Weeks passed. Not horrible weeks but not my best weeks. But neutral weeks were better than horridible weeks.

I saw Katherine every lunch during those weeks. I feel like I made real progress with her. I really do.

About what is what she doesn't know.

I'm going to have to ask her the big question.

And I know exactly how to do it: wits and persistence.

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   "Where are we going?" she asked.

   "You'll find out soon enough." I answered (God, does everything that comes out of my head have to sound dirty?! (Damn, I did it again)).

   "Is this because of summer break or something?" she asked. Summer break was around the corner (it's near the end of May if you must know).

   "Not entirely." I did want to make a move before summer break. After all, we probably wouldn't see each other very much.

   "Are we there yet?" she asked.

   "Almost." I answered. We turned the corner, went up some stairs, and I stopped her.

   "We're here." I said.

   "So now I can..." she started.

   "Yes, you can take off your blindfold." I finished. Did I mention she was blindfolded? For obvious reasons, of course (seriously, again?).

   "Wow, James, it's amazing." she awed. I had set up a little candle lit dinner (Italian with a pinch of French style) beneath the clock tower.

   "Yes, it is quite impressive." I replied.

   "Shall we eat?" she asked.

   "Let us dine, then." I answered. We sat on chairs (yes, ladies and gents, I pulled out her chair) as we dined pizza (first Italian food I could think of, gosh (pasta did come to mind, but it was too late)). We shared interesting bits of our life, but one in particular was very shocking.

   "So, Kat, where do you live again?" I inquired. I completely forgot where we went on the night of Spiderman.

   "Oh, umm...over there." she pointed.

   "Oh, umm...yeah, I did too when I was young. Y'know, lived over there." I pointed.

   "Really? I didn't know that."

   "Yeah, moved when I was only three. But I can remember it like that." I snapped my fingers.

   "Really? Like photographic memory?"

   "Yeah. Kind of. The correct term os idetic memory. It was May 8th, 2001. I remember being in my treehouse drinking mint lemondade. There was a birthday party two blocks over for someone turning four..."

   "Wait. Turning four?"

   "Yes. And I remember birch trees..."

   "May 8th?"

   "Yes, pay attention. Where was I. Oh, yes, birch trees..."

   "James, that was my birthday party."

   "Say what?" I said. I was only half paying attention.

   "My birthday party on May 8th, 2001 was my fourth birthday party. You know, over there." she pointed.

   "Wow, really? I guess it's a small world." I remarked, taking a bite of pizza.

   "Yeah, I guess you're right." she finished. We continued chatting about random things. She and I laughed a couple of times (I seriously did like that laugh). We smiled many times. I also did like that smile. And pretty much everything about her.

Except, of course, that she wasn't mine yet.

   "And that's why you can marry your gay cat when hay marriage is legalized." she finished.

   "Hey, Kat."

   "Hey, James. What's up?"

   "Buttercup."

   "Get to the point."

   "Sorry."

   "No harm done."

   "I have something for you." I handed her a small box. It was wrapped in turquoise (accent six) paper.

   "James, you didn't have to." she said.

   "Open it." I said. She opened up the box to reveal a note and a Hershey's Kiss.

   "I don't understand." she said.

   "Read the note." I recommended. She picked up the note and unfolded it. Then, she began to read it.