Here is a what-if story: If Morelli had asked Stephanie to the prom his senior year… forgetting about the incident at the bakery…

Hope you enjoy! (Sorry, no Ranger!)

This is a three-part series.

I don't own anything. Just borrowing.

Rated for language.

§§

A Taste of the Forbidden Fruit

I had to admit, I had become number two-hundred forty-four on Morelli's fan's list.

I had a big-time crush.

I had given in to the forbidden fruit.

Me, little old Stephanie Plum.

I just hoped, no prayed that I wouldn't be left with a broken heart.

Would I have to break his before the night was over to ensure that mine wouldn't be first? Or did he not even care about mine?

I had always lived in a fantasy realm, and I hoped it just wouldn't kick me in the ass this time.

I would find out if he truly had feelings for me in the next four and a half hours.

§§§

"Thanks Stephanie."

"No problem. What am I here for? I'm your date, remember, that's what I'm here for."

After we finished our scrumptious chocolate cake, most of which I ate, to my pleasure and disgust (my mom what NOT have been proud that I didn't share), Morelli paid our bills, and gave the waitress a five dollar bill. I checked the large clock: 7:27.

Good, we had time to spare. The school was about a five minute drive from here. I grabbed the dinner rolls from the basket and stuffed it in my clutch.

He told me as we got up from the booth, "I'm feeling generous tonight," as he pocketed his wallet.

"Huh."

I waved to all the co-workers, Bingo buddies, Church-goers, and was out the door. Everyone had their eyes on us, probably thinking, they are getting laid tonight. People can be so judgmental of teenagers, humpff. What did we do to deserve this?

The sky wasn't completely dark yet, so I offered, "Would you like to go to the park? I would like to show you something."

"Sure."

We jaywalked across the street, took a short-cut through a trash-littered alley, and made our way to the park.

Walking in sync with me, we reached the edge of the natural Willow's Pond. In elementary school, my first grade teacher had told us that it had been their since the dinosaur times, which I found very intriguing, up to this day; that it was the oldest natural wonder on the block. I sat down on the bench next to the pond and Morelli followed suit.

I took the bread out of my clutch and give a roll to Morelli.

"I'm full. What's this for?"

"Feeding the ducks and swans."

I ripped off a small piece and flung it as far as I could with my pitcher's arm—don't mock me: I played two years in girl's softball in junior high! Four male Mallard ducks came. Yes, I attract males. All kinds.

Let the games began!

Soon others followed, in a frenzy to get the bread. Morelli broke the bread in half and pitched it into the pond. So much for sharing with the commonwealth.

We watched the birds fight and quack, quite a scene if one had the time to sit around and watch the life of birds. We finished another roll off, and I noticed that there was a flock of females in the corner of my vision.

I walked over to the edge and scattered the remaining bread bits for them. Yes, I believe in equal rights for all!

I returned to the bench, and Morelli's arm was against the backboard. I had no choice but to enter his arm embrace. He pulled me to him, and I timidly placed my head against his shoulder.

"Always the humanitarian, eh?" He said in my hair, giving my body a warm chill.

I didn't say anything, only basked under the lasting warmth of the sky, and Morelli's gentle hold. We sat there for what seemed like eons, before he said huskily, "We'd better get back."

"Yeah," I murmured.

He held my hand as we casually walked back the way we came.

He didn't say anything, but gave my hand a big squeeze before helping me into the truck.

"We're off, Dorothy."

"Okay, Cowardly Lion." I couldn't help but laugh when I saw the expression on his face.

"Hey!"

"Only kidding, Mr. Hotshot. You can be the Wicked Witch of the West. Or if that hurts your male ego, Wizard or Warlock of the West." I kind of regretted sounding snippy and mocking, but not really. It was fun to see him so lighthearted and down-to-earth.

He didn't say anything, focusing on the road ahead.

§§§

We arrived in the school parking lot, to see that most of the spaces were filled.

He said, "We'll park on the street, you don't mind a little walking, do you?"

"Of course not, I need some exercise from eating all of the cake."

