Note: This story was dynamically reformatted for online reading convenience.
 
 It has been said that there's no more destructive force in the universe
then clumsy teenagers.  Especially when there's alcohol involved.  When you
gather 65 of them in one place, and there are no parents (i.e., the enemy)
to keep them in check, you can expect a heck of a raucous party.

   And yet Dana was keeping everything in check, somehow.  I watched her
from a corner of the room, flitting from group to group, gently reminding
folks that it was her house, and that she'd be in killer trouble if
anything happened, but still letting folks have a good time.  Her
pony-tailed head bobbed as she laughed along with a joke offered by one of
her classmates, and tossed a little double entendre back that had everybody
in the group roaring with laughter.  With a toss of her hair, she jokingly
flounced away, and the laughter followed her.  She was doing her best to
make sure every person at her party had a good time.

   Too bad she wasn't having a good time herself.  She could hide it from
99% of the people, but I knew better.  We had grown up best friends and
next door neighbors, and even though we had slightly drifted apart in high
school (we were in different cliques), we could still read each other like
a book.  She was wound tighter then a delicate Swiss watch powered by a
Porsche engine.  And I think I knew why, Dana was without her other half.

   Her boyfriend, Johnny, was supposed to have been there about an hour
ago, as he had helped her plan this party weeks ago, when they realized her
parents would be in Acapulco for a week.  The fact that it was her 17th
birthday this week just added to it.  His absence was noticed, but not
questioned by most.  After all, they were the perfect couple.  The football
hero, and the captain of the cheerleading squad.  They looked so damn CUTE
together, like they were saying "Yeah, we're every cliché in the book, but
we make it look new and fun".  There was an ongoing project by the
in-clique to have them preemptively declared the King and the Queen of the
Senior Prom, and one had to admit that there weren't many better choices.

   As Dana finished a circuit of the main room and headed for the table
with the drinks on it (mostly soda and water, but in homage to the
teenager-created tradition, there was also a bowl of fruit punch that was
probably spiked three or four different ways from discreet bottles and hip
flasks), I decided to leave my corner, and see if there was anything I
could do to help.

   As she poured herself a soda (she never drank alcohol it seemed, unlike
just about every other kid in our school, I had a glimmer of an evil idea,
and waited until she set the soda bottle down, and gave her a soft poke in
the back, and whispered "And what's a nice girl like you doing at a crazy
party like this?".

   She barely suppressed a shriek of surprise as she half jumped; half
twisted away from my joking poke, and turned to face me, ready to swing at
the guy who'd dare proposition her.  Her face relaxed when she saw who did
it.  "You are such a GOOBER, Hopkins!" she said quietly, but the grin on
her face took the sting away from her words.  It was a welcome respite from
the growing look of worry in her eyes, but it was only a brief respite, as
a noise by the door, caused her to look over at there anxiously, before
turning back to me.

   "So, where's Tall, Dark, and Prone to eating opposing Halfbacks", I
continued, my tone light, but I saw from the look on her face that she was
wondering the same thing, and she sighed, making sure nobody was watching
her, so to keep all the gossips from commenting about how lost she was
without her PRECIOUS Johnny.  She might have been the most popular girl in
the school, but all that meant is if she fell, she'd fall from a greater
height.  And the gossips were always willing to pull somebody down.

   Apparently convinced that none of the gossips in the room were paying
attention to a couple old friends talking over a couple sodas, her façade
slipped for a second, and she looked both worried and vulnerable.  "I don't
KNOW, Mike.." she said, her hand absently playing with a couple strands of
her hair, curling them around her finger, a nervous habit that she had ever
since she was young, and one that normally I would have taken great
pleasure in teasing her about it.  At the moment it seemed kind of like I'd
be piling on if I teased her.

   Taking a deep breath, she continued.  "He left me a message on the cell
phone that he would be a little late, that he had to pick someone up, and
to do something, before he could make it, but he'd be here.".  The furtive
look she gave the door made me think something ELSE was going on, but I
didn't inquire further beyond a slightly raised eyebrow.  Dana was NOT good
at keeping secrets from me.  She was a mask to most other people, but we
had been friends long enough for me to pick up the signs.  If she wanted to
say something, she would.

