~Chapter 9~

I ran down the stairs and rushed to the door, just before mom opened it herself.

"I got it mom." I said with my back to the door. I hoped she would take the hint.

"OK. But I want to meet him, so before you go, come see me I the living room." she said, trying to sound stern.

"OK mom. I'll make sure we do that." with fake enthusiasm.

She turned and walked away back toward the living room. As soon as she rounded the corner, taking a deep breathe I opened the door to see Adam standing there with a smile on his face.

"Hi." he said perfectly.

"Hi." I said weakly.

As I stood there longer, he gestured toward the door, "Can I come in?"

"Oh, of course. Come on in." I said embarrassed. I opened the door further and stood back for him to walk into the front room.

He walked past me into the hallway and looked at some of the pictures hanging on the walls. They were mostly of me when I was younger, with a few family photos mixed in.

I saw him smile a little at the one of me holding an ice cream cone, most of it on my face.

"So, are you ready to go?" I asked.

"Sure. But you might want to grab your coat; it is a little chilly out."

"Oh, right." I walked over to the closet and grabbed my coat. I was putting it on when I remembered that mom wanted to meet him.

"Umm, there's just one thing before we go." I said meekly.

"Oh?"

"Yeah, my mom wants to meet you before we head out. Is that ok?"

"Sounds good." Was all he said.

I walked him into the living room where my mom was watching a Lifetime movie, crying all the while with a tissue in her hand and the box on the couch.

"Mom, this is Adam. Adam, this is my mom. Ok, let's go." I turned to walk away knowing that I wouldn't get away with that little introduction, but trying nonetheless.

"Not so fast Marie. Why are you in such a hurry?"

Because I don't want you to embarrass me with some potty in my pants or butt naked walking around from when I was a baby. "No reason."

"Well, Adam would you like something to drink or a snack before you two head out to…" Great, if he got a drink or a snack we would never get to leave and end up having dinner with mom and Nick.

"No thank you on the drink and the snack. I ate breakfast not too long ago and I am still a little full. But I thought we could head out to Devil's Peak and then maybe dinner. If that isn't too late."

"What is Devil's Peak?"

"It isn't what it sounds. It is just the peak of the mountain that overlooks the city. Nothing too hazardous. A lot of people go up there and park. They built a guard rail around the edges so people didn't accidently fall down. Completely safe."

"Ok. Well, be back by 9 please. It is a school night after all." She said resigned.

"Will do."

"Yes, let's go. Bye mom." I turned and walked toward the front door and heard her call behind me as I opened the front door. "Love you Marie."

"Love you too mom." I shut the door.

"I am sorry about my mom. She can be a bit overbearing at times." I said as we walked off the porch.

I looked up, expecting to see his black Sedan but was surprised when it wasn't there.

I was a little excited to see this car. It was a lot better looking than mine by far. He had a little red sports car. Of course I didn't really know what kind of car it was since I wasn't into cars much. But I could tell you that it was a nice looking sports car.

"Where is the other car? The little black one?"

"Oh, I left it at home." What?

"So let me get this straight, you have two cars?" How did he have two cars and I only had one. One crappy one.

"Well, my parents don't spend a lot of time with us. So I think they figured if they buy us expensive stuff, it accounts for them being absent all the time."

"Does it work?"

"Not really." He said matter-of-factly.

"I wouldn't mind having two nice cars." I said under my breath.

"Well, I would trade both of my cars for your mom. It must be nice having someone who looks out for you."

I looked out the window a little ashamed as we left the city limits. It wasn't long after that we turned onto a road that said Devil's Peak.

"Are you sure it's safe up here? I mean, can't we go do something else?" I am sure he could hear the anxiety in my voice.

"Do you trust me?" He asked sincerely.

Even though I have only known him a short while, I knew in my heart that I couldn't deny him a thing. I trusted him completely, just as I am sure he trusted me.

"Yes." Was all I had to say.

"I promise you will enjoy it. And it is completely safe. I wouldn't take you anywhere that wasn't safe." I believed him.

