That night after dinner I showed Shanna the note.

"Damn girl, boy wants you." She smiled. "Why didn't he just text though? Didn't you give him your number?"

"Not yet," I said. "I mean, he didn't ask for it." I lay back on my bed and stared up through the ceiling. I couldn't stop smiling. My heart still hadn't completely slowed down: Damon wanted to secretly meet me. "But the note's kinda sweet," I said. "Don't you think? Kinda old fashioned."

"I guess." Shanna set her Chem book aside and read the note again. "You're sure it's from Damon, right? It's his handwriting?"

I realized I'd never even seen Damon's handwriting before. But I was sure the note was from him.

"We were just in study hall together," I reasoned. "It has to be from him."

"Alright." Shanna handed the note back to me. "Looks like things are heating up then." She smiled suggestively, then laughed. "I mean, obviously you can't actually go tonight. But things are looking good, sis!"

I read the note over again one more time and slipped it into my pocket. Outside the bedroom window, past the fire escape, evening was descending upon the back alley.

Quietly, I ventured, "Well . . . Why shouldn't I go?"

"Don't be stupid." Shanna re-opened her Chem book and went back to studying.

"It's not stupid," I mumbled.

At this, Shanna gave me a stern, big-sisterly glare. "Yes, it's stupid. Eleven o'clock? On a school night? Are you crazy? Mom and dad would never let you go."

I looked out the window again, this time my eyes lingering on the fire escape.

". . . Mom and Dad wouldn't have to know."