   Apparently, her need to talk to someone, anyone, about her issues and
her lack of practice in keeping secrets from me meant even that small bit
of pressure was enough to make her yield.  "It's just that...  that tonight
was supposed to be big for us.  He's been telling me we should take the
relationship to the next level, and for the past few weeks, we've not been
able to find a time to BE together...  and I was going to see if we could
do something after the party."

   Well, THAT rocked me back a step or two mentally, that was unexpected!
But I was able to fallback on a joke while my mental thought processes
realigned.  "Greeeaattt...  remind me to pull my shades.  If I remember
correctly, your room and I look out on each other." I half laughed, half
groaned.  Inwardly, a bit of my psyche wished that I could see that, see
her body twisting in desire; hear her groan in pleasure...  but down that
road lays madness, so I ruthlessly suppressed that thought.  I've had a
crush on her for years, since I've been able to understand what that meant,
but I've never acted on it.  Why try if you're doomed to failure, you know?
We're still friends after all this time, and that's pretty cool, isn't it?

   She laughed under her breath while giving me a speculative eye as I had
trailed off while trying to stomp down the part of me that was making blood
flow to places they shouldn't while in public.  I shrugged.  "Cool.  Should
I assume that means you two haven't been... err... intimate as of yet?" I
knew it was a bit of an indelicate question, but I couldn't think of
anything else to keep the conversation going, and I wanted to keep her from
worrying about where Johnny was.

   She knew it was an indelicate question, but she didn't even flinch. 
"Well...  it's been everything but, really, but he really wants to go
further, and show how much he loves me...  He's been saying that it's like
ordering a sundae full of toppings, and then just eating the toppings and
leaving the ice cream to melt..." Her voice tailed off as she looked at me.
I'm sure my face shown my disquiet at the topic.

   "So, he's been setting the pace...  has he?  Are you...  no...?  Not my
place to say." I forced a smile to appear on my face, and desperately cast
around; trying to find a safe subject that wouldn't lead to me asking her
if she had any choice on how far they were going.  After a couple seconds,
I was able to come up with SOMETHING.  "Listen, do you need a cleanup crew
after the party's over, or something?  My folks know I'm over here, and as
long as things aren't too out of hand, I'd be glad to pick things up".

   "Nah, that's ok...  Johnny and I will clean up..." and her voice just
died completely as she froze, looking over at the doorway.  Right then and
there, I knew something was so wrong.  So wrong, in fact, things would
never be the same.  I slowly turned my head to the doorway to see what had
affected her so completely, and would have done a spit-take, had I been
drinking.

   Standing in the door way, like a King and Queen, hand-in-hand, was
Dana's boyfriend Johnny, and one of the biggest snobs in school, the self
proclaimed "rich bitch", Judy Williams!  They smiled at each other,
obviously proud of having up-staged Dana's party with their entry.  She was
even wearing his letterman's jacket, for god's sake.  As they walked over
to wear Dana was standing, shock obvious on her face, I saw a glint from a
necklace that drooped down over her dress, and peeked out from underneath
the way too big letterman's jacket, and felt a double shock.

   It was a class ring, presumably Johnny's, hanging on a heavy gold chain
designed to attract attention, and I felt a surge of anger build inside of
me.  They had obviously planned this for weeks, and Johnny had taken
advantage of her, by pushing her into sexual situations, while hoping to
destroy her, both socially and emotionally in one fell swoop.

   Dana knew a setup when she saw one, and kept her emotions under check as
much as possible, but she was really upset about this.  Not waiting for
either of the two lovebirds to throw it in her face, she went on the
offensive "Well, hello, Johnny.  When you told me you had to pick someone
up before you showed up, I thought you meant someone who's welcome at my
house.  Did you have to search many street corners to find her?".  There
was an audible "oooooooh" from the folks who could hear her comment, and
they slowly edged away from the four of us.

   Johnny looked to reply, but Judy stepped in front of him, and launched
her own attack.  "Oh don't worry, we won't be staying long, we just thought
it would be polite to tell you to your face that he had decided to break up
with you to be with some one better.  It's not OUR fault that you've been
avoiding him, and we had to deal with it in public, is it?"

   To me it sounded like two cats yowling at each other, bearing their
claws, but I saw how deeply Dana had been hurt, even though she maintained
the half-smile on her face and didn't flinch once.  "Oh, he's had plenty of
opportunities to tell me he prefers a horse-faced shrew like you to me, but
he never got around to it..  But then again, I think he's ashamed of making
that decision, isn't he?  I wonder when the lure of your money will wear
off..."

