Prince Charming

I was seven when Mom gave me the speech. It’s echoed in my head for the last seven years, I guess. Constantly playing like a broken record, or a scratched CD that just keeps repeating itself over and over. I was seven years old, she shattered all my childhood fantasies and dreams with a harsh realistic speech that brought me to earth. I was seven. I had come home from school, talking about the story our teacher had read out to us, a story involving princesses and castles and true romance and adventure and happy endings. Mom had looked at me with that disapproving eye, she was never a fun person. There were no stories at bedtime, there were no tickle attacks and laughter. She was serious, she did what she thought was best for me, which is why she spoke the way she did.

"Astra," she cleared her throat after saying my name, "Life isn’t adventure, and castles in the sky, and Prince Charming galloping in on his white stallion coming to take you away and marry you and make you a Princess and you’ll wear flowing dresses and jewelled tiaras. Life isn’t about fantasies. Life is about careers and settling, making something of yourself."

I had looked at her, I was seven, but I could remember thinking then she must have never been a child, she didn’t really understand how much those childhood fantasies, those dreams, those stories of princesses and princes and castles and true love, could mean to me. There was no point in really trying to explain it to her, I was seven, what did I know? She would have scoffed, like she always did, and always will, telling me I was seven, I didn’t know what I was talking about.

So lets just say I didn’t believe in Prince Charming until I met him…

That’s what this story is about.

* * * * *

My name is Astra Bennett. I was born on the 18^th of August in 1985 right here in Los Angeles. My story takes place right here in L.A, not terribly long after my fourteenth birthday last year.

This story is about Prince Charming. That’s what I like to call him.

Before I start my story let me tell you, Dear Reader, that I have always been mature for my age, I don’t look my age either, in fact, I didn’t look fourteen then. I haven’t looked my age since I was eleven, I developed early, I looked like I was sixteen by the time my twelfth birthday had come around, I’m a reasonable height of five foot eight, which is reasonable I suppose. I’m slim, with dark blonde hair, grey-green eyes, I have an excellent tan as well. I’m not massive in the boob department, but I have them, and that adds to the illusion of my being older. Now that I’ve cleared that up, I’ll continue.

* * * * *

So, there I was, home on a Saturday night, totally bored out of my skull, until my Older cousin Charlotte stopped by to use my hairdryer. Hers had conked out minutes before she’d come over – she only lives across the street from me – and she’d come over to use mines.

And so she sauntered into my room, casual as you place, and picked up the hairdryer, began to look for a socket to plug it into. I was used to this her coming in without knocking. Our mothers – being sisters and all are very close, and I was used to having Charlotte at my house often, it felt like she was more of a sister than a cousin.

I noted, as I sat and looked at her curiously, that she was all dolled up, she was wearing this hot pink PVC tanktop, and tight black pedalpushers and a pair of Kangaroo sandals, her hair was hanging wet around her face.

"Where you goin’?" I asked all too curiously, flicked through my magazine absently.

"Party."

I sat up, "Who’s party?"

"Marianne’s," Charlotte found a socket for the plug, she began drying her hair. Charlotte is like a model, seventeen and perfect in just about every way, with mid length silky sun-kissed blonde hair, and bright blue eyes, bronze tan, and pouty lips. And a body that any girl would die to have – and any guy would die to hold. Get the picture?

"Can I come?" I asked suddenly, I threw my magazine on the pile of reading material on the floor and sat up straight.

"No…" Charlotte made a face and finished with her hair, she examined herself in the mirror.

"C’mon, Char, it’s like Saturday night and there’s NOTHING to do!" I pouted.

"Ast," she stated, she always called me Ast. "This is a party where there’s probably going to be drinking, and probably smoking dope and stuff, I don’t want you being subjected to that stuff…"

"Come on…I won’t drink or anything…"

"Everyone at this party is older than you are," Charlotte pointed out.

"So? I look your age…"

Charlotte paused for thought, giving that expression that said I was right. She knew it too. We knew I looked seventeen-eighteen. Especially when I pulled on any dress that was fashionable and dabbed on a little makeup. I looked older than Charlotte.

"Okay…but if your Mom asks…"

"C’mon, she lets me do what I want," I rolled my eyes.

And so it was agreed I could go, I pulled on a light pink dress with a glittery heart symbol across the chest, dabbed on a little eyeliner, mascara and pale pink eye shimmer, pale pink lipgloss, and we headed off.

This is the part that gets good.

The party was absolutely amazing, Marianne’s dad is some sort of music producer and VERY rich and their house is amazing, three level house, with a balcony overlooking the beach, a swimming pool, and their living room could easily become any great hall for a party. Kick ass. It must have been Marianne’s eighteenth birthday party, she had decorations up, there was no cake but no one cared. There was a lot of drink and a lot of good-looking people. Marianne Stepford is a very popular person.

So…there I was, I mingled with some people them never even having guessed I could be fourteen years old, and I met this guy…

It was an accident more than a meeting, I dropped my bag, and he, being a gentleman as he was, leaned down to pick it up, being so helpful and all, only I didn’t really know he was there or had seen so I leaned down and my head slammed right into his – it hurt!

He let out an audible mumble of pain and he picked up my bag and handed it to me, "sorry," he apologised.

"My fault," I rubbed my head, getting a good look at him.

He didn’t look that old to me, maybe sixteen at the oldest, he wasn’t exactly the most good looking guy at the party, but there was just something about him. He had these amazing eyes, that just, the moment I looked at him, caught me in this trance. He gave a smile – heartshaped mouth and amazing perfect teeth. "Nah, I should have warned you I was gonna get it for you," He gave the softest laugh.

"Let’s just forget about it then," I smirked. Oh my god, those eyes of his. And the tan, the straight nose and the soft dark blonde/light brown cropped hair. And oh god, that smile. I felt like I should have known him, the was something about him that was very familiar and at the same time, he was a total stranger.

He smiled, "Okay."

I gripped onto my bag absently, looking at him, "Do I know you? You seem really familiar…"

"A lot of people say that," he gave a shrug, and looked away as if he knew something I didn’t, he then glanced at me, "a lot of people know me," He gave yet another shrug, "But I don’t know you…do I?" he asked, he raised an eyebrow.

"Don’t think so…" I tilted my head to the side, looking at him, "do you?"

"Nope, definitely not, I’d remember a face like yours," He gave a charming smile, I have NEVER had such an instant crush on anyone in my life, he had this sweet voice, sweet smile, beautiful eyes, I mean I was just naturally drawn to him.

"Astra Bennett," I reached out my hand to him.

Isaac gave a smile, "Astra…that’s a really pretty name. Isn’t that Latin?" he asked.

