It was a beautiful day in the neighborhood and Mouth McFadden felt like taking a walk. Besides good exercise, it was a sure way to clear his head, put things into perspective. It was something he had been doing a lot of in the past weeks. The breakup with Gigi had been devastating. Slowly but surely he was picking up the pieces and moving on with his life. One day at a time, life was becoming a little bit easier.

He had gotten back in the swing of things. His main focus had always been his commentary and travel with the Ravens basketball team. It would take time to get used to calling the games with his ex but the media club and all the events having to do with it, had been an important part of Mouth's life. Another recent important project had been the task of salvaging the yearbook for the senior class. And in the nick of time, with a lot of teamwork, had and Shelly Simon had managed to pull it off.

Walking towards the river and downtown in Tree Hill's most beautiful and historic area, Mouth noticed the big Baptist church to his left. He knew it was the one Shelly attended. His eyes searched for her as people filtered from inside. It was the day she said she usually went to her Youth Group meetings. After a few minutes and a closer look, he saw a wisp of blonde hair and that trade mark Clean Teen shirt.

"Shelly," he said softly.

She looked up from who she was talking to and was surprised to see Mouth. Excusing herself, she walked right over to him.

"Hey."

"Hey," he smiled.

"What brings you here?"

Mouth looked around and shrugged.

"Nothing. I was just taking a walk and found myself in the neighborhood. I guess I just kind of ended up here. I saw you and I thought I'd come over and say hi, so hi."

"Hi," she giggled nervously.

"So," he kicked at the cobblestone beneath his feet. "Did you have a good meeting today with your Youth Group?"

"Huh? Oh yeah. Um, thanks for asking. It was nice. We came up with some really cool ideas for fundraising and stuff. We do it every year around this time to get ready for church camp."

"That's nice."

"Do you go to church, Mouth?"

"Not as much as I used to," he replied honestly. "Probably not as much as I should."

"Well maybe you could come here sometime. It's a really great church and our pastor is wonderful. I think you and your family would like it."

"That's nice of you to invite me. Thanks. Maybe one Sunday I'll surprise you."

"That would be nice."

"Listen, Shelly, I saw you standing outside and I just wanted to come over and talk to you and say thanks."

"What for?"

"For helping me with the yearbook thing."

"You're welcome."

"It's a really big deal. Every year the senior class looks forward to that section in the book that details all our memories of the last four years. It would have been a real bummer not to have that this time around. And we almost didn't. It was a lot of work and I couldn't have gotten it done without you."

"Thanks but you did most of the work. You're like some kind of media computer genius," Shelly laughed.

"You helped a lot and if it wasn't for that help, no way would I have finished so thank you."

"My pleasure."

"And thanks for putting up with me when I wasn't being the nicest guy around. That person…that's not me and I think you know that now. You could have walked away and sometimes I'm sure I made you want to but you didn't. You didn't and I'm glad."

"Me too," Shelly agreed. "You know, Mouth, you're an alright guy when you want to be. Towards the end, I even had fun hanging out with you."

His eyes lit up. She was so pretty.

"Really? I mean, cool. I had fun working and hanging out with you, too."

"Which brings me to something I've been meaning to ask you…"

"What's up?"

Shelly looked around before motioning Mouth to follow her to privacy over by the corner.

"Now that you and Gigi have broken up, you're not, you know, seeing anyone, are you?"

Mouth swallowed hard.

"No. Um, no."

"And you said Gigi was your first serious girlfriend?"

"Pretty much. Erica Marsh and I weren't together that long."

Shelly nodded.

"Do you mind if I get personal for a minute?"

"Sure. Uh, go ahead," he answered nervously.

"Are you, uh, active right now?"

Mouth gave her a confused look.

"What do you mean?"

"You know, like sexually active."

Mouth felt his knees buckle. Were you even supposed to discuss such things so close to church grounds?

"Well, no. Not um, actually, not really. No."