   The crowd drew another half breath of shock and surprise, and I was
doing the same.  In a war like this, usually it was fought in muttered
asides and whispered innuendo, and no fight ever got to this level of
hatred before somebody stepped into to defuse the situation.  This was
different.  This was no brushfire conflict that would quickly flare up, and
just as quickly die down.  This was nuclear war.

   Neither Judy nor Dana's reputation would survive this, but neither cared
any more.  Judy's plans had supposed that Dana would play the role of
victim, and Dana might have been lost, hurting, but if there was one thing
Dana was not, was a victim.  From the level of the glares they were
leveling at each other, they were seconds away from physically attacking
each other, and I swallowed my anger long enough to decide that shouldn't
happen.

   Before Judy could recover, and continue throwing insults at Dana, I
stepped in between the two of them, and they both transferred their glares
to me, and I think they were both a bit surprised.  While I wasn't totally
invisible at school, I was certainly one of the less active troublemakers
(or as the case may be, peacemaker) in the school.  To step between these
two was a major step out of character for me.  I think I was even shocked,
but I knew where this would end, and wanted to at least keep it from
getting to that final confrontation.  My voice was level and calm, but even
to my ears, my voice had its own edge.  "You've shown up, you've made your
point, and I think you know you're not welcome here.  I think you'd better
leave.  You're ruining a good party with your petty tactics."

   Judy seemed ready to launch an attack on ME for daring to get between
her target and her, but Johnny laid a protective hand on her shoulder, to
keep it from getting worse.  This was his first physical reaction to the
argument.  He just stood there, with a smile on his face, as if he was
PROUD that he, the football hero, had two girls fighting over him.  Johnny
just smirked at me, and said "And if we didn't want to leave, who's going
to make me?  You, wussman?"

   I didn't even dignify that with an answer, just looked from him, to the
doorway pointedly.  I was so angry that I WOULD attack him, despite the
differences in size and weight.  I was in pretty decent shape, but I was
giving him four inches and twenty five pounds.  But I wasn't going to move
one inch.  Not for that asshole Johnny.  I didn't care if he had the whole
football team with him.

   Johnny had expected me to back down, just like everyone else did to the
football hero type.  But when I stood firm, there were a couple angry
murmurs from the crowd, even one or two fellow members of the football
team, and he judged the lack of support he was getting, and shrugged.  "Ok,
ok..  We're heading out." He half-turned away, and then if something had
just crossed his mind, looked back at Dana.  "Nothing personal babe, you're
good looking and all, and would have been real good, if you weren't such a
frigid bitch."

   Something deep inside me snapped at that point.  I think the only reason
Dana didn't attack him first was it had taken a second or two for his
attempt at a last word/attack to sink in for her.  By that point, I had
taken 3 of the 5 steps between us, and lowering my shoulder, barreled into
him with a roar of outrage.  He only had enough time to semi brace for
impact before I knocked him down.  He had much more experience on the
giving end of that kind of tackle then the receiving, and I think he was
shocked that I would actually DO something about it.

   The instant we hit the ground I was swinging wildly at him, punches
glancing off every part of his face and shoulders.  I heard a couple
indistinct feminine shrieks behind me, but my vision was filled in a red
haze, and all I cared was battering that handsome nose into a bloody pulp.
Johnny fired back a few good ones, catching me under my left eye with a
punch that rocked my head back for a second, but I was like a machine, I
didn't feel any pain.  Soon he abandoned all attempts at offense and just
tried to avoid my punches or deflect them, his eyes wide with shock as he
tried to fend me off.

   I felt hands trying to pull me off of him, and I struggled mightily. 
The first time they pulled me off, I managed to somehow break free and
jumping back on him, continued to attack, but the second time, there were
three of them.  One had me by the waist, and the other two hand my
shoulders and arms..  And I was still attempting to break free.

   I heard a girl whisper..  "Geeezz..  He just kicked Johnny Antonucci's
ass!" to a confederate, as I looked down on him.  Indeed, Johnny was still
looking up at me, though he didn't look so hot, with blood trickling from
both his nose and a split lip, and the beginnings of a good shiner
underneath his right eye.

