After the show was over and I was completely shell-shocked I went to find Henry.

   "Cute little stunt you pulled up there," I said leaning against the door frame to the backstage, folding my arms over my chest. I was on cloud nine, what girl wouldn't be with this guy? 

   Not only did he seem genuine but he took risks and didnt care what anyone thought.  If I didnt find him so attractive, I'd most definitely want to be his friend. I cherish my friendships, bonds and memories that you'll make with people that make you feel at home. My father always said a home isnt a place its who you hold in your heart. No one can take that away from you.

   "I heard the song on the radio last night," he said setting down his guitar and walking up to me, stuffing his hands in his pocket. "Made me think of you."

   "You think of me?" I bit my tongue nervously.

   His eyes searched mine, "Do you not think of me?" You have no idea...

   I reached for his hand and tugged him forward, "Vera wants to meet ya."

   I pulled him through the crowd noticing some snarky looks from some girls we passed. Vera and Dixie left the table and were at the cafe bar talking to Raegan.

   "So this is the famous Vera," Henry smiled bringing in Vera for a hug.

   "You've heard of me?" Vera took in every inch of him giving me a nod of approval.

   "Of course," he said. "How'd you guys like the show?"

   "Loved it."

   "Especially the last song, I wish Finn would sing to me," Dixie sighed.

   "Aye? I'll give him some lessons for ya."

   "I might take you up on that offer."

   "You ladies don't mind if I steal Marisol for the rest of the night?"

   "Oh no," Vera shook her head. "She is all yours!"

   "Ya sure V?" I asked.

   "You act like we don't live with each other," Vera smacked her lips. "Just take care of her or you'll be meeting my five little friends."

   "And mine," Dixie added giving me a wink. "Text me okay?

   It's like I left Hawaii and suddenly everything has changed. I wasn't complaining, it's just all so odd. "Sure," I said.

   Vera gave Dixie a proud smile, maybe Vera had something to do with this. I'll find out tonight. "It was nice meeting you again," Henry said to Vera.

   "The pleasure is mine."

   Finally escaping from the loud noise I said, "you didn't tell me you could sing like that."

   "I told you I sing," he shrugged casually as we walked down the sidewalk side by side. "I still have yet to hear you sing."

   "And you won't," I laughed. Just one more block and I'll be home, night over. "I can borrow Veras car and pick you up in the morning."

   "How does 12 sound?" He asked as we stopped in front of home.

   "Good," I said looking up at him feeling those butterflies return as he scooped me into a bare hug.

   I looked up our faces inches apart and I knew he was about to kiss me...

   "Mar," Lucas.

   I pulled away from Henry to find Lucas stumbling out of his truck, great looks like he had an interesting night. "Hey Luc," I smiled.

   Lucas threw an arm over my shoulder and greater Henry by nodding at him. "Thanks for getting her home safe man."

   Henry watched Lucas curiously, I couldn't tell what he was thinking. Was that jealousy I sensed? "I'll get him inside, text me when you get home?"

   "Goodnight," he said softly walking off.

   "He seemed a bit moody."

   "You tend to have that affect on people," I said as we walked to the door. "Have fun tonight?"

   Lucas just shrugged opening the door for me, the house was silent all the lights in the small house off. "I just went to get my mind off some things," he said as we walked to our rooms.

  "Like? You know you can always talk to me, ive never given ou a reason not to trust me."

   "I know," he said tiredly looking up at me. "And you don't know how much that means to me but this isnt something you can help with," he said sadly.

   "Something bothering you I want to know what it is," I said following him into his room.

   Lucas dove into his bed and watched me carefully something more intimate and strange passing in his soft eyes. "I'm just trying to be a better person but all my choices and decisions have only worked against me. You have nothing to worry about I'm not using anymore," he said. I knew he wasnt but that didnt mean he would. "I got a job."

   "Where at?"

   "At the bar Dixies friends own."

   "That nasty biker bar? Isn't it a bigot dangerous there?" I asked.

   "For you," he raised a mischievous brow. "Don't you have a date in the morning to get some beauty sleep for?"

   "You're more Important," I said sitting on the bed beside him taking his hand in mine. "I love you, you know that right?"

   He smiled lightly his drunken eyes fluttering open and closed, how could he be so beautiful and compassionate  but yet so complicated? His smile, his eyes, his voice I treasured it all, I could never live a life without that no matter how far he pushes me. "I love you," is voice was deep and groggy he needed to rest.

