As we walk through the hallway on Dutchy's floor, we notice how completely dead-quiet it is. I find this strange, being that it's a Friday night, and at least one person should be having a loud, belligerent dorm-room party.

Dutchy unlocks the door to his room, and we step inside. Kid Blink, Mush, and Crutchy are all gone, and there is a note attached to Dutchy's pillow.

Dutch-

Crutchy went home for the weekend to see his folks, said he oughta be back Sunday night. Me and Mush went out to a party with Jack and Dave and the boys, may or may not be home tonight.

-Blink

"Huh," Dutchy says, scratching his head. "Oh, yeah. Itey's brother is having a party at his place tonight." He sits on his bed, looks around the empty room. "They usually stay the night out there."

I nod, looking around as well and standing awkwardly. "I guess that means they took Spot with them, huh?" Sweet! Peace and quiet tonight... and sleep!

"Yeah, probably. Um, if you want, you could stay in here tonight... you know, so you aren't in your room alone." He looks up at me, those blue eyes so sweet and innocent, I can't help but laugh.

"Dutchy..." I shake my head. "I don't know if that's really such a good idea. I mean, maybe we should take things slow."

He stares at me for a moment, his mouth hanging open, and then he laughs nervously. "No, Specs, I... that's not what I meant at all." I exhale in relief and we both grin. "I really meant you could stay here so you wouldn't have to be alone. But... mostly so I wouldn't have to be alone." He smiles and stands up. "So, whattaya say?"

I shrug. "I guess," I say, looking around and focusing unintentionally on his bed. "But no hanky-panky."

He laughs at this, a loud, truly happy laugh that I love. I take in that smiling face, that tall frame, and remember that moment in the park, and I think: This is mine.

Dutchy grins at me and then changes into pajamas – plain flannel PJ pants and a wife beater. I've never seen anything be so sweet and so attractive at the same time.

"So, we can share my bed, or you can take your pick of any of the others. I'd stay out of Blink's bunk, though, because God knows what he does up there." I look up at Blink's bunk, above Crutchy's, and my eyes widen a little. Dutchy laughs. "He and Mush have kind of a... thing going on."

"God, are there any straight guys at this school?"

"Supposedly, Racetrack and Spot are." Dutchy shrugs and tosses his clothes into the hamper, then sits back down on his bed.

"Yeah, I'll believe that when I see it."

He laughs and that laugh turns into a yawn. "So, which bed are you takin'?"

"Like I'm going to pass up the chance to be in bed with you, even if we aren't gonna go at it like rabbits." He laughs.

"Well, you have a point." Dutchy looks me over. "You're not sleepin' in your clothes, are ya?"

I blush. I forgot about that. I don't want to run up to my room just to change into my pajamas. "Um... close your eyes." Yes, I'm self-conscious and shy. Shut up.

He closes his eyes and I strip down to my boxers and undershirt, then climb under the covers beside him. He opens his eyes and laughs, shaking his head. "Are we afraid of being seen in our skivvies?"

"I'm shy, leave me alone." I blush and push him over. "Besides, you can't make fun of me, you just said skivvies."

"It's a good word!" Dutchy laughs, rolling onto his side and propping his head up with his elbow.

"Yeah, but this is New York, which is in America, not England. No one says shit like that here."

He makes a pouty face. "I do." I laugh and kiss him.

It's the sweetest feeling in the world when you kiss someone and they kiss you back. Especially when it's a new thing between the two of you, at that first-starting-out point where you're not quite sure of anything. But when the two of you are kissing, that's the one thing you are completely, undeniably sure of.

His lips are soft and taste a little bit sweet. He opens his mouth to me and our tongues meet, slow and soft and shy, and his hand finds its way to my chest. It rests there, almost possessively, and I sigh a little.

We kiss, deeper and deeper, until it's a teen-aged frenzy of lips and tongues and teeth. Both of our breathing has quickened, and I'm beginning to feel a slight pressure against my thigh where Dutchy is leaning against me. His hand starts to make its way down my stomach and I want this, so badly, but I pull away.

"Dutchy..."

"What?" He looks me in the face, panting, just as I am.

"We need to stop."

Dutchy sighs and rests his forehead on my collarbone. Draping an arm over my stomach, he nods. "Okay." He sits up a little and reaches over, turning off the light. He lays back down with his head on my chest, and we lie there in the dark for a while.

I run my hand over the back of his head, smoothing down the slightly messed-up hair. After a few minutes of silence, a question pops into my head. "Hey, Dutchy?"

"Yeah, Specs?" His voice is slightly sleepy, like he's barely staying awake.

"Are you sure this is what you want?"

"What do you mean?"

"You and me... is this what you want?"

"I wouldn't have said anything if it wasn't." He rubs my side a little, and I smile, comforted.

"Okay."

And that smile is still on my face as we drift off to sleep together.