   Now that HE had the advantage, he shook off the dizziness, and advanced
toward me, only to have someone ELSE stop him.  Hank Kartsen, who was known
as "Hank the Tank", for his skills on the gridiron (and the fact that he
resembled a tank, despite being a gentle giant) stopped him before he could
get close enough to where I was to return the favor I did him.  Hank spoke
slowly, but every word was measured.  "Not gonna happen, Johnny.  Turn
around, and walk away."

   Johnny tried to push past him, but Hank easily kept him at arm's length.
Johnny knew that his reputation had taken a major hit, and tried to salvage
what he tried to push Hank away, with one hand, looking past him, and
screaming at me "You better watch your ass, because next time I see you,
Hopkins, I'm going to put you in the hospital..."

   His angry words turned into a shriek of pain, as Hank reached down, took
Johnny's wrist in one of his huge paws, and SQUEEZED hard.  I think, even
from where I was standing, I heard bones grind against each other.  Hank's
voice was softer then before, but there was no softness in his words.  "You
do that, Johnny, and I'll tell them exactly where to look.  That is if I
don't find you first.  I said, turn around..  And WALK AWAY." He finally
gibbered his acceptance, and Hank let go.  Obviously defeated and shaking
his hand, gingerly made his way toward the door.  Judy followed her
defeated man toward the door, thankfully silent

   As the door shut behind them, the folks holding me back finally got me
to sit down, and just like that, all the adrenalin that I had in my body
just evaporated, and I was left wondering what had happened, and how I had
in the words of that unknown girl, "Kicked Johnny Antonucci's ass".  I
barely had enough energy to raise my head, and look at Dana, who was
looking back at me like I had grown antlers or something.  Hank checked out
the window, and apparently satisfied that Judy and Johnny were NOT coming
back to cause more trouble, turned to the crowd.  "Listen, I know we had a
good party going on before those two jerks ruined it, but I don't think
it'd be polite to bother Dana any further.  I think we should all pack up
our stuff, and call it an evening."

   There was a quiet, subdued round of murmurs, and the party began
breaking up.  Hank walked over and whispered something to Dana, who was
beginning to go through shock at this point, and she mechanically began to
pick up items and putting them away.  He then ambled over to me, and
crouching a bit, so he could look me in the eye, spoke quietly.  "Don't
worry about that windbag Johnny.  If he tries anything, he'll lose any
chance of a scholarship and catch himself a beating at the same time.  We
knew he was a scumbag for a while now, but we thought Dana over there was
civilizing him"

   I looked at him as if he was from another planet or something.  All we
ever heard was how the football players acted together, but in this thing,
Hank had not only worked against the football team's hero, he had told him
that if anything happened to me, not only would he make sure the
authorities knew about it, he would offer a bit of private justice for me.

   He smiled slightly.  "Dana said you offered to stay and help, but I
think she needs some time by herself.  She's going to need to cry...  and
she's going to think.  And soon... she's going to realize how you feel
about her... I mean how you REALLY feel about her... and then she'll
understand why you did what you did."

   He must have caught my look of panic, and Hank chuckled to himself. 
"Listen man, I may be no genius with the ladies myself, but I saw the way
you stood behind her when it all started, when other folks would have
stepped away.  And I saw the look in your eyes when you took a run at him.
It wasn't because he was insulting you that you got mad.  They tried to
twist the knife in her emotional wounds, and you were defending your
friend. Don't worry...  I think she'll understand." Fortunately, she was
cleaning up the kitchen, while Hank and I chatted in the den.  I took
advantage of the chance to get out without talking to anyone.  Folks gave
me sidelong glances and really didn't talk to me that much, and then again,
I was glad for the silence.

   I spent the rest of that night, staring out the window toward Dana's
house.  I could see lights go on and off from various windows around the
house as she cleaned up.  About midnight, or when the party was supposed to
wind down, I noticed the light go on in Dana's room.  Even at a distance, I
could see the tear tracks on her face.  She came up to the window, and we
spent a good half minute just staring across the gap between us.  I'm not
just talking about a physical one.  The sad smile she gave me showed me how
much of an emotional gap there was as well.  There was a feeling of
disconnection between us, underscored by the fact that she eventually waved
slightly, and lowered the shade, breaking off contact.

   I wished it hadn't happened, of course, but I wish that it happened
during the school year.  That way I could have kept busy at the books or
whatever, and not brooded about it.  The more I thought about it, the worse
I felt.  Sure I had done the right thing to protect a friend, but I
basically usurped her right to take care of it herself.  Or at least that's
what I kept telling myself.

