*October 7th, 1989

I combed my hair in my mirror feeling nervous about today. I recovered faster than usual so I didn't really have to worry about my heart.

I was more nervous about going on a date with Ernest.

How long has it been now? Not even up to a month I've known him and yet I feel so happy when I'm with him.

I was looking forward to it more than it made me nervous. I smoothed out my dress skirt as I turned to examine myself in a the mirror.

Was wearing a purple dress with a white jacket too childish? I didn't really have anything cute to wear for a date. I felt a flush of embarrassment before I heard his car honking outside.

"Too late to change."

I sucked a deep breath before I headed downstairs and out the front door to see Ernest waiting for me in the driveway.

He looked at me with a look of both desire and compassion in his eyes. I shyly smiled back at him as I entered his car.

"Wow you look..."

"Like a five year old?"

"Like a violet flower. Sorry is that too sappy?"

"No no. It sounded sweet. Thank you."

I said with a giggle as I kissed his cheek which made him blush lightly.

"Ahem! So where are we going?"

"I'm taking you somewhere to eat and then we're going to watch a movie."

"Ooh fun. Let's go."

Ernest reversed the car and drove us in the direction of the town.

~

He brought me to a cute cafe that I haven't even been to yet.

We both took our seats and started picking something from the menu.

I wanted to try coffee for ages especially since my dad doesn't let me try any new drinks unless it's milk or water.

"Are you two ready to order?"

"Yes I'll have a coffee along with the Derby Burger. Bloody."

"Coffee. Derby Burger. Bloody as hell. Do you want any creamers or sugar with your coffee?"

"Just creamers."

I didn't even know what that is. Not even dad drinks coffee to be fair to me.

"Okay. What about you young man what do you want?"

"Classic Hamburger with a Pepsi. Cooked to the crisp."

"Okay. Hamburger. Cooked to the crisp. And a Pepsi. I'll be back with your drinks and food should be out in about 20 minutes."

"Thank you ma'am."

After the waitress took our menus and left we sat there in silence.

"Umm I hope it's okay if I ordered coffee."

"It's alright. Can you be drinking it though?"

"A cup won't hurt. Besides my dad never lets me drink any caffeine, sugared beverages, or sweeteners."

"Fine. But just one."

"Oh my gosh is that the Plague and the Loser on a date. I guess it takes one freak to date a freak."

We both turned in annoyance to see Stacy along with her lackeys laughing at us in mocking laughter. We both ignored them even when Stacy went to my face.

"You can only ignore me for so long. You along with Ernest are meant for each other. A couple of freaks."

"Stacy. Stay away from her."

"Or what? Is she going to hit me again? Hahaha. You both can do nothing. And you know what Octavia. You are nothing. I'm tired of you getting cocky lately. Keep it up and I might put some bruises on your already useless body."

"Go fuck yourself Stacy. I'm not afraid of you. And never was."

"Why you-"

"Hey! What are you kids doing?! Leave those two alone and get out!"

"Yes ma'am. Fuck you both."

We both laughed quietly at our small victory over Stacy. We had a nice time eating together and I got to try coffee for the first time.

I tasted more bitter than I thought but it was still pretty tasty. I took a few bites out of my burger and it tasted so good.

I looked up to see Ernest laughing at me and I raised an eyebrow at him.

"What?"

"You got sauce on your face."

"Do I?"

Ernest chuckled as he pulled out a napkin and rubbed the sauce off my face. My face burned up from embarrassment and his gesture.

He smiled back at me when he noticed I was blushing. I held his hand and he held it back, even when we headed back to the car to go see the movie.

He picked out one called the Burbs. It was about a family with a father who was suspicious about the whereabouts of one of his neighbors and he suspected the new family was responsible for the disappearance.

It was funny with a mix of mystery and even a little suspense towards the end but it was a good movie.

Me and Ernest couldn't stop laughing at the hose scene and when one of the friends had to run away from a dog.

Would definitely go see it again. After the movie was over Ernest bought us both some ice cream before he took me back home.

When we reached the house Ernest parked down the street and walked me to the front door. We stood there in the driveway, I guess dad wasn't back from the shop yet.

"Octavia?"

"Yes?"

I turned to look at Ernest who was rubbing the back of his head nervously.

"I know I told you this already. But I like you a lot Octavia. I want to be with you. More than just at school. Octavia."

He held my hand and I looked up him waiting for him to finish.

"Will you be my girlfriend?"

"Yes. About time you asked me."

We hugged each other my heart beating with sheer happiness. We both placed a hand on each other's face both thinking the same thing.

I leaned forward as did he and our lips met each other for the first time. I mean we kissed before but I don't really consider that the first one, especially since I kind of caught him off guard.

This felt different and this time we can actually hold each other. Even after it ended we didn't want to stop kissing each other so we kissed again and then a third time.

We were so lost in each other's arms we didn't see my dad's car pulling into the driveway until it was too late.

"Octavia Louisa Spencer!"

We both sprung apart in shock as my dad rounded on Ernest.

"I already told you, you can only be friends with my daughter! Nothing more! I won't allow this! Get out of here and stay away from my daughter!!"

"Daddy please stop!"

"You're going inside now!! Young lady!"

I flinched as my dad roughly grabbed me by my arm and started dragging me into the house.

"No! No! Ernest please stop him!"

"Mr Spencer please, you're hurting her!"

"The only one that will be hurting her is you! Go away now or I'm calling the police!"

Ernest looked like he wanted to resist but reluctantly left giving me a quick knowing look that he won't let this get in the way of us. I pulled my arm out of my dad's grip and angrily started heading upstairs.

"Octavia! Get back here now!"

"No! Stay away from me! I hate you!"

"I told you you can't have any boyfriends. What if he breaks your heart and it makes you so upset it strains you badly and you end up in the hospital?!"

"You don't know that will happen! Me and Ernest care about each other! He would never do something like that to me! You can't stop me from seeing him!"

"Octavia! You will listen to your father this minute!"

"No I don't want to hear it! I listen to you enough already in how much I get to leave the house, eat fucking food, and where I can and can't go!!! Enough dad I had enough! You are not taking him away from me!"

"GO TO YOUR ROOM! YOU ARE GROUNDED! YOU WON'T BE ALLOWED TO GO ANYWHERE BUT SCHOOL! AND YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO SEE HIM AT ALL!"

"How much dad?! How much are you going to control my life?! So much to the point where you worry if I'll step wrong and keep me locked in my room all the time!!! I'm not a weak doll that breaks easily! I AM A HUMAN BEING THAT'S IN LOVE!"

"Augh Octavia! Can't you see I'm doing this for your own good?!"

"My own good?! Oh okay then tell me! How many friends do I have? Only Ernest. Take that away and I have no one but you for the rest of my life!! I'm going to be an adult soon and one day I want to leave and start my own life even with this weak heart of mine! IF YOU WANT TO DO WHAT'S GOOD FOR ME YOU WILL LET ME HAVE MY OWN SPACE AND WALK ON MY OWN. TWO. LEGS!!"

My father looked hurt at my statement but I was too angry and emotional to care so I just went to my room and slammed the door shut.

I ran to my bed and started crying into my pillow.

"Erne-ne-ne-st...I wish... you were...here..."

My heart was throbbing in pain but I just ignored it as I let the tears flow down well into the night.