August

"Now I understand why you wanted to be a cheerleader for Varsity," Nicole giggled with Jana on the bleachers by the football field before cheerleading practice. "Look at all those boys! Hot, sweaty boys, too! Why didn't you tell me?" She nudged Jana, looking out at the field as the football team did jumping jacks in rows.

"I didn't think there was anything about boys I had to tell you!" Jana teased.

Nicole leaned her elbows on her knees and watched a while longer. "So, anyone we should be watching in particular?"

Jana giggled again, leaning over to put her sneakers on. "You tell me. You're the expert."

"Hard to tell from this distance. But the view is still good."

Jana glanced up and smiled slightly. It was a good view. The most popular boys in school were lined up in a row a few yards away. Just then, someone came jogging across the field in the typical practice gear, carrying his helmet. "Richardson! You're late!" Coach Niece scolded.

"Sorry, Coach!" Richardson called, joining the ranks.

"No excuses, just get here on time," Coach Niece returned. "I want an extra lap."

Richardson bent over to put his helmet on the grass in front of him and joined in. "Yes, sir," he answered, and she then he slyly gave the coach the finger.

Nicole burst into a laugh and knocked her shoulder into Jana, who was already giggling. "Did you see that?"

"I did!"

"Which Richardson is that? Do you know?"

"I don't know." Jana shrugged, leaning over to put the other sneaker on and try to get a better look. One thing she couldn't do was trust Nicole when it came to boys. She'd either embarrass her in front of them, or she'd end up sleeping with him - they always preferred Nicole, thanks to her reputation. Even Jana wasn't sure when Nicole was telling the truth about what she did with whom.

Nicole leaned her elbows on the bleachers behind her after lighting a cigarette and tilted her head as she watched the boys finish their calisthenics. "Is Jimmy Niece dating anyone?" she asked, exhaling a stream of smoke over her head as she lifted her chin back.

"I don't have a clue."

Nicole sat up again and pointed the tip of her cigarette at the field. "I have to find that out. And figure out who Finger-Boy is. He might be cute."

Jana sat up and lowered her chin to her chest, looking over at Nicole in disbelief. "How the hell would you know from this distance? And hide that cancer stick before I get in trouble."

"I don't," Nicole said, waving the cigarette around flamboyantly, ignoring Jana's request. "But I'll know by the end of your practice." She winked at Jana before bursting into laughter again.



Jana came out of the locker room laughing with Michelle. 'Finger-Boy' was right in front of her, number 32 on his back, and he looked over his shoulder, having heard them. Before he turned back to Mickey, Jana saw the most amazing green eyes she'd ever seen under sleek, deep black bangs.

"Took you long enough," Mickey griped. "I don't have all day to wait around for you."

"Yeah, whatever. See you later, Jana," Michelle said, and Michelle, Mickey and Kevin walked out as Nicole came over to her.

"That's Kevin Richardson," Nicole said excitedly. "The best defensive player we've got."

"That's Kevin Richardson?" Jana asked quietly, watching them through the doors.

"And!" Nicole grabbed Jana's elbow and tugged her towards the door. "Jimmy Niece is single," she chirped happily. "Jana…it's gonna be a great year!"


September

Jimmy was laughing next to him about a Saturday Night Live skit from the weekend's episode as they pushed through the doors. It was immediately cooler once the doors closed, and Kevin heard voices and lockers slamming, footsteps and squeaking sneakers on the tile floor. He had the same locker as last year, the same homeroom, and he was mechanically making his way to them when he looked up.

She was at her locker wearing a pale green tee shirt hugging her curves tightly and jeans that did pretty much the same. Her shoulder length, blonde hair was tucked behind her ears, and she was holding a bookbinder, trying to unlock the locker. Her friend was next to her, talking, and all Jana did was nod and concentrate on the lock. But when Kevin drew closer, she lifted her head and looked right at him. It was the first time he'd actually seen her eyes, or even seen her up close. Usually, he noticed her on the sidelines while they practiced.

"Isn't that the new cheerleader?" he asked Jimmy.

Jimmy looked back quickly and nodded. "Yeah, that's her. She was on JV last year."

