"Morning sleepy head." Was the first thing I heard as I woke up. My head was pillowed on Jay's bare chest and his hand was playing with my hair.

"Morning." I said burying my head into his chest. His hand trailed down my back and sent shivers down my spine.

"So how are you feeling?"

"Good." I said looking at him. "You?"

"Good." Jay said smiling. I leaned up and gave him a light kiss.

"Hmm, I could get use to this." I said and began to trail her finger up and down his chest.

"I bet you could." Jay said with a wink. We lay resting for a little while longer.

"Okay, time to get up." I said stretching out. I got up taking a sheet with me and wrapping it around me.

"Let's go take a shower." Jay said getting up and taking my hand in his.

Later on after we had got dressed, we went into the kitchen.

"So what do you want?" Jay asked opening the fridge.

"How about omelets?" I said coming up behind him and wrapping myself around him.

"Sure." Jay said getting everything out. I let him go and set myself on the counter. Jay made breakfast and we ate. "So what do you want to do today?"

"I want to take you somewhere." I said finishing up my food.

"Where?" Jay asked setting our plates in the sink.

"It's a surprise. Come on." I said grabbing his hand. We left the house and walked down the street to where my car was parked. We got in and I drove to my house.

"Your house is the surprise?" Jay asked confused.

"No." I said getting out of the car. "Come on." Jay followed me to the back of the house. Holding Jay's hand I lead him to my secret spot. We got there in a few minutes. "Okay, this is it."

"Wow, this has a great view. You can see the whole town." Jay said holding a hand above his eyes to shield it from the sun that was hanging high in the sky.

"Yeah. Kyle and me found this place a little while after we came. We've never shown anyone it, except now you." I said leaning into his side. Jay looked down and smiled at me. "Come on, there's one more thing." I said pulling him back towards my willow tree. "Go sit in there." I said. Jay unsteadily climbed up and sat him self on the tree. I climbed in after him and laid myself down on top of him, resting my head on his shoulder.

"This is nice." Jay said rubbing my back.

"Yeah." The shade provided a welcoming reprieve from the heat the sun was creating. The zephyr wind made the leaves create a soft rustle.

"So this is what you wanted to show me?" Jay asked quietly.

"Yeah, I've never shown anyone this place, it's special." I said playing with the hem of his shirt.

"It's peaceful." He said slowly closing his eyes.

"I guess I really wore you out if you're going to sleep." I said smirking.

"You wish." Jay said opening one eye to look at me.

"Uh huh, and that's why you're falling asleep."

"No, I'm just resting my eyes."

"Sorry, that one doesn't work. I've heard it before."

"Did I already use that one?" Jay asked grinning.

"Yup."

"Let me think of a good one then." Jay said closing his eyes again. Within a couple of minutes I knew he had started to drift off when an idea popped in my head. Bracing my self against the tree I gave Jay a little nudge. He fell down and landed with a thump on the ground.

"Hey what did you do that for?" He asked rubbing his head.

"Whoopsie." I said feigning innocent.

"I'm going to whoopsie you." Jay said grabbing a hold of my foot and giving it a good tug, which I wasn't expecting. I landed next to me and he pinned me to the ground. I flipped him over and gave him a victorious smile.

"Ha!" I said.

"Hey look, what was that?" Jay said pointing over my shoulder. I, being dumb, looked over my shoulder. Jay immediately flipped us again so he was on top.

"Didn't anyone ever teach you not to bug sleeping people?"

"Sleeping people? I thought you were suppose to be thinking." I said with an amused smile.

"Well I was, didn't I ever tell you I get my best ideas when I'm asleep." Jay asked nuzzling my neck and placing butterfly kisses all over. I arched my back to give him better access.

"I think I love you." I murmured. Jay instantly froze.

"What?" He asked pulling back and looking me in the eyes.

"Nothing." I mumbled and felt blood rush to my cheeks.

"No, you said something. What did you say?"

"I said I think I love you." I said feeling embarrassed.

"Oh." Jay said looking surprised. "Well..."

"Look I'm sorry I shouldn't have said it. You don't have to say anything." I said trying to get out from underneath him.

"Erin, stop." Jay said and I froze. "I like you, a lot, but... I..." Jay sighed and grew a look of frustration. "I don't want to say it and have it mean nothing, not that I feel nothing, it's just I can't say that to you yet."

"It's okay." I said reaching a hand to cup his cheek.

"How about we go do something?"

"Like what?"

"How about we...go down to amusement park?" He suggested.

"Sounds fun." I said. Jay got up and then helped me up. Jay and I left, spending the entire day at the amusement park and only ended up losing each other once. It was after 9 when I pulled up to Jay's house to drop him off.

"I should be heading home. Dad is probably passed out on the couch." I said walking Jay up to his door.

"You could always stay another night." Jay said suggestively.

