Chapter 7

What happened is that Dana and Jared, the other sophomore, went to the movies and conveniently invited both Jen and Ryan. At first when Jen, who'd been moping over Danny for awhile, realized what was going on, she was a little annoyed, not that she didn't like the Ryan guy or anything. She just bristled at her best friend's attempt to set her up behind her back. After all, Dana knew how upset she was over Danny still. But she couldn't be rude and demand to go home. Plus, it wasn't Ryan's fault they had been set up. She set out to ignore him so he would get the picture that she wasn't interested.

But while Jared was all over Dana next to them, Ryan just let her watch the movie, and she was thankful. He didn't even try to hold her hand. He was so funny and she was laughing the whole time at all his little sarcastic comments about the movie, which was really stupid. They both hated licorice and Good N' Plenty candy. But Danny kept creeping into her mind, and she refused to acknowledge that she might like someone else or that she might be on a date. She wished she was at home.

But when the movie was over, an extremely minor incident in the car, which would blow Ryan away later when she mentioned it to him, made her really look at him and admit to herself that she liked him a lot.

While Jared was driving a van cut in front of them suddenly. Jared slammed on his brakes. Jen was in the back seat with Ryan, and wearing her seat belt, but Ryan instantly threw his arm in front of her to prevent her from going forward. There wasn't an accident or anything, but she was bowled over by his protective and thoughtful behavior. This tiny gesture opened her eyes to him.

She thought about that night, and how much fun she'd had with him. And how good it had felt when he'd just touched her, although briefly. She hoped he liked her too, and didn't think she was cold or uninterested.

When they stopped at her house to drop her off, the garage door was open and her dad was fixing something in it. Both of them had been wondering what was going to happen, if he would walk her to her door and maybe kiss her. It wasn't an official date, so he could have just stayed in the car and been safe. But since her dad was there they didn't get the chance. So instead Ryan yanked her hair playfully when she climbed out of the back seat, and she smiled at him as she said, "See ya later."

Ryan was encouraged enough to call her the next day, and the day after that. He asked her to his Homecoming and she said yes, Danny's memory fading by the day.

They went in a big group, first out to dinner, then to the dance where Jen and Ryan danced the whole night. Well, practically the whole night. The group they went with had rented a suite with several rooms (the dance was at a hotel), and eventually they went up there.

Ryan's mind was racing in the elevator, wondering if he was going to lose his virginity that night. He pictured them in a bedroom, making out passionately and ripping each other's clothes off as they fell onto the bed. He wondered what he was supposed to do now.

Jen was also wondering what would happen. He hadn't kissed her yet, and she really wanted him too. Half the couples on the dance floor had been making out during the slow songs. She really liked him, and was scared he didn't like her, at least, not as much as she liked him.

They sat down on the couch in the living room of the suite, looking around and saying hi to the few of other people there. MTV was on. Ryan loosened his necktie and removed it. It was so awkward. He wanted to fuck her right then, but was petrified of her punching him out if he suggested they go into one of the rooms. So they just made small talk on the couch.

One guy made eye contact with Ryan, and, nodding toward an empty bedroom, said, "It's empty if you want it."

Ryan glanced over at her, but she didn't look at him, not wanting to do what she was sure he wanted to. He'd probably had lots of girls before, all the time, she thought.

Ryan just shook his head at the guy, saying, "Maybe later."