He asks Elizabeth out.

At first, I felt bad calling Elizabeth and asking her on a date. Although we'd had a wonderful experience at prom, I still felt guilty that my feelings for Talia were interfering with our simple mutual attraction. With Corrine unavailable, I felt like Elizabeth was my default option. I decided to talk to her about it.

"I had my doubts about you, too. I mean, we're going to college in a few weeks. Would I really be best for either of us to get too involved with each other? I mean..." her eyes dropped away from mine. "I like you, a lot, but wouldn't it have been painful?"

"I don't know. I just want to spend as much time with you as I can. I feel good when I'm with you."

"But what about Talia? How do you feel with her?

Our lunch date had turned into a therapy session. But what the hell. I needed one.

"I can't explain it. I feel...invincible? Like, we could go anywhere, do anything? Like anything is possible? She unlocked something in me, something that I didn't know was there. And, even if something goes wrong, she'll get us out of it somehow. She makes me braver, and stronger, and creates excitement wherever she goes."

"Have you told her that?"

"No, I haven't. But I should."

She looked downcast, suddenly, as if she thought that she was driving me away from her into someone else's arms.

Of course I hadn't, but it occurred to me that I hadn't told Elizabeth what she meant to me, either. There were so few days remaining for us. I had to let her know.

"Elizabeth, you're such a good person. And I mean that. Not in the way that people often say it, but sincerely. You genuinely wish for the happiness of everyone around you, without thinking of yourself. And, of course, it doesn't hurt that you're gorgeous, and that you have a lovely voice, and a nice smile. I meant it when I said that I want to see you as much as I can."

We changed to a less heavy subject, and made good on our plans. Every Friday evening became a dinner-date, which ended in a chaste kiss. We didn't have any sexual designs on each other at this point, especially not given how exhausted I was from all the confusing afternoons with Talia & Rachel, and Amy.

No, we wanted something else from the time: companionship, and intimacy. One Friday night, her parents were unexpectedly staying the night elsewhere. She invited me in. We had a glass of wine each over pleasant conversation late into the night. We stripped naked beside her bed, and though the sight of her aroused me greatly, we got under the covers and quickly fell asleep next to each other.

The smell of her hair, sweet and floral, and the light through the window woke me up. Her eyes fluttered, and we kissed more passionately than we ever had. I pet her shoulder, ran my fingers through her hair, stroked her arm, felt her breast. She reached to my hardening member and teased it some.

Wordlessly, I moved on top of her. I felt her entrance, parted and wet, and slowly rocked myself into her. The sunlight played over the pale skin of her chest as I pushed into her. We went slow, staring into each other's eyes. When we came, it was in unison, suddenly, with no warning.

We held each other for the rest of the morning, and then I had to leave.