   So I basically got away from it all.  I got up, ate, showered, got
dressed, and headed out the door, and basically walked around here and
there until it was time to walk back home.  Each night, there were messages
from well-wishers and the like, but I just tossed the notes into the trash
bin without ever reading them.  I think Dana even left a message with my
folks a couple times, but I didn't call her back.  I was afraid to, I
guess. I was trying to pretend like nothing happened, but it wasn't
working.

   It was three days later, when things changed.  I had returned from
another all-day aimless walk and had grabbed a bite to eat.  When I entered
my room, I noticed a flashing light coming across the yard.  Dana was
there; apparently she was waiting for me to get home.  She did it a couple
more times, until she was sure she had my attention, and as I waved to her,
Smiled, gave me a A-OK sign, and pulled down her shade.  I was confused,
until I saw the piece of paper taped to it.  In big, bold, RED letters
written against the white background, it read.

   "Mike...  Can you come over?"

   Part of me wanted to pull my own shade down, and pretend that I hadn't
seen it.  But that would have been a lie, and one that would have hurt her,
and myself as well.  So I did the best thing I could.  I took a deep
breath...  and waited.  When the shade came back up, and her expectant face
looked across, I nodded, and gave her a thumbs up sign.  She smiled, and
copied the gesture (and then followed it with another gesture that had me
laughing...  apparently whatever else happened, her spirit wasn't broken.

   I grabbed my stuff, poked my head into the kitchen, let my mom and dad
know I was headed back out, that if they needed me, I was at Dana's... and
hit the door at about 100 miles per hour.  Coincidentally, that was about
how fast my mind was going, in the few seconds it took to cross my yard
into hers, and then up her stairs, and knocked on her door.

   When it opened, I was nearly assaulted by the sense of déjà vu.  The
living room was set up exactly as it was the night of the party.  Just
about everything I noticed was the same, down to the punch bowl and drink
counter.  I looked around...  "Another party, right after what happened the
last time, Dana?  What's going on?" I was utterly confused, to say the
least.

   She laughed, took my head and led me into the empty living room.  "Oh,
yeah...  I thought that last time; we had a few too many people, including
two people who fortunately will never set foot in this house again.  So
tonight, this party has an EXTREMELY restricted guest list."

   "That's cool... who did you invite?" I was utterly confused...  I knew
Dana was tough, but to be with a group of people, all of whom were there to
see her boyfriend (ex-boyfriend, should I say), try to dump her in the most
publicly humiliating way, just three days later.  If my confusion level was
high after her last comment, it was nothing compared to what would happen
next.  "Oh... you know... a really select group...  just the guy who did
his best to see Johnny Antonucci hurt as much as he had hurt me...  I
figured he was the guy that truly deserved to be here."

   With that, she took me in her arms and gave me the softest of kisses on
my cheek, and held me tight.  My arms went around her, and all my tension,
my nervousness, my anger at myself flew out.

   For the next hour and a half, we pretended we were at a party, chatting
with each other, even joking when she went to use the bathroom that she had
to mingle with the others.  It was fun, and Dana actually seemed like she
was having a good time.  We chatted about our upcoming senior year of
school, what teachers we were hoping to get (and conversely, the few
teachers we were hoping more then anything to AVOID), just typical stuff...

   Then she grabbed a CD from the rack, and tossed it into the CD player.
And making sure the right track was queued up.  And before it could start,
walking over to the couch where we had sat, and pulled me up, and led me to
the middle of the room, where I could see furniture had been moved to set
up an impromptu dance floor.

   I looked at her nervously, and she smiled.  "Don't worry, I'll lead" she
whispered, as the first few bars played.  I recognized the song.  It wasn't
one of those down and dirty slow songs that were so popular, instead, it
was an artist that not many people entering their senior year would admit
to liking.  But somehow, someway, it was perfect.  It was Celine Dion's
"That's the Way It Is"...  and we both let the lyrics wash over us as we
swayed to it, holding each other. I can read your mind and I know your
story I see what you're going through It's an uphill climb, and I'm feeling
sorry But I know it will come to you

   Don't surrender 'cause you can win In this thing called love

   When you want it the most there's no easy way out When you're ready to
go and your heart's left in doubt Don't give up on your faith Love comes to
those who believe it And that's the way it is

