"I don't dance." Matt said softly as we approached the school, our hands entwined. He looked good in pinstriped pants, black jacket, and black shirt. he claimed Brian attacked him with white cover up to make his face slightly paler and rimmed his eyes in the barest traces of kohl. His glittering, intense gaze was even more noticeable than before.

"Good, cause neither do I." I smiled back at him, feeling almost cheesy when he tugged me to a stop to stroke the side of my face. Looking at him, even dressed up to the nines like he was tonight, you'd never suspect him to be like that.

"As cute as that is, can we get moving?" Lorrie asked.

We both laughed and headed into the gym. It seemed like hours passed in which our group got amazed, yet weird stares and everyone danced with everyone else. With the exception of Matt and me. We sat at our table, talked to whoever was sitting a dance out and just generally enjoyed being out together. Speaking of being out, Brian and Jimmy made an adorable couple in matching suits, both with silver ties, except Jimmy's was cut off half way down. He was sober and clean and completely infatuated with Brian, who sat out more dances than he participated in. Zacky carried his grace from baseball diamond to the dance floor and made dancing look tempting until Lorrie pulled him to her by his purple tie, making the mostt innocent dance much more interesting. I looked away to find Victoria sitting on Johnny's lap, both of them looking tired and her head tucked down on his chest. Johnny had worn a hat tugged down at an angle to cover one eye and horgone a tie to wear his shirt open necked. He looked older and more mature. To me, this had been worth the torture I'd endured to get to be able to see them all so happy.

Just when everyone came back to the table, the senior class president asked us to all get together for a group picture for the yearbook. I gritted my teeth into a fake smile that became real when Matt tugged me closer. She smiled at all of us, "That's so great, guys! This will look really good in the yearbook!"

"Right under the title of freaks and jock wanna-be's." Some random person laughed as they walked by.

Matt stood, almost dragging me with him and so did Zacky. Thwy ere the two best athletes in the school plus someone had just insulted both their girlfriends and all their friends. No one was happy with it, but they were furious.

"Guys, don't ruin the night. Please sit down." Lorrie pleaded.

I rubbed my thumb over Matt's knuckles, "Please?"

He looked at me and sighed, "Sure. Hey, where are we going after here?"

"Uh . . ." Brian smiled a bit, "Jimmy and I are going to Pergs to eat and then to the beach."

"How do you even get into Pergs?" Zacky whined.

"What's Pergs?" Matt asked.

"A bar." I answered, "A pretty cool one, as far as bars go."

"And I get in because of Dad." Brian admitted, his cheeks red. Mr. Haner was a somewhat known country-music guitarist who was quite popular in Huntington Beach. basically, Brian could get away with murder, "You guys want to come?"

Matt shrugged, "Maybe." Zacky and Lorried were both up for it but Johnny declined when he saw Victoria wasn't into it. I wasn't either.

Another hour passed and then faint strains of a familiar slow song filled the gym. Matt looked at me for a moment, "Okay, I lied. One dance?"

I nodded and we stood up. As soon as I was tucked up against Matt, my arms around his neck as we swayed to the beat, the words started.

"Shed a tear 'cause I'm missing you,
I'm still alright to smile,
Girl, I think about you every day now,
Was a time when I wasn't sure,
But you set my mind at ease,
There is no doubt you're in my heart now,
Said woman take it slow,
It'll work itself out fine,
All we need is just a little patience,
Said sugar make it slow,
And we'll come together fine,
All we need is just a little patience,
Patience . . .
Ooh, oh, yeah,
Sit here on the stairs,
'Cause I'd rather be alone,
If I can't have you right now, I'll wait dear,
Sometimes, I get so tense,
But I can't speed up the time,
But you know, love, there's one more thing to consider,
Said woman take it slow,
Thing's will be just fine,
You and I'll just use a little patience,
Said sugar take the time,
'Cause the lights are shining bright,
You and I ha've got what it take to make it,
We won't fake it, Oh, never break it,
'Cause I can't take it,
. . .little patience, mm yeah, ooh, yeah,
Need a little patience, yeah,

Matt sang along in my ear, drawing my left hand down to kiss it and hold between us as he did. I stroked the side of his jaw and ran my thumb over his dimples, meeting his gaze when he smiled at me.


