From: HstarbuckH@aol.com Date: Wed, 11 Nov 1998 07:07:54 EST Subject: A submission (1/3) Hi! I have a fanfic submission I'd like to make. The whole thing is too big to post in one e-mail, so I'm sending it in three. But when you post it, please make sure to fit it into one big file. Thanks! Title: True Love Author: Gill, Jr. E-mail address: HstarbuckH@aol.com Rating: PG-13 Category: MSR Spoilers: None Keywords: MSR, Alternate Universe (If you consider high school an alternate universe.) Summary: Dana and Fox are lookin' for love in all the wrong places. :o) Disclaimer: Ugh! I admit it...they're not mine. I'm just borrowing them for a little while. Mulder and Scully belong to CC and Co., 1013, and Fox. (unfortunately) The character Carrie Sylvan is mine. Well, guess I'm gonna make this short and sweet. Read on, brave souls! Please, please, PLEASE send me feedback!!!! It would be greatly appreciated by me. I'll accept constructive criticism, but please, don't flame me! Thanks, and enjoy! ;oD ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~True Love~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ A fanfic by Gill, Jr. Dana Scully sat moping on the first row of bleachers. It was the first dance at her high school that year, and it was looking bad already. She was very confident coming into this dance. She knew exactly how she'd feel coming out of it. She had made up her mind that she was going to ask her crush, Mike Matthews, to dance with her. And with her red spaghetti-strapped dress, and hair that left shiny copper strands dangling in front of her face, she didn't know how he could resist her. But as soon as she asked him, he gave her a weird look and walked away. And as if that wasn't bad enough, someone accidentally spilled punch on her dress. Luckily, she had gotten the stain out. Still, she felt awful. she thought sadly. Sure, she had had boyfriends before. But they were just cases of puppy-love...nothing serious. She didn't think she realized just *how* much she needed a steady boyfriend until that moment. Her heart sank impossibly lower into her stomach. It was then that Carrie Sylvan, a popular girl Dana didn't trust in the least bit, came up to Dana's slouched form. She put a hand on her shoulder. "Dana? What's wrong?" She lifted up her head to look into the sympathetic eyes of Carrie Sylvan. "Nothing!" she said a little more defensively than she had meant to. "I mean...I'm fine." "Really?" asked Carrie, sitting down next to Dana on the bleachers. "It sure doesn't look like it. "I'm okay...really!" "No, you're not," said the girl, moving a little closer to Dana, "I can tell. You need something, don't you?" Not waiting for her to answer, she put her hand on her arm. "You're looking for someone to dance with, aren't you?" She looked up at Carrie, considering what to tell her. Under normal circumstances, she would have ignored her. After all, in the third grade, Carrie had pretended to be Dana's best friend and had told everyone in the class who Dana liked. But at this moment, something compelled her to tell her the truth. She hesitated. "Um...yeah...I guess you could say that." Carrie smiled. "Well, I know the perfect person for you. He's very attractive and well-known. When I was talking to him the other day, he told me about you. Said you were pretty." Poor Dana did not know that this was a lie...Carrie didn't know of anyone who liked Dana. Unfortunately, Dana bought it, hook- line-and-sinker, just as Carrie knew she would. "Yeah?" Dana asked, her eyes more vibrant now. "Yeah!" said Carrie enthusiastically. "I know he likes girls who wear red lipstick..." she said, her voice trailing off. "I don't have--" "Already got that covered." Reaching into her purse, the girl picked out a deep red lipstick. "Why don't you go into the bathroom and fix yourself up for him." Carrie said, winking at Dana. She needed an excuse to get Dana to go away so she could talk some popular boy into dancing with her. "Okay, sure!" said Dana, grasping the tube of lipstick, heading towards the lady's room. Carrie got up and tapped the shoulder of a tall boy dancing in the center of the gym. He turned around. "Oh, hey, Carrie!" he said, smiling. "No time for that," she snapped, pulling him aside. "What is it?" he asked her, a worried look forming on his face. "There's this ugly loser I want you to dance with. Pretend you like her and all, and then ditch her. You in on this or not?" "Sure! This sounds like fun. Especially if she's as ugly as you say she is." "Of course she is! Here she comes. Act natural!" she said, walking up to the girl emerging from the gymnasium doors. He