"I’m not sure."

"I know it means ‘Star’ in some other dialect…" He took my hand and instead of shaking it, planted a gentle kiss upon my knuckles, and I felt little flutters in my belly as he did. "Isaac Hanson," he smiled.

I giggled a little, "wow. Real gentleman."

He gave a soft laugh, "so…who are you here with."

"My cousin, Charlotte Goldstein."

"I…don’t think I’ve met her," Isaac paused, "at least I don’t think," He said, "I’m here as a guest of Marianne," he explained.

"Ohh, you’re one of her thousands of friends…" I leaned against the wall casually, holding my Diet Coke which I bet someone had spiked.

"No, actually more of an acquaintance if you know what I mean, I’m not really one of her friends…I’m not even from L.A. So…" he trailed off.

"So how’d you know her?" I sipped my drink.

"Her father is a music producer and I’m in the music business so…" He trailed off again in that ever so soft voice.

"Ohh, what’d you do?"

"I’m in a band," He explained, "I play guitar and sing."

"Hoping to get famous?" I asked. God, if ONLY I’d known who I was speaking to.

He sort of gave a smile, "Something like that."

I sipped my drink.

Isaac gave a smile, oh my god, that smile, that smile.

"Want to dance," he asked.

I wasn’t going to refuse, duh, he was so sweet. So I accepted and we danced a while. He’s not the best dancer, but not the worst so that accounts for something. And we spent most of that night talking, I swear, I was falling for this guy then and there, I sat there listening to him talk about his music, talking about movies he liked or things he loved to do…I was mesmerised.

And when the end of the night came, he smiled, "Well…I s’pose I should be going," he flicked his hair out of his eyes, "I promised to have my younger brothers home by midnight because my mom was like worried because they’ve been up since five am this morning…"

I looked at him, he had younger brothers at this party? I looked around, "I didn’t know you had younger brothers here with you…" I sure didn’t see any kids around.

"Yeah, see the two standing talking to those girls over there…" Isaac pointed.

Isaac had pointed to two tallish boys, one must have been six feet or over, the other not much smaller, the tallest one was lanky, with perfect golden hair and a kind smile, the smaller one was bulkier in body mass, with long hair to past his shoulders, and a whimsical grin. The two looked old enough to be Isaac’s age group or older…

I glanced at Isaac, suddenly wondering how old he was. I’d guessed sixteen, he had such a boyish charm about him. But…now I was beginning to wonder.

He looked right back at me, confused what my stare was all about, "What?" he asked.

"You sure they’re your younger brothers?" I asked.

"Yeah," Isaac nodded, "Zac’s thirteen and Taylor is sixteen," he explained..

Oh my god oh my god oh my god, I was freaking, I felt my heart start thumping in my chest, hold old was Isaac?! His brothers – younger brothers – were old enough to be in my dating range, but…oh my god.

"So when’s your birthday?" I asked of him carefully.

"November," he gave a smile, "I’ll be nineteen."

Oh my god oh my god oh my god, I was definitely ready to start freaking. I had a crush on an eighteen year old not boy but man! Shit, I thought, this is NOT happening.

"So…anyway," Isaac finished off his drink, I wasn’t sure what he was drinking, it certainly wasn’t alcohol. "Can I have your number? I can give you a call tomorrow or something…" he suggested.

I wanted to say to him right then ‘Isaac, look, you’re nice, but…I’m fourteen and…it wouldn’t work…’.

But I didn’t, god what made me think it would work?

I went into my bag and I pulled out a biro, I wrote my number and name down on his hand and gave a smile, "there."

He smiled, "thanks…I’ll call tomorrow."

"I’ll be waiting by the phone," I giggled, god that sounded desperate, I knew the minute he left I’d slap myself for being that stupid.

"See you later," he smiled, and he kissed my hand again, gave a charming smile, and the he went off to get his brothers.

I smiled, breathing in deeply, looking up to the ceiling as if it were a starry sky. I felt like I had met my Prince Charming.

* * * * *

Okay, so, anyway, the next day I’m sitting y’know, just in my room, waiting by the phone and he did actually call.

I snapped the phone up off of the cradle, "Hello?" I said hastily.

"Hi, can I speak to Astra, please?"

It was him, my heart melted and I felt funny tingles run up my whole entire body.

"Speaking."

"Hi, this is Isaac Hanson, from last night," his voice was as cheerful as it had been last night.

"Hi," I smiled to myself and stretched out on my bed hugging a big heart-shaped pillow.

"Did you have fun at the party last night?" Isaac asked of me, I smiled, yes, I definitely DID!

"Yeah, but not much fun after you left…" I added.

"That’s because I’m the life of the party," He joked.

"I noticed.

"So…" He trailed off, "You busy today?"

"Maybe, maybe not," I teased, "Why?"

"I felt like taking a drive along the coast, then maybe go for something to eat, go a walk along the beach, maybe talk?" He asked softly.

"I’d love to."

"Great, give me your address and I’ll pick you up…"

I paused in thought. If I gave him my address he’d come to my house and then my mom would find out I had this boy in my life. And of course I wasn’t allowed to date yet. Besides, even if she HAD allowed me to date, she’d instantly demand of Isaac his age the moment he came to the door – and I can’t risk that. It’d be far too embarrassing.

"Uhm…the road to my house is kind of blocked off, it’d be much easier for both of us if I just met you somewhere…" I tried.

"How about you meet me outside the McDonalds on Beach Lane."

"Okay," I agreed, "when?"

"In about…half an hour?"

"Okay, I’ll see you then."

"Okay."
When I hung up I was all jittery with the feeling that he’d find out my true age, I tried to make myself look as old as I can, I chose some sensible non-kiddish clothes, left my hair down, because it always seemed to make me look older, I put on some makeup, subtle, but enough to accent my eyes and make them look older. I looked in the mirror, I looked seventeen or eighteen. Great, I was ready for Isaac.

And so I met him at McDonalds, he looked comfortable and relaxed sitting on the bonnet of a black Jetta, his hair was damp, he was wearing a white tanktop that fitted to his lithe body, and a pair of faded blue jeans that looked somewhat older than I did. I walked over slowly, he hopped off the bonnet and smiled, "Hi," He greeted.

"Hi," I smiled.

We looked at each other for a brief second through our sunglasses, he gave a bright smile and he opened the car door for me, and I got in. I had slight thoughts about maybe him being a pervert and only wanting to drive me somewhere, drag me out to a secluded area, rape me and murder me and leave me to die. I kept my hand on my pocket – where my cellular phone was – at all times. But no, he was very sincere. We did go a drive along the coast, and we did get something to eat, talking all the while.

