breath she truly was.

Switching the ignition off and bringing Marvin Gaye's soulful song to an end, Jason finally looked at Chloe once more as he said, "Okay, wait right there."

Jumping out of the car and not even bothering shutting the door, Jason quickly dashed around the front of the vehicle and made his way to the passenger side. Opening Chloe's door, he said, "I present to you . . . the valley."

With a soft chuckle, Chloe removed herself from the vehicle. She was surprised to discover that she didn't even have to wander away from the side of the car to get a fairly good view of the moonlit valley.

Moving away from Chloe, Jason sat himself on the hood of his car and allowed his own gaze to follow Chloe's. It seemed like an eternity since he had spent his summers exploring the land owned by his aunt and uncle. And, until he had taken Chloe there, Jason had failed to realize just how much he missed both the place and the childhood memories.

Chloe leaned herself against the hood and continued to roam the shadowy valley with her eyes. Noticing that Jason had carelessly left both doors open, she questioned, "Won't a raccoon or something get in your car if we don't shut the doors?"

Forcing himself to not openly laugh, Jason echoed, "A raccoon?"

"What? Do you think that's funny?"

Unable to stop himself from at least chuckling, Jason vowed, "Chloe, if a raccoon decides to hitch a ride with us, then I promise to make it sit in the backseat. Okay?"

Chloe moved her hand to softly swat Jason's chest, but he was just too quick for her. Holding the beauty's delicate wrist, Jason decided that as a risk-taker, it was definitely time to take a very tempting risk.

Keeping his gentle hold on Chloe's wrist, he slowly slid his body off the hood so that he was standing right beside Chloe. Inch by inch, he moved himself closer to her until his body finally pressed up against hers.

As he was lowering his lips to her, a low, yet annoying, shrill shattered the moment like a chair to a vanity. Not backing away from Chloe, Jason grumbled, "Chloe, your damn purse is ringing . . . again."

Chloe reluctantly backed away from Jason and walked around the open passenger door to retrieve her purse. Yanking out her cell phone, she grouchily greeted, "What?"

Propping himself atop the hood once more Jason listened to Chloe's end of the conversation while at least pretending to focus his attention on the deep valley and enchanting forest.

After only a minute or two, Chloe ended the call and returned the phone to her purse. Looking at Jason with what appeared to be regret, Chloe explained, "That was my mother. She just got worried when she called the theater and they told her how long ago I had left. I guess I should probably get home."

"Yeah, that's probably a good idea," Jason agreed as he hopped off the hood once more and began to approach the driver's side of the car.

Once Chloe had sat down in the passenger seat, Jason started the car so he could take Chloe home. However, the song that began to blare from the radio only made him want to step outside and bury his head under the ground.

I think I love you!
So what am I so afraid of
I'm afraid that I'm not sure of a love there is no cure for
I think I love you, isn't that what life is made of
Though it worries me to say, I never felt this way

Even before Jason could reach down to turn off the stereo, Chloe had her hand on the knob and turned the volume off once more. With a weak smile, she stated, "Yeah, the radio definitely needs to stay off."

Reaching the Wesley home, Jason turned his car off and explained, "I'm feeling pretty human tonight, so I guess I'll do the decent thing and walk you to the door." Before stepping out of the car, Jason added, "Besides, you can tell Belle about it, and she'll start thinking that Shawn won't be completely corrupted if he hangs out with me."

Laughing at Jason's mix of sarcasm and light humor, Chloe waited as he walked around the front of the car and actually opened her door for her once more. Smiling, she joked, "Wow, you've opened the car door for me twice in one night. Should I wait for the sky to fall or for pigs to fly?"

"Dunno. Guess we'll have to wait and see," responded Jason as he shut the car door and began to walk Chloe to the porch.

With each step that brought him closer to saying goodnight to Chloe, Jason felt his inner regrets increase. Knowing that the evening was almost over, he began to fully realize just how much he had really wanted to kiss Chloe, to even ask Chloe out on a real date. Though the thoughts were somewhat shocking to Jason, he couldn't deny what his own heart felt.

Little did Jason know that Chloe was being plagued with similar regrets. After being so close to Jason, she cursed herself for never really seeing past his childish and somewhat rude exterior. Chloe wasn't foolish enough to actually believe that Jason was the perfect guy, but she was beginning to understand that he was a far cry from being all the things she had previously imagined.

As Chloe prepared to enter her home, she and Jason both waited. For what, neither was entirely certain. Maybe for a hint in the other's eyes. Maybe for some type of body language. Maybe for a neon sign that simply read, "Kiss Me."

When nothing happened, Chloe quietly said, "Well, goodnight, Jase. Thanks for bringing me home, and for everything else, too."

Watching Chloe enter the house, Jason pushed aside his regrets and managed to mumble, "It wasn't a problem."

The door had been shut for a grand total of seven seconds before Jason began to lightly knock his fist against the wood. When the door opened, Chloe's question died on her lips as Jason placed his hands on her trim waist and swiftly pulled her to him.

Giving the curvaceous brunette no time to react, Jason passionately covered her cherry-colored lips with his own. Wrapping his arms completely around Chloe, Jason soon softened the kiss and began to truly appreciate how wonderful it was to hold Chloe close to him.

Moving one of his hands up to the back of Chloe's neck, Jason brought her even closer to him as he continued to practically massage her lips with his own. Softly rubbing the back of Chloe's neck, Jason took one last sip of her sweet lips before slowly pulling away.

His green eyes stayed focused on her blue ones as he said with a smile, "Goodnight, Chloe."