   When you question me for a simple answer I don't know what to say, no
But it's plain to see, if you stick together You're gonna find a way, yeah

   So don't surrender 'cause you can win In this thing called love

   When you want it the most there's no easy way out When you're ready to
go and your heart's left in doubt Don't give up on your faith Love comes to
those who believe it And that's the way it is

   When life is empty with no tomorrow And loneliness starts to call Baby,
don't worry, forget your sorrow 'Cause love's gonna conquer it all, all

   When you want it the most there's no easy way out When you're ready to
go and your heart's left in doubt Don't give up on your faith Love comes to
those who believe it And that's the way it is

   When you want it the most there's no easy way out When you're ready to
go and your heart's left in doubt Don't give up on your faith Love comes to
those who believe it And that's the way it is

   That's the way it is That's the way it is, babe Don't give up on your
faith Love comes to those who believe it And that's the way it is.  As
Celine went through the last line, Dana pressed her lips to mine and we
just stood there for several seconds, enjoying the kiss.  It was a study in
contradictions, soft and hard, giving and demanding, and altogether
indescribably GREAT.

   As we finally stopped the kiss, I saw her blue eyes looking at me, a
question reflected in those shining eyes.  I nodded, letting her ask
whatever she needed to ask.  And her question was typical Dana.  Simple and
to the point, and if you weren't paying attention, you'd be lost.  "How
Long?" I just squeezed her tight, and now was the time that I could hold
nothing back from her.  "Months...  Years...  For as long as I can
remember." I told her, voice quiet but letting her know that it was the
simple truth. She nodded, and took a couple seconds to assimilate that
information, and then her eyes locked on mine again, and there was a hint
of sadness to it, and I wasn't sure why.  "Then why didn't you tell me
before?" she asked, a questioning note in her voice.

   "You seemed happy, going out with Johnny Football Hero.  I felt that...
aw hell...  Dana... I'm having trouble with the words, but I just wanted
you to be happy more then anything.  I felt that I'd be getting in your
way, and you had your reputation to uphold..."

   For the first time, I saw a bit of anger directed at me.  "Do you think
that's all I cared about?  Johnny did make me happy.  But a lot of it was
just because that's what we're supposed to be like...  I mean, everybody
put me on a pedestal... and you did it too..."

   "Dana...  I..." I tried to get out, but by now, she was on a roll, and
wasn't stopping, come hell or high water.  "You know, for a brave, smart,
good person like you Hopkins, you sure buy into a lot of the stereotypes.
You told yourself that no matter if you were friends with a girl, that if
she was the in-girl, the special one," (a little bitterness started to
creep into her voice) that you daren't ask her for more, because you're
afraid of what the gossips will do to her if they see you together?  I
mean, Johnny and I had been together a whole year, but what about before?"

   "You're right..." I said quietly, and the anger drained out of her, and
she looked down, at her feet, but her hands never let me go.

   "Being with Johnny was a nice ego boost.  Sure, he was good looking, a
football hero, even had his own car, but do you think that means anything
about being a good person?  Sure, he was the life of the party, but do you
think he'd be a good study partner, or someone to giggle over mindless TV
shows with, or someone to hold hands with and watch the stars?  When we
were together, it was for a purpose.  He wanted something out of it,
whether it was to be seen together doing the in-thing, or lately, doing
things I wasn't sure I was ready for.  But this whole thing made me rethink
a lot of things...  like what I want...  and whom I want it from..."

   And with that, she kissed me again, hard...  pushing me back against the
wall, and pressing her body against mine.  My eyes widened in shock, but I
was lost in the moment, and her body was doing wonderful things to mine,
and it was a minute before she finally broke the kiss.  By this time, I was
rock hard, and she could feel it press against her.  I tried to catch my
breath, but one question needed to be asked.  "Why now?" I asked her
bluntly.

   She smiled, and pressed against me harder.  "Because going by your track
record, Hopkins, you'd dither and worry about what I want for months before
you made a move.  I'm a little more impatient then that."

   She finally let me off the wall, but didn't let go of my hand, dragging
me toward the stairs, and bemused, I let her lead me up the stairs, into
her room, and watched as she shut the door behind me.  In the dim gleam of
the nightlight, she kissed me again and whispered.  "I told you last time
that after the party, I was going to get together with the one who cares
for me, and the one I cared for, and I was going to have my first time. 
I'm glad those two tried to ruin everything.  It means that I got a second
chance to put it into action.  I've had the party, and now I'm going to
give the man who loves me my most precious gift..."