"So," he asked of me at one point, I raised my eyes to him, sipping on a Cherry Coke, "Are you still in School, or are you at College or something, what age are you anyway?" he asked.

I felt my heart stop, "Uhm…I’m still at high school, this will be my last year," I explained, "I’m seventeen," I added quickly.

"Okay," He nodded, "Well, I’ve completed my schooling, but y’know, I’m thinking about college…of course it’s so difficult when there’s so many things to consid—" he was cut off when a girl stopped at the table and begged for his autograph, he kindly gave it to her, smiled and she went off, Isaac looked back at me. "What was I saying?" he asked, rubbed his head, trying to think.

"About college."

"Oh, yeah, well, Y’know, I’m in a band – and it’s my brothers who are the other band members so I’d feel kind of guilty just taking off to further my education – they need me in the band right now, and with us recording the album…" he explained.

"You’re recording an album?" I asked, I sipped my Cherry Coke once again.

"Yeah," he answered, "Second official album, but it’s like the sixth or seventh album technically or something," he shrugged.

"You have six albums?" I asked, finding that hard to believe, he had six albums out but I hadn’t heard of him?

"Yeah, starting with Middle of Nowhere, then Snowed In, Three Car Garage, Live From Albertane, and there were two independent albums we never really released…" Isaac shrugged, "But I don’t really feel like pouring all my music crap onto you. I mean, music is my career. I’m trying to have a personal life," He gave me a soft smile.

It dawned on me then who he was, and why I hadn’t recognised him OR his brothers. I was so surprised the name hadn’t dawned on me either. Isaac Hanson, as in HANSON, the band of teenagers with long blonde hair who sang ‘MMMBop’. Isaac has short hair and he just looked SO unlike that wavy haired long faced dude who was in those music videos and on those CD sleeves. I just couldn’t believe it.

"Uh huh, you know now, don’t you," He smirked a bit, he could tell the look.

"Yeah, I just didn’t realise."

"That’s okay, I don’t mind, I prefer it that way," He gave a soft smile.

"Okay," I felt embarrassed for NOT knowing who he was. I guess I’m just not with it.

"So…it’s obvious you’re not into my kind of music," he smirked, "What kind of music do you listen to?"

I paused, if I said Backstreet Boys I’d seem like just another teeny. I didn’t want him to think I was younger or childlike in anyway. "Oh, stuff like Alanis Morissette, the Goo Goo Dolls, Sarah McLachlan…" most stuff adults would listen to most likely rather than little kids.

"Alanis is very cool, we have her albums…" Isaac explained.

I paused, I did have the album at home, but I wasn’t really into it, it wasn’t like her first album. I didn’t care much for it at all. "Yeah, its…great."

"Sarah McLachlan is cool too, we have some of her earlier stuff…" Isaac explained.

"I think ‘Adia’, is her coolest song," I tried to make it seem like I had something in common with him so he would like me more.

"That’s an okay song, I think ‘Possession’ or ‘Sweet Surrender’ are the cooler songs," He explained.

I didn’t know either songs, I didn’t even really understand Sarah McLachlan’s music to be honest, I didn’t understand what her songs were about. I tried to make it seem like I did, "Yeah, they’re really deep…" I trailed off, not knowing what else to say...

He looked at me and smiled, "I’m boring you," he smirked, "so…tell me more…about yourself, I want to hear."

"Uhm," I put my soda down, "What do you want to know?"

"Anything you want to tell me? Just…y’know…stuff about you…your birthday, your likes and dislikes…"

"Oh…my birthday is August 18^th 198—" I almost said 1985, but I cleared my throat, "1983," I answered.

"Ohh, so your birthday wasn’t that long ago, then," Isaac nodded.

I sipped my soda.

"Have a boyfriend?"

I looked at him and felt my heart racing, it was like something from a sappy soap opera. "No," I replied trying to make it casual.

"Looking for one?"
"Definitely…" I nodded.

He gave me something of a shy and yet every so confident smile and he slid his hand over mines. I felt myself melt into a puddle of goo on the chair.

I nervously gathered my thoughts, "Shouldn’t we be getting back before it gets too late?"

"You’re right," He lifted his hand off of mines, and finished off his soda in one gulp, "Lets go."

So, we went back, and took off our shoes and took a walk down the beach, by the time we got to the beach it was sunset, the sky was orange-red, the water shimmered with light from the falling sun. I walked, holding my shoes in my left hand, strolling across the sand, Isaac walked by my right side, slid his hand into mines, and curled his fingers around mines, I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes, and he smiled gently, his eyes sparkled from the light of the sun.

"It’s nice down here," He said wistfully, he looked across at the water, "I love coming down here," He said, "love the view, love the sun," he squeezed my hand and smiled, "and the girls," he added with a grin.

I laughed a little, we stopped, and Isaac sat down on the sand, I sat beside him and he slipped his arm around me. This felt so weird…

Before I knew it, his soft heartshaped mouth was on mines, and god, I felt helpless. This wasn’t the peck on the lips I had been gifted from some boy at a party last month, this was a soft, very adult kiss, he pulled me closer, buried both of his hands in my hair, and kissed me as if it were the kiss of a man who had not seen a woman in twenty years. This was the most romantic moment of my life and yet at the same time, it was the scariest…

I slipped my arms lightly around him, I could register the feel of his heartbeat, the warmth of his body, the sound of the sea, the feel of the breeze, stirring my hair.

He moved back, and smiled, he moved my hair back from my face for me and pecked my cheek lightly.

"I should be getting back home," I admitted.

"I’ll walk you," he offered.

"Oh…" I thought for a minute, "Y’know, that’s not necessary, Uhm, I can go home alone," I stood up.

"But—"

"Please? My dad is a tyrant…he doesn’t like guys dating me so…it’s just for YOUR safety," I lied. Noooo, it was for MY Safety, so my mother didn’t find out I was dating this eighteen year old and I was only fourteen. She would kill me.

"Okay," He smiled, "I’ll call you tomorrow then? Do you have a cellular phone?"

"Yeah, I do actually."

"What’s the number?" he asked.

I gave him my cellular phone number – the phone was MEANT to be for emergencies but I guessed he could call it. He memorised the number with great ease.

He recited the number after the first time hearing it, "is that it?" he asked hopefully.

I nodded.

"Great."

"Okay," I smiled, I touched his shoulder, "I’ll see you later," I said, and then I headed off home.

The walk home took fifteen minutes, I put my key in the lock and I went inside, my mother was sitting on the staircase, she looked at me, apparently not too happy. "Where have you been?!"

"I was out with some friends," I shrugged.

"It Is way past dinner time!" my mother yelled at me, she ran her hand through her dark blonde hair in a frustrated manner.