laughed to himself, his back to the door. he thought. A finger's tap at his shoulder shook him out of his reverie. He turned around to see two girls standing in front of him. Carrie spoke first. "Fox Mulder, I'd like you to meet Dana Scully." XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "Well, I'll just leave you two alone now." said Carrie, walking away. Fox took in the girl standing before him in awe. Her long legs, her curvy body, her softly sloped neck, her full lips and long eyelashes. Her soft auburn hair set off her blue eyes. She was drop-dead gorgeous. Dana studied the boy in front of her. He was VERY handsome. A loose lock of hair hung lazily across his forehead. His eyes were beautiful pools of hazel, so deep, she was afraid she'd get lost in their depths. She decided she better do or say something quick. She smiled and held out her hand in greeting. "Hi." "Hi," he said, taking her hand in his. Before she knew what was happening, he bent down and pressed his lips to the back of her hand. Her heart fluttered; a new sensation to her. She smiled up at him, not realizing that they were still holding hands. Finally, he let go of her hand. "Want something to drink?" he asked. "Sure." So, putting his hand on the small of her back, he lead her to the refreshment table. she thought, smiling. Pouring some of the red liquid into a clear cup, he handed it to Dana. Then, he poured some into another cup for himself. "Let's go sit down." Fox said. She followed him to the bleachers. She sat down next to him and leaned back on the bleacher behind her. "So...what grade are you in?" he asked, turning to face her. "Ninth. You?" "I'm in my senior year." "Oh," she said, nodding. "You into anything? I mean...school stuff." "No. I mean, why embarrass yourself by playing on the Kennedy Rams, the worst school on earth?" He laughed. "Yeah, I know what you mean." he took one final gulp, finishing his punch. She was still finishing hers, so he continued talking. "I'm not into anything, either. I'm a good runner. I've been considering the track team--" "You should! I mean, you'd probably be good at it!" He smiled at her, noticing that she had finished her punch. "You know what? I just might!" She smiled back and held his gaze. For a moment, none of them said anything. Until a slow, romantic song began playing. Standing up and offering her his hand, he asked, "May I have this dance?" She grinned at him. "Sure." So, hand-in-hand, they walked to the center of the gym where a few other couples already danced. Normally, she would have kept some distance between her and her dance partner, but not now; not this time. She wrapped an arm around him and held his hand, dancing very close to him. He pulled her a little closer, settling her body against his. They didn't notice it, but the couples dancing near them had now stepped back to join the large circle of spectators who had gathered around to watch the new couple. They were in awe. Most people didn't care who Fox Mulder danced with. True, the girl in his arms was no beauty pageant winner, but she wasn't ugly. No, not at all. Whoever Fox chose as his girlfriend was just fine with everyone else. He was, after all, one of the most attractive and popular boys in the school. Subconsciously, Dana lightly placed her head against Fox's chest. Feeling her relax a little more, he put his chin on the top of her head. They danced in slow, fluid movements, each move complimenting the next. After a short eternity, the song ended. Fox put his hands on Dana's shoulders, pulling her away from him slightly. Then, he put his hands on both sides of her head and kissed her forehead. She closed her eyes. There were a few gasps and muffled "Awww's" from the crowd, but they were so deep in their own little world, they didn't notice. "Wanna dance some more?" asked Fox, not ready to quit just yet. She smiled up at him. "Of course." XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx A few fast-paced dances later, the couple sat red-faced on the bleachers. "I'm pooped!" said Dana. "Yeah, me too." nodded Fox in agreement. "Want me to drive you home?" "Uh...sure, I guess," said Dana, trying to keep all the excitement she was feeling out of her voice. "I just need to tell my friend Karen that I don't need a ride." "Okay. I'll wait here for you." Dana walked across the gym to a girl wearing a shimmering, light blue dress. "Hi, Karen!" Dana said, greeting her friend. "Hey, Dana. Who's that hot guy you were dancing with?" she asked, a twinkle in her eyes. Dana felt a blush creep up her cheeks. "He's...uh...no one." "Come on, now, Dana. I know better than