Ryan snuggled into the crook of Eddie's arm. Eddie Collins, the boy she'd known as Maxwell Hauser and then as Andrew, was really there at the University of

Iowa. It was like a dream come true.

After graduation, she'd done her best not to think about him, but it was impossible. She thought about how sweet he was and how much she loved him. But that

summer, seeing his picture in the newspaper and on television almost every day worried her and made her ache for him.

She followed the trial closely and had even cried when it was over. She probably would never see him again, but she was so thankful that he was most likely all

right. If only she knew for sure.

It hadn't been easy, dodging her father's questions when he recognized Andrew's face. Max was one of the few boys that her father really liked and he couldn't

stop talking about the amount of money that Max had saved him on his taxes. She was grateful that her dad never made the connection between Andrew and

Max and after a while, her dad's questions about why she wasn't seeing him anymore stopped.

Sometimes she still had dreams-no, make that nightmares-of the near fatal insistent that had occurred in the gym during the Senior Class elections. School was

never the same after that and although the staff did everything possible to make sure the students were safe, deep down she was terrified. She wanted so badly

for Andrew to be there with her, holding her and telling her everything would be all right. She missed him so much it hurt.

The summer sailed by and soon she was saying a tearful goodbye to her dad as she headed off to college. College.

A place that, just a few months earlier, seemed like a lifetime away. But she loved college. She had learned so much in such a short amount of time; more than

she ever could have learned in high school. The campus was large, but it didn't take long for her to get her bearings, thanks to the friends she'd made in classes

and on campus.

Now he was there sitting beside her, underneath her favorite tree. She was proud of him for going back to college. He'd make a wonderful teacher. He was

smart, funny and if the kids in high school liked him, she knew that his students would love him.

"How do you like college the second time around?"

He smiled and touched her hair. "It's looking pretty good so far."

She kissed him again and again, sighing when he held her close. "God I missed you. I'm so glad you're okay."

"I missed you too, Ryan. I hated not being able to tell you the truth. I couldn't even tell my grandmother where I was."

"How is she?"

"Well, she's not as agile as she used to be, but under the circumstances-."

"I'd like to meet her someday… if you don't mind."

He smiled. "That sounds like a wonderful idea. She'd love to meet you too."

He stared at her for so long that she became uncomfortable. "What is it?"

"You."

"What about me?"

"You're even more beautiful now."

"Andrew…"

He pressed two fingers to her lips. "Eddie..."

"Right…"

She leaned forward and kissed him, realizing at once how much she'd missed the feeling of his lips on hers.

"So, are you going to stay here long?"

"As long as you'll have me."

His answer brought another kiss, and another. She was certain that people were watching them but she didn't care what they thought. At that moment, she and

Eddie were the only two people in the world.

"Listen, I have some more classes, but are you free later?"

"Sure. What did you have in mind?"

"How about roller skating?"

She laughed out loud. "Roller-skating?"

"I'll have you know that I've made remarkable progress since our last date. I had a lot of practice rolling up and down the halls of Topsail High School.

Again she laughed. "Really?"

"It's amazing how much better I've become. But I still fall on occasion."

She drew him close and looked deeply into his eyes. "Don't worry… I'll catch you."

THE END