"She wasn't at the party Friday night, was she?"

"No," Jimmy answered with a knowing smile. "Want me to find out why?"

Kevin shook his head with a warning look. "No. Forget I even asked, Jim. Don't stick your nose in."

"Oh, it's already too late for that," Jimmy teased. He placed his hand on Kevin's shoulder and leaned in closer. "Kevin and Jana, sittin' in a tree…" he started, "f-u-c-k-i-n…" Kevin slammed his arm into Jimmy's stomach playfully to shut him up.


"Kevin, you wouldn't mind giving Jana a ride home, would you?" Michelle called to him across the hallway after practice. He was hot and sweaty, even after hitting the showers. His wet hair was starting to hang into his eyes, and he was attempting to hurry Mickey out of the locker room. His father had a list of things that needed to be done around the camp before the weekend, and he didn't feel like wasting all his free time doing it.

Somehow, all that was forgotten with Michelle's question. "Nah, that's fine," he answered, doing his best to sound casual, but his heart rate had just started racing. Would he mind driving Jana home? Could he hit all the stoplights on the way? Did he want to go under the speed limit for the first time ever to make it last as long as possible? Did he really have to bring Mickey and Michelle with them?

Jana smiled warmly at him and said a sincere thank you. Mickey…being Mickey… made some unrelated, stupid comments on their way out the door, trying to be funny. In doing so, he released the door to let it close right in Jana's face before Kevin caught it and apologized to her.

"I really appreciate this," she said as they crossed the parking lot. "I've been calling home for fifteen minutes, but it's just busy. My mother knows I'd be calling her around now."

"It's no problem," Kevin said.

"I live close to Mickey," she said. "It's not too far out of your way."

"Really, Jana, it's not a problem. I'm heading in that direction anyway, right?"

He had a ton of questions he wanted to ask, but couldn't find the words without sounding like a complete geek and facing days of ridicule from Mickey if he heard. Mickey was the size of a large filing cabinet, and just about as bright, but he was great on the football field and had been one of Kevin's first friends when he moved to Irvine.

"You'd better sit up front," Michelle said slyly, and he noticed Jana blush. "The seatbelt works up there, and you'll probably need it."

"Excuse me?" Kevin asked, lifting an eyebrow to Michelle. "I happen to be a damn fine driver, thank you very much!"

"By that he means that when he slams on the brakes, he puts his arm out to keep you from flying into the dashboard," Michelle laughed.

Kevin stopped and looked at her with a smirk. "You can walk, you know."

"Yeah," Mickey chimed in, trying to get in on the joke. "Then Jana can sit in the backseat."

Jana blushed again, biting her bottom lip. "I can sit in back," she offered.

Kevin and Michelle both looked at Mickey. "No, Mickey can sit in back with me. Mickey..." Michelle elbowed him. "...when he slams on his brakes, you have to reach out and keep me from flying into the seats. There's a method to my madness."

'Good cover,' Kevin thought, knowing precisely what Michelle was trying to do. He decided to call her later that night and kill her for making it so obvious, and then thank her if it went well.



Mickey hung in between the seats, and Kevin could barely keep his mind on what he was saying. He was trying to hear what Michelle and Jana was talking about. All he could hear was bits and pieces, names of other cheerleaders and giggles. A few times he glanced into the rearview mirror and caught Michelle's eye, but all Michelle did was widen her eyes at him urgently in an attempt to get him to talk. Kevin barely motioned to Mickey between the seats and lifted a shoulder.

"Mickey, do you mind sitting back so you can get your ass out of my face?" Michelle asked, tugging at Mickey's shoulder.

"We're talkin' here!" Mickey protested.

"You make a better door than window, man," Kevin said. "I'm tryin' to drive here."

"In the loosest term possible," Michelle teased, poking Kevin's arm with a laugh. Jana laughed quietly and snuck a glance over at him, then blushed and turned to look out the window.

"It's not too late for me to pull over," Kevin joked, looking back into the mirror. Michelle urged him again, slightly motioning to Jana again.

