I was so nervous at 5:00, I didn't know what to wear and I didn't know how to do my hair or make-up. I didn't even know how what to talk about. I was pacing around my room when I made a decision. I could pick out an outfit myself, or I could ask my sister for help. Being an artist meant that she was good with colors. She was also brutally honest when it came to what looked good on me.

"Why do I even care? He's just a boy, a crazy boy" I said out loud

"Loretta I know you're crazy but you are a girl" Thea walked into my room.

"That's not what I was talking about. Listen, can you help me?"

"With what?"

"I need you to help me pick out an outfit"

"You are going to trust me-your horrible sister , to help you pick out an outfit?" I nodded. "What are we picking out this outfit for?"

"Dinner with a boy" I cringed as I said it.

"Loretta Tremaine is going out with a boy?" she said incredulously.

"Yeah, please don't make a big deal, Teddy, just help me"

"Who is it?"

"Paul, I am paying him back for helping me"

"Whose idea?"

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"Everything-whose?"

"I asked, he said no then changed his mind. Now we are going out to dinner every Saturday" I had no idea why I felt the need to explain this to her.

"Every Saturday?"

"Yeah, his idea- "

"Wow Loretta, someone actually likes you"

"Nice, Thea-please help me"

"Wear your dark jeans with your pretty coral top. Leave your hair down, its looks better that way. Light make-up. I have the car tonight"

"No, I need it, please I'll trade three nights"

"Nope, I'll drop you off. I kind of want to see him again anyway. Loretta?" I turned to look at her angrily. "Do you remember that boy that I danced into last night?"

"You remember? Wow, I am shocked. Yeah, he was Paul's friend."

"Um, well do you think you could find out about him?"

"Yeah, I mean I could ask Paul. Why do you care? Does somebody have a crush?"

"NO! I just wanted to apologize. Get ready, we are getting in the car in an hour, I have to stop at the bank" She left the room as quickly as she came in. I got dressed and started to straighten my hair. Loretta, seriously you need to calm down. Why are you even straightening your hair? I put on my converse. When I was tying my shoe, the TV turned to some talk show.

"What do guys want?" said the talk show host.

"Attention. Just pay attention to them and actually care" said a man on the stage. I changed the station to a music channel. You could tell me all about boys and it still wouldn't make sense. My mind drifted to Paul. I remembered being in his arms and his kiss. I felt myself blushing. Sure enough I looked in the mirror and my cheeks looked like tomatoes. I started doing my make-up. I can proudly say I only poked myself in the eye once. Victory!

"Etta! Let's go" I hear my sister yell. I walked down the stairs and she wolf-whistled. "Don't you look all pretty? My sister, all grown up"

"Can it Theadora. I'm driving." I took the keys from her. The ride to the beach went by in split second. I went to step out the car. "I'll call you when I get back. See you later" She wiggled her fingers at me.

"Have fun- be good" I rolled my eyes at her. I was early so I went to sit on a bench that was close to the beach. I was humming to myself to calm down. I realized what I was doing and stopped.

"Yeah- I had you pegged as an early girl" I heard a voice. I involuntarily smiled.

"Yeah, can't help it. Plus my sister was in a rush. Look, Paul I don't have my car so we'll have to -"

"Ha-like I was going to let you drive. Did you get home alright?" I nodded.

"Kevin helped me carry Thea in. Speaking of which, your friend, what was his name again?" Paul's face got angry.

"Why do you want to know?" he spit at me.

"My sister wanted to apologize. He is your friend, right?"

"Yeah, uh it's Jacob. He actually wanted to see her." He seemed to regret his anger. "I thought we'd go to a little restaurant for our first Saturday. I hope that's okay." I nodded. We started to walk towards the car. I tripped over a twig and was surprised when a hand shot out to steady me. "Can you try to stay upright for this?"

"Sorry" I said. He surprised me by opening the door for me. I climbed in while he got in the other side. We didn't talk for the ride, just listened to the radio. When we reached the restaurant, he was by my door before I could open it. He took my hand to help me out, but he didn't let it go. He was so warm. We sat at the table the waitress pointed to. We both ordered drinks. I started to look around the restaurant. It was a bunch of couples. I vaguely heard my name and then I felt warmth of my face. Paul turned my head toward him. I smiled sheepishly and then looked away and back. He was still staring at me.

