When the side gate squeaked open, Evan stood fiddling with the collar of his well-worn chambray.

Is he nervous again too?

Emily watched him roll up his cuffs. His wrinkled khakis and tousled hair added to the appearance that he had just rolled out of bed.

The mental-picture made Emily think about wrapping herself around him to take him back there. Her ears felt warm.

St. Augustine would be horrified with me...

Evan asked, "Want to take a walk?"

Since Emily didn't want to continue writing her term paper she agreed.

"I want to show you something," he explained. 

They went to a spot beside his house where the cul-de-sac abutted a huge piece of undeveloped common land that was protected for wildlife. There was a small dirt path through the bushes and trees.

Emily laughed nervously when she saw it. "You do realize I'm from Brooklyn right?"

"I promise I am not going to let you get lost or hurt in the woods." Evan crossed his heart.

When Emily's feet didn't budge, he put his palm on her back and urged her forward a little bit.

He lowered his voice and raised one eyebrow as he asked, "Trust me?"

He held out his hand. Emily took it and they started on the trail.

They walked in silence through the shade of the trees. Evan pushed some bushes and branches out of the way, but the vegetation wasn't too thick as to obscure the trail completely.

I think I could find my way back home by myself if I need to...

They only walked for a few minutes before the path opened onto a beautiful little river. The current moved lazily. Tiny fish swam in an eddy and some turtles floating in the water.

They sat down together on the bank.

"This is really pretty Evan. Thank you for showing me." Emily squeezed his arm.

Evan nodded.  "If you happen to be here at sunset it's even more beautiful. I like to come here when I'm stressed out because it's really peaceful. You looked tense before your little dance so I thought I would share my secret spot with you."

Emily eyed him suspiciously. "First, how long were you watching me for and second, what do you get stressed out over?"

He picked through the pebbles on the ground beside him. "Not long enough and a lot."

"Well then. First... stalker much?" Emily chuckled.

Then more seriously she added "Second... Me too."

Evan continued to stare at the stones in the dirt. He palmed a smooth skipping stone and stood to launch it across the river.

It flew perfectly and hopped multiple times across the water, making countless ripples in its wake. This reminded Emily of one of the few things she knew about him.

"So I hear you can throw more than rocks. Baseball pitcher? Right?"

Evan nodded and sat back down next to her. "Yeah. I don't think I'm anywhere near good enough for the majors or anything like that. But hopefully I can get a scholarship to a good division one school like Stanford or Duke."

"That's great Evan. It must be exciting to have a talent like that."

He shrugged his shoulders and looked at her. "So what do you get stressed out over? From what I hear you're pretty damn close to perfect. Skipping a grade, private school, great grades, drama club," he listed.

"Don't forget mathlete," Emily joked.

Evan scrunched his face up as though she just said something distasteful. "Math Club! Really?" He teased, "You certainly aren't like any girl I usually date."  

At the word "date" Emily's stomach twisted in a knot.

"Well obviously I'm not that perfect, since I got drunk, hooked up with a boy I just met and have the mark to prove it."

She moved her hair aside to show him the mark he left on her neck.

Evan chewed the inside of his cheek and threw a rock into the river with a loud plunk. And then, instead of apologizing, he reached over and pulled her v-neck collar aside to fully expose the spot Kelly left, which had barely peeked out before.

"Boys and marks," he corrected and dropped his hand from her neck.

I can't think of a witty response...

Her stomach knotted tighter as the silence between them grew. Her heart pounded in her chest.

She took out her phone, selected track three of 'Ella Swings Lightly' and as "What's Your Story, Morning Glory?" began to play, she settled back on the patchy grass, putting her hands behind her head.

Warm, dappled light shone through the branches and touched her face while Ella Fitzgerald's voice calmed her body.

Evan leaned back on his elbows and looked at the verdant canopy above them.

A breeze stirred the foliage overhead and a bright ray of light fell upon her eyes. Emily closed them against the sudden brilliance.

When the song ended and "Just You, Just Me" started she opened her eyes again.

Evan turned toward her. "Will you come back next weekend?"