I've been walking these streets at night,
Just trying to get it right,
It's hard to see with so many around,
You know I don't like being stuck in a crowd,
And the streets don't change but maybe the name,
I ain't got time for the game,
'Cause I need you,
Yeah, yeah, well I need you,

I gasped lightly when Matt pulled me even tighter against him and I realized something. Matt come into my life like a knight into battle, only sweet words and soft smiles were his weapons. He'd coaxed my guard down and took up his place as my new one, shielding me from harm. My heart was his to protect and hold and I think he knew it. I'd fallen hard for him within our first week as "friends" and I loved him completely.

He touched our lips together during the ending notes of the song, but kept it light and gentle. Before he pulled away, I came to a decision. I'd have to tell him or show him befor emy heart burst to overfull.

"Let's go to your house." I said softly, as we parted to walk back to the table.

"Only if you promise you won't feel obligated to do anything like most girls do after these things."

"I don't-"

He cut me off, "Actually, I have something I have to do, baby. And I want you to do it with me."

"Okay." Anything he wanted, he could have. Tonight, I was all about him.

We got back to the table, telling everyone we were leaving and headed out. He drove up to my house, "I'll go through your window and get you something to sleep in. we'll most probably be gone all night."

"Okay." I slipped off my high-heels, "Get my regular shoes too, please?"

"Aw, but these make your legs . . ." He trailed off, running his palm up my calf. I swatted him off with a laugh and he got out of the car. A moment or so later, he was back with my favorite pajamas-his shirt and an old pair of leggings as well as my shoes. We drove to his house and he changed into jeans and a shirt in the bathroom while I used his bedroom. We grabbed a snack from the kitchen, where his dad was still up, drinking coffee.

"Hi, Daniellea. Have fun, son?" His dad smiled over his coffee cup at us.

"A lot." Matt nodded, handing me a poptart from his cabinet.

"Hi, Mr. Sanders." I smiled, edging slightly closer to Matt who gave me a squeeze before tearing into his own package of breakfast pastries.

"One of these days, you'll call us by our names. If Matt doesn't scare you away with his bad eating habits. Matthew, chew." Mrs. Sanders shook her head from the kitchen doorway.

"Mom." Matt said after swallowing at least half of his poptart at once, "Shh. You're embarrassing."

I reached over and brushed the crumbs off t he white shirt he'd pulled over his head, "Yeah, so is your need for a bib."

He groaned, "Dani!"

I laughed and dunked my head when his mom aw'd us. He had the most supportive parents ever and they seemed so close. I wanted that. He tugged on a lock of my hair, "Ready?" I nodded.

"Where are you going?" Mrs. Sanders asked.

Matt widened his eyes at his dad, "Brian's."

Liar. He just didn't want to tell them not that I knew either.

"Okay. Have fun. Be careful." His dad waved and his mom hugged him before we left. As soon as we were on the road, he seemed to get tense and quieter than usual.

I looked at him, "We're going back to your home town aren't we?"

He nodded. I didn't question it. If he needed to go, he needed to go, end of story. half an hour passed and I was getting drowsy, before Matt spoke again, "Did I ever tell you I got kicked out of school for busting a car window in sixth grade?"

"Really? No you never told me that. A little rebel huh?" I smiled at him.

"I'm such a redneck at heart." He nodded, "Well, mostly anyway, I'm not racist or homophobic-obviously. I think my family use to be southerners."