Michelle was right. He had to talk to her. It was starting to get awkward with her sitting right there next to him and he hadn't even said a single word to her. "How's the squad looking this year?" he finally asked, chastising himself immediately for asking such a stupid question. May as well have slapped her on the back and asked 'how 'bout them Cats?' he asked himself. 'She's not some jock!'

"I think we're okay," Jana answered, looking back to Michelle and then to Kevin. "Except for that jump today," she laughed.

"Oh, a jump?" Mickey asked sarcastically. "Must be rough to figure out which pom-pom to raise."

"I'd love to see you attempt to do one of our jumps," Michelle argued. "You couldn't get out of your own way to even try."

"Oh, yeah…" Mickey started.

"Well, that will keep them busy," Kevin said with a wink and a smile to Jana. "Ongoing battle with those two. How's it feel to be on Varsity this year? Any difference from JV?"

Jana looked at him with a smile. "No huge difference, I guess. Still practice. Still the same sore muscles. The team looks good this year."

"We've got some work to do, but we'll be kickin' butt in a few weeks."

"That's confident," she chuckled.

"That's the truth, darlin'."

"You're such an asshole sometimes!" Michelle griped at Mickey from the backseat.

"Hey, don't make me have to stop this car, kids! Play nice back there."

"We almost there yet? Huh? Huh?" Michelle asked like a child. "Are we almost there? I need to go potty. He touched me!"

"Michelle," Kevin laughed, "I'm telling you, don't make me stop this car."

"You're driving real good today though, Kev. Are you on your best behavior for the new chick?"

He glanced back in the mirror as Mickey looked at Michelle, finally catching on. "You sound as if she's going to get a ride all the time…" Michelle elbowed him. "What the fuck, Michelle?"

When Kevin glanced over, Jana was looking out the window and he couldn't be sure if she'd caught on too. Was she embarrassed now? Was that why she wasn't looking? Did Mickey just totally screw this up for him?



"Thank you again," Jana said, turning to face him as he pulled up in front of her house. She reached out and placed her hand on his arm, and her fingertips felt so warm against his forearm that he looked down to it just as she pulled back.

'Speak, Kevin!' he ordered himself, looking at Jana as she sat next to him. "I could drive you tomorrow…" he blurted out, stammering on further when she stopped opening the car door to look at him, "…if you want, that is. I mean, you're on the way and all… And I pick up Mickey and Michelle anyway."

She smiled, seeming to hold back a broader grin. 'Is she happy I offered,' he wondered, 'or laughing at me?' "I'd have to check with my parents," she told him, and then he noticed her blushing again. "And you'll have to check with Mickey."

"Well," he said, biting his lips together, trying to gain composure again. Fucking Mickey! He lifted a shoulder. "Mickey doesn't make the decisions. If you want…it'd be okay with me." He reached down to the floor next to her feet and ripped off a small piece of loose-leaf paper. "I'll give you my number and if you want, call me and I'll pick you up."

"Jana!"

She looked out the window and then back to Kevin. "That's my mother," she explained. He handed her the slip of paper and grinned. "I have to go, or I really will be late."

"Okay," he said, but her mother was crossing the yard now and it would be rude to just drive off, so, as Jana was getting out of the car, Kevin turned the engine off and stepped out to introduce himself. "Mrs. Williams?" The woman looked at him with a warm smile. "Hi, I'm Kevin Richardson."

"Kevin was nice enough to drive me home because the phone was busy forever," Jana explained.

"Well, Kevin, it's nice to meet you," her mother said, shaking his hand. "Thank you for driving her." She put her arm around Jana's shoulder. "Your sister got her first phone call from a boy. Both my girls are growing up so fast."

"Ma!" Jana squealed in embarrassment, making Kevin smile.

"I need to get home," he said.

"Thanks again, Kevin" Jana said. "I'll call you tonight to let you know?"

"Sure thing," he replied. "It was nice meeting you," he said politely to her mother and got back in the car.

He could see her mother talking to Jana as he pulled away, and just by the look on her face, he knew she was teasing Jana. Jana shook her head and headed into the house quickly, and he couldn't help but laugh. Michelle must have been right…maybe Jana really did like him back.


