Chapter 12

The drive home had been the same as so many other rides Jane and Billy had shared, except it had started with the two lip-locked over the center console before leaving the prom venue's parking lot. They had only stopped when approaching voices reminded them that many of their classmates were headed to cars to make their own way home. Happy, but still unsure of their new status, the two had agreed it would be simpler to keep things to themselves for a while. When they reached Jane's house, the lights burning inside alerted them that Ben was likely waiting up for Jane's return, so they had opted to skip a third make out session in the driveway.

Once they were inside, they greeted Ben, thanked him, and reassured him that they had followed the rules for his precious vehicle. Still, he had insisted on heading outside to check the car himself. Now, as they waited for him to finish his inspection, they sat on the couch with their fingers tangled together. "This feels weird," Jane said.

"Good weird, I hope," Billy smiled down at her

"Yes, good weird. Definitely good," she answered.

Ben walked back into the house before Jane and Billy could get any further into their conversation and Jane and Billy dropped each other's hands. "Good job, guys. Of course, I'll have to give it another once over in the daylight, but it looks good."

Jane's head fell back onto the couch in exasperation, "Ben! We didn't do anything to your car!"

Ben shrugged, undeterred, "I'm still checking."

"Whatever," Jane sighed while Billy laughed.

"Good night," Ben headed into his bedroom and closed the door behind him.

"I think he knows," Billy said as soon as Ben closed his bedroom door.

"Knows what?" Jane asked.

Billy pointed to Jane then back to himself, "This. That I've been making out with his sister."

Jane chuckled and shook her head, "No, he doesn't."

"You sure?"

"He left us out here alone, didn't he?"

"Right," Billy grinned. "So now what?"

Jane looked over her shoulder toward Ben's door and then smiled and kissed Billy again. "We hope he falls asleep really quickly."

The next morning Jane awoke on the couch to the sound of coffee dripping into the coffee pot. She lifted her head from Billy's shoulder and slowly unfolded her legs from where they were tucked underneath her. Billy remained asleep, head back against the cushions and legs stretched to the coffee table. Fully awake now, Jane could hear Ben moving in the kitchen, but waited until she reached the counter to speak so as not to wake Billy. She slid onto a stool and leaned toward the coffee maker. "Did you make enough for the whole class?"

Ben poured a mug full of coffee and placed it in front of Jane. "Consider this a 'thank you.'"

Jane tilted her head, confused, "For what?"

"For being the type of teenager who comes home after prom and falls asleep watching television with her best friend, versus, you know . . . ." Ben shuddered at his unspoken thought.

"Oh, well, you're welcome," Jane replied. She used her coffee cup to hide her smirk as she remembered the kisses and wandering hands that had preceded her and Billy's slumber.

She popped back to the present as Ben started speaking again. "I'm headed to a practice with the JV team, and I'm having lunch with Rita afterwards. You have any plans for today?"

"Not really, but I'll probably just be with Billy. Like always." She took another sip of her coffee and grinned.

*The End*