"Mom, relax, I ate," I headed up to my room, locked my door, and I smiled to myself. I threw myself on my bed and hugged my pillow, thinking that I was madly in love with Isaac. After only two days.

* * * * *

The next day, I was tied down with school. I tried to concentrate on my school work so my mom wouldn’t get anymore pissed off with me. She was a tyrant when it came to my grades. ‘Life is about career, not fun’, she constantly said. That thought will probably be stuck with me until I graduate. I promised myself that day – as I was sitting at the desk in my history class – that I would never burden my own children with that thought when I eventually have children. Would I marry Isaac some time in the future? I kept having these stupid immature thoughts in between my serious thoughts, I found myself scribbling ‘I love Isaac’ on my folder.

Kathy Green, one of my best friends (I have around six best friends), tossed a wadded up piece of paper at me when the teacher wasn’t looking, I slipped the piece of paper down under the desk and I yanked the crumpled up sheet apart, looked at the writing. Her question was simple ‘did you go to Marianne’s party?!?!!?!??!!??!??’ – and I am not exaggerating the amount of exclamation and question marks.

I glanced quickly at her and gave a nod, she just looked stunned. I guess it was natural. We eighth graders respect anyone mature enough to get into a seniors party. It’s like saying ‘whoah, you got into a seniors party, you must be cool.’

After history, it was lunch time, Kathy Green, Reece Fraser and Karen Reynolds all followed.

"You went to Marianne’s party?!" Reece asked in an excited tone, she followed me, hugging her folder to her chest.

"Yes…"

"Was it cool?"

"Majorly, her house is like a palace!" I explained, "And I met this really sweet guy," I began, I walked, smiling to myself, looking up at the ceiling as if my head were in the clouds. Thinking of Isaac, lifted my spirits, made me forget about School in an instant.

"A senior?"

"He’s nineteen next month," I explained, "He’s SO cute."

"Oh my god," Karen said in an overly enthusiastic way, "was he interested?"

"Definitely, he asked for my number," I explained.

"What’s he like?"

"He’s romantic, sweet, he kisses like a pro," I grinned from ear to ear.

"He kissed you?"

"Yeah," I skipped along excitedly for a moment, "We went on a walk down the beach last night and we walked hand in hand, and he kissed me," I explained.

"Isn’t he bothered about dating a fourteen year old?" Reece asked.

"Uhm…" I cleared my throat, "He…think’s I’m seventeen."

Reece’s eyes popped out her head, Kathy’s mouth became an ‘O’ and Karen’s hands flew to her face.

"Oh my god!" they all chimed together, this was something they usually did in unison when something shocked them.

"How do you expect to get away with it?" Reece demanded, "I mean he’s nearly nineteen! What if he wants sex?"

"He doesn’t want sex," I assured. I wasn’t altogether sure myself though, but I didn’t want to say that to my friends, they’d just started to respect me a lot more than usual. I was enjoying this.

"Does your mom know?" Karen asked.

"Are you out of your fucking mind? Of course she doesn’t. What’d you expect me to say? ‘Oh by the way mom, I’m dating a nineteen year old’," I rolled my eyes. "She won’t even let me date boys my own age, how the hell do you expect her to let me date a guy who’s almost five years older than I am!" I exclaimed.

"She’ll find out eventually."

"Not if I’m careful," I explained, "Besides, he’s only in L.A. for a couple of months, it’s just a temporary relationship," I explained.

"Is he your boyfriend?"

"Not yet," I smirked, I flicked my bangs out of my face, "But he will be with any luck."

"Wow. Can we meet him?"
"NO!" I gaped, I looked at my friends, they were all smaller than me, more childlike, and all though they were amazingly attractive, none of them looked seventeen, Isaac would soon catch on if he saw me hanging out with a lot of younger looking people. The light in his head would just click on like a flash.

Reece pouted, "You’re ashamed of us."

"Duh," I smirked, but I flung my arms around her and hugged her, "But I love ya all anyway," I grinned.

Isaac didn’t call me like he said he would, I almost thought he had already forgotten about me…

* * * * *

I was in English when my phone started going off, I blushed, and tried to pretend it was mine. Mrs. Hubbard gave us all a look and I waited until the ringing stopped, she looked at us all.

"Whoever is carrying a cellular phone better turn it off now or they will be reported to the principle," she warned, she folded her arms. The phone started ringing, I waited until she turned her back, I took the phone out of my pocket sneakily, keeping it under the desk, and I turned the volume off, I searched my message box, Isaac had sent me a text message. It said:

"I’m sorry I didn’t call yesterday, we were incredibly busy…can I see you tonight?"

I smiled to myself and I quickly typed in a reply – being yes, and through messages we arranged to meet at the same place we had met at on Sunday, I felt it was safer that way than having him come to pick me up, my mother would kill me if she knew I was hanging out with this guy.

The minute we got out of English, Reece wandered behind me, "was that your phone?"

"Yeah, that was Isaac sending me a message to say he was sorry for not calling yesterday," I explained, I hugged my English book tightly to my chest, smiling broadly, "He wants to see me tonight."

"Are you gonna go?"

"Are you kidding me? Of course I’m going to go," I laughed.

I got home, I changed from my school uniform and into something very trendy, I pulled my hair half up in an attempt to keep it out of my eyes, and I slipped out before my mum could see me leaving. She’d probably ground me for it later, but I didn’t care, I had to go see Isaac, and I didn’t really feel like telling her where I was going.

I went up to where Isaac’s car was parked, he was sitting on a wall by his car, watching the waves from the ocean gently rippling against the sand, a distant look on his face. I walked up behind him and touched his shoulder, he turned and looked at me and gave me a smile. "Hey," he said softly.

"Hi," I said brightly.

"I’m really sorry about yesterday," Isaac took both of my hands, held them in his, "I was like, so distracted, we’re working on this song and it’s been hellish, there’s so many harmonies to record, and we’re having a choir in tomorrow, Thursday and Friday," he explained. "Nightmare."

"It’s okay, don’t worry about it," I tried to smile, I really didn’t totally forgive him for not calling but I would let him away with it for being so sweet about it.

"Okay, so…I figured we could go see a movie together?" he suggested.

"That sounds great," I nodded.

And so we got into his car, and he drove to the multiplex and paid us into see ‘The Blair Witch Project’. I’m not sure if he deliberately picked a horror movie so I would huddle into his shoulder for protection when all those scary things happened to the three filmmakers. So we’d just got settled, the movie had another five minutes to start. I was getting comfortable, and, oh my GOD, I could not believe it, Reece, Karen, Kathy and Adrienne sauntered into the same screening room, I swore under my breath, Isaac turned and looked at me.

