John

I was the first to wake up the very next morning, I noticed that Lizzie was snuggled up tightly against me, still asleep. Everytime I look at her, it's like seeing a pretty angel. The sun was shining on her beautiful auburn hair. When I look at it, it reminds me of my mother, of home. She had the same colour. I still miss her everyday. Sometimes, I wonder if I'm making her proud. With the growing fame and everything. I knew the pain that Lizzie felt as I lost my mother when I was around Lizzie's age when she lost her father. When I look at Lizzie now, I see more than just a broken bird. She was a girl who still has a strong heart deep within even if she had lost her innocence before even turning 18. It feels more special being with her now. I was afraid that I was never gonna see her again after what she saw at Paul's birthday party, but I was happy that she was willing to forgive me and actually came to see me. Last night felt really special between us as we kissed for the first time and we made love. I knew that I had to be gentle with her since she was a virgin. Ever since I met her and got to know her more, I kept dreaming about her. Every dream of her would be what last night was like. Kissing her, touching her, feeling her warm body against me, looking at me with trust and love in her eyes. Now, I know that I wasn't dreaming as I woke up with her in my arms. She's not just a girl that I would just shag and never see her again. I really do love her and I would never want to leave her or break her heart. Especially after she said that she loved me. I started to drift off a little as I gently pulled her closer to me, feeling her warm back against my chest.

Mary Elizabeth

As I awoke, I felt John's strong arms around me as he was spooning me. It was enough for me to know that what happened last night wasn't a dream, he gently pulled me closer to him. His breath was warm on my neck and tickled my hair in the most brilliant way. Not wanting to disturb his sleep, despite the sores I felt from last night, I carefully turned around in his arms, and faced him. There he was. The most beautiful man in the world. He looked so vulnerable and gentle while sleeping peacefully. I kept looking at him until his eyelids fluttered open.

"Good morning," he said.

"Good morning," I said as I smiled at him. He looked so beautiful with the sun reflecting on his face. If I had the ability to stop time, I would use it at this moment. Just being in his arms felt so warm and peaceful right now, I used to be scared at the thought of love after my parents got divorced. But now... I'm not afraid of it anymore after that night. As we stared at each other, his lips were on mine. I kissed him back, he tangled one hand in my hair, deepening the kiss. I pressed myself closer to his body and held on to him, it felt like last night all over again. As we broke the kiss, his hand moved towards my cheek.

"Sleep well, darling?" he asked.

"I did, how about you?" I asked.

"A lot better after last night, I didn't sleep well for two days after what happened at the party. I'm surprised that you would forgive so easily." he said.

"My father always taught me to never be angry at someone all the time if they truly regret their actions. If they really feel guilty and apologize for what they did, it's better to accept it and forgive them."

"What was your father like? He sounded like a very wise man."

"He was the best father I could ever have, I always thought of him as a wise person too. Besides being brave when fighting in a war or sailing across the sea in a storm, he never let anything truly break him. He just gets his feet back on the ground and keeps on going, he did exactly that when he and mom got divorced."

"Why did your parents get divorced?" asked John.

"They just realized that their marriage was faltering because my mother wasn't really enjoying living in America, she wanted to go back to England while my dad didn't want to leave his job although he considered leaving at first before my mom told him that he doesn't have to leave the country and that they should get divorced. They agreed that I will stay in America with my dad to grow up there while mom visits me on certain days like my birthday and holidays. It was hard to deal with the divorce at first, even got angry at her and blamed her once for breaking my dad's heart. I yelled at her for hurting my father and I hated her, and didn't even say goodbye to her when she left. But I was only nine and was just angry, not thinking straight until my father told me that it just happens to every adult. No one was at fault, he told me that I should apologize to her for what I said and not saying goodbye when she left. I did write an apology letter to her and after she got the letter, she wrote one saying to me that she forgives me because she knows that I never meant to hurt her and she will always love and forgive me even if I did something like hurting her feelings. The divorce did teach me that the world is full of unexpected changes among other things, I knew that I had to stay strong." I answered, I looked at the clock on his nightstand, and realized that I had to go home since it was 8:00 in the morning.

"Shit, I'd better go. It's 8:00 and the girls are probably worried about me since I didn't come home last night." I said as I quickly got out of bed and grabbed my clothes to get dressed, ignoring my body sores as I did so.

"Hope they don't punish you for being out past curfew," he said in a cheeky tone.

I laughed. "I'm sure they won't once I tell them what happened, they'll just be more happy that I decided to forgive you and not be angry at you anymore."

"I'm thankful for that, even though I should be getting ready too. Got a show at Guildford tonight, I don't wanna be late for rehearsal. See you again tomorrow night?" he asked as he was getting dressed.

"Sure." I said as I walked towards him, giving him one quick kiss before I went out, he then wrapped his arms around me and kissed me deeply, I wrapped my arms around his neck as the kiss went on. As we broke the kiss, I went to the door and turned to look at him.

"Love you." I said with a smile. "Love you right back, darling." he said as I left.

As I got home, I went to the kitchen where Poppy and Amelia were having tea and breakfast.

"Where have you been? We were surprised that you didn't come back after being out last night." asked Amelia.

"This might come as a surprise to you two, but not only I did forgive John, but we confessed our feelings to each other and I lost my virginity to him last night. That's why I didn't come home." I answered, they were immediately surprised to hear that. They just stared at me for a couple of minutes until Poppy spoke up.

"You had sex with him and he's now your boyfriend?" she asked, I nodded in response.

"Didn't expect to hear all that, I guess Poppy was right when she said that he fancied you. But are you gonna be okay having him as your boyfriend since we saw what happened at the birthday party? It's in the daily mirror today." asked Amelia as she handed me a newspaper, the article on the back page mentioned the birthday party assault from three days earlier. It didn't surprise me that this event would end up on the papers by the press.

"Of course, he won't dare to lay a hand on me anyway. I will warn him that if he ever tries to hurt me, I will make him regret it." I said.

"Just looking out for you. but I am happy for you since even I will admit that ever since you have been talking to John and seeing him, you've been a lot happier lately." said Amelia.

"Thanks, I think I'm gonna have a bath." I said as I turned to leave the kitchen.

"Have you eaten yet? If you haven't, I'll make you some breakfast."

"No, I haven't gotten the chance since I was in a hurry to get back, but thanks." I said as I went upstairs to the bathroom.

As I took my bath, I leaned my head back as I relaxed in the warm water. it felt so soothing after having to deal with the body sores all morning. Despite how it hurts at times, losing my virginity that night felt really amazing and it was the very moment when I knew that I was no longer a girl. Last night... I became a woman.