A smirk crept onto his face.

Once again, he helped me out of the car and led me to the entrance of the school gymnasium.

I took a deep breath and said, "Here goes."

This whole week, I had been preparing how I would act—shy, girly, chatty, funny, serious… how did I want to be seen?

I knew that being Morelli's date, I had some big shoes to fill. I needed to be sweet and charming, sophisticated and intelligent, but not snobby or flirtatious. I needed to be funny, but not laugh at my own jokes, with grape juice squirting out of my nose. I needed to speak when the time was right, and not otherwise. I needed to be the perfect date, accompanying Morelli to meet all the "guys" and pass a test in each and every of their eyes. I was going to be a role model for other girls, as well as a standard for what other guys would be looking for.

Ugh, none of which I was ready for.

Morelli seemed to be able to read my befuddled mind.

He whispered on my forehead, "Relax, be yourself, that's what I love about you. You're not afraid," before placing a kiss on my temple.

I flinched, not because I was scared by his touch, but because I was surprised. Surprised that he would kiss me.

I still couldn't get over the fact that he had chosen me.

§§§

We entered the gym. The school counsel had done a great job with the decorations. This year's theme was "City in the Moon"—a contest that a freshman student had won. The gym looked almost intimate with the pastel-colored paper lanterns hanging overhead on a web-like bed of small light bulbs. The golden-cloth draped tables were peppered with star and moon-shaped gold confetti, and the streamers and signs were all gold and navy—our school colors. Everything was soft and pastel, against the contrast of the ceiling of the gym, which almost made it seem like it was open to the sky.

It was idyllic. As much as a gym could be.

He brought us to an empty table were I set down my clutch. "Ready to dance, Stephanie?"

"As ready as someone like me can be."

This earned me a smile. "You'll be fine."

He brought me to the dance floor, and yelled over the blaring 90's pop music, "Just start moving. You don't have to know how to dance. There are no rules."

It was a quick tempo-ed beat that I quickly got a hang of. I let my body do the talking. I felt free. I closed my eyes, and let my two left feet move. It felt great to feel Morelli's warm presence radiating onto me. It boosted my spirits and my temperature.

Before I knew it, two chesty girls were grinding on Morelli. They literally plastered themselves against him. The blonde one had her ass crushed against his lap, and the brunette had her boobs bobbing all over his back. Morelli was sandwiched between the two of them, and it was a sight to see. His stance looked uncomfortable and awkward, but his expression told otherwise. I was beginning to think that he was enjoying it! That bastard!

I felt a pang of jealousy, but clamly thought to myself, "Hey, he's free to do whatever he'd like. I'm only his date."

I felt betrayed.

Unwanted.

Embarrassed that I had 'let my man' run off. Not that we were in a relationship or anything. I looked around tensely, thinking that everyone was talking about us. Talking about me! I was becoming delusional by the second!

Much to my surprise, though, he moved away from the girls and sauntered over to me, who was hovering near the drinks, grape juice -- fake champagne.

"Are you okay?" he asked softly.

"Sure, just watching two girls hump you like a dog."

"Hey, I left, didn't I?"

I had no comeback for that, not that he deserved an ovation or anything.

He put his hand on my neck, and the hairs on my neck instantly prickled.

"Hey, can I show you to some of the guys?"

Was I a trophy? But my frustration melted again when he added, "If you'd like. You don't have to, I mean—"

§§§

Mr. Womanizer was getting tongue-tied. Hehe. He deserved it for all those times that he made me feel that way—a complete and total idiot.

I started laughing. Loud and uncontrolled. The kind of laughter when you are watching a comedy in your own bedroom. Not to be heard by anyone.

I laughed unrepressed. The first time tonight.

The DJ was looking for a new song, the gym was quiet. Everyone was looking at me. There eyes focused on the girl who had just made an idiot out of herself for laughing loudly and spilling some purple liquid on herself. Morelli took me by the arm and said out loud, "She's with me."

That was a shocker. I thought that a guy like him would have been quick to catch another fish, and leave me in the trenches.