that." "Trust me, he's just like any other guy!" "Okay, sure. Whatever you say." Karen said, far from convinced. "The reason I came here was to tell you that I won't be needing a ride home." Dana said, looking down at the floor. "Ooooh...I understand!" she said, winking at her friend. "One of these days, Karen..." Dana said, playfully admonishing her. "Oooh, I'm scared now!" mocked her friend. "Go on now. Have a good time!" she said, waving Dana away. Dana just gave her a funny look and walked back to the bleachers where Fox was waiting. "Ready to go?" he asked, holding out his hand to her. She warmly received it and gave it a squeeze. "Let's go." XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx When they arrived at Fox's rusty Ford truck he let go of her hand and held the door for her. Once she was in, he pushed the door shut and walked around to his side. He got buckled, but before he started the car, he turned to face her. "Where do you live, Dana?" "6509 Rock--" she paused as he reached out to her, smoothing away a lock of hair. "--ford Drive." He looked into her eyes and smiled. She smiled again, for the umpteenth time that evening. "Let's head out." he said, starting the car. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "Well, here we are," said Fox, parking the truck in the Scullys' driveway. Dana started to get out of the car, but Fox put his hand on her arm. "I'll get your door." So he climbed out and walked to the other side of the door to let her out. He took her hand. Then, they walked to her front porch. For a few moments, they stood there saying nothing. "I...um...guess this is goodbye." he said timidly. "Guess it is." she said, equally as shy as he. He put his hand on her shoulder and held her eyes with his. She reached out her hand to cup his face. She felt hot tears of happiness spring forth from her eyes and trickle down her cheeks. On an unbelievable strong impulse, he leaned in and kissed her tears away. Her eyes closed, reveling in the sensation. She never wanted this moment to end. Neither did he. She looked into his eyes. They were glowing as bright as day. The tension between them flared in the air and sparked electricity. Then, he leaned down once again and kissed her ever so gently on the lips. She sighed softly and pulled his bottom lip into her mouth. He wove his fingers through her silken hair and stroked his free hand up and down her back. Reluctantly, he broke the kiss. Patting her shoulder, he stepped back a little. "Goodnight, Dana." "Goodnight, Fox." He walked to his car and stepped in, shutting the door. But before he left, he set his head on the steering wheel. He sighed a happy sigh. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Dana had trouble sleeping that night. She just couldn't get her mind off Fox. No doubt she would ever forget him. She was just worried he would forget her. She made her way to her locker and set her books down, opening it. Above her lunch sat a note someone must have stuck in her locker. She didn't have enough time to read it, so she stuck it in her pocket for later. She slammed the locker shut and went into the buzzing cafeteria. She sat down at a table with her friends Rachel, Bianca, Annie, and Karen. She said a quick, 'Hey guys' and unfolded the note. Everyone exchanged glances. The note read: Dear Dana, Hi again! I just wanted to say that I had the time of my life last night. Most fun I've ever had. Really. If you're interested, I'd like to ask you out to my house tomorrow night. I already talked it over with my mom, and she's thrilled to meet you. So...what do ya' say? Please let me know. Just drop a note in locker 1013. (That's my locker. Love, Fox PS: If you're interested, I'll pick you up at 5:30 p.m. Dana was in shock. Love, Fox? She couldn't believe he'd write like that to her, let alone ask her out. She read it again and again, her heart rising each time. This was going to be the best day of her life. "Dana! Who's the note from?" asked Bianca, a tall girl with brown eyes and black hair. "Oh...nobody." "Come on, tell me, PLEASE?!" Bianca pleaded. "Nope." Karen spoke up. "I think I know who it is..." she said teasingly. Reading her friend's mind, Dana shot Karen a look. Karen ignored her. "...but whoever it is, it's no one's business but hers." "Thanks." Dana whispered to Karen. Karen winked back at her. She wouldn't tell a soul. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx <1010...1011...1012...ah, 1013.