• I looked into her liquid blue eyes, as she turned towards our child. She talked softly to her and I smiled my heart warmed at the sight of the two together. Suddenly I couldn’t breathe. I struggled and burning sensation arose in my chest. I tried to scream but all I could manage was a gasp. Then it went dark….

    “Where is my homework!?” I said to myself as I kicked the bottom part of my locker. “Where is it!?” I finally gave knowing up searching. I trudged to Mrs. Benderson’s classroom know that I was in a whole lot of trouble. I walked in and found my seat and stared at Amy Anderson, The hottest girl in the 9th grade. I sighed knowing that I would never stand a chance of asking her out. I sighed again wishing that I could run my hand through her luscious blonde hair. Suddenly Mrs. Benderson said, “Class we have a new student…” I stared at the girl. She had red blonde hair and deep liquid blue eyes. She was breath taking. My eyes followed her as she found a seat and sat there. Suddenly my lost homework didn’t matter and Amy wasn’t really that hot anymore. My mind was on her.
    The hours in Mrs. Benderson’s class was pure torture as I watched the new girl move around. It suddenly occurred to me that I should ask her out. My insides screamed YES!!! But my head said NO!!!! You don’t even know her name so why try and ask her out!? You have never had a girlfriend in you Life and you think you can really ask her out!?!? My head was spinning when the bell rang. I jumped up and escaped the classroom looking over some homework Mrs. Benderson assigned. Suddenly I ran into her. “I am so sorry” she stammered as she helped me pick up the books that fell from our collision. “It’s okay.” I said grinning, “I needed an excuse to be late anyway!” She smiled and handed me the last of the books. She extended her arm and said, “My name is Zoee, Zoee Henderson.” I took her hand relishing the feel of her hand in mine. “My name is Andrew Jameson but, you can call me Andy.” “Well Andy,” She said smiling at me, “what’s up?” “Nothing really”, I said scanning her skinny jeans, purple tank top and black converses with her hair down and curled, “But meeting you has made me curious…” She smiled again saying, “For that conversation we are going to have to sit down.” “Ok” I said and grabbed her hand as if it was the most natural thing to do on this earth. As I lead her towards the cafeteria, I ignored the stares of observing on-goers, and glanced towards her. Her troubled blue eyes met mine. I was startled to see pain. “Are you ok?” I asked her. She looked a little embarrassed but said “Yeah.” I saw her glance towards our hands -still together- and smile. I smiled and walked with her through the doors of the cafeteria.
    As I stood in line to get our lunches I reflected over the last few minutes. I met Zoee Henderson, held her hand and she is eating lunch with me! GO ANDREW!!!! YOU TALKED TO THE GIRL!!!! Yessssssss……I smiled and walked towards where she was sitting our lunches in my hands. I gave her tray to her and allowed her to eat, before asking. “So…” “So what” she asked glancing towards me. “Why did you move here Zoee?” She momentarily put down her food with the all too familiar pain searing in her eyes. “When my mom and dad got married they found out they couldn’t have children, but they ended up having me as there one and only child.” “We were happy as any family could get…That is until about two month’s ago.” “Both my parents we killed in a car accident.” I stared in horror at her not wanting to believe what I just heard. She then started to cry. I Moved beside her and just hugged her as if my hug would make all the pain go away. She moved her head onto my shoulder and just sat there crying, and crying. I never let go of her. When she lifted her head up, she stared at my now soaking shirt. “I am so sorry Andy” “It okay” I said back. “Sometimes we just got to cry it out” She nodded. I gently urged her up and beckoned for her to follow me. She silently got up and walked beside me. I grabbed her hand and she managed a weak smile before she turned away. I glanced towards her noticing she was crying again. I stopped and hugged her until she stopped. I told her that it was going to be okay and that her parents were in a better place. We resumed walking. Then Zoee said, “Thanks Andy” I was a little surprised but smiled and said “Your Welcome” back to her> She quietly told me where she lived and I walked her home. Once outside of school I asked her “Are you ok?” “No I don’t think so;” she answered. “I am sorry about your parents.” I said Feeling unsure if it was going to help. “You know it’s kind of funny….” she said being careful about what she was going to say. “I just met you and I basically told you my deepest secrets and I cried in front of you.” I chuckled. “I guess that’s how it works,” I replied. When we finally arrived at the place she was staying at, she took a key out of her pocket and unlocked the door saying he aunt was her legal guardian and that she wouldn’t be home from work until seven. She led me through the house not really showing me anything until we got outside. She led me to a tree near the back of the yard and plopped down. I sat beside her and just stared out into the mid autumn afternoon. Breaking the silence I said, “Now that I know about you, how about me?” I asked. “Sure.” She said, leaning her head on my shoulder I began.
