Yes

"Yes, I do. I always have." I felt a little blush after saying that last part. I was starting to wonder why I felt I needed to add it when just yes would've been fine.

Shana giggled. "Thank you. To be honest, i've always thought you were kinda cute too."

I looked over at her, half-expecting her to be stifling a laugh. But she was just smiling and blushing. We exchanged smiles and glances for the rest of the trip.

When we got to her house, she invited me in, and in I went.

"Mom? Dad? I'm home!" No answer. She looked around and found a note, which she read out loud.

" 'Shana, your father and I have gone to visit my mother for a few days. There should be plenty of food in the fridge for you and your friend, if he comes over.' " She looked at me and smiled. " 'We should be back by Tuesday, so enjoy the house, and use this time alone to study for school. If your friend comes over, be safe. You know what I mean!' " She blushed a little. Be safe? What did that mean? They didn't seriously think i'd hurt my life-long best friend, did they? " 'If he's there now, you shouldn't read this note out loud.' Thanks, mom. 'Tell him we said hello, and to watch out for you.' Mom says you're supposed to watch out for me."

"I heard. I will."

She smiled and winked at me. "I feel safer already. 'We''ll see you soon. We love you, Shana! X-O-X-O, Mom and Dad.' She actually wrote 'X-O-X-O'." She sighed at her mother's motherly love, then looked back up. "SO! We got my house all weekend! What do you wanna do?"

"I don't know. What did she mean 'be safe'?"

Shana looked down a little and blushed. "I, uh...who knows? But anyway, you don't have any ideas as to how you wanna spend the weekend alone with your pretty best friend? None?"

"Well...."