As soon as the bell rang, Haley collected all of her homework and headed for her car. She met Kameron on her way out. “Don’t forget! I want details!”, she said laughing. “Jeez! You are more excited about it than I am!”, Haley exclaimed and got in her car. She was just about to start her car. She was just about to start it when Brian leaned into her window. “You’re still coming over right?”, he asked with that cute accent. “Yeah, 6:30 right?”, she said giving her best smile. “Yeah, I’ll see you there. Oh, can you stay for dinner?”, he asked. “Are you sure?” “Yeah, I wouldn’t have asked if I didn’t want you to girl!”, he said putting a hand on her shoulder. “Okay, thanks. I’ll see ya Brian.” “See ya Haley.”, he said while winking at her.

Haley went home and started on her homework. At 6, she reapplied her makeup, ran a brush through her hair, wrote a note for her mom, and gathered her chemistry stuff. She glanced at the clock. 6:20. She locker the front door and left for Brian’s house. She arrived at about 6:35 because she took a wrong turn somewhere. Haley went to the door and rang the bell. She loved the way his house looked. You could just tell a good family lived there. Brian answered the door with a smile. “I didn’t know if you had forgotten or what.”, he said showing her in. “I took a wrong turn. I don’t know these streets very well yet.”, Haley said laughing at herself. Brian laughed and led her into the kitchen. “Mom? This is Haley Ashcroft.”, Brian said introducing them. “Nice to meet you Mrs. Littrell.”, Haley said shaking her hand. “Oh please. Call me Jackie.” “Okay...Jackie.” “You sure are a beautiful young thing.”, Jackie said smiling back and forth between her son and Haley. “Thank-you.”, Haley said blushing. Brian noticed. “mom, I think we are going to get started on the project now.” “Okay sweetheart. Dinner will be in about an hour.” Brian led Haley up the stairs to his room. “Well, this is my room.”, he said closing the door behind Haley. “You sure do like basketball don’t you?”, Haley said sitting down on his bed. There were basketball posters all over his room. “I guess you could say that!”, he said sitting down next to her on his bed. “Well, do you wanna get started on the project?”, Haley asked. “Yeah, I guess so.” They opened their books.

Fourty-five minutes later they were surprised to find out that they had completed the entire project. “Wow, we work great together.”, Brian said rolling over onto his back. “I know. If we have to partner up again you’re my man.”, Haley said lying on her back next to Brian. “Well, we have a little time to kill before dinner, so tell me about yourself.”, Brian said. “What do you want to know?” “I don’t know, Just normal stuff like your middle name, your age, where you came from, do you have a boyfriend, etc.”, he asked trying not to sound most interested in the last part of the question. “Okay, my middle name is Lynne, I am 17, I moved here from Boulder, Colorado, and I don’t have a boyfriend.”, she explained. “Do you mind if I ask why you don’t have a boyfriend?”, Brian sweetly asked. “No, not at all.” He turned onto his side so he was facing Haley. “I did have a boyfriend back in Boulder but we broke up like 3 months before I moved. He....uh....well...he slept with my so called best friend.”, she said closing her eyes. She did not want to cry in front of Brian. The next thing she knew, Brian was holding her. “I’m so sorry. It wasn’t your fault. he was a jerk to do that. Any guy that would do that is not worth it.”, he said comforting her. “I feel really stupid telling you this but he explained to me why he did it. He said he was getting from her what I wouldn’t give him. See, I don’t really believe in sex before marriage.”, she said blushing. “I don’t think that is stupid at all.”, he said looking at her. “You don’t?” “No, to tell you the truth, I don’t believe in sex before marriage either.” Haley looked astonished.

“You are the only one I have ever told that to Haley.”, Brian said seriously. “I’m honored. to be perfectly honest, if that hadn’t come from your mouth, I would have never thought you were a virgin.” “Really? And why is that?”, he teased. “You know why Brian.”, Haley said rolling her eyes. “Humor me! Pretend I’m stupid and tell me!”, he said tickling her. “Stop it!”, she said in fits of laughter. “Nope, tell me why!”, he said laughing. “Okay, because you are gorgeous!”, she said looking into his yes. “Thank you very much! You’re not so bad yourself.”, he said. “Goodness! I guess you know my weakness now huh?”, she said regaining her composure. “Yep, so don’t cross me!”, he said with a funny face. “Oh, I won’t! Believe me!” “Good, now let’s go eat dinner.”, he said pulling her off the bed. “Okay.”

“Okay girl what happened?”, Kameron yelled over the phone. “Slow down! Jeez! and there is no need to yell!” Haley laughed at her new friend. “I can’t help it! You were in Brian Littrell’s room! I want to hear all about it.” “Nothing much happened. We finished the project, talked, and he asked me to stay for dinner with him and his family.”, Haley explained yawning. “Oh, that’s a good sign Haley! You already met his parents! So do you like him?”, Kameron rushed out. “I guess I do. I am not exactly sure yet.” Haley yawned again. “Look Kam, I’m really tired. I’m gonna go to bed.” “Okay Haley. See ya tomorrow.” “Okay, bye.” Haley hung up the phone, turned out the light, and closed her eyes. “I am looking forward to school.”, she thought before falling asleep.