If she didn't breathe, that muscle along her spine wouldn't move. And if that happened, she might be able to…breathe. One minute, she'd been up, holding the pose, but now, somehow, she was on her back on the gym floor attempting to breathe. Closing her eyes, she forced herself to relax, exhaling long and slow before taking a slow breath, and feeling her back rebel with soreness.

"Oh my God, Jana! I'm so sorry! Are you okay? Can you move?" Rhonda panicked, kneeling next to her.

Jana pushed herself up, closing her eyes to the pain and nodded. "Just winded. I'm all right."

"Jana?" Coach Dawsin came over and knelt next to her. "Take your time. Are you okay? Did you hit your head?"

"I don't think so. Just knocked the wind out of me, that's all."

"Well," Coach Dawsin studied her a moment. "I think you should hit the showers and go to the doctor anyway. Just a precaution, okay?"

Jana sighed, attempting to slump but felt her back twinge again. "I'm fine. Really."

"When you bring me a note from the doctor, I'll believe that. Rhonda? Why don't you go with Jana and keep an eye on her? There's ice packs in my office. You might want to ice your back."

She knew better than to keep arguing, and part of her was actually relieved. It wasn't her head, definitely her back, but she already knew what to do for that. This had happened several times between cheerleading and dancing; she'd pulled her share of muscles.

"I'm so sorry, Jana…I just lost my balance," Rhonda said, putting her hand on Jana's shoulder. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay," she assured her with the best smile she could through the pain. "It was an accident. It happens. Could you do me a favor, though? Would you tell Kevin I had to go?"


"Thought you could sneak away?" Kevin asked, lowering himself to sit on the edge of the couch with a tender smile.

She smiled weakly and reached her hand out to his. "Not very quickly, apparently."

"How're you feelin', darlin'?" He leaned over and kissed her cheek gently. "You look comfortable."

She grinned, feeling her heart flutter with the simple kiss. "The doctor gave me some muscle relaxants and the walls are breathin'." Taking a deep breath, she squeezed his hand. "Feelin' no pain right now."

"How long are you legally high?" he teased with a chuckle.

"Not very if I can help it. I'll be in school on Thursday, so don't forget to pick me up, okay?"

"I'm not allowed to stop by and visit until then?" he asked. "Your ma asked me to pick up your homework for you." She nodded slowly and smiled. "So? What did the doctor say?"

"Nothing really. I strained something. Rest, aspirin and the relaxants. I should attempt to stretch it to keep it from getting too stiff, but I can do that when I go back to practice Thursday."

"Shouldn't you give yourself a chance to rest? Make sure…"

"I've done this before, Kevin." She shrugged and winced immediately, feeling Kevin squeeze her hand. He watched her with such concern, she either wanted to laugh or kiss him, but her mind was too fuzzy to decide. "I'm fine."

"Yeah, well…" He couldn't be blushing, could he? "I was worried."

"How sweet are you?" she asked with a smile. "Think you can remember not to pick me up in the morning?"

He glanced over his shoulder to see if anyone was standing around and leaned in closer. "Anyone going to be home with you during the day?"

"My mother," she whispered. "I'm on prescription drugs and had a nasty fall. She has to keep an eye on me just in case I did something more to myself."

"Dang," he mumbled with a smile. "I was going to skip and keep you company."

"Not a chance." She shook her head. "You have to go and let me know what I miss. I expect a full report when you bring me my homework."

"So…how many times have you done this?" He leaned across her, resting his arm on the back of the couch.

She attempted to shrug again, realizing too late that it hurt to do that. "A few times. Comes with doing sports, doesn't it? I'm sure you've pulled and strained muscles before."

"Yeah, once or twice, I guess."

She rested further down into the couch and pulled the blanket up a little higher over her. "Know what the doctor told me?" He shook his head. "Cheerleaders tend to have more injuries and work with pain more than football players."

"Oh, come on…" he scoffed.

She shook her head. "No, really, that's what he said. He said cheerleaders tend to do more physical activity or some such thing within their sport that leads to more injury and that we're actually tougher on ourselves than footballers so we burn through the pain more. I think it's more because girls have a higher tolerance for pain than boys, but I'm not the scholar."