   We slowly undressed in the dim light from the window and spent every
moment watching the other.  She thoroughly enjoyed my gasp of wonder, when
her firm breasts were released from her 34-B bra, and she made appropriate
compliments, as she saw my chest as I pulled off my shirt, and jokingly
tossed it at her (I think she muttered "yum-yum" under her breath..  I
wasn't overly muscled, but I kept in shape), but the smile on her face told
me more then her comments ever could.

   She finished disrobing, showing no nervousness as she watched me
expectantly.  Her slit was bare, except for a little thatch of hair above
her slit.  She obviously saw me staring at it.  "It feels nice, plus I
don't have to worry about worrying if anyone can see it if I forget the
bottoms to my cheerleader outfit", she said, with a shrug.  She then made a
"Get on with it motion", so I did a little teasing bump and grind, and
finally dropped my shorts and underwear, and stepped out of them.

   She then took me in her arms again, and gently pushed me back on the
bed, waiting until I fell down, then immediately cuddled in with me, her
back pressed against my chest, her hands guiding mine to her breasts...

   We didn't have any words at this moment, we didn't NEED any.  I gently
squeezed her breasts, and stroked her nipples, which drew a long, groaning
breathy moan of pleasure, and she turned her head towards me and locked her
lips against mine.  She undulated her body against mine, sending electric
shocks through my skin, her legs teasingly brushing against mine.

   After a minute, she took my left hand from her breast, and guided it
down between her legs...  only breaking the kiss to say...  "See how crazy
you drive me, Mike?  I need you to take care of me, just like you did
before with that jerk.  But this time I need you in a different way..."

   I let my fingers slide up and down with hers, stroking her lower lips
gently, feeling the dampness that had gathered there, and another moan came
from her lips... using my last ounce of resistance, I tried a small
protest..  "But you might get..." She expected the question, although it
earned me a smile (obviously I had earned bonus points, for not losing my
head in the heat of the moment.) "It's ok...  I tracked my pattern...  in
about ten days, we'll need condoms, or to find another place for this... 
(Sliding her hand down to where my cock was and stroking it lovingly)."

   I stroked her slit, finally giving in...and she returned to her gentle
stroking of my cock.  It was obvious where we were both headed, but we were
in no hurry to get there.  We had all the time in the world.  The passion
of the night was upon us, we willingly surrendered ourselves to it.

   Finally, she couldn't stand the warmup, any more, and raised her leg and
laid it over mine, indicating her readiness for what was about to happen.
Her soft blue eyes glowed in the moonlight like cat's eyes, as she took my
hand off her quite wet pussy...  and put it on my manhood.  The only word
that broke the stillness, was a long...  drawn out, whispered, "Now...."

   As I entered her, I felt her welcoming me, her walls rippling on me, and
her long gasp of pleasure.  Obviously, her cheerleader activities had
removed her maidenhead a while ago, as there was no barrier to my entering
her fully, sheathing myself in her like a sword resting firmly in its
scabbard.

   As I started to move in and out, Dana revealed another side to her. 
Gone were the soft moans and whispered pleas.  She started to get louder
with her moans, rising in volume with every thrust.  "So good...  so
good... you fill me up so good, Mike...  please...  harder...  harder... 
make it better...  Oh gooddddd, you do that so well..."

   Her voice was in a way, a turn on.  She made demands on me, and I
endeavored to give it to her as best as I could.  I tried to adjust my
angle and depth of my thrusts, and she continued to encourage me, getting
slightly lewder with her comments, as she begged me to give her what she
wanted.

   "Stretch my pussy...  mmmm...  Mike.  You make me so FUCKING wet... 
god...  can you feel my pussy getting all tingly and wet on you?" She asked
me, her voice nearly a demand.  I was VERY glad her folks weren't home to
hear their daughter give me a command performance.  "You're going to make
me cum, aren't you?  You're going to make me explode, and then you're going
to cum in me...  oh godddd, I can feel it now, you're going to cum in me so
hard that I'll be leaking for days.."

   Her voice began to take its toll on me, and I could tell from her
shrieks that she was close too.  But somehow, I managed to hold off on my
orgasm until she froze on me, and then with a quivering scream of pleasure,
announced her orgasm to the world.  (Or at least to anybody who might be
listening).  A minute or two later, just as she was coming down, I finally
couldn't resist any longer, and shot off deep inside her simmering pussy.
She felt me jam myself inside her and that was enough to set her off again.