"Did you say something?"

"No…" I assured, "Isaac, could you get me popcorn, please?"

He gave a smile, "Sure, buttered?"

"Yes," I said quickly.

"Anything else?" he asked of me. God, I just wanted him to go before Reece, Karen, Kathy and Adrienne saw us and came over.

"Peanut M&Ms…and a large Dr. Pepper," I said.

"Okay," He pulled himself up and he headed out, he passed right by Reece by two inches and she didn’t notice.

"Heyyyy!!!" Karen was the first one to notice me there, she came running over and sat in the seat right in front of mines, sitting backwards in her seat so she was facing me, "didn’t expect to see you here."

"Likewise…"

"Are you here with Isaac?!" Reece asked in an excited tone, she sat beside Karen.

"Yes, so I would appreciate it if you guys went and sat somewhere else…I don’t want him knowing I’m fourteen!" I hissed.

"Okay, okay," Karen turned around in her seat smirking.

"No, go sit somewhere else…" I pleaded.

"No, the view here is fine," Adrienne grinned her big huge silver braced grin at me, I grimaced and I sat still, Isaac returned.

"Here ya go," he handed me all my goodies from the filmfoods counter and I gave a meek smile and I shrugged down into my seat. Isaac slipped his arm around my shoulders comfortably as the movie started, I saw Reece look round and kind of smirk. I wanted to kill my friends right then. I kept praying to god ‘take me now’. We watched the movie, his arm around me, drawing me closer as the movie ebbed on.

The movie was nearly to its end, and Isaac turned and looked at me, and I glanced at him as if to ask what he was looking at me like that for, in response, I was answered by a sweet kiss on he lips. I wished my friends hadn’t been in the damned row in front of me, I could feel their stares, hear their gasps of awe. I wrapped my arms around Isaac and tried to respond to his kissing as best I knew how. He must have thought I was inexperienced, the way he kissed as so incredible, like someone who’s been kissing all their lives. I kissed like a fourteen year old on a first date.

The movie ended, and so did our kiss, he gave a smile, and took my hand, helping me up. I looked at him, he held onto my hand, I glanced back at my friends and they grinned, giggling to themselves.

"Man, what is up with those kids?" Isaac asked shaking his head in disbelief, he’d obviously heard their immature giggling, and felt their stares.

"They’re kids," I shrugged, I looked over my shoulder and stuck my tongue out at my friends and left with Isaac.

"So…" Isaac trailed off when we got into the car, "Is this the end of the night or is there anything else you’d like to do?"
"Well…y’know…it’s a school night," I explained, I winced at the thought I must have sounded my age, "I mean…I have a big test tomorrow, I wanna be fresh for it and all, and I need my beauty sleep."

"You couldn’t get any more beautiful," Isaac said sweetly, he started the car, smirked to himself and drove. "Where’d you live?"

"Isaac…" I began.

"Call me Ike," he suggested.

"Ike…drop me off at where we met and I’ll walk home."

"No, don’t be silly, I’ll drive you home, now where do you live?"

I gave him my streetname, hoping that was enough, I gave him some excuse that my dad had a shotgun and would go at any guy who wanted to date me.

"Your dad sounds like a bit of a tyrant," Isaac admitted.

"Oh, he is," I nodded, actually my dad left my mom when I was five. But the dad lie seemed to fool Isaac so I stayed with it.

"I probably won’t be able to see you until Saturday," Isaac said, concentrating on the road.

"How come?"

"Well, y’know…all this stuff with work and all, I have a couple of meetings tomorrow, Thursday I have to go shopping with my younger brother for Zac’s surprise birthday party on Friday," he explained, he parked at the end of my street, "Unless…you’d perhaps…uh, like to go to the party…on Friday?" He asked, "I mean I know there’s gonna be a few kids there and stuff, but there’ll be a lot of people our age there as well, it’ll be fun," He suggested, "Besides, I’d like you to meet my family."
"Uh…okay," I nodded.

"Great," Isaac smiled, "then I’ll call you tomorrow when I get time, and I’ll arrange to come get you," He smiled, he pecked my cheek, "see you soon."

I smiled and hugged him, and I got out of the car, and I headed up my street, watched his car drive off before I headed up to my house. I got inside, my mom was in the kitchen, cleaning up, I sauntered in and grabbed a soda from the fridge.

"Where the hell have you been?"

"Out with Reece, Karen, Kathy and Adrienne – we went to see ‘The Blair Witch Project’. Okay, I didn’t feel too guilty about lying since it was a half truth. I had been with them after all, hadn’t I?

"Adrienne called for you at six…" mom folded her arms, glaring at me angrily.

"They didn’t know I was gonna be there, mom, I just went, I felt like seeing a movie, and they were, there, you can call and ask Reece if you don’t believe me!" I was exasperated. "God, why do you always have to interrogate me every time I come home?!" I demanded.

"You should have been home, studying, you should have been doing your homework."

"I didn’t wanna DO my goddamn fucking homework!" I screeched.

My mom slapped me, I guess I deserved it. "Don’t you dare cuss at me!" she yelled at me.

"I hate you!" I screamed at her, I slammed the kitchen door and I ran upstairs in tears and into my room, slammed my door loudly, hard enough to rattle the house, and I locked my door and threw myself down on my bed and cried.

The phone started ringing, and I picked it up, sniffling, "Hello?"

"Hey, its me," Reece’s voice came soothingly down the other end, Reece had an amazing calming voice, I wiped my tears.

"Hi."

"What’s wrong?" Reece asked worriedly, she could hear the upset in my voice.

"My mom just hauled off and hit me ‘cause I talked back," I sniffled.

"Did it hurt?"

"Yeah, it smarts…" I mumbled.

"Yeah, I hate my mom, she’s a fucking bitch, I hope she dies!" I cried again.

"Parents suck," Reece agreed, "So…that was Isaac?"

"Yeah," I sniffled.

"He’s okay…you could do better though."

"You don’t think he’s cute?" I asked, I dried my face off on by blanket.

"Yeah, he’s cute, but I mean…he’s not as cute as half of the guys at our school who all have the hots for you."

"Whateverrr," I smirked through my tears.

"I can’t believe you made out with that Isaac guy like that…"
"It was a kiss," I said, "it wasn’t like we were getting all hot and heavy. He’s really sweet. He’s not like that."
"How do you know, I mean you’ve known this guy since – what? –Saturday?

"He’s nice, I swear. He’s not like that," I promised. "Oh, guess what, he invited me to his brother’s birthday party – its on Friday."

"Is his brother cute?"

