She had told him that she was ready. That she was ready to give herself to him that night when they left the senior prom an hour early to head to the shore. She kept telling herself, as they got of his 2002 Ford Focus, that this what she wanted. That she wanted to do this with him, and only him, as his arms wrapped around her small waist and brought her closer to his tall frame; lips brushing against her cheek, giving her goosebumps.

She wanted to believe herself, as the humid May weather came in contact with her mocha skin, his lips now on her neck as his hands gently pulled down the top of the baby blue prom dress, exposing herself to him and that empty, closed off, beach. She wanted to believe herself as laid on the cool sand, her hands pushing off his crisp white dress shirt revealing his toned upper body and his hands traveling up her smooth leg, closer and closer, driving her hormones wild.

She wanted to believe that this was the one that she wanted to share this moment with as he kissed her, closing the gap between them, his hand brushing the tears that had fell from her eyes.

But yet, she couldn’t. She couldn’t believe herself as she shuddered against him, her legs instinctively wrapped around his waist tighter. She couldn’t believe herself that she wanted to give herself to him or that this was the one person she truly loved. She had wanted to believe that it was him kissing her, caressing her, driving her to her peak. That it was him who gave her first kiss and took her on her first date.

And when it was over, when their bodies had reached their peak, he held himself up by his arms to look down at her, to look into her eyes. To see the doubt in her eyes, to see the longing for that other person; that other boy that left them all… and he couldn’t help but feel the jealousy. But he smiles, brings his lips to her ear and whispers.

“ I love you,” he caresses her cheek and she leans into the embrace. “ I love you so much that I don’t know what I would do without you…”

She could hear him choke back a sob and she rakes a hand through his wild mane, placing a chaste kiss on his forehead.

“ I know, Jet.” She whispers, soothingly. “ I know… I… love you too.”