As we made the last turn up to start up the mountain, I felt my heart jump into my throat. I can't believe I am doing this. This mountain is way too steep for any vehicle to go over.

The road wasn't paved, but it had been traveled so many times that it was a well-worn path with a small area in the middle where grass would grow come spring.

He didn't look over at me as we made our way up the mountain thankfully. I might have had a heart attack.

After what seemed like an eternity, we leveled out into a small parking lot that again, wasn't paved.

We made our way to the end of the lot and he parked. It took me a bit of nerve to really look out the front window since we were sitting just feet from the edge of the cliff. But when I did, I was completely amazed.

"Would you like to get out of the car?" he asked me as he studied my face.

I couldn't say anything, so I just shook my head.

I started toward the guard railing at the very end of the lot and he walked beside me. I knew it was cold out, but I wasn't really feeling it at the moment. It was also a little foggy and it felt like I was walking through a cloud.

I stood at the railing and just stared. I was staring out over miles of unbroken and untouched land.

I saw the next mountain range that almost surrounded the small city of Twin Peaks. It was only purple in the distance but it was a city to see. The top of the mountain was covered in white from the last snow and the very tip of the tall mountain was surrounded by a veil of fog that hid the true height of the mountain.

It was without a doubt the most beautiful sight I had ever seen.

"It's so pretty. I can see why people would come up here." I said.

"Eh, it's ok."

What?

"How can you say that? This is the most beautiful thing I have ever seen. It's so pure."

I looked at him to see what he saw, and found him looking back at me.

"I am looking at the most beautiful thing in the world right now. And that view is nothing like what I am seeing."

How do you respond to something like that?

"Well, my view isn't so bad either."

Although we were standing next to each other, it seemed like it took forever for him to lean in and give me a kiss. But as soon as his lips met mine, it was like heaven on Earth. I knew my place in this world was wherever he was.

It took me a minute to get my bearings when the kiss was over, and I couldn't quite make myself let go of him.

So there we stood, on the precipice of the world, with each other in our arms for our only comfort. With him next to me, I could go anywhere and do anything.

I felt invincible.

A little while later, we were on our way to a small local restaurant. I didn't want to leave, but it technically was still winter and even though I was standing next to Adam, it was still too cold to remain there for long. I would have to remember to come back when it was warmer.

We pulled into the only restaurant in town, Bob and Lisa's Diner and got out. I was so hungry since it was already about seven. I would have to get home soon to finish my homework. I was so not looking forward to leaving him, but I knew if my grades slipped, even just a little, that I would pretty much be banned from seeing Adam until my grades went back up.

We sat down and quickly gave the waitress our order, just a couple of hamburgers with French fries. Even though this was the fanciest restaurant in town, they didn't have French cuisine.

"So, tell me about your parents." I asked. "I still haven't met them."

"Well, honestly there isn't much to tell. You know that my mother is a professor. She teaches at the university in the city, not a big school, but it pays well. She used to teach for Stanford a long time ago, but for some reason they decided to move out here and settle into a small town. It was right after we were born."

"Wow, from a big time professor to a small town. That had to be quite a difference. I wonder what make them change their minds."

"Well, Amanda and I have wondered the same thing for a long time. After we found one of mom's old certificates in the attic we came caught up on it and harassed mom and dad about it until they were blue in the face." He chuckled a little.

"So what about your dad? What does he do?"

"Dad used to be a defense attorney for the state, but when we moved out here he quit and became a lawyer. He has his own practice in the city. Which is one reason we don't see them much. They like the small town life, but love the big city pay."

"I can't believe they gave up so much."

"Ok, I have a cheeseburger with mayo, ketchup and tomatoes with fries."

"Oh, that's mine." I said.

"And a cheeseburger with everything on it with fries."

"And that would be me." He said.

"Is there anything else I can get you two?"
"No, I think we are good." He was such a gentleman.

"We ate in silence for a few minutes while I thought about his parents. What could make two people give up everything just to move to a small town? Obviously it's a secret since they won't even tell their own kids. But what could it be?