"Well, he said Zac was thirteen…but it’s his birthday on Friday so I guess that means he’s fourteen…"

"Is he cute?"

"Yes, Reece, he’s cute, he’s very cute, he has long blonde hair and he’s tall and tan."

"Hook me up!"
"No way! If I take you to that party I’ve blown it. No way."

Reece whined, "C’mon…"

"I can’t," I sighed, "I would if I could. Listen, I better go, my mom will probably ground me if I don’t do my homework and study. She’s already got me at the top of the shitlist for bad mouthing her. I don’t want to push my luck if I want out by Friday."

"Okay, well I’ll see you at school tomorrow."

"Okay," I said, "Night," I added and hung up.

* * * * *

Isaac kept his promise and he did call me on Thursday, he gave me the address of his house, of course I arrived at the surprise party later than expected due to my mother. ‘Where are you going?’ she’d asked and I was like, ‘It’s Friday, I’m going to Karen’s cousin’s best friend’s party,’ (good excuse). Then it was ‘You’re not going out like that!’. I was like ‘mom they’re all wearing clothes like this it’s the style!’. It took some convincing. My top was short and showed my naval, I had stuck a little jewel in my bellybutton just to set it off nice. My skirt was a kind of designer thing I’d spent almost a hundred dollars of hard earned allowance money on, it was black and it had a slot cut out of the hip, across the slot was a belt kind of holding it together, the belt had a silver buckle with ‘Karen Millen’ printed on it. I knocked at the door, and stood, feeling a little out of place, Isaac’s younger brother answered the door.

Taylor is a stunningly handsome young man, with cobalt blue eyes and orche-blonde hair, very delicate lips and cheeks with a crimson blush. He smiled, "Hi, you must be Isaac’s friend," He reached for my hand politely. "I’m Taylor, his brother."

"Hi, I’m Astra," I shook his hand.

Taylor brought me inside, this was more than I had expected, the place was wild as well as there being kids running around with Nerf guns, there were older teens laughing uncontrollably because Zac was wearing some kind of a ballerina tutu around his waist. I raised an eyebrow, Taylor just laughed, "don’t ask," He smirked.

Isaac spotted me from across the room, "Heyy!" he made his way over, he hugged me warmly, "I’m so glad you could come!" he smiled, "I see you already met Taylor."

I nodded.

"C’mon, I’ll introduce you to the birthday boy," Isaac took my hand.

Isaac led me over to Zac, I took one look at Zac. He, like me, looked older than he was, I would have guessed maybe sixteen perhaps. "Zac," Isaac grinned, "this is my friend, Astra."
Zac looked at me, curiously, his dark eyes penetrating mines, he moved his long blonde hair – which was almost frizzy looking - and he reached over and shook my hand, "I’m uhm…pleased to meet you," he cleared his throat a little as if he were having trouble with his voice. It was hard to take him seriously with him wearing that silly pink tutu.

"Likewise," I said nervously. Something about the way Zac was looking at me was making me feel incredibly uneasy. It was if he could tell instantly that I was lying. He frowned a little.

"Uhm…I’ll be right back," Isaac touched my shoulder, he’d heard someone yelling his name and he’d gone over to see what they wanted.

"So…you’re…dating my brother, huh?" Zac asked.

"Yeah," I nodded, I clasped my hands together nervously.

"What age you say you were?"

"What do you mean what age did I say I was?" I looked at him raising an eyebrow.

"What age did you tell Ike you were? Eighteen?"

"I’m seventeen?"

"You’re no more seventeen than I am," Zac scoffed.

"I am seventeen!"

"No you’re not, you’re Gabrielle Bishops friend, you’re in my grade!" Zac looked at me.

I stared at him, how did he know I was Gabrielle Bishops friend? Then I realised of course…Gabrielle Bishop was Marianne’s cousin…Marianne…who’s party I had attended. Somehow Zac must have gotten that from her. Shit.

I looked at Zac, "no I’m not."

"What the heck are you trying to do to my brother? Get him arrested for paedophilia?" Zac demanded.

I felt my temper flare, I wanted to smack the boy then and there, I grabbed my by the front of the shirt, "Now listen here, Zac Hanson, you tell Isaac I’m fourteen – you tell ANYONE that I am fourteen – and I’ll tell your ‘fans’ that you were wearing a pink tutu at your own birthday party, and believe me, I’d do it, and you better watch yourself because I HAVE a camera and I would have proof, clear?"

I let go of his shirt, and Isaac wandered over, slipping his arm around my shoulders, Zac frowned at me, shook his head and walked off. Isaac scratched his head, "Hmm, he looks moody."

"Don’t worry about it, I see kids his age all the time, its his age, they all get broody around that age," I shrugged.

"I was never that bitchy at his age," Isaac smirked.

Me and Isaac spent the remainder of the party talking, turns out he has a lot more family than I’d thought, apart from Taylor and Zac, he has another brother and three sisters. His parents are very nice, his mother is extremely kind and a lot of fun, his father is funny and chatty. They’re a very nice family – apart from Zac’s moody side, everything was fine.

Went I went home that night, I felt truly happy, when I got home, mom was sleeping on the couch, I slipped in quietly, turned off the TV and shook her. "Mom…" I looked at her.

My mom is fair skinned, but her age is so much more exaggerated by a hard life, being the soul supporter of our little family. She’s self conscious about her appearance so her makeup is never smudged and her hair is never out of place. Her clothes are never wrinkled and she’s never without a cold stare. I love her, I really do, but sometimes she can be a real bitch.

Mom looked at me and sat up, "When did you get back?" she yawned.

"Ten minutes ago," I answered.

"You better get to bed," she instructed.

She shook her head in disgrace of me and she went upstairs. I followed. When I got to my room, all I did was think of Isaac. I knew it was late, but I ran a bath and I slipped in and lay back thinking of him. I didn’t really understand what love was then, but I was pretty sure I felt it for him. He was just so perfect, he had the perfect looks, the perfect family…

I wanted that kind of life, I wanted to be happy and I wanted fun and laughter and everything that I should be dreaming of at my age.

My mom’s words echoed through my head, the ones about dreams being a waste of time and life being about the future and evolving, about careers and everything else. Didn’t she care she was shattering all my happiness? God, she wouldn’t even let me have a sleepover. I was at the end of my tether.

My final thought before I went to sleep was that maybe, just maybe when Isaac went home, I could go with him?

* * * * *

When I woke up, I had a headache and I wasn’t sure why. I sat up in bed for a moment and I rubbed my head, I picked up my cellular phone which was lying on my nightstand and I looked at it, the little light that normally would flash yellow, flashed orange, red then green. Meaning I had a message. I picked it up and I checked the text message archive. Isaac’s number…

"Hi, I hope you had a good time last night," was the message.