He had guts for sticking to me.

§§§

At Pino's, I had told myself I would find out if he had 'romantic feelings' toward me, and I was getting one step closer. I felt kind of mean for not trusting his words, but I couldn't trust him one bit.

I had seen the tear-stained cheeks of the girls in the hallways at school when he left them. I had heard the tales of lust in the girls' bathroom, on the cafeteria line, in PE. Morelli had fucked every girl in Trenton, and I wasn't going to be his next.

I had a reputation to uphold. Girl of morals. While I missed church on occasion, I did pray and I did grace before dinner. Plus, my mom did it for me.

I had a crush, but that didn't mean I had to give up anything.

A tiny piece of my heart, but nothing more.

§§§

The music started again, and everyone turned back to dancing.

"Okay, Stephanie?"

"Yep. Thanks."

"No problem. I'm going to talk to the guys for a second. Is that okay?"

"Of course, I'm going to clean up my spill."

"Do you need help?"

"It's okay Morelli."

He leaned his face into mind, and gave me a kiss on the bridge of my nose. Wow! A dozen butterflies were now lodged in my throat. I was speechless.

Mary Lou came over and tapped me on the back. I spun around.

"You're here, Steph." It was more of a question, than a statement.

"Where did you think I'd be?"

"In his truck."

I gave Mary Lou a disgusted look and said, "Look Mary Lou. I am not getting laid by him. We are not doing anything. Tonight or ever."

She nodded doubtfully and said, "Nice job giggling like a hyena out there."

"Thanks," I said sarcastically, before pushing her off toward her eager date. I said through my teeth, "G-o d-a-n-c-e."

"Okay, okay."

Morelli came up behind me for a second time. This time, I felt his presence. I was starting to get used to this. I pivoted toward him and said, "So, what's up, lady's man?"

"Hey, don't pin that on me. I didn't ask for them to start gyrating up against me."

"You did."

"How?"

"With your charm and good looks," I teased. I was playing coy to see how he'd respond. And he did.

"Can I charm you?"

"Not a chance," I said, without an ounce of truth.

I was as charmed as a snake, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

§§§

"Would you like some grape juice?"

"Oh, so that's what it is," he responded.

"Yep."

"Sure."

I poured him a nice cup of plum liquid and we moved toward the edge of the dance floor and watched the other students.

I said, "Can you believe it? Our high school years are almost over."

"So we might as well spend the most of it."

"Yeah," I said under my breath. A sudden wave of sadness overcame me. In two years, I'd be out of Trenton. I would be going off the college.

I would get a job.

Get married.

Settle down.

Have kids.

Grow old.

The cycle of life didn't look to promising.

I wanted to do something fun. I wanted to travel the world, Egypt, China, Greece, Chile, Zimbabwe, and the Fiji Islands! I wanted to do more with my life.

"What's wrong, Stephanie?"

"Let's dance," I said cheerfully, brushing aside my reservations.

He took my hand and we made our way to the dance floor. The song had changed to a slow 'danceable' beat. He put my hands on his shoulders, and put his hands at my waist. I followed his smooth swaying. I could not dance for my life, I had to left feet, yet with him, I felt like I was floating on a cloud. I felt light, as if I had Hermes' winged sandals on my feet.

I sighed contently, and my head drifted to his broad chest. My head tucked snuggling under his chin, and I keep it there for what seemed like eternity. I closed my eyes and listened to the calming thump of his heart. It was the sound of life. So beautiful.

Mine, on the other hand, was probably pounding as though I had run a marathon. I was lightheaded and dreamy—in my faraway land.

Morelli tugged me to him. Our chests fit together like a puzzle, mind molded perfectly into his sculpted one. I lost all fears. I felt safe. Calm.

Until something woke me out of my reverie.

I jumped back, almost tripping over my own feet.

Something hard had touched my pelvis. I swear.

Morelli whispered in my ear, "That's what you do to me," his voice low and guttural. Making my eyelashes flutter.

I made his hand wander to my lower body and touch me? I don't think so. Plus a hard doesn't feel hard and stiff, does it?