"Nope," he said, shaking his head, "I'm not buying it."

"When was the last time a player was dropped from five feet in the air?" she posed. "Landed wrong doing a backflip?"

"Was hit by 200 pounds coming at you full force?" he countered.

"With all that padding?" she scoffed teasingly. "Do you even feel it?"

"You know, I spent way too much time listening to this argument between Michelle and Mickey. I admire both sports. Can we leave it at that?"

She puckered her lips before giggling. "You're so diplomatic. Ever think of being a politician when you graduate?"

He smiled. "Not a chance."

She looked at his hand in hers and tilted her head. "What are you going to do when you graduate?"

"Not sure." He lifted a shoulder indecisively. "I was thinking of joining the Air Force."

"You're kidding!?"

He sat back and straightened his shoulders. "No. I'm not. Why? Is that so hard to believe?"

"I just can't…" she started, realizing he was really thinking about it. He had to be, she guessed. He would be graduating in a couple of months, and he wasn't talking about any colleges. He wasn't talking about much other than being in a band at some point. "I don't know. You don't hit me as the military type, that's all."

He shrugged again, looking over his shoulder towards the TV. "I don't know. Just something I was thinking about."

"Kev?" She waited until he turned to look at her again. "I didn't mean anything by it, you know. I think you'll be amazing at what ever you decide to do."

"You'll be amazing at whatever you do," a voice squeaked from the hallway, and then there were kissing noises as Stacy came into view, kissing the back of her hand. "Yuck!"

"Stacy, get out of here!" Jana called, sitting up and feeling a strike of pain. "Ma! Tell Stacy to take a hike!"

"Hey, Stace," Kevin said with a nod.

"Hi, Kevin." She grinned and immediately blushed.

"Go away, Stacy!" Jana ordered.

Stacy sat down in front of the TV and looked over her shoulder at Jana. "I'm allowed to watch TV. I finished my homework."

"Ma!" Jana called, glaring to her as Kevin attempted to hide a smile. She knocked Kevin with the back of her hand.

"Stacy, come help me in the kitchen, please," Mary said, appearing in the doorway.

"But I want to watch The Simpsons," Stacy grumbled.

"It's a repeat," Jana informed her, lifting an eyebrow. "You've seen it at least twelve hundred times."

"Have not!"

"Stacy, come on." Mary put her arm out for her and guided her out of the room with a smile to Kevin.

"God, she's such a brat!" Jana grumbled as soon as Stacy was truly gone.

Kevin chuckled, turning to look at her. "I used to do the same stuff to my brothers. She's just the youngest. It's in the Rule Book; Annoy the Older Siblings As Often As Humanly Possible."

"Yeah? My Rule Book says to kill her."

"Chill out." He kissed her quickly. "Let those drugs relax this muscle too." He tapped the top of her head. "You just think too much, darlin'."

She sighed and settled back into the pillow, tugging on the heating pad slightly. "You tell me that a lot."

"But you still haven't thought about that too much, have you?"

She closed her eyes and smiled. "I'm on drugs, Kevin. Don't twist words around right now. I can't follow."

"Ah, now you're just makin' excuses."

"No, I'm just really tired and having a hard time being entertaining and witty."

He tilted his head slightly and smiled warmly. "I'll stop by tomorrow after school, okay? Get some sleep."

"Thanks for coming over."

"Anytime, Baby." He stood up saying goodnight to her, and then to Mary and Stacy in the kitchen. She settled down further into the couch and closed her eyes with a secret smile to herself. He came over to see me! He was worried and came to see me! He likes me! And he kissed me! He must really like me!


Kevin closed his eyes tightly as the liquid burned the back of this throat all the way down. Doing his best not to shudder and cringe at the harsh taste, he shook his head and released a hot breath, feeling as if the moonshine were evaporating as he did so. 100 proof, fresh from Jimmy's father's still, this was as pure as it got. It smelled like the alcohol he rubbed on his sore knees or shoulders after practice, and probably tasted pretty much the same, too.