   "You know we've talked about senior year since we were kids, I want it to be everything we said it would be and more. For that you are going to need to cut back on the drinking, please? For me?"

   He didnt say anything for a second, "Do you think this year will be any different?" He laced his fingers through mine.

   "I can feel it," I smiled. "I think I'm going to take up the singing position open at Devdas."

   "Really?" He smiled wide.

   "I figured it would be some extra money I could use," I said. Now I just had to tell Henry and Raegan, I wasn't going to chicken out this was something I wanted to do and fear held me back. I didnt want to live a life with any more mistakes. "That reminds me your mom and dad need us to drive into city for some ingredients for Jasmines famous papa rellenas in a couple days. What do you say road trip?"

   "That sounds nice," he yawned turning over.

   I snorted, "Goodnight," he was now sound asleep. How was that even possible? I dropped a blanket over him and took off his shoes, lining them up in his messy closet. Before closing his door i looked back at him once more. I thought I was over the day dreaming, the excitement I used to feel when he touched me.

   Old habits die hard.

......................................................................................................................

   Getting dressed was the hardest part. Vera has had me try on two different jeans, various amount of tops and accessories and we still didn't know what I was going to wear. "This is your first real date you need to blow his mind," Vera insisted, handing me a red off the shoulder top.

   Jasmine peaked in a warm smile on her tan face, "How's it going girls?"

   "Terrible, we should have gone shopping," Vera growled as she searched through my closet.

   "Does it really matter what she looks like? If a guy likes you it shouldn't and wouldn't matter what you look like, just be yourself hermosa."

   I nodded, "You see! I agree."

   "This isn't just any boy ma,"Vera sighed in annoyance. "This is the boy." Vera was a hopeless romantic, if you haven't gathered. "I mean it's a perfect love story!" She gushed already ahead of herself. "Boy meets girl, boy sings romantic songs to girl, it gives me all the good feelings," she explained.

   "She's a bit worked up," I joked.

   "Next time I want to meet this boy okay," she said sternly.

   "Gotchu," I promised as she walked back into the hall. I put on the red top that ended just above my belly button and paired it with some cute flare jeans and a belt. "Okay enough searching," I scolded Vera and posed on front of her.

   "A little simple but you look adorable red has always been your color, the hoops are a nice touch," she smiled, finally satisfied. "Let me braid your hair," she patted on her vanity chair.

   "I have ten minutes so work fast," I said looking down at my phone.

   "I can't believe he asked you to go riding that is so cute! I need to find me a little boo," she said brushing through my hair.

   "I know," I smiled lightly. Yesterday I had been so excited but now I was filled with nerves. I was going on a date and prayed I wouldn't make a fool of myself...

   "You don't seem as excited as you should be," Vera said tying the French braid with a red scrunchie, leaving two strands to frame my face.

   "I guess I'm just overthinking... What if the more time he spends with me he realizes he doesn't really like me?"

   Vera rolled her eyes handing me my black purse, "Then he's an idiot. Life is about taking chances if you don't get to know Henry then you'll never know what you're missing out on. And something tells me you'll be missing out. Don't make the same mistake you did with Lucas," she warned.

   "You're right, I got this," time to pull out my flirt and just have fun. "How do I look?"

   "Precious," she grinned. "Now go before you're late!" I gave her a quick kiss and headed out taking Lucas keys off the coffee table.
.........................................................................................................

   When Henry and I got the the farm the stables were already unlocked, two horses saddled and ready to be taken on the trails out back in the woods. Henry was wearing a light blue tshirt and jean shorts, the shirt he wore was tight enough for me to be able to see the muscles shifting in his back.

   Today was a beautiful day for riding, the sun shinned bright with not a cloud in the sky. It wasn't too hot and there wasn't a hint of wind around. "This is Comet and this is Giselle," he said putting a hand on Comets brown fur, the crown of its head streaked with white fur. Giselle was a black beauty with hair black as midnight.

   "I want to ride Giselle," I said laying a hand on her hose, "She's so beautiful."

   "She's also got a mind of her own," he smiled. "Here I'll help you on." I was going to tell him I didn't need help, which I'm sure he knew so I thought other wise. The thought of having his hands on me excited me. His hands lightly set on my waist and lifted me up so that my foot could reach the loop, I swung my leg over and I was all set. His hand lingered on my thigh for only a second before he went to mount Comet, "Ready?"

   I clicked my heal against Giselle's side so she would start at a slow trot, I noticed Henery strapped a basket to the side of his horse. It took me everything not to ask what the basket was for, if it was a surprise I didnt want to ruin it. 

