When the Dork touched my shoulder during that study session, things just felt right. For some reason, I didn't care that he had touched me and didn't throw his hand off like I would have anyone else. I wondered what was happening to me at that time. He promised not to tell anyone about what went on during our studies, which I sure hope he kept, and things just seemed right. I almost hugged him after I retook the practice test he gave me and got a nearly perfect score. I was so happy that I had improved that much. I know I had a big smile on my face at the time, but I didn't care. After we finished and put our stuff away, I felt I could pass the History test with ease come Tuesday.

I walked to the door and looked to make sure no one saw Ruben walk out of my house. I was not quite ready to let everyone know he was over here yet. With the coast clear, I thanked him for his help and gently pushed him out the door. "GENTLY"? Humm, I'm changing already. I turn to head upstairs when my mom stops me and makes me replace everything I had moved before his arrival. Once completed, I retreated to my room and stood at my window while my mom fixed dinner. I began to realize how comfortable I was with Ruben around and looked forward to him returning.

I know my body will start changing soon, well, at a faster rate now. My voice will change. I will grow and fill out and start getting more hair in places than before. Out of thoughtless habit, I reach in my pants to "scratch" and make sure everything is still the same down there. Even that will get bigger and grow into a man's size tool soon. What did our teacher tell us in Health Class? Our hormones will cause puberty and cause changes in our bodies and how we think and feel about some things. I remember thinking, "I wonder if it will make us smarter" I chuckled.

Standing in the shower, letting the water just run over my head, for now, I involuntary reach down and "scratch" again. NO! No playtime for me just yet. That will have to wait until after the Prom, I promised, and I plan on keeping it. Grinning, I can't help but think of the Prom. Walking in with my date by my arm, the shocked look on everyone's face, the dancing, yep, I taught my date to dance what other surprises will be in store for our friends. I'm sure there will be many. The hugging, kissing, time spent together. The truth will be coming out rather they like it or not. Yea, it's going to be a fun night.

The cell ringing breaks me out of my reprieve, and I jump out of the shower, wrapping a towel around myself in the process. "Hello," I answer, praying it's my date, just to hear that sweet voice again before tonight. "Donnie, whose Ruben's date for tonight?" Andrew quickly spits out in a frantic plea to find a secret he doesn't know. "Andrew, you are a real Dork, you know that? How am I supposed to know who he is going to the Prom with? You and Chase are his best friends, shouldn't you know?" "That's the point," he nearly shouts. "We don't know, and he's been helping you study through school. Your grade point average is near his and Nazz's." "Being smart does not tell me ever thing, Andrew. This is one thing I can't help you with." I tell Andrew. I can hear him sigh on the other end of the phone. "Andrew, are you going to the Prom tonight?" I ask him. "I guess I will have to, Donnie, if I want to see who Ruben is dating," he answers.

"Listen, Andrew, I have to finish getting ready myself, so..." "Okay, talk to you there, I guess," he responds. "Sure thing, Dork" I laugh and hang up the phone and jump back in the shower. I am quickly washing my short red hair and my body. I work to finish before the water turns cold. I just do make it in time as I feel the heat dropping from the water spray as I wash the last of the soap off of me. A vigorous rub down with the towel finishes that step of tonight's ritual. Facing the mirror, I reach for my electric shaver. Thanks to my fair complexion and red hair, shaving is a simple swipe with the razor, and I'm done. "Will I always have this baby face" I wonder? Again it is strange the way things have changed and the way we all look now. I still have the face of my early teens, other than a few facial hairs here and there, while those like Renato have grown a beard practically.

Walking back into my room, I look at all of the trophies I have collected over the years. Football, Baseball, even one for Basketball. However, that was just not a game for me. I walk to the window looking out over the Cul-de-Sac, seeing the sky beginning to its slow change from blue to orange. I guess the time has come at last. A look at the clock beside my bed tells me it's time to start. I pick up my phone and text my date that I will be leaving the house in about 30 minutes to have our times in sync. I receive the answer I was expecting with little hearts attached at the end.

A dash of body deodorant and time to start with the Tux. Boxer briefs, Undershirt, Shocks, fix my hair, Dress shirt, slacks, tie (yuck), shoes, and lastly, the jacket. A quick check in the mirror shows a well-dressed man, not the Jock I have been through school. A jock with major butterflies right now. A quick peck on my mom's cheek, and I'm out the door to my Ford Ranger that I will be driving for now. The butterflies in my stomach return in full force, and I wonder if we will be able to pull this off without a hitch this evening. Well, we promised each other, and Donnie Vincent Murphy does not break his word for anyone.