"And are you taking a break after this relationship from other relationships?"

"I guess you could say that. I don't know. Shelly, where is all this coming from?"

"You're the perfect candidate."

"For what?"

"Clean Teens."

Mouth made a face.

"Wait a minute. Shelly, are you asking me to join the Clean Teens?"

She smiled.

"That's exactly what I'm asking. Mouth, it would be great. You'd totally love it and you would fit right in. It's a really small, intimate, up and coming organization that's really growing. We have strong morals and values. We do a lot of wonderful things for the community and it's just a really cool atmosphere to meet a lot of great people. Besides, your friend Brooke is already a member and she loves it. I think it would be a good thing for you. What do you say?"

It was a lot to unexpectedly ponder. Mouth had never seen himself as a Clean Teen.

"Thanks for the offer, Shelly but I'm afraid I'm gonna have to decline."

"Why?" she looked disappointed.

"I'm sure it's a great group but I just don't think it's for me."

"You don't want to give it a try?"

"I don't think so but I appreciate the invite."

"I don't get it," she folded her arms. "What's so bad or wrong about being a Clean Teen?"

"Nothing. Don't get me wrong. I really admire what you're doing and I don't doubt it's a wonderful little club or whatever but I just don't think it's for me, that's all. Clean Teens in a voluntary organization where kids who are real virgins and born again virgins band together on the common basis of virginity and abstinence, right?"

"Right."

"Clean Teens are virgins because they want to be. It's a personal choice they're proud of."

"Yes…"

"Then it's not for me, Shelly. I'm sorry. I am a virgin but you better believe it's not by choice. I'm ready for sex. I want to have sex. I'm human and I'm a teenage guy and a bundle of crazy, raging hormones. I'm only a virgin because I can't find a girl."

"But when you do find that girl, don't you want it to be the right girl?"

"Absolutely. But if that girl came along tomorrow, then I would be great with that. I'd be ready. I'm not trying to wait until marriage. I hate being a virgin. If I'd joined your club, I'd be lying to everyone including myself. I'd be a big hypocrite."

"Okay," she nodded with a sigh. "I appreciate your honesty."

"Thanks, Shelly."

"If you ever change your mind…"

"I doubt it," he grinned.

She extended her hand.

"You're still a great guy, Mouth McFadden and I'm really glad I met you. Friends?"

"Friends," he shook it. "Hey Shelly?"

"Yeah Mouth?"

He took a deep breath.

"This brings me to what I wanted to ask you."

"What did you want to ask me?"

"You know, I really hadn't thought about it until just now but it seems right."

"What?"

"You're a sweet girl. You're funny and smart and so pretty…"

"Mouth…" she blushed.

"I mean it."

"I like hanging out with you, Shelly. I like you. So I was wondering, if you wouldn't mind going out on a date with me sometime."

Shelly's eyes grew wide.

"A date? Like a real date? You mean, you're asking me out?"

He chuckled.

"I guess I am."

Shelly was in shock, at a loss for words. But as she glanced around, she couldn't help noticing the eyes upon them, two pair especially.

"Um, Mouth, you're sweet and I like you and I'm really flattered, but I can't."

He gulped. Rejection. He was quite used to it, unfortunately.

"I see," he shoved his hands in his pockets.

"Look, I'm sorry."

"It's okay."

"But…"

"You don't have to explain but uh, if you change your mind…"

"I doubt it," she whispered sadly.

A blonde woman and a man with dark hair approached them.

"Shelly," the woman called out.

"Are those your parents?" Mouth asked.

Beginning to fidget, Shelly looked nervous.

"I have to go…"

"But Shelly," he protested.

The man and the woman looked angry as Shelly quickly joined them. It just didn't make sense, he thought, as he watched them walk away. They hurried across the street to their car as Mouth still stood watching them. As they pulled away, he saw Shelly looking back at him from the backseat.

"I'm sorry," she mouthed one last time.