"So, where is she?" Kenny asked, looking around at the rest of the kids hanging out near the river bend. He didn't go to this school, living a good fifty miles away, but spent many weekends and most summers at the Richardson's as their 4th adopted son.

Kevin looked around, barely seeing the faces in the darkness. "She's not here yet."

"She told you she was coming, right?"

"I guess so. I just told her I'd be here and asked if she was coming. She said she was." He attempted another shot and washed it back with a swallow of beer. "Probably…that means yes, doesn't it?"

"With a girl?" Kenny asked, taking the moonshine from Kevin. "Who the hell knows?"

"Wait…" Kevin sat up a bit and smiled, attempting to look calm, but he wiped his hands on his jeans and then wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "She's here."

Kenny sputtered a laugh and nudged Kevin. "Whoa, man! You just totally freaked out, didn't you?"

"Hell no!" Kevin protested, keeping his eye on Jana and her friend as they stood near some of the other cheerleaders. "You wanted to know where she was. Well…that's her."

"I'm gonna guess it's the blonde? What the hell am I saying? Of course it's the blonde! Like there's anything else on your radar?"

"Legs, boobs, butts…hair color is the least of my concerns," Kevin crowed, knowing he was lying through his teeth. What he liked most about Jana wasn't any of the above. It was the sound of her laughter, and the way she looked at people when they talked. He liked the way she blushed when he caught her looking at him.

"Yeah, right." Kenny handed him the bottle again and Kevin took another swallow before another beer chaser. He knew he was trashed by now, could feel it when the world started turning before he turned his head to grin at Kenny. "So, what're you waiting for?" Kenny asked. "Go talk to her."

"I don't want to look desperate, man..."

"Don't look desperate, but at least look interested. She's looked over here three times already."

"Ken? Honestly? I'd get up if I could feel something beneath my knees, but I don't," Kevin laughed. "I don't think falling flat on my face would make a very good impression, do you?"

Kenny laughed. "It would break the ice."

"Or my neck. And that would really suck for the team. We got a game this week."

"Team, team, team…" Kenny teased.

"Hey, Kevin."

Kevin lifted his head up to see Jana standing over him. "Hey…" he started, immediately forgetting her name. The world was suddenly spinning around him.

"Jana," she told him, looking to her friend with her eyebrow lifted. "Have a little bit to drink?"

"He's wasted, yeah. Waiting for you to show, I think," Kenny answered for him, shaking his head and getting elbowed in the ribs by Kevin for doing so.

"Mmm," Jana barely replied with the slightest shake of her head. "Well…I'll see you Monday." Before Kevin could stop her, she was walking away with her friend leaning in and giggling.

"Well, that was fucked," Kevin mumbled.

"Go fix it," Kenny suggested. "Get those brain cells rubbing against each other first though, man. Damn, I never saw you get stupid in front of some girl before."

"Don't think I ever did." He looked at Kenny, blinking him into focus and handing him the half-empty beer bottle. "Take this away from me, man. That shit's got me totally fucked."

"Moonshine, dude, it does that," Kenny teased. "You'll be puking your guts up pretty soon. That'll make an even better impression."



Kevin could feel himself blushing when Jana came out of her house Monday morning, smiling and waving slightly. She closed the car door and looked at him with a teasing gleam in her eye. "Have you sobered up yet, or should I ask my ma to drive me this morning?"

He exhaled and pulled away. "I'm sorry about that," he told her sheepishly. "I got way outta hand Friday night."

"Gee, ya think?" she asked ironically with a laugh. "You forgot my name!"

"I forgot my name, Jana!" he laughed, noticing her mint green sweater. "Kenny got some grain alcohol and, hell, it seemed like a good idea at the time."

She scrutinized him. "You're not too bright sometimes, are you?"

"You're not too sympathetic sometimes, are you?" he replied with his own grin.

"When you deserve sympathy, sure. You were just stupid." She lifted a shoulder easily. "I hope you weren't driving."

He shook his head. "Hell, no! It was Mickey's turn to drive." She nodded, trying to hide a grin. "What?"

"Was that any smarter than driving drunk?" she laughed?