I looked down at the "area" from which the 'thing' had touched me, and saw Morelli's pants fit him rather tightly. Really tightly.

"Oops," I said out-loud. What I meant was… I didn't mean to act so inexperienced, and… innocent. My complexion turned beet red. I stood their stiff as an oak tree. I'm an idiot. I knew what it was, but it didn't hit me in that instant (no pun intended) and I had spoken too soon. I shouldn't have jumped away. I gave myself a real head slap for being a total boob.

I needed to redeem myself, I needed to show him that I wasn't some kid. I was a grown woman. Hurry, I need to do something rash right now, that doesn't involve sex!

Everyone was looking at me again, as my thought hard, my brow creased, and my lips tight. What to do?!

Before you could say, 'you idiot' I said something.

I said something that I never would have said with a rational mind that was lust-induced by a hot Italian guy, "Do-you-want-to-leave-we-can-go-wherever-you-want?"

He gave me an incredulous expression, as thought I had shaved off all my hair and got a tattoo smack dab in between my eyes.

"You want to leave?"

I paused. "Yes. We've been here for an hour and twenty minutes. Take me somewhere. Anywhere, I just don't want to waste the rest of my high school years not experiencing anything."

He gave me an evil, downright sexy grin

"I don't mean anything kinky, you Neanderthal. Let's go somewhere… interesting."

He thought for a while and said, "I have a good idea."

"Tell me."

"No, it's a surprise."

I told myself it had better not be some make-out spot he had taken all the girls in our school, and called it "their spot".

"Okay, but first I have to go to the bathroom. Meet me outside the gym."

"See you in five," he answered.

I slowly walked to the bathroom and reviewed the decisions I made in the last five minutes. I had given his free range to go anywhere in Trenton. I would give him the benefit of the doubt. I had always been a rash, impulsive, spontaneous, reckless kind of person, so this was nothing special. But allowing Morelli to know was new.

§§§

I opened the bathroom door and came face to face with someone I didn't particularly like or want to see right now. Or ever.

Terry Gilman. The Queen Bee. The Cheerleader. Little Miss Perfect. Wearing a tight chocolate-brown strapless dress that reached her knees, paired with strappy matching heels. Her boobs were hanging over the dress, and she did not fit well into the high school scene. Kind of hooker-ish if you ask me. She was the kind of girl that every guy wanted, and she knew it. She flaunted her 'stuff' well, and she caught tons of fish.

She was a senior, and no doubt in most of his classes. They had been on-off boyfriend girlfriend and probably had sex on numerous occasions, and she had probably seen the scene I made in the middle of the gym. She was the school bitch, and a good one at that. She had poured milk down a girl's shirt last week, for reasons I did not know of. Let's just say, I knew she was a b-i-t-c-h. …And Morelli was the team captain of the football team. As a "tradition", they were supposed to come to the prom and become "princess" and "prince" like they did last year as juniors, but things changed this year.

Morelli hadn't asked her. And she still wore a look of hate and revenge on her face.

She turned toward me, jutting her breasts at me. Their looked like steel bullets.

Oh goodie. I was her next victim, and I use that term justly.

She plastered a fake smile on her powdered face and said in her overly-friendly cheerleader voice, "Hey. You're Stephie Plum, right?"

"Yes," I said sweetly, but wanting to throw a Frisbee at her head for calling me that name. No one in their right mind had called me that for ten years now, but I told myself that I would let it slip.

Then she got right to the point.

"Are you dating Joey?"

"No."

"Oh really."

"Yes."

"I thought I saw him touch your ass."

"He didn't."

"Or maybe he kissed you. He must have done something to give you that stupid smirk."

I didn't say anything.

"Someone like you shouldn't be with someone as experienced and reckless as him. That's a warning. Joey is not the guy for you, honey."

Her words were as thick as honey, I told myself, she's a liar, a screwy, jealous female.. "Thanks for the advice, but we're not dating each other."

Her hawk-eyes darted to my corsage.

