I open my eyes, and find that the room is totally dark, except for the moonlight coming in from the windows, even with the curtains drawn across them.

I sit up in my bed. Reaching in the darkness for the lamp on my bedside, I switch it on and check the time on the clock kept there--11:40 pm.

Almost time, I think, as I get up and put my ear to the door, searching for any noises from downstairs, from my parents' bedroom or from the living room, because sometimes dad lies awake and watches TV at night when Mom and me are sleeping, and when he isn't sleepy.

No, there's nothing. No sound at all. What a piece of luck! I open my bedroom door a tiny bit, and see that all lights downstairs are turned off, which confirms that my parents are asleep.

Closing my door softly, and locking it, I hurriedly replace my pajama with a pair of jeans, while the T-shirt I'm wearing is good enough so I don't need to change that, then I proceed to check my phone for any messages or calls from Ned, since I wouldn't know if he'd called me or sent an SMS because I am NOT a light sleeper. Though how I managed to wake myself at this hour surprises me as well.

Okay, so there's nothing yet. We both had exchanged our numbers while we were in his house this afternoon, so I have his number like he has mine, and I hit dial after typing his number on my cell.

After three-four rings, Ned picks up the phone.

"Hello?" He says in a sleepy and irritated voice.

"Ned? What are you doing? Where are you?" I whisper loud enough for him to hear.

"Who's this?" He sounds uncertain. Obviously, he's not yet fully awake and must be sleeping when I called.

"Ashlee. So, you forgot about tonight's plan, didn't you?" I say impatiently.

"Oh. Hi Ashlee...no, I remembered, but I--umm--fell asleep while waiting in my bed for Mom and Dad to go to bed, downstairs." He says, sheepishly.

"Okay, but at least get out of bed now !! I'm ready and waiting here."

"Yeah, I'll be right there! Bye!"

"Wait! Where?? You didn't even tell me that!" I blurt quickly to prevent him from hanging up.

"Good question." He says, under his breath, but I hear it and reply "Oh, really?"

"Umm...sorry. Okay, so I'll come around to your house, and wait there in front of your gate, while you try to sneak out of your home. What say?"

"Okay, done. Come fast, I'm all ready to go!"

"Hang up now! Otherwise how will I come?" Now he  sounds impatient.

"Yeah, sure. Bye!" I reply, giggling.

"Bye." And the call ends.

Switching the bedside lamp off, I arrange my bed nicely, put on some pillows vertically where I'm supposed to be sleeping, and pull over the covers over them. Now, it's exactly as if someone is sleeping on my bed, with the covers over her head.

I grab my watch and strap it on my wrist, then shove my phone in the back pocket of my jeans, and am ready to go.

Moving toward the windows of my room, I pull aside the curtains and slide open the glass panes. Taking a last look at my room now bathed in moonlight, I haul my legs first over the other side of the broad cement windowsill, and then hold onto the thick pipe running across this side of the house. Subsequently, I find tiny footholds in the brick wall to put my feet in, while climbing down slowly and cautiously.

When I'm almost at the bottom, I free my grip on the pipe and jump down a few feet to touch the ground, finally.

Phew. This was adventurous enough. But, it was just the beginning! I was sure I'd enjoy the night a lot more!

Good thing I'd already checked the wall this evening for footholds, and if going this  way would be easy. I am nicely prepared for tonight's escape, you see.

Smiling to myself, I stroll through the garden instead of walking on the paved driveway to reach the gate of my house. Ned isn't here yet. Taking my phone out of my pocket, I put it on Vibrate mode, and check the time--11:52 pm.

Then I carefully unlatch the metal gate, slip out, and close it behind me.

Just then, I see a person's silhouette running in my direction. At first, I panic. It's the middle of the night, he could be anyone!

But as he comes closer and passes under a streetlamp, his face comes into view and I recognize Ned running toward me.

Heaving a sigh of relief, I start walking over to him, and seeing me he slows down. We catch up with each other a few feet ahead of my house, under another streetlamp, and he says, "Ready?"

"Yes."

"Let's go."

And we step out into the moonlit night.