ONE WEEK LATER…

            Ashley and I have gotten to know each other better in this week. We’ve been hanging out every day. She’s actually really cool. I have to say it, I mean think it; I think I have a crush on this girl. She is amazing, and beautiful, and amazing.

            “Spencer, see you tonight?” she says. We are having one of those good old fashioned sleepovers. It was Ashley’s idea. Right now she is leaving my house to go eat dinner then pack and stuff.

            “Yes, see you tonight.” I say. I hug her, tight. I don’t want to let go. She isn’t trying to break free either, so we stand there hugging for like 2 minutes before she finally pulls away. She smiles and then leaves. I smile to myself. Dear lord, she’s amazing.

            At exactly 9:00 pm, Ashley is at my front door. She rings the doorbell and my mom answers. Que 20 minute long catching-up-when-you-really-don’t-need-to-be-catching-up conversation. My mom is famous for those. Thankfully, I rescue Ashley before my mom can get too into it. I bring her upstairs to my room.

            “You can just set your stuff down here. You’re in for a looooong night, my friend.” I say. She raises an eyebrow. Jesus. Not what I meant…

            “Am I?”

            I grunt. “You’re so difficult.”

            She laughs. “I know.”

            We decide to watch a movie. Ashley picks A Walk to Remember. I assume movie watch position, sitting on my bed with my back against the headboard across from the TV. Ashley sits right next to me so that our legs are touching. I have a queen sized bed… there’s plenty of room for her to sit on that side. Why is she sitting right up against me? Does she like me? I put a pillow behind both of us so that our backs won’t have to touch the hard, cold headboard. The movie starts.

            About half way through the movie, Ashley stretches up her arms, yawns, and her right arm wraps itself around my shoulders, clutching the top of my right arm. I don’t even flinch. I just keep staring straight at the screen. Twenty minutes goes by, and I’ve forgotten that her arm is around me. But she starts to rub my right shoulder slowly and I remember. She just doesn’t give up, does she? Then she stops rubbing. Damn it, girl, don’t stop.