"Who gave you that?" she spat out, pointing her perfectly manicured index finger at it.

Either way, I was never going to win, so I spat back, "Joe. Now if you excuse me, I'm going to piss in my panties if I don't get to the toilet right now. Sorry to cut this lovely conversation short."

The color from her face drained, and she said, "Sorry to keep you waiting. Just remember what I told you. Bait for fist you can catch and keep."

I will, thank you.

I entered the stall, and closed the door. I let out my breath when I heard the door close. Phew.

I had come eye to eye with the "Queen Bee" of our school. Next week rumors were probably going to spread about how I 'challenged' her to a catfight/duel or something for Morelli.

I would get grief for a month. Oh well, I can't do anything about it now.

I did my business and went to the sink. I looked at myself thoroughly—color drained. I slapped my cheeks to bring color back, adjusted the strap of my dress and left.

I walked out of the gym and met up with Morelli, who was talking to one of his buddies. I had seen him around school, he was tall and good-looking like Morelli.

He towed me over, and I had to lean my head to see his face. Morelli introduced us, "This is Stephanie Plum, my date."

"Stephanie, this is Sean Christensen."

I said sincerely, "Nice to meet you Sean."

He gave me a huge smile, and said to Morelli, "You have yourself a pretty girlfriend. She is definitely a keeper." Morelli didn't correct him. If Mary Lou was here, we would have given each other high-fives.

They looked for a few moments more about the strategy to win against another school and we said our good-byes.

We got into our respective sides, and Morelli said, "Where were we before we were so rudely interrupted? Oh yeah, I was taking you to a secret spot."

He turned on the ignition and hauled out of the parking lot.

I thought quietly to myself what Terry Gilman had said. As much as I knew she wasn't anyone to trust. She was right. She knew more about Morelli. Especially his sexual side.

I was careful, and I didn't need her to tell me.

I turned to Morelli and commented, "Nice of you to give me the title of 'girlfriend', when I'm not."

He didn't say anything, only focused on driving. We were at a red-light turning onto Sixth Street. The streets were filled with couples and families enjoying some time together. Everywhere, I saw couples with linked hands, and the occasionally grope of the backside.

Morelli made a few more turns before I realized where we were.

He parked right in front of the auto body shop where he worked on the weekends.

"I have something to show you that I've never shown anyone else before." Oh sure. I couldn't help being so unconvinced and disbelieving.

Morelli took off his jacket, and took the shirt out of his slacks. "This is really uncomfortable." We both got out of the car, and parked to the building.

He pulled me against his hip and we walked into the alley next to the building. He checked the side door, it was locked.

"I have a way in, but it's going to involve a little bit of climbing. Do you want to do it, or do you want to wait by the door for me?"

I was afraid to stand in this dark alley alone, so I said, "I'll climb."

"Good, I like a girl who isn't afraid to get dirty."

I was getting dirty? I hope it didn't mean getting my dress soiled and ripped.

§§§

He helped me onto the large trash bin, and he followed suit. He pointed and said, "Step on this scaffold, they're fixing the broken window here, and their not done yet, so we can get in this way."

Huh, wasn't I going to get cut by the glass?

"Don't worry, you won't get cut, Stephanie. It's all been cut out," he also added, "The scaffold's sturdy too."

Mind reader.

He guided me onto the scaffold, and his hand brushed against my ass. I didn't care. I was more focused on living, and I could see a bit in the dark.

I held onto the steel bar supporting the scaffold and the wall (or as much of it as I could, I wasn't Spiderman, you know), and took shallow breaths.

I said through gritted teeth when he wasn't fast enough, "Hurry up, Morelli."

"Hold on a sec."

I heard a groan and soon, I felt a calming hand on the small of my waist. I was about to say, finally, I've been waiting for quite awhile, but that sounded really shallow, and silly. Even if it was how I felt.

"Wait, before we hop in through the window, what's on the other side of the wall? How exactly are we going to---"

He silenced me with a finger to my lips and whispered into my ear, "There's a ladder."

Something about that tone of voice and the touch made me crazy. In a good way.