   "I want to know more about Scotland," I said looking over to henry. His ash hair looked more blonde in the suns rays, his honey gold eyes even more vibrant in the light. "Like what's your family?" I asked.

   He shifted uncomfortably, "My family is complicated."

   "Oh, you dont have to talk about it if you dont feel comfortable-"

   "No, its quit alright," he looked up at me as our horses walked side by side on the edge of the woods by the freshly harvested corn field. "When I was born it was just me and my mum, I had no grandparents or extended family, I never even knew my birth fathers name. It wasnt like I even knew what I was missing out on, I was thankful for even having my mum. I was nine when she died, with no one to care for me I was put in the orphanage for a couple years. I then bounced from foster home to Forster home until I got myself a job at fifteen. A year later I got my own place and now I'm at the prime of my life, ready to finally live. I go and do whatever I want at home, its nice having my own things finally." I was not expecting that, he wore his pain well something I struggled to do.

   I couldn't imagine what it would be like to have no family left, to lose the only person you had at such a young age. I looked over to Henry who tried to smile but there was a certain sadness in his eyes. After everything he's been through he grew from it, he didn't t let his past brake him and I admired him for it. "I'm sorry," I said finally. 

   "Dont be, its the way of life these things happen. I'm just happy I'm here, I know if my mum was looking down at me she'd be proud."

   "I'm happy you're here too," I said honestly. "Are you planning on living in Scotland all your life?" I asked trying to change the heavy subject.

   "I think so," he said. "Birmingham is my home."

   "You're lucky, I hate it here I want to move to New York," I said. "That is if I like it there," Ive never been. If I was to be honest I wanted to be anywhere but here, I was over running into my mom at the grocery store.

   "Ive been, its not everything you'd hope it would be," he admitted as our horses began to go through a tiny trail, I followed behind Comet. 

   A few minutes later we came to a clearing with a small pond, Henry guided Comet and Giselle to a tree and tied them up, grabbing the basket. "Care for a bite?"

   "You made us food?" Amazing, I was starving. Getting dressed and looking for an outfit for hours was way more important then eating, sad I know.

   He reached for my hand casually as we walked over the one picnic bench next to an old grill. "I hope you like fluffnutters."

   "What on earth is that?" I laughed as he set the basket on the table, opening it to take out a white cloth that he draped over the table. Next he pulled out four sandwiches, grapes, strawberries,  Pringle's and two bottles of water. 

   "Marshmallow peanut butter sandwiches, don't knock it till you try it," he said sitting next to me. I unwrapped my sandwich and took a bite, I was actually pleasantly surprised. The sweetness from the melted Marshmello mixed in with the peanut butter like it was always meant to be. "I didnt know what you liked to eat so I made something from home and brought some side snacks as well," he said watching me nervously.

   "I am so glad you made these for me," I groaned  swallowing the rest of my bite. "I would have never thought the two would taste that good together."  He smiled down at me proudly, "You know this is my first real date," I smiled. Scott and I didnt go on dates, we weren't even really boyfriend and girlfriend officially, I guess not putting labels on things makes moments more real and treasured. After all we both knew I was going to leave, I had to. 

   "Really?" He licked his bottom lip, "You're telling me no ones ever asked you out on a date? I find that hard to believe," he said devouring his sandwich, I took time with mine. I love peanut butter but I hated the feeling of a sticky mouth, I washed down the taste with the bottled of water he brought. He even brought napkins and little brownie bites.

   "I never said they didn't ask," I raised a brow. "I guess it just takes a lot to catch my attention," I said. There were other reasons but how do you tell the guy you're on a date with that you were emotionally unavailable for so many years over someone? Over Lucas.

   "Have I caught your eye then?" He asked his face now still and curious, he tilted his head slightly.

   I looked deep into his honey gold eyes, admiring how the sharp cliffs of his cheeks made him look more chiseled, the soft freckles under his light skin making him look a bit younger. I hadn't noticed those tiny freckles, "I thought I've made that pretty obvious," I said bashfully. 

   "You have," A small smile creeped onto his lips, he didn't even know how badly I wanted to kiss him...

   My phone started ringing which was odd the only person who ever calls me is Jasmine or Vera. "One second I need to take this," I smiled apologetically, perfect timing.

   "Of course," he said, I paused as I stared at the caller ID. "What is it? You look like you've seen a ghost," he put a hand on my shoulder in concern.

    I looked up, my hands shaking slightly, "Its my dad."