> thought Dana, counting the locker numbers. She fished the note she had written in reply out of her purse and stuck it inside the slot of Fox's locker. Needless to say, her answer was "yes." She then walked further down the hall to her locker and gathered up her things. She walked proudly out the doors of Kennedy High School. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Dana stepped into her house, to find her sister sitting in a rocking chair. Other than the sound of the creaking chair, there were no other detectable noises in the house. she thought. "Hey, Missy!" she said, throwing down her books. Her sister got up to give Dana a hug. "Hey, sis. You seem happy! Get asked out or something?" she teased. Dana blushed. "Well...uh...no, not really." "Yeah. Right. Who's the lucky guy?" She hesitated a little, even though she knew she could tell her sister anything. "Fox Mulder..." "Fox Mulder?" Melissa repeated. "Yep. That's him." "Is he cute?" Dana felt herself blush even more and was suddenly quite fascinated with the floor. But when she answered, she found herself looking up at her sister. "Yes." "Oh...sounds interesting...so, when are you two going to start dating?" "Tomorrow." "How long have you known him?" here sister asked, sitting up a little more. "Since last night..." "Whoa...he must be someone special, then!" "I guess so." Dana said, not revealing how much she agreed with her sister's statement. Changing the subject, she asked, "Where is everyone?" "Bill's getting beat up at football practice," at this, Dana grinned, "Mom and Dad are shopping, and I think Chuck went off with one of his friends." "No wonder the house is so quiet." Her and her sister shared a laugh. "Well, I'm gonna go upstairs to start my homework. Okay?" "Okay." Melissa said, picking up the book she was reading. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx When Dana had finished her homework, she lied down on her bed. She closed her eyes and pictured Fox in her mind. She loved the way he smiled at her. She loved how he treated her. She loved his personality. She loved his kiss...she loved *him.* she thought, said another voice. But one voice debated the other. She knew deep inside her heart that it was definitely more than love at first sight, but she also knew she couldn't be totally in love with him yet...but then again... She was confused. she thought, getting off the bed. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Dana sat at the deserted dinner table. Her mom would come in every now and then, bringing used dishes with her to the kitchen. When the last bowl was washed, and Dana was still there, Mrs. Scully knew something was up. She pulled up a chair next to her daughter. "What is it, Dana?" Dana had never actually been on a date before, and she worried how her parents would take it. She took a deep breath. "Mom...there's this boy at school who I really like, and...he likes me too, I think. Today he asked me out. He wants me to have dinner at his house to meet his parents tomorrow night. I was wondering if it was okay with you." Mrs. Scully considered that for a moment. "Is he a good kid?" "Yes...yes, I think so. Mom, he's right. I can feel it." Mrs. Scully paused a good fifteen seconds. "Okay. I'll let you date him. Just remember that 'little talk' we had, okay?" Dana sighed in embarrassment. "Sure, Mom. He's gonna pick me up at 5:30, okay?" "Sure." "Oh, thank you, Mom!" she said, jumping up from her chair to give her mother a big hug and a kiss on the cheek. Mrs. Scully laughed, being caught off-guard. "You're welcome, dear." she said, patting her daughter's back in reassurance. She released her grip on her daughter. Dana ran upstairs to go sleep. It was only 7:30, but she wanted tomorrow to come as quick as it could. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Dana sat in front of her closet the next day, wondering what to wear for her date. The day had come and gone very quickly, and now it was 3:30...two hours until she had to be ready. Something inside her told her that it was going to be a special date, and it made her want to wear something fancy. Then again, she was meeting his parents, so she didn't want to overdress. She couldn't decide. "Missy!" she called. In a few moments, her sister poked her head in the door. "You rang?" "I don't know what to wear for my date!" she said, whining. Melissa stepped into the room and sat down on the bed next to Dana. "Well, you're going to have to fill me in, here. Where are are you guys gonna go?" "I'm going to meet his parents, and then he said we might go to some mini-golf place." "Oooh, the best dating sport there is!" she said, grinning. Dana looked up at her and smiled a nervous smile back at her. "I'd go with something casual. Definitely. No skirts or dresses." All of a sudden, Missy got up and walked to Dana's closet. She reached in and pulled out a pair of stone-washed bellbottom flares. "I'd wear these with a cute tope. Maybe..." Melissa paused, searching deeper into the closet, "...this one." she said, drawing out a brown V-neck sweater with a lime-green stripe in the middle. "I guess that'd be okay." Dana said, taking the clothes out of her sister's hands. "Thanks, Missy." she added, smiling at her. "Anytime, sis." she said, walking towards the door. "Have a good time!" she said, closing the door behind her. thought Dana, changing into the clothes she was going to wear for her first date. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx DING DONG! Dana's stomach lurched. She didn't need her mom to yell up the stairs who it was; she knew. "Coming, ma!" she yelled, putting the finishing touches on her make- up. She studied her face in the mirror. She had to admit; she looked very nice. She just hoped Fox would think so, too. Closing her eyes and holding her breath, she walked out of her bedroom. She silently let it out at the top of the stairs. Smiling, she descended down the stairs. "Hi!" she said to Fox. "Hey, you!" he said, admiring her from head to toe. "You look nice!" She felt an all-too-familiar blush creep up her cheeks. "Thank you." she said, wondering when she could just leave. "Well...all set?" he asked her. "All set!" "Now Dana. Make sure you're back no later than 11." Mr. Scully said sternly. "And Fox," he said, turning his attention to the lanky boy in front of him, "you take good care of her, okay? Drive safely!" Fox smiled at Dana's father. "I will, Mr. Scully." he stuck out his hand and gave Mr. Scully a firm handshake to show he'd stay true to his word. Mr. Scully smiled back at him. "Well, then. Have fun!" he said, winking at his daughter. "We will!" Fox and Dana said in unison. They looked at each other and laughed. "Goodbye!" said Mrs. Scully. Fox and Dana walked from the door out into the driveway, Fox, keeping his hand on the small of her back. They didn't know it, but both of Dana's parents were watching them. "Look how cute they are together!" said Margaret, gazing happily at the couple. Mr. Scully just smiled. "I think Fox seems like a good kid. I'm glad she's dating him." Mrs. Scully sighed. "Me too," "Me three!" Melissa chimed in. Both Mr. and Mrs. Scully turned around to see Melissa standing there, grinning. She had been there the whole time. She had told Dana she couldn't pass up the opportunity to see her new boyfriend. Then, they all turned back to the window. When the truck was out of sight, they closed the door behind them and returned to what they had been doing. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "So. How are you Dana?" he asked after a few moments of silence. She turned to look at him. "I'm doing good." "That's good to hear." "How've you been?" she asked him. "Well...besides being really anxious for our date to start," he said, grinning at her, "I've been pretty good." She smiled at him. He smiled back. "You know, I've gotta admit...you have a wonderful smile." "You really think so?" she asked, still grinning. "Definitely." After that, there were a few more minutes of silence. However, the silence was sort of comforting. Finally, Fox broke it. "I talked it over with Mom. She says after dinner I can take you out. Sound okay?" "Sounds good." Just then, Fox pulled into a driveway. Dana noted his address. <5621 Wexford Ave.> "Well, we're here!" he said, bringing the truck to a halt. He got out on one side, and she, the other. "Oh, just to let you know, my dad might be a little late for dinner...he's at work." "Oh," she nodded. "Mom, I'm back!" he called through the screen door. Then, a pretty woman with black hair answered the door. "Hello! You must be Dana. Pleased to meet you!" she said, sticking her hand out the door. Dana shook it. "Come in, come in!" said Mrs. Mulder. Dana observed the place. The living room was painted white and had a few glass coffee tables. The windows were big, and had venetian blinds. she thought. "Fox, why don't you show Dana around the house while I fix dinner?" "Sure, Mom." he said. "Okay. Here's our living room," he said, pointing all around him. "Nice," she said in response. "Yeah, I like it, too." he said. And they both laughed. "I'll take you upstairs to see my room." Dana followed him up the stairs and followed him into a dark room. He switched the light on to reveal a poster-cluttered room. The posters ranged from Led Zeppelin to Pink Floyd, to Jimi Hendrix. There were sports magazines strewn across his bed. He quickly