Morelli offered, "I'll pick you up. Just swing your leg over the window and you'll feel a platform on the other side. This used to be a barn."

Good, at least I knew now that I wouldn't be stepping into nothingness.

I grabbed a hold of the window sill, and helped myself up, with Morelli's stabilizing hands at my sides, hoisting me up of course.

I shimmed down the other side of the wall, and I let out a deep breath when I felt ground. Phew!

Morelli was beside me in no time.

"I hope I didn't ruin your dress my doing this."

"No problem. I do this all the time," I joked.

The moonlight shining in through the window helped us climb down the ladder. At last I was on ground. He went to the side of the wall, and turned on the lights. The warehouse was large. It had shelves and shelves of motor vehicle parts, none of which I knew anything about, so why did he bring me here? I couldn't even drive as a junior.

"Here Steph, I have something to show you."

He gestured toward a back room off the warehouse, and I followed. The flipped on another switch, and I saw a beautiful piece of transportation, that would have melted any tomboy's heart. Mine.

Before he could speak, I said,"It's a Ducati 749."

He looked at me incredulously.

"You know your stuff, Steph."

"Mary Lou has a brother, and he showed as his Ducati. In middle school, I wanted an electric blue one for Christmas. Never got it, a good idea on my parent's behalf, because I would have wrecked it in a day."

He chuckled.

"Want to go for a ride?"

I started shaking my hands and my head, the sense of right and wrong side, but the other evil side that took over on occasion told me 'yes!', 'good for it girl, this is a once in a blue moon chance'.

"Okay." The impetuous side had taken over.

"Cool. It only has one seat, so you'll sit in the front, and I'll sit behind you and help you steer."

"I'm steering?!" I said rather shocked. He must have been out of his mind to allow me to drive. I couldn't mow the law without crashing into the neighbor's azalea bushes for goodness sake!

"Yep."

"Then we'd better put on tons of padding, head gear—"

"Don't worry. I'm with you."

Those five words melted any of my thoughts. I was tongue-tied. I knew I could trust Morelli with my life. Ever since we were children, he had always acted like the 'big brother' (though his "id" sometimes took over and told him otherwise). At the end of recess on time, I had quickly jumped off the swings and landed with woodchips embedded into my knees. Everyone else had gone into their classrooms, and Morelli was the only one still on the playground. He came over and helped me up. I fell in love with him that day, and had been ever since. I had chosen not to admit it.

Morelli was different now, hotter, taller, sexier, and wiser. And so was I (taller and wiser).

I was in love, but I wasn't stupid or 'star-crossed', just surprised by the 'new' him.

He handed me a helmet, and put one on himself. His fingertips brushed my cheeks softly before he went to my chin to secure the helmet on my head.

"Can you go over the front of the shop, and press the big red button on the left behind the counter over there?" he asked, pointing to the corner wall.

"Sure."

I pressed the 'big red button' and the garage door rolled up. "Are you sure no one will be mad? For taking the bike?"

"The Ducati is mine. Mike, the owner found it in a junk-yard two years ago, and said that it I could restore it, it was mine. I did, I painted a new finish, got a new engine, and replaced most of the pieces, tires and hand-bars."

"I'm impressed. I didn't think that a pretty boy like you did work."

"Ha, ha. Well, I didn't think a 'Burg girl like you would have climbed in through a window in her beautiful dress."

"You thought wrong," I retorted, sticking out my tongue, as I stepped out of the garage.

"So did you," he mocked. I did. I never thought that the day would come that Morelli would be so… different.

So approachable to someone like me.

The garage opened, and Morelli pulled the motorbike out. He went back, pressed the red button again, grabbed a set of keys, and came out through the side door. He double checked that it was off.

"Hop on."

I swung my leg over the bike, and sat snuggling on the leather. I felt his weight behind me. He turned on the bike, kicked the back-stand, and started off onto the dim-lit streets.

At first I was nervous, my palms sweaty on the hand-bars, but with his hands on mine, steering the way, I could survive. I yelled back to him, "We are we going?"

