Everyone around just stared in total shock. Each and every one of them was thinking the very same thing; Did Southern High's famous quarterback just kiss Northern High's primo head cheerleader? The answer, they all knew, was yes. A better question they should have asked was; why?

Bradin just looked at Ericka, unable to speak or move. He really liked her, but he had just met her so why did he feel this way?

Ericka stared straight into Bradin's beautiful eyes, and didn't dare move a single muscle until he recovered. Bradin finally came to his senses, and just as he started to speak he felt himself being pulled out of the crowd by none other than, Derek. Once they were in the lobby, alone, Bradin finally got a chance to talk.

"Dude, what the hell are you doing? I was just about to ask her out!"

"I'm sorry Brad, but you can NOT do that!"

"Why not? She's hot, we kissed, and I think that I have every right to ask her out!"

"But you can't!"

"And why not?"

"Because man, she's from Northern. Not only that, but she's Northern High's head cheerleader!"

Bradin could only bring out one single word after he found this out…

"Shit."

No more than two seconds after Bradin was pulled out of Ericka's sight, she two was grabbed by one of her girlfriends Cricket.

"Where is he going?" Ericka asked worriedly.

"Ericka, who cares where that jerk is going, what I wanna know is why were you kissing him?"

"Because he's sooo cute! Did you see him?"

"Yeah I have. And if you think really hard I'm sure you'll remember seeing him before tonight too."

"What are you talking about? You are making no sense!"

"Do the words 'Southern High quarterback' ring any bells?"

"Oh my god! That's Bradin, is Bradin Westerly, Bradin?"

"YES!"

Ericka too only had one word come to mind.

"Shit."

Her friend looked at her with sympathy in her eyes knowing that she hadn't even looked at a guy with any hope since Wesley , her first and only boyfriend, moved away reluctantly leaving her here, alone, and miserable. And now she had finally admitted to kind of liking and had even kissed another guy, and she couldn't even pursue it because of where he was from.

"Yeah... Honey I'm so sorry. I know it's gotta be hard but its ok. There are plenty of other guys here from Northern that are equally hot that wanna dance with you. So go have fun."

"Cricket, why are you being so sympathetic? I kissed him… that's it. It's not like we're engaged. I mean what's one harmless kiss between two people? It's as simple as that, besides there weren't any sparks."

With that she walked away, leaving her friend there knowing it wasn't as simple as that. Ericka never kissed guys unless she knew there would be sparks… and anyone who had eyes could tell there were sparks between those perfect strangers in that kiss, as weird as that was. Cricket knew that her friend was hurting but she was hiding well, she just couldn't lay her finger on why Ericka liked this Bradin so much.

Ericka couldn't understand her own feelings either for that matter. She hadn't felt this way about anyone since Wes. She had been so numb with hurt after he moved to Texas that she hadn't opened up to any guy. Now here she was finally fearless for the first time in a long time and it was with the wrong person. How could she have not thought of who he was? And why did she not care that he was the person everyone else in her entire student body despised most? All she cared about was seeing him again.

But that, she knew, was impossible. She did feel something in that kiss, but she had to pretend it was nothing and move on. She couldn't dwell on something that would never happen. She walked to her car, allowing herself to let her tears fall freely but silently, but she vowed to herself that tomorrow morning she would wake up as she always did and go back to being same old Ericka who never talked to guys, who never opened her heart. If she couldn't fall in love with a guy who would stay, or even kiss a guy who was from an approprite school, she wasn't even going to try anymore.

As she reached her car she saw an obscure figure behind the dumpster she was parked next to. Panicky she dug for her keys in her purse, but she had no luck finding them. Then she remembered locking them in her car so she could just use the number code. But in all the panic she forgot what it was, just her luck.

45778? Nope… 45887? Not it either… 45578? YES!! But by the time she figured it out and pulled the door open she felt a hand on her shoulder, there she was in the middle of the parking lot with no witnesses in sight accept for one person who held the potential to harm her and that was it… she was screwed! As she was about to turn and see who was there a voice spoke…

"Ericka?"