   We both collapsed, and she curled up against me as we tried to stay
awake, but the intensity of our orgasms overwhelmed us, and we slept for
two hours.  We were both a little sore when we woke up, but neither of us
regret it for an instant.  She knew I'd be in trouble with my folks if I
didn't show up SOMETIME, but we promised each other that first thing in the
morning, we'd meet and talk some more.

   Admittedly, we had trouble NOT playing a little grab-ass with each
other, and I did have a hard on when I left, but I was also wearing the
biggest smile ever on my face when she whispered "I love you, Mike" and
gently closed the door behind me.

   I got home, and looked at the calendar, and realized what tomorrow's
date would be.  A smile came to my face, as I came up with a plan...

   That next morning, after calling to make sure she was awake, I hurried
over, with a bulge in my pockets, and she greeted me with a hug and a
soul-searing kiss.  Before we could do more then that, I gently led her
over to the couch, and sat her down.  "Dana...  sweetie...  I realized what
today's date was, and I realized I hadn't gotten you anything..."

   She smiled and went to interrupt me, but I wouldn't let her.  "But I
think I have the perfect gift for you, for the gift you gave me.  Could you
run up to your room and get your favorite necklace?"

   She was a bit confused, but nodded, and ran upstairs.  I admired the
view, and she gave me a smile at the top of the stairs, and quickly
disappeared into her room, and just as quickly reappeared, a gold necklace
in her hand.  She came down and handed it to me, with a questioning look on
her face.  Before she could ask why, I put a finger to her lips, and waited
until she nodded...  then I turned my back, and removed something from my
pocket, and quietly attached it to the necklace, before turning back to
her, the necklace being hidden by my cupped hands.

   I indicated she should reach inside, and still a bit confused, she did
so...  and froze, as she discovered the item I had attached to it.  Slowly,
and disbelievingly, she brought the necklace out, and hanging next to the
gold heart at the end of the necklace...  was a class ring.  MY class ring.
She looked at me, eyes threatening to tear over, as I nodded.

   "Last night, you said that you didn't care about the gossips or what
have you.  So, I figured that you would like a visible icon of how much I
love you, Dana Crawford.  You've given me so much, and now it is time I
gave back to you.  You already have my heart.  I figured my class ring
wouldn't be any more of a sacrifice."

   That did it.  That made her break down in some of the happiest tears
I've ever seen a woman cry, and I'm sure I added a few of my own to the
mix, as we held each other tight.

   She put the necklace on, looking down at how the jewel in the ring
sparkled in a contrast to the gold on the necklace.  "Damnit, Mike, you
always ruin my plans.  I never want to take this off..." she said, hand
rubbing the necklace, then she gently lifted it off and placed it on the
end table She looked up at me again..  "But I think it might rust or
something if I took it with us into the shower." She launched herself into
my arms, and we kissed, and then she led me toward her bathroom, and the
delights to follow.

   That was six years ago.

   Dana still wears the necklace with the ring attached when we go out. 
But she has one new ring to replace it already.  An engagement ring, which
soon would have a wedding ring on the same finger.

   We were making up a list of people to invite, (including Hank, who I had
asked to be my Best Man, for his role in what happened that night at the
party), and I noticed that she had left one spot for an invitation open.  I
asked her who she had forgotten.  Her smile had a predatory gleam to it.

   "Well, it we're going to make Hank the Best Man for what he's done, I
figure that Judy Antonucci deserved at least an invite for what she did. 
After all, if she and poor henpecked Johnny hadn't done what they had, you
never would have had the guts to do what you did.  Besides, I kind of feel
sorry for them, they have to deal with each other.  Johnny never got that
football scholarship, and Judy was a pariah for what she had done.  So all
they had left was each other.  And they make each other miserable. 
Besides, I don't think they will show up, but I hope they do..."

   She smiled at me, and her hand found mine, and her eyes shone with the
loss they had inflicted on her, and the ultimate victory she had claimed
with me.  She spoke, her voice, confident and strong, and filled with love,
which provided an odd contrast to her words.

   "To mangle an old song...  It's our party, and Judy'll cry if she wants
to, you would cry too if it happened to you"