"Probably not," Emily answered sadly, "I fought with my brother. It's complicated. My family... my life... is actually as far from perfect as I am."

They listened until the song finished and Emily stopped the next one from beginning.

A distant lawn mower broke the silence and reminded them they weren't alone in the world.

"I want you to come back," Evan confessed sincerely as he sat up.

When she didn't say anything, he entreated her further, "I want to know everything I can about you. Like who's your favorite band or what's your favorite book? What do you dream about night? Are you afraid of anything? What do you want to be when you grow up?"

Evan laughed. "I know how corny I sound. But I really do want to know."

The ground beneath my head feels hard and uncomfortable, but being with Evan isn't...So neither is answering his questions...

"The Beatles. Jane Eyre. Last night I dreamt of you. I'm afraid of failure... and I just want to be happy."

Evan stared at her. "You're really only 14 huh?" he asked suspiciously.

She smirked and added another fact for his collection. "I turn fifteen on June 11th which means I'm a Gemini."

"The 11th," Evan echoed with a curious look on his face.

"And you dreamt of me last night?" Care to share?" he coaxed.

"Definitely not!" Emily sat up quickly, brushing dirt and pebbles off her arms.

The telltale blaze is at my ears again...

"So it was that kind of a dream," he teased.

"It was not!" She reached out to playfully shove him.

When Emily's hand connected with Evan's chest, it reminded her of the night before and once again he enveloped her hand with his.

Déjà vu...

Then he reached up and grabbed her earlobe with the other hand. He tugged it.

"Did you know that your ears get red when you're hot and bothered?"

A small silent nod was all Emily could manage as she was not emboldened, by alcohol and the cover of darkness, the way she was last night.

I can't pretend to be someone else with him today...

"It's cute," he said.

She felt the flush spread along her neck. She swallowed. "Thank you."

His hand followed her blood as he swept his fingers across her neck to cup her chin.

He pulled her towards him as he whispered, "I'd like to give you more to dream about tonight. Will you let me?"

Emily answered his question with her body.

She grabbed a fistful of his shirt and pulled him gently on top of her as she lay back down.

And then they kissed.

Our first kiss had felt like an urgent release... But this kiss is so different...

It was a more languid and tender exploration. As it continued, Evan filled and overwhelmed her senses.

His weight upon me feels just right... He smells like cedar scented cologne and coconut sunblock...

She listened to the tiny satisfied sounds he made in the back of his throat when she wrapped an arm around him to bring him closer.

Maybe I can date him... Maybe this is not just a rebound thing... Maybe there is potential here...

Evan's hand skimmed along her side. It moved from her waist up towards her breasts. Emily leaned into it, urging him on without words. Unlike last night Evan didn't stop. She gave a small whimper when his hand reached his destination.

At the sound, Evan immediately stilled his hand and stopped kissing her.

Emily's eyes flew open. She wrinkled her forehead at him and he cocked an eyebrow at her.

"Lovin Handful!" he said as a huge grin split his face.

They both dissolved into hysterical laughter.

"Keep this up," she said, "and you'll change my mind about next weekend."

He rested his forehead against hers. "That's the plan."

The hours passed easily while they kissed and talked, sharing details both big and small. Emily told him about her friends and her school. Evan shared about his close relationship with his parents. They compared their morning routines. Evan admitted that he drank tea every morning while Emily preferred coffee. She asked about his favorite book and band. He told her about 'The Natural' and U2. Evan revealed that he knew every word of 'Bull Durham' while Emily confessed to watching 'Pride & Prejudice' at least once per week.

Vibrations from Emily's phone disturbed their conversation and disappointment poured from Evan as she pulled from his grasp to check on the interruption.

The text from her father made Emily aware of how late it had gotten. "I have to go. Dinner at home," she explained as they got to their feet.

"Emily, would you like to come to a bonfire with me later tonight?" Evan asked.

She stood on her tiptoes, kissed him. "Absolutely."

Before they turned to the path, she took a picture of the sun shining on the river.

I want to capture exactly how it looks... If I never come back to this spot, I hope I will always be able to relive these hours in my memories...