tossed them onto the floor, leaving him a spot to lay on the bed. He plopped onto the water bed, stretching out his right arm. "Come here." he said in a gentle voice. She did as she was told and sat down beside him. "Come here!" he repeated. She moved in as close to him as she could. "Lay down." So, she did. Right on top of his arm. "See that?" he asked, looking above his head. "Oh, wow!" Dana commented. "It's a ceiling window. I get to sleep under the stars every night; so to speak. It's kinda peaceful." "Yeah, I can understand." she said. She nestled her head into his shoulder. "It's going to be a while before dinner starts. Wanna watch some TV?" "Sure." "He got up and pressed the on-button on the TV. Then, he lied back again, against Dana. They only watched TV for a few minutes, until Mrs. Mulder called that dinner was ready from the bottom of the stairs. "Well, he said, patting her affectionately on the head, "we better go eat. I'm gonna need a lot of energy if I expect to beat you." She laughed. "You have no idea what you're talking about. I totally suck at mini-golf." "Well, we'll see about that." he said, a glimmer in his eyes. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "So, how old are you, Dana?" asked Mrs. Mulder. "I'm 15." "Oh." Mrs. Mulder said in amusement. "How do you like your first year at Kennedy?" "It's an okay school, I guess. Pretty decent." But Fox remembered what she had said the other night about the school. He grinned at Dana, imperceptible to his mother. Suddenly, they heard a key being pushed through the keyhole on the door. Seconds later, a tall man in a business suit emerged from the door. Dana thought. "Hi, honey!" Mrs. Mulder said. She got up from her seat to give her husband a kiss. "Hi," he said back, warmly. Looking over at Dana, Mrs. Mulder turned back to her husband. "And this is Fox's girlfriend, Dana Scully. Dana smiled politely at the man. "Nice to meet you, sir." He mustered a tiny smile and said, "Nice to meet you, too." In an instant, Dana felt sympathetic towards this man. She could tell that he probably almost never smiled. And his eyes were so, so sad. Maybe she could talk about it later with Fox. Just then, Fox glanced up at the clock. 7:00 p.m. They had better get going before the mini-golf place closed! "Mom, Dad? We better go now before the place closes." said Fox, slowly standing up. "Okay, son." said his father. "Have fun!" called his mother. Then, Fox and Dana walked out the door and climbed back into the cozy confines of the truck. "You ready to go?" he asked. "Sure." she replied. He smiled at her. "Okay, then." He turned the engine, and then, they left. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "That'll be three dollars." said the chubby window clerk at the golf range. Fox dug in his pocket and handed the lady the exact change. "Thanks for golfing at Brookpark Golfing Ranges. Don't swing your golf clubs higher than knee level. Have fun." said the clerk in a sing-songy voice. Fox picked up his ball and club, and so did Dana. "So...which course? Beginning or advanced?" "Beginning...definitely!" He laughed. "Okay. Beginning it is, then." Dana sighted the first hole and set her ball down. It was a fairly easy one; a straight shot ahead. she thought. She pulled her club back slightly and swung it straight at the ball. But at the last minte, before the club actually touched the ball, the club went sideways, sending the ball diagonal of the hole. It was almost as if she didn't have any control; as if it were someone else playing for her. But suddenly, Fox came up to her. "Your stance is wrong. Want me to show you the right way?" "Okay." she said. He came up from behind her and straddled his legs slightly. "Spread your feet apart just a little bit more," he instructed. Once she did that, he rested his chin on her right shoulder and put his warm hands on top of hers. Dana felt her heart flutter in her chest. "Okay. Now bring the club back..." he said, moving the club back with her. "...and for this hole, you don't wanna strike too hard. I'll let you be the judge on how hard you think you have to hit it. She hesitated a moment. Golf was *definitely* not her game. "Go on," he encouraged. Finally, she swung back the club and struck the ball, Fox's hands following hers in the motion. They stood like that until the ball rolled into the hole with an audible 'plop.' "Hey, you're doing great!" he said, breaking contact with her but still gazing at her affectionately. "The only reason I did good was because you helped me!" she said, smiling. "Nah, I doubt it. Hey," he said as he lowered his voice seductively and lowered his head so it was level with hers, "do you think you'll need any help on the next few holes? I just *love* teaching you." "Well then, teacher. Let class begin." she said, just as seductive as he. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Dana wasn't sure that at the end of the 18 holes, she really needed help for any of them. But despite that, Fox had helped her with every hole. And even though Fox was very good, she still had won! Dana had 45 and Fox had 49. Suddenly, Fox came from behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Well, you won this time, but there's always next time!" he said, a glint in his eye. "We'll just see about that..." she said, taking a step toward him. "So...do you want to celebrate your victory with ice cream?" "OUR victory," she corrected, "couldn't have done it without you!" "Okay. Want to celebrate OUR victory?" "Sure." "What flavor do you want?" "Peanut Butter Cup." He mockingly gasped and put his hand over his chest. "We must be soul mates...that's my favorite ice cream!" he joked. "Yeah, mine too! I'm gonna go up to the pavilion to wait for you." He nodded, and she climbed up the wooden steps to the rattan pavilion. Pulling out a chair, she sat down on it and stared off into the sunset. It was beautiful. The sun itself as a deep orange and painted the sky in pinks, yellows, and purples. There wasn't a single chill in the air yet, and the warm, cheery atmosphere seemed to affect everyone and everything. Ruffling her hair, Fox broke her out of her reverie. "I'm back!" he said, sitting down in a chair across from her. "Thank goodness. I'm starved!" "Well, dig in!" he said, waving the cone towards her. She picked up the cone and began eating. It was very good. She munched and crunched away contentedly, only having one regret...it was melting all over her. She grabbed the napkin holder and withdrew a few napkins, wiping a her fingers. The only thing she didn't know was that there was a little ice cream smudged on her cheek. Fox lifted his napkin to her face and gently wiped it, gazing into her eyes the whole time. Dropping the napkin, his intentions to wipe her face turned into the desire to caress it. So he did. Then, he felt Dana lean int his palm slightly. She smiled at him and he smiled back and then they both went back to eating their ice cream until the moon shone high above them. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx "Ready to go back home?" he asked as she threw away their trash left over from their ice cream. "I guess so." Linking her arm in his, they walked slowly back to the truck. "So did you have fun?" he asked her as the approached the car. "I had a great time." she said, smiling up at him. She then unlinked her arm from his so she could get in from the opposite side of the truck. He waited until they were both in the car. "You know what?" he asked, grinning, "Me too!" Suddenly, something blurted from his mouth. "Wanna go over my house this Friday? My parents won't be home..." She gave him 'the look.' Realizing what his words had sounded like, he hurried on. "No, no, I didn't mean it like that!" he insisted. "I just thought it'd be a good time to ask you over. We could..." he paused, grasping desperately for the right words, "...hang out." "Okay. I'd just have to check with my parents first. They always wanna know where I am. I guess they're a bit overprotective." Fox nodded his understanding. "That's good, though. It means they care and want to keep you out of trouble. But I don't think they should have to worry much. You're a good girl!" he said, squeezing her shoulder. "Thanks." she said, turning to face him. "So...if your parents say it's okay, will you come?" he asked. "It's a date!" Dana said, smiling at him. Fox patted her shoulder, where his hand still was. Then, the engine roared to life and they sped away. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx Thursday had come and gone in the blink of an eye. On Friday, in almost all of her classes, Dana found herself writing "I love Fox" all over her notebooks. She wasn't paying any attention at all, but she didn't care. She had more important things on her mind. Walking happily down the hallway, she suddenly heard a voice. Fox's voice. It was coming from an empty classroom with its lights off. She wasn't the type of person to eavesdrop, but she found herself doing it anyway. Then, she heard a second voice. Carrie Sylvan's. "You were supposed to *pretend* you liked her! You were supposed to dump her! But here I find you two walking hand-in-hand down the hallway!" "Carrie, I--" Dana didn't hear anymore. Her mind drifted