I sat and smiled to myself and I looked at the clock, the message had been sent an hour ago, it was almost two in the afternoon. Why had I slept in that long? Probably just spent longer dreaming about Isaac I guess, I had a dream about that kiss on the beach and it had been amazing. I smiled to myself and sat for a moment, thinking about it.

I got out of bed, yawned, stretched and stripped down, turned on the shower in my bathroom and I was just about to get in when I heard my phone ring, sighing, I grabbed my phone. "Hello?"

"Hi, its me," came a cheerful tone.

"Isaac, hi," I smiled, I stood shyly in my own room, hoping I wasn’t in site of the open window. There was this twelve year old next door who looked from his room right through to my room quite often.

"How did you enjoy the party?"

"Oh, it was excellent," I admitted.

"Sorry about my little sister soaking you with orange juice…"

"It’s okay…how was I to know she filled her supersoaker with Sunny D?" I laughed, remembering Avery’s antics from the previous night.

Isaac laughed softly, "that was kinda funny, the look on your face was priceless," I heard the pure cheer in his tone. He sounded happy.

"Listen, I’m gonna have to go, can you call back in about…maybe half an hour? I’m kinda naked…"

"Naked?" his voice quivered, I hadn’t even thought about what I was saying, I almost forgot I was taking to a guy.

"Uhm…yeah, I’m about to take a shower," I said quickly, "so…I better go," I explained.

"Okay, I’ll…definitely…call back," he stated. "Uhm…speak to you soon, bye," he hung up.

I showered as quickly as I could, and I hurriedly got dressed, waited by the phone and he did call, we arranged to meet at the end of my street, I quickly did my hair and left the house after telling mom I was going to Adrienne’s for dinner and I probably wouldn’t be back until ten. She didn’t like the thought of me being out until ten but didn’t have much choice…

Sometimes I even got the feeling she was glad to get rid of me…

And so me and Isaac spent the day together, we had pizza for dinner, and we hung out at the beach. We sat on a huge rock, watching the waves, he sat, deep in thought.

"So…I didn’t have much of a chance to talk to you last night," I confessed, I looked at that thoughtful pondering expression on his face, he was at his most handsome when he was deep in thought, I wondered what intelligence ran through that brain of his. Sometimes he used words I didn’t even know existed. He was so intelligent it was scary.

"I know, there was so much going on last night," He took my hand and held it, twining his fingers with mines, we watched the waves.

"How were things at work?" I asked him.

"Tiring," He smiled, "but interesting. I guess I should be happy I get to do what I love the most," He smiled. "How about you? How are things at School?" he asked.

"Well, I definitely don’t love school," I smirked.

He looked at her hands, fingers twined, he smiled, seemingly distracted, I wasn’t sure he heard me.

"Isaac?"

He raised his eyes up at me, looking at me from beyond his low brows, we, he smiled, "Sorry, what did you say?"

I smirked, "Pay attention."

"Sorry," he laughed at himself, "my mind was elsewhere. When we were on the phone earlier today…did you say that just to tease me or were you serious?"

"Say what?" I questioned.

"That you were naked."

I stared at him, I couldn’t believe he’d brought it up but I had to find a quick answer.

"Why…would I want to tease you?" I asked absurdly.

"I don’t know. Girl’s sometimes do that. My last girlfriend, Yasmine, she used to say stuff like that down the phone all the time – worse than that actually – just to get to me. For the most part I just ignore it. It’s really not that much fun."

I looked at him, "I thought guys were all into…y’know…that stuff."

"Some guys are different, I like to think I am," He shrugged, "Not that…I haven’t got those…impulses, I just like to concentrate on more than sexual matters," he looked to the water. "My parents are pretty strict when it comes to sex," he explained.

"But you’re eighteen," I pointed out, "You’re old enough to—"

"Yeah…" He trailed off, he looked at me. "But they made sure to teach us about morality – mostly about sex before marriage. Not that they think it’s a sin, they just think…it’s the safest way."

"And you believe that?" I asked, I couldn’t believe I was having an intelligent conversation with him about this. The only times I’d ever talked about sex with anyone was with Reece and Karen, and that was only in joking ways or curious ways, exchanging knowledge about what we’d heard. This was different. Isaac probably knew the ins and outs. What was he? The world’s oldest virgin?

"I don’t know," he let go of my hand and put his arm around me, pulling me closer, I rested my head on his shoulder, and watched the waves crashing gently against the rocks, rolling over the sand like blue satin sheets flowing over gold dust.

"You don’t know?" I pressed, not sure why.

"It’s different from when you want to keep your morals, but at the same time, you’re all grown up and wondering why you have to live the way your parents want you to," he explained. "Have you ever felt that way?"

"Kind of…not about sex though," I said, I hugged my knees insecurely.

"What about?" he looked at me.

I sighed, "my mom…is…really strict, she’s a real bitch…puts a damper on my spirits all the time. Sometimes I feel like she has no real emotion in her. She’s like this…robot. All she does is preaches about she knows what’s right for me…" I explained.

"Oh…"

"My dad left her when I was four—" I started to explain.

"I thought your dad was—" he began.

"My step dad," I quickly realised I’d been telling him my father was a tyrant and that he’d kill Isaac if he laid eyes on him.

"Oh…you were saying?" Isaac encouraged.

"Yeah…so…my dad left her…and lets say, I can’t remember if she was ever the way she is now…but through the years, she’s become colder…heart of stone, y’know? She never hugged me, never kissed me goodnight, never told me she loved me," I shrugged, I felt almost like I was complaining. I never talked about these things with my friends. If there was one thing I didn’t want – it was to be different from my other friends, the friends whose parents loved them, and kissed them and hugged them goodnight, and told them they had their eternal love. I didn’t want them knowing how bad my mom really was.

He looked at me, "that’s sad," he murmured, "heh, I’m nearly nineteen and my mom still kisses my forehead goodnight and hugs me…she always says she loves me…she’s been good to us," Isaac looked away. "I couldn’t imagine a mother like yours…" he trailed off.

I hugged my knees closer, "When I was seven…I remember so clearly…I came home from school all excited and happy – the way you are when you’re seven and things are good, I’d had fun playing with friends, the teacher at school had read us a fairytale – I told my mom. I told her one day I’m gonna be a princess, one day I’m gonna meet Prince Charming and we’ll get married and we’ll live in a castle. I believed that, I really did Isaac…" I looked away. "I’ll never forget what she said…"

Isaac hugged me closer.