    “So, let’s begin like this.” “My mom and Dad met then had my older brother, Darious and then had me.” “Darious is married now though so I am home alone.” “The end.” She looked up at me. “Your family seems awesome.” “Really?” I was surprised by her answer. “Yeah, I mean you had a sibling and your parents are alive and….” And then she started crying again and kept crying and crying. “Its okay Zo, it’s going to be alright,” I said trying to comfort her. She stopped crying and looked at me. “You called me Zo.” “Yeah I …. Yeah I did.” I said a little embarrassed “Say again” She said closing her eyes.” “Okay….Zo.” “I love it when you call me Zo;” She said burying her head in my lap. I wished she could stay there forever. “I glad you do,” I said softly “because, I love saying Zo.” Suddenly a figure appeared in the back doorway. Zo looked up. “Auntie,” “Is that you?” She called clearly not hiding the fact she was crying on my lap. I looked up to see an older version of Zo. She had the same reddish blonde hair but hers was graying and her eyes were chocolate brown. “Honey, who is your friend?” Her aunt asked Zo, looking at me with an expression that said Thank you. “Aunt Kate this is Andy…I met him at school.” “I take it you told him already??” I looked at Zo and then back at Aunt Kate. She took a deep breath and then said “Yes Auntie I told him” I helped her up and extended my arm. “Hi Mrs. Henderson” She smiled and said, “Oh pish, posh just call me Aunt Kate.” I grinned and said “Alright Then Aunt Kate. It’s nice meting you.” “Will join us for dinner Andy” I glanced at Zo who nodded in approval. “Sure Aunt Kate but May I call my parents?” “Sure honey”, she said back to me. “The phone is in the hall.” I walked down the hall and found the phone I quickly dialed my parent’s number and got permission to stay for dinner. I walked down the hall but stopped when I hear part of Zo’s conversation with her Aunt. “…….And I met Andy.” she said. “Yes, I can tell he is a good person”. “Yeah” she said a little too dreamily. “You like him don’t you!” She accused. “Yes Auntie.” “Yes I do.” My heart pounded and my head was spinning. She likes me! She really does!!!! I gathered my composure and walked into the dining room where Zo was. “My parents said that it would be fine Aunt Kate” “Oh good” she answered obviously excited. “I will have dinner ready in about an hour why don’t you two hang out down stairs.” “Ok Auntie.” she grabbed my hand and led me down into the basement. “Your Aunt is really nice Zo.” I said to Zo. “Yeah she is Andy,” “You know I am glad I met you Andy,” she said to me. “Yeah me too,” I said back. “Why is that?” She asked, obviously curious. “Well, first of all you had enough strength to cry in front of me, a little while after we first met!” “You don’t know how much strength you have Zo.” “You are the strongest person I know and I hardly know you!” “Plus….Well this may be to early in our relationship but, the moment I saw you I knew I loved you.” “So what I am saying is…I love you Zo.” “I really do.” She stared at me. “Well Andy let me tell you something.” “I love you too.” I stared at her in shock. Then without thinking I pressed my lips to hers and kissed her. I loved every minute of that kiss. “How was that?” I said chuckling. “Unbelievable!” She said gasping for air as she clung to me. I laughed, and kissed her again “Ok Andy, enough before I pass out!” she said to me. I roared with laughter. “What!?” she said. “I love you that’s what,” I said still shaking with laughter. “I know you do.” She said as-a-matter-of-factly. I laughed again. “What is so funny you two?” Her aunt asked interrupting our conversation. “Oh nothing,” She said glancing at me. “Alright then,” she said still looking suspicious. “Well its time to eat.” “We are have Baked potato soup.” “We will be up in a sec, Auntie” she answered back. “Ok but hurry up or the soup will get cold.” “Ok” Zo answered. She looked up at me. I didn’t want to move. “Come on sweetie,” she said trying to get me to move. “Kiss me,” I said, and then I will move. She rolled her eyes, but kissed me gently and led me upstairs. “Thanks,” I said. “For what?” she asked. “For kissing me.” I answered. “Oh, well I would have kissed you anyway.” She answered back. “You would have?” I asked trying to get an answer out of her “Yeah Andy.” I answered. “I love you.” “Oh- right.’ I said as if to make sure she really did. “Of course I do, Andy.” “I always will love you!” “Good.” I said. She grinned and kissed me again.