He was holding her so close that she barely noticed how emotional she'd become. It felt so good to be held, even if the affection he was showering upon her wasn't at all deserved.

"Hey Patty, what's wrong?" he was asking. "Why are you so upset?"

She clung to him even tighter. "Oh Richard, I'm so sorry! Can you ever forgive me?"

"Forgive you? For what? What are you talking about?"

She drew back and looked at him in disbelief. "Are you serious? I can't believe that you don't know!"

"Know what? Look Patty, I don't know what's going on here, all right? All I know is that you told me at school that you wanted me to meet you here so that we could talk."

"Well, yes, but-."

"We're here, aren't we?"

"Of course, but Richard-."

"So, what did you want to talk about?"

She looked around uneasily. This wasn't going to be an easy conversation to have. She took his hand and led him to the booth. Almost immediately his eyes widened and a huge grin formed on his face.

"Hey! Chocolate shakes! And french fries! Boy, Patty! This is some surprise!"

He slid into the booth and began munching on the fries. Her heart aching, she slid into the seat across from him. The food certainly was tempting and it was romantic in a way to share a milkshake with a steady boyfriend. But Richard wasn't her boyfriend, not anymore. And she was afraid that once he knew the truth, he might not even be her friend.

Suddenly he stopped eating mid-french fry and stared at her. "Patty, what's wrong? You're not eating. I know how much you love French fries and chocolate shakes."
She sighed. Must boys always think with their stomachs? Sometimes they could be downright exasperating! "Richard-."

"Hey, why are you sitting way over there? I'm not contagious you know!" He laughed out loud at his poor attempt at humor, but she didn't find it very funny.

She climbed out of the booth and made her way to where he sat. "This is serious, all right? I really need to talk to you!"

"Okay, what did you want to talk about?"

She swallowed hard. "Us."

His eyes narrowed. "What about us? Patty, you're acting really strange. What's going on?"

"Richard, I'm sorry." It was a terrible way to apologize, by blurting it out as though it had no meaning. But once the words were out there was no taking them back. What was done was done. The ball, as they said, was in his court.

"What are you sorry for? You don't-."

"Please, Richard, let me finish, all right? If I don't get this out, I might not be able to get through this!"

He leaned back and stared at her. "Oh… It sounds serious."

Her heart was racing so rapidly that she was sure he could hear it. She had no idea what to say to him, no idea at all. But she knew that she had to say something. Their relationship (and her sanity) depended on it)

"Richard, I'm sorry." She said again. "When I dumped you, I thought that you had just decided to quit school because you were tired of going."

"Tired of going? That's ridiculous! You know how much I want to be a doctor and help people in foreign countries! I'm not about to give that up!"

She blinked back tears. "I know Richard, and it's wonderful but I thought-."

"What did you think?"

Without being asked, she slid into the booth beside him and looked him deeply in the eyes. "Oh Richard, I had no idea that your father had told you that terrible lie about your family losing all of that money!"

"Well, it wasn't a lie. We really did lose it. And besides, he didn't mean anything by it, He was just telling us for our own good."

"Your own good? But it's terrible, Richard!"

"What's so terrible about it?"

"The way he made you think that your family had gone completely broke! Worrying you the way he did!"

She was sobbing now and she knew that she looked like a complete mess. "Boy Patty, what's gotten into you?"

The tears were streaming down her face and she could barely make eye contact with Richard let alone anyone else in the Shake Shop. But she didn't care. All she cared about was Richard and about earning his forgiveness.

"I'm sorry about that, Richard. I'm so sorry! Will you please take me back?"

"Take you back?"

"Yes, I know I don't deserve it. I am the one who dumped you after all, but I'm begging you, Richard. Please!"

"What kind of crazy question is hat? Of course I'll take you back!"

Patty gasped in delight. "You will?"

"As far as I'm concerned I never lost you to begin with."

"Oh Richard!"

Before he could react, she threw her arms around him and kissed him. "Thank you, Richard! Thank you!"

"Wow, you're welcome, Patty. That's some gratitude! But you don't have to worry, all right? You'll always be my girl, no matter what."

"Really?"

"Is the sky blue and the grass green? Of course they are! Now let's finish these fries and this chocolate shake so that we can order some more."

Suddenly she remembered the book in her hand and a wave of guilt came over her. "Richard? I don't deserve it, but will you do me a favor?"

"Sure, Patty. What is it?"

"Explain King Lear?"

"Sure, I'd be happy to help you. Now what did you need help with?"

"All of it. I don't have a clue what it's about or what it all means. I'm doomed!"

He took the book from her and opened it to the first page. "Okay, well on Page One…"

She leaned against him and sighed. Learning Shakespeare had never been so enjoyable.

THE END