"You'll see." I could hear the good-humor in his voice as we got onto the highway.

Humpff. I hate surprises.

§§§

We left the city limits, and we turned off at a small road off the highway. I was thinking of all the places we could go. It couldn't be too far away. I had to be home my midnight. We passed a few mailboxes, but I couldn't see past anything along the road.

We went uphill, and downhill, and up again, I was getting dizzy, until he finally parked on the side of the road.

I could see anything except trees, and trees, and more trees.

"Nature walk?" I asked as he helped my unstable self off the bike.

"Partly. We are going to see the moon."

Since when did Joseph Morelli become a stargazer, moon-lover?

"We could have seen the moon in Trenton? We didn't have to get on the highway, go up a hill, to see the moon, and since when did you—"

I didn't know how I was going to finish. I had been pretty acerbic tonight, and I needed to stop doubting myself.

This Morelli was different.

In a good way.

And he was just opening up.

§§§§

I stood there, speechless, and he pulled me out of my daze. "This way," he said, putting his coat in the crook of his arm, and linking the other one in mine.

We took an uncharted, worn path through the moonlight. It would have been really romantic, if my heart wasn't pounding this loud.

I almost tripped over a rock if it hadn't been for Morelli's guiding hand on my back.

"Thanks," I said, breathless.

We walked for about a quarter of a mile. The forest ended when we reached a grassy clearing.

Now I know why we left Trenton to see the moon.

Away from the artificial lights, and debris, we could truly see the sky. The moon was set low in the sky, with the stars scattered throughout the vast blue canvas.

I knew little about constellations, but I recognized the ones I did know about, or thought that they represented.

Morelli laid down his jacket and gestured for me to sit down on it. At first I nodded 'no', but he persisted, and I gave in.

"Remember, I owe you for having you crawl in through the window. Stephanie, you really have guts."

"You're not to bad yourself Joe. You're not the guy I expected you'd be," I said, putting my arms behind me, and leaning back to get a full view of the night sky.

I was falling for the guy I least expected I would.

"Hey, do you see the oceans on the moon?"

I squinted my eyes and saw the gray outlines of oceans.

"Joe, doesn't that remind you of the prom's theme this year? 'City in the Moon'?"

"Oh, that's what it was?"

I slapped him lightly on the shoulder enthusiastically. He turned to me and smiled, "You know Stephanie: you really are a bundle of surprises. I can't stop telling myself that. This date has been wonderful."

"Thank you. I'm happy I came with you."

Actually, I was really happy.

He moved closer to me, and moved him arm to the back of my neck. He positioned my head over his chest, as we both watched the moon.

The sound of his steady heart beat mingled with the sound of the crickets and critters.

This was a night I would never forget.

Even if we would never see each other again, I would remember things as they were tonight.

The minutes ticked away as we sat on the hillside watching the stars and the city below.

Before we knew it, it was time.

Time to go home.

Time for this fantasy to end.

Time for me to return into the peasant girl, who had gotten a taste of the forbidden fruit, which left her wanting more.

We returned to the motorcycle and drove back to Trenton.

The ride was short, or so I felt.

My heart seemed pound hard against my ribcage, as though it wished to profess something. Maybe a suppressed feeling.

A part of me wanted Morelli to go further, to 'take it to second base', but in the end, I was glad he didn't.

This was the perfect dream. The perfect vision of how I wanted a 'date' to go. Morelli had fulfilled the role beyond my expectations.

We turned to corner, and parked in front of my house.

Morelli said softly, "Here we are cupcake."

"Yeah," I murmured.

He put his hands on my waist and helped me off. His arms encircled me. My head was lowered as I watched him through my lashes. He placed a kiss on my left cheek.

I guess it's time to say good-bye," I whispered, my cheeks flushed from the wind.

Silence.

"We don't have to, you know."

"We don't?" I said, I little too excitedly.

"Nope," he said, with a big Cheshire cat grin on his face, "I have somewhere else to show you, I'll pick you up at one tonight."

And he was gone.

What was I in store for?

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