Chapter 1

John Taylor was looking forward to seeing his girlfriend. It was Valentine’s Day, their first one as a couple and he wanted to celebrate. They had been going together for a little over six months now and he had plans for him and Karen his girlfriend for tonight.

He had bought a big candy heart and filled it with her favorite candy. He picked up her favorite flowers. And he had made reservations for them both at their favorite restaurant.

He went over to her house and knocked on the door. Brenda, Karen’s little sister, answered the door.

“Hi John, Karen isn’t here right now. I’m not sure where she is, actually.”

“That’s weird, she knows this is Valentine’s Day and we were going to go out tonight.”

“Well, you can come in and wait if you like. If she knows you two had a date, I’m sure she will be along soon,” Brenda said.

John came in and sat down on the sofa to wait for Karen. Brenda sat on the recliner catty-corner to the recliner. Brenda had a terrible crush on John and had since the first day she had met him when he brought her sister home from one of their first dates. She would have loved to sit right next to him on the sofa, but she knew he was her older sister’s beau and she kept her distance, as hard as it was for her.

“So Brenda you are a junior in high school this year is that right?” John asked. He was just trying to make conversation while they sat there waiting for Karen.

“Yes, that’s right. I will be a senior next year and finally able to graduate at the end of next year. I can’t wait!” she said.

“So you must be sixteen this year then?” he asked.

“Seventeen. My birthday was passed the starting of school so I’ve always been on the older side of the line throughout school. I will be eighteen when I graduate.” she explained.

“Oh, I see. I was the same way. My birthday is the end of September. Don’t worry, you’ll get there. And after you get out of school, age has a way of not being so important anymore. It’s like once you become an adult, they don’t even count your birthday much!”

“That would be nice. I get tired of being Karen’s little sister and everyone thinking of me as just a snot-nosed kid!”

“Well I’m afraid you will always be Karen’s little sister, but the snot-nosed kid thing will go away soon enough!” he said with a smile.

“I hope so,” Brenda said. Then she paused for a second and looked at John more seriously. “You don’t think I’m just a snot-nosed kid, do you, John?”

He looked at the young girl sitting there. He had his suspicions that she was sweet on him although he’d never asked Karen about it. And now this young fan was asking what he thought of her.

He had to be careful – he didn’t want to crush her feelings, but he also didn’t want to encourage or lead her on. Either way would wind up hurting her and she didn’t deserve that. She was a sweet girl and was always polite and respectful towards him.

“No, Brenda I don’t think you are a snot-nosed kid at all. I think you are a very pretty and attractive young woman.”

“Really? You think I’m attractive?” she asked.

“Of course. I’ll bet you have a boyfriend of your own, don’t you?” he asked.

“No,” she hung her head. “I used to, but he broke up with me for a girl who had bigger boobs and was prettier than me. A cheerleader at the school.”

“Well, speaking as a guy myself, he was an idiot ... and an asshole. Beauty isn’t found in your outer looks or your popularity in school. Beauty comes from within. If you think you are beautiful, you will be. And if your ex doesn’t realize that, then he’s going to be disappointed in whoever he runs around with.”

Yeah, but Anna still has him.”

“Anna is the cheerleader?” he asked.

“Yeah, Anna Chambers. Miss Popularity. Miss Head Cheerleader.”

“Well, I wouldn’t worry about it. It’s been my experience that people like that are shallow as a mud puddle and once she tires of him she’ll dump him like a bad habit and he’ll see what it feels like. And when she does, don’t you go feeling sorry for him and take him back – remember what he did to you. And he’ll do it again as soon as the next skirt comes along! You deserve someone who wants you. Not someone who wants you until something better comes along.”

“Oh, I won’t. He really hurt me when he broke up like he did. And I’m not planning on taking him back ever.”

As the two of them talked Karen finally came home. She was so drunk she could barely walk and was leaning on some guy who didn’t look very upright and respectable himself.

“What’s all this, Karen? I thought we had a date tonight?” John said.

“A few of my friends asked me to go have a drink with them after work. I guess time got away from me!” she said giggling.

“But this is Valentine’s Day! I had plans for us! But now we can’t go out ... not with you like this!” he said.

That’s when Karen got pissed. “Dammit John, I just had a couple of drinks with my friends. I can’t help it that they kept buying drinks! What was I supposed to do, be rude and refuse their drinks? If you want to go out on Valentine’s Day, why don’t you take Brenda here? Everyone knows she has a crush on you anyway. Take her out if you have to go out!”

“Karen this isn’t the first time you have done something to ruin my plans. I’ll grant you this is the first time you have come home with some strange guy on your arm, but still you are inconsiderate and don’t think of anyone but yourself!”

Then just to piss him off, even more, Karen pulled this strange guy into a deep long kiss. That was enough for him. He turned to Brenda, “Brenda, honey, would you like to go out to dinner with me?”

Brenda’s eyes lit up. “Me? Are you sure?” she asked.