Taking my shower, I am so thankful for the removable handle and hose. I hate having to bend over to lean under a stationary showerhead. Sometimes being so tall does not have its advantage. Just as I step out of my shower, my phone chirps to let me know I have a message, ARRRGG Cell Phones! I see it is my date with a time confirmation, so we are all working together. Better than having one of us ready an hour before the other, I guess. After responding and drying, I move to the sink to lather up and shave. Thank goodness this is not an everyday ordeal yet, but it still needs to be done, or I will look like some hippie in a coffee shop. That done, I put on aftershave, deodorant, and dry and fix my hair. It has to be perfect tonight, going without my cap for the first time in public. As I move into my bedroom, I hear Donnie's truck pull out of his driveway on the way to meet his date. I know there will be many teenagers leaving about now or waiting for Limos. Funny, I haven't seen any around here this afternoon.

Limos in the Cul-de-Sac would be funny to see, and it's sure not something you see every day. Like love, it just creeps on you from the strangest location. I never thought I would fall in love as a teenager though, I am glad I did, and I have been so happy since then. I know it happened over that Holiday Weekend. I helped Donnie with his studies; I just wish I had seen it back then. But between it all, it was a fun time. We were able to outsmart Andrew on this one, and he never caught on. No one caught on to what we were doing and all the sneaking off under false pretense to have some alone time. I am almost sorry to see that time go. We agreed we would go to the prom together as a couple if we made it.

The night Donnie lost his father was a very tough time. When his mother came out of the house screaming for him, we were all trying to avoid the Harrison triplets. Those three were relentless in their endeavors. His mother's cries brought everyone running to see what was going on. Her screams shattered our peaceful little Cul-de-Sac. When we arrived in the street in front of his house, she pulled him off his bike and into her car and took off so fast she was out of sight before his bicycle wheels stopped spinning. Someone set his bike next to his garage, and we all took off to find an adult to see what happened. The only one home at the time, as usual, was Chase and Christine's mother. We found her sitting in the living room staring off into space.

She had us all sit around wherever we could find a seat, and she began to explain that Donnie's father had just passed away after being hit in the side by a drunk driver on his way home from work. All the parents came home right away to be with their kids, all except mine. Chase's mom was taking of me while my parents were busy. After the kids were picked up, Johnny's mom offered to take Chase's mom to the hospital to drive Miss Murphy back home. Chase and Christine didn't want to go, so they stayed with Jimmy's parents, and off we went. After arriving, she went to the desk to find Donnie's mom, and I went to the waiting room. I found Donnie crying so hard his eyes were as red as his hair.

"Donnie," I spoke gently, calling out his name. He looked up and ran into my arms. I don't think he was even caring at that time, and he just needs someone to hold. He started crying even harder than he was before sobbing, "he's gone, he's gone" over and over. All I could do at that point was just hold him and give him the comfort he needed. When we got back home, Tammy was in a fit that she couldn't find me. Well, she'll get over it, I guess or go on having fits. Donnie begged me not to leave him after we walked into the house. He and his mom were still in shock over the whole ordeal. I told him I would grab a bag from the house and let Chase's mother know where I was if that was okay with his mom. She agreed, and I took off to take care of that business before returning to Donnie's home.

From that time until the funeral, I stayed with Donnie. No one said a word other than Tammy Harrison. Will she ever grow up? I guess there was a Limousine in the Cul-de-Sac that day. Just one of those things that everyone knew but never mentioned again. I can't say I blamed them for that. Donnie has never been that weak and vulnerable, I think. I mean, he spent most of the time crying, and if I wasn't around, he sought me out at times. He fell apart so bad that I had to walk him into a shower a few times and bathe him. Embarrassing for sure and something I will never tell him. He would just stand there and let me do what needed to be done. At the age of 14, our bodies were pretty much the same, and well with me washing him, parts of him started to respond. I don't think he even notices or cares at the time, so I just let it be.

Shortly after the funeral, Donnie came out of his funk, and I returned home. I wonder if this had changed our friendship any. I enjoyed being friends with Donnie and began to like having him around. I finished getting dressed for the prom and made any last-minute changes to my outfit. Now came the tricky part. I am getting in my car and leaving without Andrew knowing or following me to see my date and the Limo. We promised that we would show up at the prom together, showing our love for each other out in the open for the first time. I never really got nervous until now. Well, here goes nothing, I think. The kitchen door offers me the least amount of time in the open view from Chase's or Andrew's house, so I choose to go out that way. My Volvo is turned, so the Driver's door is facing me, ready to go. I jumped in the car and turning down the short road to the main street. I look to see if there is any movement at either house. As I make my turn and head off, I watch the road and the mirror for someone trying to follow. So far, so good, I think, as I head off to my encounter with my date and hopefully a wonderful time tonight. Yes, Ruben Walkingstick Yazzie will have fun tonight. One way or another.