"Astra, she said, Life isn’t adventure, and castles in the sky, and Prince Charming galloping in on his white stallion coming to take you away and marry you and make you a Princess and you’ll wear flowing dresses and jewelled tiaras. Life isn’t about fantasies. Life is about careers and settling, making something of yourself."

Isaac just looked at me, I could see he just couldn’t believe a mother would tell her seven year old child that. "She was denying you of your dreams…" he murmured.

"She was probably right," I sighed.

"No…no…she wasn’t right…" Isaac turned me towards him and made me look at him, "Life is…about being you…life IS about fantasies, Astra…because if you don’t hold onto them, you’d go mad…you’d grow up thinking that nothing good in life ever happens…" he explained to me in a soft tone, "Life…is about enjoying things, not forcing yourself to be what you should be, its about being who you want to be."

I could tell some of his words were from experience. He was what he wanted to be, he was who he wanted to be, and he was happy. And here I was, pouring my heart out to him, who I hadn’t even known that long, about what a bitch my mom was for never emoting towards me the way a mother should.

"It’s getting late," I murmured, "I told her I’d be back at ten…" I looked at my watch, it was nine, I wanted to be on time, I guess I wanted some time alone to think as well.

"Okay, I’ll drive you home…"

"No…thanks," I looked at him, "I’d…rather walk."

"You’re like Zac…he doesn’t like getting in a car with me ‘cause he thinks I drive like a maniac," Isaac smirked a bit.

I grinned, "that’s it," I felt a little better at his attempt to make me smile.

He pecked my lips lightly, then murmured, "I can’t see you tomorrow ‘cause I promised my brothers we’d go surfing," I explained, "But I can see you on Monday…I could always pick you up from school…we usually round up finishing recording by about three…"

"Uhm…no…meet me at the Acre Street Coffee House at five," I suggested.

"Okay," he agreed, he brushed his lips over mines lightly, I shivered, god I loved it when he kissed me that way.

When we parted, I walked hugging myself insecurely, deep in thought. I really envied Isaac, he had an amazing family…and his parents loved him. My dad was god knows where…and my mother didn’t really care that much about me. As long as I was being who she wanted me to be, I got a little attention. But very little. The only time we talked was when she told me I had to do homework, or that dinner was ready, or to do the dishes…or to clean my room.

When I got home, mom was watching TV, I walked into the living room, she glanced up at me, didn’t say anything and just went back to her watching. I sighed silently and went to my room. I felt so empty.

* * * * *

At school, Reece and Kathy teased me constantly, and tried to press me for information about Isaac – my boyfriend as they called him. I wasn’t sure he was an actual boyfriend until we made some sort of agreement that he would be. I didn’t tell them I would be meeting him after school, they would have followed me – couldn’t risk it. I still dreaded Isaac finding out I was only fourteen, I mean, I know he’d be mortified. And like that dumb brother of his had said, it would look pretty incriminating (actually Zachary had called it Paedophilia – I mean it’s not like I’m a kid…is it?)

I guess my first mistake that day was meeting at the Coffee House after school – I’d waited along the time in between by talking with Adrienne and doing some homework under the shade of a tree in the school grounds. When I got there, he was sitting at a table on his own flicking through a book. He glanced up, gave me one look and his eyes bulged out of his head like two ping-pong balls that I thought would just boing right out of his head. I didn’t understand – at first. Then I looked down at myself…

I was wearing my school uniform and I hadn’t even THOUGHT to change out of it, I mean…god, I must have been INSANE! I looked like a Britney Spears wanna be, complete with popsocks and my hair in pigtails. I went red in the face, I had no make up on, I probably looked closer to my age at that moment.

Isaac stood up, looking up and down in complete and utter bewilderment, "You have to wear a school uniform?" He questioned.

"Yeah," I said quickly, I put my bag on one of the unused chairs at his table and I sat down slowly.

He smirked, "cute."

I felt a little relief surge through me that he didn’t think I looked too young, "I forgot, guys seem to think girls in school uniforms is some kind of turn on," I actually had meant to think it, not to say it.

"That’s sometimes true," Isaac admitted, "Not all the time," he added, "But you look good in it, I gotta admit," He stated.

"Thanks…" I looked at him.

A waitress sauntered over and we ordered caramel fraps, she walked off to get our order, I made myself comfortable.

"How’s your brothers?" I questioned curiously, I wanted to find out if Zac had said anything about my age to Isaac.

"They’re fine," Isaac put his book in a rucksack I’d just started to notice he always had with him, it was always either lying in the back of the car or lying in the front seat of it. My thought about it was that it must have had a lot of important stuff in it – otherwise he wouldn’t go everywhere with it.

"How’s Zac…"

"He’s fine…" Isaac shrugged/
"Talk much lately? Come out of his mood?" I questioned.

"Uhm…yeah, he’s talked a little, he’s still in the mood though I guess, he’s pissy since we have to work a lot more and don’t have as much time to ourselves as we should. But hell, he should be used to that by now. Why all the questions about Zac?"

"Just curious. What do your brother’s think of me?" I questioned shyly.

"Tay thinks you’re sweet," Isaac smiled, "and you are. Zac…I’m not so sure about, the last time I asked…he said ‘no comment’ so…"

I almost sighed in relief. "No comment?" I smirked, "sounds like something a haughty little kid would say.

"I know," Isaac sat straighter when our fraps came and he looked down into his for a moment. "Y’know…" he began, a totally different tone of voice, much softer and more romantic. "We’ve…had some pretty good times…y’know, being together this last few weeks," he admitted.

"Uh huh?" I sipped my frap lightly.

"And we’ve kissed…and held hands…done all that…y’know…seeing each other thing…"

"Yeah?"

"I was just wondering anyway, you like me right?"

"Yeah…" I trailed off, "course I like you."

"And I like you…and anyway, I just wanted to ask you uh…" he seemed to lose his thoughts about what he wanted to ask, he started talking about something completely different. "Y’know, my parents are taking my brothers and sisters down to my aunts and they’re gonna be gone ALL night," Isaac began.

"Uh huh?" I asked, I almost thought he wanted to ask something else.

"Yeah, so anyway, why don’t you come over…and I’ll cook you a nice meal – I can try – and we can have a nice romantic candlelit dinner at our place."

"When?"
"Friday," Isaac said.

"Okay…" I agreed.

He smiled, "cool," was his final comment about that, and we conversed normally for the remainder of our time together, we sipped our fraps and laughed about things we found funny, we shared thoughts about things and he didn’t think I was immature about the way I talked about some things. He listened. He touched my hand lightly when he was speaking to me in a personal caring way, and when we parted company, we kissed lightly goodbye.

I now knew the main reason I couldn’t give Isaac up…

It was the first time in my life I think I had ever been shown affection.

And I liked it.