It was a guy's voice and he knew her… this was either very good, or very bad. She drew a deep breath and quickly turned around, surprised to find…

"Bradin? Oh my God what are you doing here?"

"I came out to find you… I saw you leaving and you looked upset, I wanted to make sure you were okay."

"Well that's very nice of you but you scared the shit out of me!"

"Oh I'm sorry… I probably shouldn't have snuck up on you. But anyway are you okay? It looks like you've been crying…"

"Oh it's nothing. I'm fine really." He didn't believe her but decided not to dwell on it. He didn't figure arguing with her would exactly be the way to win her over.

"Okay then. So why are you leaving? It's only 8:30."

"Oh, I'm really not into dances. I'm not very good at dancing."

"Ericka we play your school, I've seen you dance during halftime… you aren't good… you're amazing!" She blushed and giggled.

"Why thank you. I'm very flattered."

"No prob. So if you aren't going back inside, where are you going?"

"Home I guess."

"Well no girl as pretty as you should have to go home on a Saturday night at," he looked at his watch "8:33. So I won't allow it."

"You won't huh? So where do you think I should go?"

"You're coming with me. Come on… my car's just down the street a bit." He started walking down the sidewalk, and Ericka followed closely behind.

"Where are we going though?"

"You'll see."

"Bradin wait, aren't you afraid that someone will see us?"

"All of our friends are inside that school, trust me we're safe. Besides, for you, getting caught is a chance I'm willing to take."

"Ok… and awe! Thank you."

"Again, no prob."

They walked a bit longer and then reached his black Audi… he walked in front of Ericka, unlocked the car, then pulled her door open and held it for her.

"Thank you… nice car by the way."

"Oh thanks… my grand-dad and Maw-maw got it for me for my birthday." She giggled at the cute names he had for his grandparents.

"Well that's really cool. They must really like you huh? Haha."

"Just a little… haha."

He got in on his side and buckled his seat belt then started the car. Pulling out of the parking space he finally spoke again.

"So do you have a curfew?"

"Yes… it's 12 so we have quite a while."

"Good."

"Braaadinnn? Where are weee goooing?" she whined.

"Errrrickaaa! I'm not goooing to tellll you… you'll find out in like 15 minutes anyways."

"Okay…" she let out a loud sigh, folding her arms over her chest pouting. Bradin just chuckled at her childish actions and kept driving… when they reached their destination he was the first to break the silence.

"Here we are. Happy now?"

"That depends… where is here?"

"Get out and see."

"Okay…" She got out finding herself at central park. She loved that place even though she hadn't been there in ages. She wondered Bradin had asked her to come and why he had brought her there but she kept her questions to herself, assuming that she'd find out anyway. Bradin got out of the car too and went to her side, standing beside her, patiently waiting for her response. She didn't respond for some time but just stood there taking everything of the park in during the night time… it was beautiful. The lights, the quietness, the smell of the summer night, and the cool breeze that cooled the world after the hotness of the day had passed, it was almost magical. "Wow… this is amazing," she finally brought out quietly in almost a whisper. Bradin smiled, happy with her reaction to his favorite place in the world.

"Yeah… it's awesome here at night. Well come on." And with that he pressed forward deeper into the park. Ericka followed at his side not speaking, but just following in amazement and comfortable silence. They kept going for a while, and then they finally came to the heart of central park, the fountain. It was truly a magnificent sight, all lit up in the dark of the night. Bradin suddenly took Ericka's hand and intertwined their fingers.

Looking her straight in the eye he with all honesty said, "Ericka, I really, REALLY like you." She smiled sweetly.

"Bradin, I like you too."

"I'm so happy you said that… and that's why…"

OH NO!! What's gonna happen?? What is he going to say? Haha kinda cliffy I know… please R&R thanks for reading!