“Yes. How long would it take you to get ready? I have reservations at The Rivers Edge for 8:00.”

“Just give me a few minutes and I’ll be ready!” she said and rushed off to her room. Karen and her new guy went into another room and he could hear her laughing and giggling as he sat there fuming.

Brenda came out about five minutes later. She had changed out of her blue jeans and t-shirt comfortable clothes into a very nice – and very adult – black dress. The dress had a silver metallic neckline that matched her silver metallic heels. She looked very pretty and even John had to smile at his impromptu date.

“You look very pretty Brenda, honey,” he said.

“I’m glad you like it. I don’t have a lot of dress clothes, I’m afraid.”

“Well, this one certainly is. I feel like a bum next to you!” he said.

“Oh John, you are not a bum. You always look good ... to me,” she said, blushing and looking down.

“Here these are for you,” He gave her the flowers and candy he had brought for Karen. She went to put her flowers in water and put the candy in her room. Then she came back into the living room.

“Are you ready to go?” John asked, holding his arm out for her.

“Yes, let’s go.” Brenda slipped her arm under his and her heart soared. She had John Taylor on her arm!

They walked out to his car and he opened the door for her and seated her. She beamed as he helped her buckle her seat belt. Then he went around and got in the driver’s seat and they headed for the restaurant.

They arrived a few minutes before their reservation, which actually surprised John considering the late start they got. He found a parking spot close to the door and turned the car off. He came around to help Brenda out of her seat. When she stood up and they were just about to go inside, Brenda stopped him.

“Wait a minute John, please. Listen, I know that you were supposed to be here with Karen and that I am just a last-minute change of plans. But I hope you have a good time tonight. I want you to have a good time,” she said.

John looked into Brenda’s anxious young face. “Brenda sweetheart I’m already having a good time, just being here with you. You are not a ‘last-minute change of plans’ honey, you are an ‘I have a better idea’ date ... an ‘I deserve someone better’ date.” Then he took her face in his hands and looked deep into her soft brown eyes ... eyes that darted back and forth watching him, looking for something from him.

And she got it – John leaned down and kissed her. And this wasn’t some little peck on the cheek he would give his girlfriend’s kid sister. This was a real, genuine, heartfelt kiss – deep and passionate – the kind of kiss that leaves you breathless afterward!

Brenda had obviously never been properly kissed before because she about melted into a puddle at John’s kiss! When he let her up for air she still had her eyes closed oblivious to the fact that he’d finished the kiss. Then she opened her eyes and he helped her steady herself before they walked into the restaurant.

“Oh my God John, that was some kiss!” she said giggling as they walked towards the door to the restaurant.

“Well, that’s the way you should be kissed all the time, honey. If you don’t feel that each and every time your guy kisses you, then you are with the wrong fella!” he said.

Not tonight I’m not! she thought, smiling.

When they got into the restaurant, the hostess met them and escorted them to their table. John made sure he seated Brenda first, then himself. Their table was right next to the big picture window overlooking the river with the lights shining on the water. It was a clear night and a full moon which added to the beautiful scene.

“Oh, John! Oh, it’s so beautiful!” she said, her eyes wide as she took in the view.

“I’m glad you like it ... I had it special ordered for you!” he said. Brenda turned back and smiled at him.

The waiter came and took their order and soon their meals were ready. They ate and talked and John found that Brenda was a lot different than her older sister. Karen always talked about what was going on with her and what she wanted – she always put herself as the center of the conversation.

But Brenda was exactly the opposite. She hardly talked about herself at all, instead wanting to know all about John and what he liked, what he thought, and how he felt. It was a refreshing change and John found it very nice to be part of the conversation for a change.

After dinner was done, he paid the check while Brenda went to the ladies’ room to check her makeup and “powder her nose”. John waited for her and when she came out they left the restaurant.

John seated her like before and once he got in himself he turned to his date. “So Brenda is there any time you have to be home by tonight?”

“No, not really. I don’t have school tomorrow – it’s an ‘in-service day’ just the teachers have to come in. Why ... did you want to go someplace else?” she asked.

“Well, I was planning on taking Karen to this little park. It’s nice and private and really pretty.”

“It sounds lovely. Please, John, let’s go.”

So he drove to the park and, just like he had said, there was no one around. It was far enough away from the city lights that they could see the stars a little bit.

“Oh, John!” she said. It was spring so the flowers had just bloomed and the smell of the lilacs filled the air. They walked down this little path to where a picnic table was tucked away from view and sat down.

“John, can I ask you something?” Brenda said.

“What is it?”

“Well, I know this was supposed to be you and Karen’s Valentine’s Day and I’m sure after dinner you and she were going to ... um ... have sex.”

“Yeah, I was kinda hoping...”

“Would you ... I mean if you want ... Oh, John, it’s been such a lovely night, would you please have sex with me?”

“You want to have sex ... with me?” he asked, stunned at this latest development.

“Please John ... it would make tonight perfect,” she said, looking down at her hands fidgeting in her lap.