"My mom was. She use to have a really bad accent." I could remember that clearing from being a child. We spent the next hour talking about our parents and school antics-Matt had a lot of those-but then he made a left turn and jus stopped talking. Another turn an dhe put the car in park, then came around it to pull me out. The cemetary didn't look to be a family one and was well kept. The grave we stopped at had a lot of flowers and a weather frayed stuffed bear at it. I stopped far enough away to give Matt his privacy and waited. *

***********Matt's POV*********

"Hey. It's been a while, I know but . . . Mom freaked out and made us move. She would have put me under house arrest if I'd said I wanted to come back here to visit." I sighed and placed my hand on top of the tombstone, "I know I should have been able to protect you. I . . .it was my job to-as your friend and a little more . . .and I didn't. I'm so sorry." The wind blew and I realized Daniellea was probably freezing so I decided to get to the point, "And I'm sorry that I have to let you go. I just wanted you to know that I am and that I'm happy; even though we both know that if things hadn't happened the way they did, we would probably be back together. I did love you, but you're gone and Daniellea . . .she's a wonderful girl, something special. I love her now and I guess I just felt like I needed to tell you first. before I said goodbye one last time." Lightly I traced her name on the stone and stood up. Somehow I felt better, having said all that.

I turned to Daniellea, who smiled sadly at me. Cynthia Cardell had been a very beautiful person, my best friend in all ways and my first everything. Daniellea was her direct opposite and still completed all of me. I was determined she'd be my last everything. I wrapped my arm around her, "There's one more place. Then we'll head home."

She leaned into me, offering comfort and calmness to me that she never seemed to be able to find for herself, "Okay. Whatever you need to do."

Above all else, I needed to kiss her at that moment. So I did and she responded fully. After a few moinutes I got her back in the car, tearing myself out of the kiss, and headed toward my spot. I use to go there all the time when i was stressed or fighting with someone. It was on the beach and was probably my favorite place ever. I'd never shown anyone else.

Daniellea loved it and curled up on my lap in the sand, her fingers holding a stick to write things in the sand. DN + MS with a few hearts and stars mostly. Normally, when I came here I watched the ocean or the stars at night. Tonight, I couldn't keep my eyes off her. I leaned over and kissed her neck, causing her to squirm and blush hotly before leaning into me. I smiled because I knew what kissing and biting her neck did, but I wasn't out for that tonight. I just wanted her company and wanted to get up the courage to tell her how I felt. Honestly someone like me being shy and bashfull about it was ridiculous.

Silence wasn't rare for us. Neither of us were big on talking-she wasn't use to wanting to be heard, and I jus twasn't good with spoken words. It was neither awkward nor uncomfortable, especially with her slight weight tucked against my side and my arm around her shoulders. She shivered and I hugged her a little tighter. She turned to press her lips to my cheek and brushed the corner of my mouth. her innocence and sweetness never failed to make me feel like she needed protecting and her family life was living proof of that. Speaking of which . . .

"Where did you tell your mom you were staying?" I rubbed her am.

"Zacky's." She smiled at me, "With Lorrie."

"Good thinking. You know, Zacky and I were thinking about starting a band. Jimmy said he'd drum for us. And we asked Johnny to play bass but he wants to concentrate on graduating more. He knows a kid that'll play for us though." I was happy about that.

"You'll do vocals right?" She looked up at me. When I nodded, she grinned. Daniellea loved the way I sang for some reason, "And . . .what about Brian?"

"He and Jimmy are starting a band already. Jimmy's going to sing. Between that, music classes, and him and Jim's relationship, I don't think he'll have time for this band too."

"Zacky will be lead then. He's good. Not as great as Brian but few are. I'm happy for you Matt." She beamed a smile at me through the darkness.

I smiled back, "Come on, it's getting really late. And you're getting sleepy."

She nodded, stifling a yawn, "I am."

I led us back to my car and reached in the back for a hoodie, "Here you go. Baby?"

"Hum?" She pulled on the hoodie before answering.

"What do you want for Christmas?" It was a week away.

"You in nothing but a bow." She quipped.

I laughed, "I can do that but what else?"

"For us to spend one whole day and night, from twelve a.m. to twelve a.m. again together without the guys, the girls, or our parents." She said softly and seriously.

"Okay, princess." I reached between us for her hand. Nothing would stop me from giving her that.

Notes

Ugh, I hate the format of this site.