"Probably not," he laughed, liking how playful her glances were. She was definitely warming up to him and acting a lot calmer these last few days since he'd started driving her back and forth to school. Michelle was getting rides with another cheerleader now, so it was just them and Mickey, and Mickey was starting to complain about sitting in the back. Not that Kevin was going to change the arrangement. He liked looking over and seeing Jana next to him, and a couple of times, he'd wanted to reach over and just hold her hand, if could get up the courage to do it.

"How was the hangover?"

"Not too bad," he said, his own surprise in his voice. "I thought for sure I'd be sicker than a dog, but..." He lifted his shoulder and shook the bangs off his forehead.

She laughed and looked at him again. "You barfed, didn't you?"

He was definitely blushing now. "Yeah," he admitted in a mumble, causing her to laugh harder. "Oh, shut up," he teased. "You never drank too much?"

"I never drank too much, no," she told him proudly. "I never drank to drink too much."

"Oh, come on!" he scoffed in disbelief. "Never?" She just shrugged and shook her head. "You're kidding, never, ever?"

"Kevin? I have to go home to my parents," she explained. "I kind of like living at the moment. Seeing daylight before I turn thirty is a pretty good incentive."

"They'd freak?"

"They'd kill me and everyone I was with, yeah. Your parents are okay with it?"

"My parents don't really know," he said. "They might suspect on occasion, but it's not like I go out and do that every weekend, either."

"Good to know," she said quickly, turning her head away this time just in time for them to pull up to Mickey's house. Any conversation between them would stop now. Mickey usually talked the remainder of the drive to school, and Jana never really had much to add to his conversation.

If Kevin didn't get his courage up soon and ask her to the dance, he knew he was going to lose his chance. He didn't normally like going to the dances, but this one was Homecoming and all the team usually went. Besides, it was his last Homecoming, and this year, he'd promised himself he was going to make the best of being a senior. That included having a girlfriend…and he wanted that girlfriend to be Jana. These last few days had convinced him of that.

"So, you're still dancing?" Kevin asked, mid-conversation with Mickey.

It confused them both, but Jana turned from looking out the window to smile at him. "Yeah," she answered.

"How long does that go to?"

"7:30."

"When does the…I don't know, season? I mean, does it last all year?"

"The classes usually run like thirteen weeks or so, but I take them continually, so it doesn't really end. Around Christmas I have a few weeks off, but I go in for private lessons then. But it's not every day like I do now."

"Why would you want to dance on your vacation?" Mickey asked, almost disgusted at the idea.

She turned and looked over her shoulder. "To get a scholarship to a top dance school in New York."

That answer caught Kevin's attention. "New York?"

"I want to go to Juilliard, or the American School of Ballet," she answered seriously. "I've been working all summer on my audition pieces, and I'll probably go up this winter to try out and see if I can get in."

"Dang…" Kevin said, completely impressed and surprised. "Think you'll get in?"

"I'd better," she answered. "It's what I've been planning on doing forever."



"So, this dance thing," Kevin said, coming up behind Jana as she stood at her locker between classes.

"Oh, hi." She smiled at him, reaching to get one of her books from the locker shelf.

His palms were beginning to sweat. "Do you just do ballet, or do you do other dancing too?"

Again she smiled, but this time, it was as if she could read his mind and anticipate what he was going to say. "I do all sorts of dancing. Why?"

"Well," he began, looking to the floor briefly before glancing through his bangs, "I was wondering if you might maybe want to go to this Homecoming dance with me."

"Sure," she said easily, holding back a huge grin.

"Okay," he nodded, feeling his heartbeat slow to a more calming rhythm, "good."

She nodded back at him, looked down to the floor and then back up. "Good, yeah."

"All right, so…I'll, uh…see you later? After practice?"

"Yeah."

"Okay."

"Okay."

It was awkward, but not a bad awkward. More like something they'd both been expecting, or waiting for, finally happening, yet neither one of them had planned on what to say beyond that point. Not knowing what else to do, he moved into the swarm of students making their way down the hall and looked back, seeing her watching him with a huge grin.

'Score for Kevin Richardson!' he thought.