"So what is your favorite color?" He asked me.

"Um, I guess it would be blue. And not one of those dark navy blues or a sky blue, but a true blue. I think that is one of the prettiest blues. What about you?

"Red, definitely red."

We sat and talked for a few more minutes while we finished our food, then we paid the bill and left. It was already after eight.

We drove slowly through the quiet streets, wanting just a few more minutes of uninterrupted time. Although we didn't really talk, it was a comfortable silence filled with nothing but happiness of being in the other's company.

We pulled into my house and he stopped the car. I would have asked him in, but mom would be waiting at the door already, wondering how the date went.

"Thank you. I had a great time."

"Trust me, the pleasure was all mine." He said sweetly.

We sat there looking at each other for a few seconds. The longer we sat the more tense the atmosphere became until I could hear the beating of drums in my ears. I would later realize that it was actually my heartbeat picking up tempo.

He leaned into the middle of the car as an open offer in case I had changed my mind, but one I would gladly take. Just like before on the cliff, it felt like it took centuries for his lips to meet mine, although it truly was only seconds.

The kiss was so sweet and full of passion and before I knew it, it became more than just a kiss. I brought my hands up to his face and pulled him closer and that was all the invitation he needed. The next thing I knew he had pulled him closer to him and was holding me so close. It never felt like it was close enough and I thought the only way for me to get closer was to just melt into his body and we become one.

He slowly felt his way around him back and down my hips, giving me plenty of opportunity to pull away, but I wouldn't do that. My own response was a surprise in itself as I wound my fingers into his perfectly colored golden hair. I felt him groan more than I heard. I could feel the vibrations of it in my face, hands and all the way down to my toes. The effect that single sound had on my body was too much.

Just when I thought it couldn't get any hotter between us, the front light flipped on signaling that mom had noticed I was sitting in the driveway. Good thing she couldn't see the windshield from the house.

We pulled apart slowly, his breathing matching the speed of my own.

"Marie, I don't know what came over me." It almost seemed like he was apologizing.

"Probably the same thing as me." I said as I blushed. "I should probably get inside before she comes out to get me."

"Yeah" was all he could say right now. Apparently he was just as frazzled as I was.

"I'll see you tomorrow at school. Good night Adam." I opened the door and got out, making sure I looked presentable before I stepped into the light where my mom could see me.

Before I shut the door, I heard him mumble "night," although it wasn't very loud.

I walked slowly to the front door and watched him drive away in a daze. He still hadn't looked over at me. Was he just confused as I was?

I climbed the small set of steps to the porch and before I got to the door it was opened and there was standing Nick.

"Good evening Cinderella." He joked as I stumbled past him. They knew me well enough to assume I was just being clumsy, not that I was completed in a daze.

"Hi Nick. How was your trip?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant.

"Oh, it was ok. Not nearly as good as your date though I would say." OMG, he had seen us?

Before I could blush crimson, he reassured me by saying "I didn't see anything, but I know how dates go. Your mom doesn't know you are home just yet, she has been on the phone with a customer for the last hour about a dress she is going to be making."

"Thank you, Nick." I sighed with relief.

"Now, don't thank me just yet Marie. I want you to promise me that you will not go too quickly with him. I know I'm not your father, but I love you like you were my own." He always felt the need to assure me that he wasn't trying to take place of a missing father figure. Only thing was, he was a good dad and a good husband. I thought of him as more of a best friend than a father figure.

"I promise Nick. I wouldn't risk giving mom a heart attack before she turned 40." We both laughed at mom's overdramatic tendencies and walked into the living room.

We sat and talked for a few minutes before I remembered that I had homework to do so he let me go.

It was a while after I got my books out on my bed before I could actually sit down and think of anything besides Adam. Every time I thought back on that brief span of time in the car, my face felt like it was on fire.

I shouldn't be embarrassed that we kissed, which I wasn't 't. it was more along the lines of feeling like a kid who had just found out that the frog turns into the prince and they live happily ever after. Maybe he was my frog.