back a few days ago. Carrie's ugly visage came back to her. "...I know the perfect person for you..." Then, Fox's face replaced Carrie's. She saw her and Fox holding hands, dancing...kissing. No wonder he'd been all lovey-dovey with her! He had been faking the whole time. She began to cry. Dana ran down the hallway; her heart shattering into a million tiny pieces with each step. XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx She walked to his house that Friday night. She wasn't going to come at first, but she knew she needed to talk with him eventually. There was no need for a ride; her house was only two blocks away from his. Then, she came upon his house. Stepping onto the front porch, she lifted her hand out of her coat pocket and rang the doorbell. He came to the door in about 15 seconds. "Hi Dan--" he cut himself off, caught off-guard by the steely look she gave him. "What's wrong?!" he asked immediately. She stood there for a moment, never breaking eye contact with him. "Aren't you going to let me in?" she asked testily. "Yeah. Sure," he said, meekly, holding the door open for her. She stepped into his house gruffly. she thought over and over in her head. She was so worried she'd take all her anger out on Fox. But yet she needed to get it out somehow. She sighed in exasperation. She sat herself down on the couch. Fox was still by the door but was now looking at her. She stared him down and said at last, "We need to talk." For a brief moment, he looked puzzled. Immediately, his bemusement faded. He didn't know what it was about, but he knew not to mess around when Dana was mad. "Um...okay." "Sit down," she instructed. He sat down, and he almost laughed. How is it that a girl that's four years younger and at least a foot and a half shorter than him can boss him around in his own house?! There was just *something* about her. Even though he didn't know her too well, he knew one thing for sure...she was a tough cookie. She was self-sufficient. And very strong. And heaven help anyone who get in her way. For a moment, neither of them said anything. The ticking from the kitchen clock was a dull throb in Dana's ears. "So...what's wrong?" Fox asked, staring at his hands that were neatly folded in his lap. Dana had to try real hard to hold back the tears that were just beginning to sting her eyes. "Fox..." she began. He nodded his head, urging her to continue. "I-- I heard you...talking today. With--" she choked back the tears, "--Carrie." Fox's face suddenly lost all its color. "Dana--" "No, don't!!" she snapped. "I need you to hear me out." she said a little more calmly. She continued. "And from that conversation I learned a lot. A *whole* lot. This whole..." she groped for a word, "gentleman act was phony! You just thought you'd have loads of fun toying around with my heart, didn't you? DIDN'T YOU?!?!" Now the tears poured down her face. "Well, I didn't have any fun at all!!" "Dana, I'm so sorry." he said, reaching out to wipe away her tears. She slapped his hand away and drew back, tightly hugging her knees to her chest. "I thought you loved me! I really did! And you know what? I loved you too! But I might as well forget about it all because now I know the truth." she shouted. There was a moment of silence between them. Finally, he spoke. "Do you want to know something?" She looked up at him and said nothing. Finally, she caved in. "What?" she sighed. "That night at the dance...Carrie told me that I was going to play a trick on a girl. I was to make her think that I loved her. I wanted to go along with it. I have no idea why...just...it was stupid. But when I saw you...I couldn't do it. I was immediately attracted to you. You were right. I *did* love you. I still do." She looked up at him, her chin quivering as if she were about to cry again. He continued. "Dana...I've never felt this way before. I've never had anyone to love. But then you came. You filled a void no other human soul ever could. I..." he paused, "...I don't want to lose you. I can't." Then, his own tears spilled. She couldn't hold it in any longer. She reached out and pulled him to her. A sigh escaped Fox's lips. He pulled Dana backwards with him and they landed together on the couch cushions. She wrapped her arms tightly around him and buried her head in his chest. He kissed the top of her head and stroked her back. "Don't you ever leave me." he whispered in her ear. "I'm not going anywhere." she said, squeezing him. "Oh, God, I love you so much." he said, kissing the top of her head again. "I love you, too." XxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXxXx All done, bye bye!