"I wish, but I've got homework and I've got to pass my classes if I want to graduate this weekend."

"That's right, I forgot it was this weekend."

"You're still going right?"

"Yeah, it's at 1 right?" Jay asked opening the front door.

"Yeah." I said leaning against the doorframe. "So I'll see you Saturday?"

"You bet." Jay said leaning into me. I wrapped my arms around his neck. We kissed good night and then I headed home.

Parking the car in the garage, I quietly tiptoed into the house. Just as I had predicted my dad was passed out on the couch, and almost empty bottle was hanging from his hand. As quietly as I could I cleaned up his mess and then went to bed.

The next day I got up and took a shower. I got dressed and then started to work on my homework. An hour went by before I heard the moans coming from the living room signaling that Dad was starting to wake up. I set my homework down and went into the kitchen. Filling a glass with water and grabbing two ibuprofens, I went into the living room. My dad looked wearily up at me. I handed him the glass of water and medicine.

"Thanks kiddo." My dad said after taking the medicine and setting the glass on the table. As he got up, I took a step back. "Oh kiddo, I'm sorry. I'm so sorry." My dad said tears forming in his eyes. He clamped on to me and began to cry. I awkwardly wrapped my arm around him and patted his back. He was trying to say something but it was being mumbled into my shirt and I had no clue what he was say; he was probably trying to apologize. After a few minutes he pulled back and wiped his face. "I don't know how you deal with my crap." He said. "But this week is going to be different. I promise." He said. I only half listened because this was the same load of bull-crap he said every time. Suddenly something was pushed into my hand. I looked down and saw it was a roll of bill.

"What's this for?" I asked.

"It's your graduation present." He said. "You are graduating this weekend right?"

"Yeah."

"Well at least I got one thing right." He mumbled. I looked at him with pity. "I'm going to go take a shower; why don't you make some breakfast?"

"Sure." I said, knowing that agreeing with him was the only way to keep things peaceful. He lumbered down the hall and disappeared into his room. I soon heard the shower turn on. I put the roll of money in my pocket and then headed into the kitchen to start making breakfast. By the time he returned I was setting his plate of eggs, bacon, and harsh browns down.

"Where's my coffee?" He said gruffly.

"Right here." I said putting down a cup of black coffee with trembling hands. He grunted in thanks. I grabbed my plate and we ate in silence.

"I'm going out. I'll be back by dinner, which I expect to be ready by the time I get here." He said, grabbing his coat and leaving out the front door. As soon as I heard his car leave I breathed a sigh of relief. I finished my breakfast with steadier hands and then cleaned up. After I cleaned the house I returned to my room and finished my homework. After that I took a little break and watched TV. A few hours later I looked at the clock and saw it was after 4. Dad would be back soon. I shut the TV off and got up to make dinner.

My dad returned at 5:30 and saw that everything was to his satisfaction. Dinner was tense and quiet. Once dinner was finished Dad sat on the couch and watched TV. I cleaned up trying to make as little noise as possible. I had already learned my lesson on making noise when he was watching TV. The pale scar on my arm was a reminder; it was a result from him getting mad because I was making too much noise and he threw at plate at me, which imbedded in my arm. I finished cleaning and then poked my head around the corner. Dad was snoozing lightly; I quietly walked over to him and covered him with a blanket. Treading softly I went back to my room and shut the door. I changed into some pajamas and sat down on my bed. I closed my eyes for a sec when the phone began to ring. I jumped up instantly and grabbed the phone, not wanting to wake up my dad.

"Hello?" I answered.

"Hey." A familiar voice said.

"Kyle, is that you?" I asked.

"Of course it's me. How's it going?" He asked.

"It's going." I said. "How about you? How are you doing?"

"I'm doing great."

"That's good."

"So, you graduate yet?"

"This weekend, hopefully." I said with a sigh.

"Don't worry. I have faith in you."

"So, where are you at?"

"Some hotel in Florida. I wanted to get some sun, hit the beach, meet some babes." He said laughing.

"And how's that going?"

"Oh, it's going pretty well. How are things at home?" I could have sworn my heart stopped beating at that exact moment. My skin broke out in a light sweat and it felt a little harder to breath.

"Same crap, different day." I said lying and hoping I sounded convincing. What the heck am I lying for? Especially to Kyle. I told the little voice in my head to shut up and tried to pay attention to what Kyle was saying. Kyle and I talked for a little while before he said he had to go and we hung up. I felt better knowing that Kyle was doing better.

I cleaned up my room and listened to the radio for a while but I was restless. Throwing on a sweater and shoes, I locked my door and snuck out my window. I headed up to my secret place and sat in the willow tree, staring at the ocean that was like a phantom shadow the came and went. I watch the stars twinkle through the slit in the tree. My eyes became heavier and I fell asleep listening to the crashing tide.

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