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I checked my reflection in the rear view mirror before backing up and out of the beach parking lot. I had to find him, I had to talk to him. Tell him…tell him what? That I was drunk yet all I remember was him. He probably thinks I'm some drunk hussy or some dick heads slutty girlfriend. I had find him to apologize.

I had just turned down a fairly deserted road when white smoke started to emerge from under the car hood.

"No! no no no no no no!!!!"

This was not happening to me, not in the middle of nowhere. I pulled over and dug out my cell phone and found AAA's number. I actually had hope until the lack of bars on my phone made it come crashing down.

Stupid Forks stupid Washington!!

"AAAAHHHHHHGGGGG!"

Beating on the steering wheel helped, but I knew I would have to eventually pop the hood and try to discover what was wrong with my car. Turning it off I popped the hood and begrudgingly left the car to look at the maze of pipes and machinery.

After the ensuing coughing fit was over I checked the vitals like mom's chauffer had taught me to do, but I still couldn't tell what was wrong with it. Great I was stuck in the middle of nowhere with no reception and-my stomach growled-nothing to eat.

Fuck. My. Life.

"Hello."

I jumped and screamed, spinning around I came face to well chest , of the man who had scared my. Looking up to give him a piece of my mind I instantly stopped.

"You-?"

He was even more perfect then I remembered, which wasn't surprising given the circumstances. I felt that weird fast-slow sensation in my chest again and I had to remind my self to breath.

"I didn't mean to scare you, but I heard your car horn."

I looked around, "really?", we were surrounded by woods. But that didn't matter he was here now. I had to bite my lip to keep in the dramatic damsel in distress sigh. God I was pathetic.

We just stood there for what seemed like eternity just staring at each other and smiling. Why was he, a complete stranger, so intriguing?

"So what's wrong with your car?"

"Huh?" Stay in this world please.

"You seem to be having car trouble, can I be of any assistance to you?"

"Oh! Yes please."

He smiled again and made his way to the car and I almost melted. Oh my God get a hold of yourself Teddy. I watched him bend over the car and poke around under the hood, and I made the huge mistake to try and help him. Note to self: never touch anything under the hood of a car….ever.

"Owowowowowowow!!!"

"God are you ok?"

"NO!! God you idiot Teddy, what the hell were you thinking?!"

"Here, let me see."

He cupped my shaking hand in his larger ones and I was shocked at how warm his skin was. He rubbed his fingers over the burn and brought my palm to his lips, placing a gentle kiss in the red skin. As if the sensation of his touch wasn't bad enough his kiss had melted me into a single-celled organism. Whoa.

But it didn't last very long, as he immediately snapped back to full height and had a very panicked look on his face.

"Sorry, that was very forward and awkward."

"No that's ok, beside I should be the one apologizing. I was the one who past out drunkenly into your arms. Which doesn't happen all the time by the way. Just something you should know." I smiled. God Teddy shut up, he'll get freaked out and leave.

"Nah, it's fine you should see my friend Quil get drunk, he gets in his head that we all want to see him naked."

"Well sorry again."

"Let me make it up to you."

"I get drunk and slam into you and you want to make it up to me? I don't think I have ever met a guy like you before."

"How bout you were dancing and tripped and since it's my beach it's my fault an I'll take you to dinner to make up for it."

"It's your beach?"

"Will you just accept the date so I can see you again?"

"Oh right, yes."

"Good."

It wasn't until then that I noticed that he was still holding my hand, I also came to the conclusion that I never wanted him to let go.

"So I should probably fix your car."

"Yeah that might be helpful, later." You smooth talker you!

After Jacob, I finally gathered enough brainpower to ask his name, fixed my car I practically floated home. More than once I had to pull over to freak out in excitement. He promised to pick me up at First Beach next Friday at 7, and I was already counting down the days.

Once home I couldn't stop smiling, Grandma even commented on how unnatural my behavior was. It went so far as me actually being openly nice to my sister.

I didn't know what this feeling was but I didn't want it to stop.